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View Full Version : Ayers talks to Wilson about using #56



Spiritguy
06-06-2009, 11:35 AM
As a way to honor the legacy of former Bronco Al Wilson, rookie Robert Ayers (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=9871) has chosen to wear Wilson's No. 56 jersey.

Wilson, a standout linebacker for the orange and blue, was a two-time All-Pro selection and a five-time Pro Bowler during his tenure with the Broncos from 1999-2007.

That is reason enough for Ayers -- who will see time at linebacker -- to want to honor Wilson. But the two have another connection: both are University of Tennessee alums.

Originally, Ayers planned to wear his collegiate number, 91, which belongs to Ronald Fields (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=9701). With that number taken, Ayers was offered No. 56. Recalling growing up watching Wilson play with reckless abandon each Sunday for the Broncos, Ayers thought it would be special to represent his fellow Volunteer. First, however, he wanted to get Wilson's blessing.

"I talked to him about having his number … he said it's always good to have a guy from Tennessee representing him," Ayers said. "And that's what I told him I'm going to try and do. I'm going to try to hold his number down and do my best I can. It's a big privilege to wear his number - as a Bronco and as Tennessee alum, he means a lot to me."

Despite wearing the same number as Wilson, Ayers said he won't try to emulate him. Instead, he plans on carving his own legacy in Bronco Country.

"I could never be an Al Wilson, whether I have his number or his cleats or whatever I put on of his," he said. "I'll never be another Al Wilson, I'm just going to try to be Robert Ayers, play my game, bring my type of intensity and do the things that I do well."

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9079

Northman
06-06-2009, 11:44 AM
Good article.

dogfish
06-06-2009, 12:38 PM
if ayers can bring the consistently high level of play and production that wilson did, he'll be well worth the pick we spent on him. . . .

T.K.O.
06-06-2009, 01:46 PM
if ayers can bring the consistently high level of play and production that wilson did, he'll be well worth the pick we spent on him. . . .

x3 :salute:

SR
06-06-2009, 02:13 PM
x4 for sure

gobroncsnv
06-06-2009, 04:43 PM
Hopefully he can be Al with shoulders that will allow him to wrap up a tackle. What was not to love about Al's first few years here?

Lonestar
06-06-2009, 06:49 PM
I think it was more having broken hands, fingers all the time that started him down the super hit lane.. hoping they would knock the RB off his feet..


when your hands are in a cast or wrapped with more gauze than King Tut, it is really hard to actually tackle some one.. from there the shoulder went and then the neck..

SR
06-06-2009, 07:01 PM
Between Knowshon wearing 27 and Ayers wearing 56, it's gonna be tough to look at those two numbers and not think about D-Will or Wilson.

gobroncsnv
06-07-2009, 12:40 AM
Between Knowshon wearing 27 and Ayers wearing 56, it's gonna be tough to look at those two numbers and not think about D-Will or Wilson.

Atwater???

dogfish
06-07-2009, 12:47 AM
i find it ironic that, for all the complaints about al wilson's failure to consitently wrap up, the most famous and celebrated tackle in broncos history was a shoulder tackle with no attempt to wrap-- from the most feared tackler to ever wear the orange and blue. . . .



http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9488/219.gif (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=219.gif)



just sayin'. . . .

Lonestar
06-07-2009, 01:06 AM
i find it ironic that, for all the complaints about al wilson's failure to consitently wrap up, the most famous and celebrated tackle in broncos history was a shoulder tackle with no attempt to wrap-- from the most feared tackler to ever wear the orange and blue. . . .



http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9488/219.gif (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=219.gif)



just sayin'. . . .


your correct but Atwater did not have to revert to this type of stuff because his hands were so broken up..

and frankly DBs are not LB's who are paid to tackle at or behind the LOS..

SR
06-07-2009, 02:31 AM
Atwater???

Its always not hard to think about Atwater. But D-will is different

Timmy!
06-07-2009, 05:21 AM
Nice. Sure it might not mean a lot to some, but the fact that he actually asked Al if it was ok to wear his # is a +1 in my book. Al Wilson is one of my favorite Broncos ever. I would love to see Ayers make me forget Al and love that #56 again.

ism
06-07-2009, 12:07 PM
Ayers is such a class act. I feel all warm inside when I see that kind of humble attitude from a #1 guy. Even in his preseason practice interviews, at no point does he ever claim ridiculous arrogant statements such as, I dunno, like -'I have a better arm than John Elway'. After all, who would make an absurd statement like that anyway

CoachChaz
06-08-2009, 07:13 AM
Ayers is such a class act. I feel all warm inside when I see that kind of humble attitude from a #1 guy. Even in his preseason practice interviews, at no point does he ever claim ridiculous arrogant statements such as, I dunno, like -'I have a better arm than John Elway'. After all, who would make an absurd statement like that anyway

I agree...and if he represents the type of persona that McDaniels is trying to fill this team with, then it just makes me feel that much better about the group he is collecting.

LRtagger
06-08-2009, 09:37 AM
i find it ironic that, for all the complaints about al wilson's failure to consitently wrap up, the most famous and celebrated tackle in broncos history was a shoulder tackle with no attempt to wrap-- from the most feared tackler to ever wear the orange and blue. . . .



http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9488/219.gif (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=219.gif)



just sayin'. . . .


Yea, but that tackle is so iconic because 1) It was against the Chefs and 2) I was Okoye who was probably the biggest, most bruising RB of that time and Atwater laid his ass out.

You still want your players to wrap up the ball carrier because 75% of the time hits like that don't land square and NFL runners will just bounce off and keep going.