Denver Native (Carol)
10-13-2009, 02:44 PM
http://cbs4denver.com/broncos/smith.royal.broncos.2.1245406.html
When the greatest receiver in Broncos history tells you your time is going to come, there's no reason to doubt it.
Up until Sunday, second-year receiver Eddie Royal had been having quiet start to the season. Last week he was out to lunch with Broncos Ring of Famer Rod Smith and listened to him make a prediction that came true in a big way during the Broncos win 20-17 win over the Patriots.
Smith told him: "Eddie, I promise you, you're going to have those 2 or 3 catch days and you're going to have those 10 catch days."
Royal often was the go-to offensive weapon in his rookie year. Through the first four games of 2009 he only had 8 receptions for 58 yards. On Sunday he broke out with 10 catches for 90 yards, both game highs, and in the process became only the third NFL receiver to reach 100 catches in his first 20 games as a pro.
Smith sang Royal's praises on CBS4's Comcast Broncos Live! on Monday. He said he was impressed with Royal right from the start when he came to him for advice on how to elevate his game.
"You don't find someone this young and this humble who is able to say 'Hey Rod, you have some wisdom and I don't. Will you help me?'" Smith said. "Most people are so afraid to ask for help. And Eddie said 'Can you show me some of the things that I'm doing that can make me one of the elite receivers in the game?'"
Royal, the guest host of Monday's show, said every time he gets a chance to talk to Smith he has "wide open ears."
"(Smith) has so much knowledge about the game but not only the game -- how to handle yourself, the way to be a professional. That's so important in this league. The way that you carry yourself is almost as important as your play," Royal said.
Smith remembers the last time the Denver Broncos started their season at 5-0. He was on that team, and they won the Super Bowl. So far he says he's not that surprised with the team's success.
"It's definitely a playoff team. From the minute coach (Josh) McDaniels got here, he's been taking heat. The team hadn't played a game and in the offseason and the preseason everybody dogged them out and didn't give them a chance," said Smith, who recalled dismissing critics of the Broncos on NFL network before the season started, saying the team had yet to play a regular season game.
Smith expects Royal will continue to play a large role in the team's success this season.
"This guy right here is going to make this organization go to the top, and I'm looking forward to this year."
When the greatest receiver in Broncos history tells you your time is going to come, there's no reason to doubt it.
Up until Sunday, second-year receiver Eddie Royal had been having quiet start to the season. Last week he was out to lunch with Broncos Ring of Famer Rod Smith and listened to him make a prediction that came true in a big way during the Broncos win 20-17 win over the Patriots.
Smith told him: "Eddie, I promise you, you're going to have those 2 or 3 catch days and you're going to have those 10 catch days."
Royal often was the go-to offensive weapon in his rookie year. Through the first four games of 2009 he only had 8 receptions for 58 yards. On Sunday he broke out with 10 catches for 90 yards, both game highs, and in the process became only the third NFL receiver to reach 100 catches in his first 20 games as a pro.
Smith sang Royal's praises on CBS4's Comcast Broncos Live! on Monday. He said he was impressed with Royal right from the start when he came to him for advice on how to elevate his game.
"You don't find someone this young and this humble who is able to say 'Hey Rod, you have some wisdom and I don't. Will you help me?'" Smith said. "Most people are so afraid to ask for help. And Eddie said 'Can you show me some of the things that I'm doing that can make me one of the elite receivers in the game?'"
Royal, the guest host of Monday's show, said every time he gets a chance to talk to Smith he has "wide open ears."
"(Smith) has so much knowledge about the game but not only the game -- how to handle yourself, the way to be a professional. That's so important in this league. The way that you carry yourself is almost as important as your play," Royal said.
Smith remembers the last time the Denver Broncos started their season at 5-0. He was on that team, and they won the Super Bowl. So far he says he's not that surprised with the team's success.
"It's definitely a playoff team. From the minute coach (Josh) McDaniels got here, he's been taking heat. The team hadn't played a game and in the offseason and the preseason everybody dogged them out and didn't give them a chance," said Smith, who recalled dismissing critics of the Broncos on NFL network before the season started, saying the team had yet to play a regular season game.
Smith expects Royal will continue to play a large role in the team's success this season.
"This guy right here is going to make this organization go to the top, and I'm looking forward to this year."