Lynch...on Eddie Royal & Jay Cutler
I know this was posted above...but good article!
Lynch Says Competition is Fierce Early
By Jake Grilley
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- With Thursday's practice in the books, the Denver Broncos are a practice away from completing quarterback camp, the team's first OTA of the 2008 season. Veteran John Lynch said that even this early in the season competition is already fierce, with many positions on the team up for grabs.
Lynch, a 16-year veteran and nine-time Pro Bowler, knows even his starting position at safety is up for grabs if another player out plays him for it. Denver brought in veteran safeties Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel this offseason, but Lynch said that competition brings out the best in everyone on the team and that he is embracing the challenge of retaining his starting spot.
"All I wanted was the assurance that I'd be given every opportunity to earn a job as an every-down player," Lynch said. "They brought in a lot of guys. That's alright. I've been facing that for the last 15 years, and I've never been afraid of it."
Lynch admitted that taking questions about his job security is a little strange having held a steady job as a starter for the vast majority of his years in the NFL.
"In the past, I've had a job and it's someone's job to beat me out," he said. "Probably my second year was the last year that this was the case. Every now and then, you need things to pull you out of your comfort zone, and this has done that."
This season Lynch will be reunited with his former Tampa Bay teammate Michael Pittman, who the the Broncos signed to a one-year deal on Wednesday. Lynch said Pittman is another weapon to add to the Broncos offensive arsenal.
"I forgot how big his arms were," Lynch laughed. "Most of all, he's a good football player. He's very versatile. He can be an every-down back, a third-down back. He's a great teammate in the locker room. I think it's a great pickup for us."
Pittman isn't the only new face in the Broncos locker room Lynch is impressed with.
"They are all looking good," Lynch said.
Lynch was quick to point out the outstanding play of second-round pick Eddie Royal.
"Everyone's counting on Eddie Royal helping us in the return game, but he really showed something today out there as a receiver," Lynch said. "They're looking for ways to utilize him, and when you have a guy with speed and explosiveness like that, that's something that we could use. There are certain players that jump out at you, and he's one of them."
Royal isn't the only Bronco that has caught Lynch's eye, he is also been impressed with how quarterback Jay Cutler has looked and performed so far at camp.
"Jay looks great," he said. "Obviously he got his weight back on. It's easy in retrospect now to say, 'He's got a lot more energy,' but he does. He's got more pep to his step and is really looking good."
A captain with both the Broncos and Tampa Bay, Lynch sees Cutler as an emerging leader in the locker room.
"I think that was an important step that he took on during some adversity last year," Lynch said. "When there is adversity, you need your leaders. It's real clear that you need leadership from that position, and Jay is really stepping into that well."
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Originally Posted by Buff
