ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Ryan Clady took a tour of the Broncos training facility Sunday, posed for numerous photographs and chatted with coaches.
His father, Ross, didn’t leave his side.
“My dad has always been there for me,” said Ryan Clady, who was taken with the 12th pick of the draft and quickly anointed as the Broncos’ starting left tackle. “He’s a good person to have around.”
The family has helped each other cope with Sharon Clady’s death. Ryan Clady was just 13 when his mother died of a heart attack.
“It’s something that took a while for me to accept,” Clady said. “It motivated me to work harder and be a great role model for my siblings. It keeps me focused.”
Soon, his focus will be keeping defenders away from quarterback Jay Cutler. Clady had no more been drafted when he received a text message that read, “Glad you’re protecting my backside.”
News travels fast, especially when it concerns Cutler’s blind side.
“He’s excited to work with me,” said Clady, who’s yet to meet Cutler in person.
The last time Denver took a tackle in the first round, though, it didn’t pan out well. George Foster, taken with the 20th pick in 2003, never developed into the blocker the Broncos had envisioned. Foster was eventually shipped off to Detroit, along with Tatum Bell, in a deal that brought Dre’ Bly to Denver.
Clady doesn’t view his lofty draft status as added pressure. Instead, he’s embracing the challenge.
“If you’re drafted in the first round, you’re supposed to make an impact immediately,” Clady said. “That’s something I expected.”
Clady spent draft day in a Los Angeles hotel with a large contingent of family and friends, waiting for his name to be called. He said the room grew so loud he could barely even hear the call from the Broncos.
“It was exciting,” Clady said. “It’s been fun, especially with my family and the party we had. It’s a good time.”
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APPRECIATION@: Virginia Tech punter returner Eddie Royal takes nothing in life for granted, a lesson he learned following the massacre on his campus in April 2007.
“I appreciate everything,” said Royal, who was taken by Denver with the 42nd pick.
Royal was in his apartment, getting ready to head onto campus, when he saw the news of the shooting on television.
“It felt like a movie. You didn’t really want to believe that it was happening,” Royal said. “It was a crazy feeling and it’s something you don’t want to ever relive.”
Royal said that playing football again on Sept. 1 against East Carolina helped in the healing process for him, his teammates and the university.
“You saw a lot of tears in the stadium, but it was good to get people’s minds off everything,” Royal said.
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IN MOTION@: Arizona outside/middle linebacker Spencer Larsen is open to playing any position—including fullback.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan brought up the possibility to Larsen, who hasn’t played fullback since high school.
“It did surprise me to hear that, but it’s not a negative to me at all,” said Larsen, who was taken in the sixth round. “I just want to contribute and help improve the team wherever they need me.”
Larsen was hoping the Broncos wouldn’t hold his age against him. The 24-year-old sat out two seasons as he served a mission for the LDS church in Chile.
“I’m a very young 24 years old, and that doesn’t hurt me at all in my eyes,” he said. “I couldn’t have been chosen by a better team.”
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BUTTON HOOK@: Forget screws, Arizona State running back Ryan Torain’s surgeons opted for a button-like device to help mend a ligament in his foot.
That way, he’d be back on the field sooner.
“In the past, they used screws and you would have to have two surgeries,” Torain explained. “I had that new surgery and healed up faster.”
Torain said his foot is at full strength.
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FIRST DOWNS@: Larsen and his wife named their son Tyton after Larsen’s favorite movie, “Remember the Titans.” … Asked what his first big purchase would be after he signs his contract, Clady said, “Property. Probably here (in Denver).” … Shanahan said the Broncos had two college kickers commit to the team after the draft, but couldn’t reveal any names until they sign contracts.
