As quarterbacks go, Owen Daniels makes a great tight end.
The Broncos coveted his work ethic, sought his reliability in games and identified him as a top target because he couldn’t hit his targets in college.
A short story helps explain his long, decorated NFL career. Daniels went to Wisconsin as a quarterback after leading Naperville (Illinois) Central High School to a state championship in 1999.
“We ran some option, we passed, we could do a lot of things,” Daniels said. “I thought I was pretty good.”
Daniels entered the 2002 season third on the depth chart behind Jim Sorgi and Brooks Bollinger. He appeared in three games that season, completing as many passes as interceptions (two) in six attempts.
“I didn’t have a zero rating. I had a negative quarterback rating. I didn’t even think that was possible,” Daniels, 32, said.
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Daniels changed positions and arrives more than a decade later in Denver as a self-made man, a rolled-up sleeves, two-time Pro Bowler known for holding his own at the point of attack and springing loose in coverage. Cut by Houston before last season — he kept the paperwork as a painful reminder — Daniels caught 48 passes for 527 yards and four touchdowns last season in Baltimore.
“I broke my leg in 2013. I came back and felt good. It really felt like I didn’t take a lot of tread off the tires that year. I saw it as a rest year, but other people looked at it like I was done,” Daniels said. “It was definitely motivation.”
No current player knows Gary Kubiak better. Daniels has spent his entire nine-year career with the new Broncos boss. This is not a coincidence.
“I think anytime you stand up for a player and want him on your team and tell (management) that, you want to know what he stands for. That’s easy for me with this guy because I know exactly what we are going to get and what type of teammate he his,” Kubiak said. “You want the guys to know you are putting character in the locker room, and guys that want to win, so it was a no-brainer for me.”
Kubiak’s presence made Daniels’ decision to rebuff a late push by the Ravens easy. The orange-and-blue tinted sunrise that greeted his landing in Denver — — provided affirmation of his choice.
“It’s a new city, people will expect a lot and I have to match those expectations,” said Daniels on the challenge of , who scored 24 touchdowns the past two seasons. “Once (Kubiak) took the job here, it was a definitely a team on my radar. This was something I couldn’t pass up.”
Peyton Manning reached out to Daniels after he signed his . He invited him to his Duke passing camp later this month.
Daniels brings a reputation as a precise route runner. Tight end Virgil Green, who , studied film on Daniels the past two seasons.
“It’s great having him here. I can learn from him,” Green said.
Daniels embraces the challenge of working with Manning. He admitted that his offseason will include “more studying,” as Kubiak incorporates language from the Broncos’ previous offense. The terminology won’t the be the only change. Manning operates as a perfectionist, and isn’t shy at pointing out mistakes, a stark contrast from Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, who is calmer than a lagoon.
“For sure. Joe was cool. But he was in charge. Each quarterback has his own way of being the leader,” Daniels said. “I am focused on doing my job in this offense. And it’s not as simple as people perceive it to be. It’s basic in concepts that we run and run to a T. But Kubiak has used different tempos, a muddle huddle, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with here.”
There figures to be misdirection. Lots of play-action. But likely no passes featuring Daniels.
“I got put in some interesting positions in college, like for one play when a guy had to come out hurt,” he said with a laugh. “I think I made the right decision by switching positions.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck
