Emmanuel Sanders (10) of the Denver Broncos makes a catch over the top of Malcolm Butler (21) of the New England Patriots in the second quarter. The Denver Broncos played the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 24, 2016. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
Receiver Emmanuel Sanders has always accepted the Robin role to Demaryius Thomas Batman. He s not naive to the Thomas has faced in the toughest year of his career emotional and he s had enough.
He does get a lot of criticism about drops and it s not fair because everybody talks about his drops but everybody forget he got 1,300 yards this year, Sanders said. Come on man, he s got 1,300! Leave the man alone. Last year he got 1,600.
Sanders said Thomas had done a great job playing while having his mother firmly on his mind and living up to the high expectations of a new contract. He wants to help him win a ring so he can finally relax and enjoy it all.
The majority of the time he s not talking, Sanders said. “He s quiet and I m the one trying to bring him out of his shell.
Sanders said teams started the season playing a lot of man coverage on he and Thomas, but now most teams have reverted to zone coverage against the duo.
Thomas finished the regular season with 105 catches for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns. Sanders had 76 catches for 1,135 yards and six touchdowns.
