ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – There’s already a lot on the plate for Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock in his first full season as a team starter.
This includes everything from learning a new playbook from first-year offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to organizing off-season practice during a COVID-19 era to driving one of the youngest offenses. of the league.
So add a healthy lifestyle consultant to the roster, as league teams try to stay healthy during a pandemic.
“It’s my responsibility to remind ourselves that this is a very important season for all of us – it’s an important season for everyone (in the league) – but it’s also very important for us to stay in good shape. health, ” Lock said after Monday practice. “And realize that if we really love the game as much as we say we should be willing to sacrifice a little bit of free time and a little time. outside of football. I know personally, I love him enough to give up on that. ”
Broncos president of football operations / general manager John Elway had previously said that this offseason, teams that are far from strict health and safety protocols, as well as the COVID-19 tests in place at every resort ‘team, “are likely to be the most successful.”
Lock, 23, said on Monday he thinks it isn’t too difficult for players, coaches and other team staff to practice social distancing and be careful away from facilities of the team during training camp as the daily schedule is filled with meetings, walk-throughs and practices.
The challenges will come down the road, when the regular season begins next month.
“It’s really easy for us to be safe now because we’re here from early in the morning until so late at night and all you want to do when you’re done is go home, rest and start the day again. again, ” Lock said. “I think the real thing is going to be when we get into a week of match preparation, (when) we have a few days off, the nights aren’t as long as camp, the mornings aren’t It’s too early to work, guys can feel like they have some free time. ”
This all echoes Elway’s message to the team: Until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, safety is something that needs to be addressed in the long term.
“Realizing as players, and even as coaches, when they are away from this building, they have to be very careful with how many people they are around and who they are to not be exposed, running out of time and even getting into the building, ” Elway said at the opening of training camp. “These players, more than ever, need to be more dedicated to the cause of what we are trying to do, c that is, winning football matches. ”
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