John Fox Reflects On Rookie Minicamp, Broncos Sign Two Rookies

John Fox speaks to the media following rookie minicamp at the Broncos training facility. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

It was a busy day for the Denver Broncos on Friday. The team held its first day of rookie minicamp in order to soften the NFL blow before the young guys take part in OTAs with the veterans.

“You know, just getting them comfortable with the whole operation, whether it’s the parking lot, the do’s and don’t’s, the building, the equipment room, the training procedures, how we practice, the lifting operation,” head coach John Fox said. “Just getting them ready. Kind of a trial run before our veterans report.”

This weekend is as much about Fox becoming acquainted with his new guys as it is the new guys becoming acquainted with the team. Fox reflected back on the locked out season.

“I think we really missed that, particularly in our situation, being a new staff [during the 2011 lockout],” Fox said. “The league typically, in a regular, non-lockout season, gives you even more time with a new staff. I thought that was especially hard our first year… I had to have guys wear their names [on their helmets], because I didn’t even know them. So, again, that helps. The old adage, the more you do, the better you get, so I think we’ve kind of got our nucleus of guys.”

The team on Friday also signed their two 5th round pick in defensive end Quanterus Smith and wide receiver Tavarres King.

The 6-5, 250-pound Smith had 24 sacks and 41 tackles for a loss during his four-year career at Western Kentucky. King (6-1, 200 pounds) finished his career at Georgia third all-time in receiving touchdowns (21) and fourth in receiving yards (2,602).

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