Emmanuel Sanders talks hydration, being a champion

Emmanuel Sanders talked to young athletes about the importance of staying hydrated, and keeping your body right to ‘beat the heat’…

Emmanuel Sanders, like many players in the Denver Broncos organization, is active in the community and one of the most beloved players on the team. He spent this past Friday night talking to young athletes about staying hydrated at the Gatorade ‘Beat The Heat’ event that a number of Broncos players have taken part in the past few years.

Sanders, who knows the rigors of an NFL work schedule, also knows a thing or two about keeping yourself hydrated…

“We want to educate athletes across all sports no matter what about the importance of hydration during the summer and during hot days. Gatorade has the perfect combination of fluid and electrolytes to help fuel and hydrate athletes…We’ve got 300 kids out here and we’re trying to educate these kids about putting the proper nutrients in their body.”

Sanders and team nutritionist Bryan Snyder talked to the young athletes about nutrition, workout regimen, stretching, and obviously all the different ways you can keep your body right during the rigorous heat of the Summer months.

Gatorade in specific provides a unique blend of fluid and electrolytes that your body loses when it sweats, but there is a wealth of knowledge to be shared from guys like Sanders and Snyder on not making the mistake of waiting until it’s too late to be hydrated.

It’s a phenomenal opportunity for these athletes to learn from a professional, and oh by the way — a Super Bowl champion.

In addition to talking hydration, Sanders gave an exclusive interview to us here at Predominantly Orange and talked about what it’s like to be on top of the world’s greatest sport.

“Man it feels great. It’s like all my dreams have come true. To reach the pinnacle of football is amazing. Everyone knows, everyone watched that game. My celebrity level went up definitely. Walking around, everyone calling me champ, I got my ring…it’s been awesome.”

It seems like a lifetime ago at this point, but I wanted to know Sanders’ thoughts on the year in retrospect after losing a home game in the playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts.

“Oh man, it was definitely a roller coaster ride — a lot of ups and downs, kinda like life, you know? But at the end of the day I was able to stand on top of that stage and hoist that Lombardi trophy. It’s something I dreamed of since I was an eight-year-old kid. All the greats have been able to get up there and do that. To stand up there and say that I won a Super Bowl, no one can ever take that from me. That’s something that will be part of my legacy forever…That’s a title that no one can take away from me. That’s definitely a blessing.”

To stand up there and say that I won a Super Bowl, no one can ever take that from me. That’s something that will be part of my legacy forever…

Along with a Super Bowl title came plenty of change on this Broncos roster. Part of that change comes new leadership responsibilities for Sanders, who is entering his third year with the team.

“I think when I first came into the locker room, I wanted to show guys that I could make plays and help the team. Last year, I kind of had to bring some energy to the offense. Get up, celebrate, and spark some energy to the sideline whenever the need be. Obviously this year, I want to try and take a more vocal role. I want to be a team captain, I want to be the guy guys can call on and depend on. Obviously Peyton’s not here but I feel like I learned from Peyton about how to conduct myself and how to go about my business…It’s another goal that I’m adding for the up-coming season.”

As training camp approaches, rumors have emerged that the Broncos and Sanders are working on a long-term extension. I asked Sanders if we were all going to get our wish that he would be a Bronco for the rest of his career.

“I pray. I pray.”

Hopefully with a new contract in hand, Sanders and the Broncos can focus on a Super Bowl repeat this season. With the way the NFL is set up, it’s one of the most difficult things to do not only to win one, but to win two in a row.

Having the type of chemistry this team had last season comes from a culture that starts at the top of the organization and bleeds down to every player and staff member. Sanders said the Broncos have to find a way to get that kind of ‘family’ atmosphere if they want to repeat.

“Well, we all have to get along and form a brotherhood. I think the majority of guys understand what it takes. I thin ka lot of people don’t understand, you can have all the athletic ability in the world but if the chemistry doesn’t click, then it’s not gonna happen. You’ve got to have guys on the team that hold each other accountable and we have that in our locker room. We’ve got a brotherhood, we’ve got a family in that organization. Whether it’s from Elway all the way down, everybody knows something about the other guy that allows it to be a family environment.”

Speaking of family environment, the Broncos always have some of the best pre-game fashion pictures and I told Sanders that he’s clearly no. 1 on the team when it comes to his style.

I had to ask him though…If he’s no. 1, who is no. 2?

“Definitely Von. His is like funky, though. He’s got a funky way about how he dresses. At first I’m like, ‘Von, what are you thinking?’ and then I’m like, ‘Alright, it doesn’t look that bad I guess.'”

We certainly won’t disagree.