Sweet science preparing Broncos’ Jones for first camp By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post July 15, 2018 Sometime between throwing a right cross, left jab and consecutive uppercuts, Sam Jones’ Chicago Bulls cap flew off his head during a boxing session at Six-Zero Strength & Fitness last Wednesday morning in Centennial. Was losing the hat a sign Jones, a Broncos rookie guard, was grinding away in preparation for training camp? Sure. But, Jones said with a laugh: “In (a) real (fight), it probably means I would have been knocked out.” During their workout, supervised by former Colorado and NFL offensive lineman Matt McChesney, Jones and Broncos tackle/guard Billy Turner focused on balance and technique before Matt’s brother, Zach, an MMA fighter, put the players through three sets of boxing work. Since he was 15, Jones has worked with McChesney, who started Six-Zero and trains high school, college and professional players. A Highlands Ranch native, Jones played at Arizona State and was a sixth-round draft pick by the Broncos. In the six weeks between the offseason program and training camp, Jones isn’t looking to add strength. “It’s not lifting and running; it’s all technique-based,” Matt McChesney said. “Even the boxing is more suited to defensive and offensive line play – foot transition, extension through your hands, moving to stay in front of your target and understanding different angles.” In addition to Jones and Turner, Broncos guards Connor McGovern and Ron Leary, Tampa Bay center Ryan Jensen and New York Jets defensive tackle Mike Pennel train frequently at Six-Zero. Jones will start camp as one of 16 offensive linemen on the roster. He needs a terrific preseason to make the team — and that may not be enough. Leary is the projected left guard starter and McGovern, Menelik Watson and possibly Max Garcia will compete at right guard. Jones worked primarily at left guard during the offseason program and a good camp could turn into a practice squad spot. “It’s a job and you have to approach it like a job, but I’m like a kid on Christmas every day,” Jones said of his early pro experience. McChesney said “consistency every day,” will be Jones’ key to making an impression. “Technique is always a work in progress and it’s hard when there are no pads on because it’s not real football,” Jones said. “But I feel good about where I’m at heading into camp.” After the workout, Jones was headed for the hot and cold tubs. The boxing is all-around beneficial for offensive linemen. “It helps guys stay balanced in their stance, use their hands and separate their upper and lower (of the body) so they can exploit not only their athletic ability, but take advantage of all the (mistakes) by the defensive player,” McChesney said. Around the league Broncos on TV. For out-of-the-region Broncos fans, they will be able to see two preseason games live on NFL Network – the Aug. 11 opener against Minnesota and the Aug. 30 finale at Arizona. The network is showing 15 live games during the preseason. Lousy as home favorite. One of our favorite preseason magazines is Marc Lawrence’s Playbook. Two Broncos-related notes: 1) As a home favorite against the spread last year, the Broncos were 1-3-1 – tying the Chargers, beating Oakland and losing to the Giants, Cincinnati and Kansas City. 2) After losing to the Giants 23-10 as a 13 1/2-point favorite in Week 6, the Broncos were never favored by more than three points the rest of the year. That loss spooked the odds-makers and rightfully so – it was the start of an eight-game skid. Manning looks to rebound. Four losing seasons out of the last five years has left Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s career record at 111-103. But now 37 and seven years removed from his last playoff win, Manning was endorsed by new general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Pat Shurmur, who opted against taking a quarterback second overall in the draft (tailback Saquon Barkley was the pick). “The great thing about football is what you did last year doesn’t matter,” Manning told NJ Advanced Media. “It’s all about what you can do this year. I’m excited about the guys that we have. Everybody is excited to get rolling and see what we can do.” Zero to 10 (interceptions). In seven seasons, Chicago cornerback Prince Amukamara has seven interceptions, including none with Jacksonville and the Bears the last two years. But … “I’m really looking for a 10-pick season,” Amukamara said, per the Chicago Tribune. “I’m reaching for the stars, right? But at the same time, I know what I’m capable of. I know how hard I’ve worked. And every year I keep putting those goals out here. Because when it finally does happen, I can circle back to the time I said it.” The Bears’ eight interceptions last year were tied with Atlanta for third-fewest in the NFL. Cleveland had seven and Oakland five. Permanently disgraced. New Carolina owner David Tepper said he is “contractually obligated,” to leave the statue of former owner Jerry Richardson in front of the Panthers’ stadium. Richardson was recently fined by the league for sexual harassment allegations that were found to be true. He will never do it, but commissioner Roger Goodell should order the statue taken down. If the statue – nearly 13 feet tall – stays up, it will serve as a permanent reminder of Richardson’s disgraceful behavior. Vincent Jackson closes NFL career proud of Colorado roots, excited for what’s ahead By Kyle Frederickson The Denver Post July 15, 2018 Vincent Jackson grew up on military on bases in Louisiana, Arizona, Germany and Colorado before an NFL career spanning a dozen seasons between the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two countries. Five states. Naturally, the former three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver often gets the same question: Where do you consider home? “I’ve always referred to my hometown as Colorado Springs,” Jackson told The Denver Post. The Centennial State welcomes that distinction — especially with Jackson’s place among former Colorado high school athletes who enjoyed long-lasting professional success. Jackson, a Widefield High School and University of Northern Colorado alumnus, made his NFL retirement official in May to complete a career with 540 catches for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns. Six times he eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving. The only comparable hometown wide receiver in history is former Wheat Ridge star Dave Logan, who compiled 263 catches for 4,250 yards between the Browns and Broncos (1976- 84). For Jackson, though, success is measured by more than on-field production. “For me to play 12 years and never have any major surgeries, I still feel like I lucked out,” Jackson said. “It’s a blessing.” It all began at Widefield, a Class 4A high school in Colorado Springs, where a late-blooming Jackson caught the football and basketball recruiting attention as a senior of UNC and the Ivy League’s Columbia. Jackson, the son of Army veterans Terence and Sherry Jackson, had no intention of banking on sports for his future. But Columbia couldn’t offer an athletic scholarship. UNC did. Jackson made the logical choice. “I didn’t want to put that burden on my parents to create that debt and I didn’t want it for myself,” Jackson said. “I wanted to at least get what little financial aid I could through athletics. Then I could probably make up the rest through academics (scholarships).” When Jackson played mostly special teams at UNC his first two seasons, some around him advised him to transfer. “That wasn’t my focus,” Jackson said. “I really just wanted to get a good education.” And his dedication was vindicated with a school-record 21 touchdowns and FCS All-American honors as a senior. The Chargers picked Jackson No. 61 overall in the 2005 NFL draft, but Jackson retained his sense of future after football. While some teammates pursued vacation during rare breaks, Jackson made consistent contacts with the business world through charity events, public speaking opportunities and any other available setting. “The platform that we have as professional athletes, we get invited to a lot of unique places and some doors get opened for us that don’t for the general public,” Jackson said. “It’s a gift. I didn’t take that for granted at all.” For all Jackson’s success, his playing days ended on a sour note. He appeared in 10 games in 2015 and then just five in 2016, both seasons ending with injury, and Jackson was unable to secure a free-agent contract last fall. He remains confident in his football ability, but decided it was best to hang up his cleats. “It’s not the performance that changed,” Jackson said, “it’s just the priorities.” Jackson, 35, is a now a husband and father first with his wife, Lindsay, and their three young children — Carter (4), Amaya (3) and Dominick (1) — living in Tampa Bay. The business connections Jackson made during NFL offseasons led to lucrative opportunities. He’s the CEO of CTV Capital, a multi-pronged management firm specializing in development, finance and real estate, in addition to Jackson’s ownership stakes in seven restaurants nationally. He also founded a nonprofit, Jackson in Action 83 Foundation, which provides support to military families and their children. Jackson’s latest challenge is serving as pseudo-adviser to current NFL players on making the transition for life after football.