Bralon Addison finally joins Broncos, talks NFL rule that held him out

 

NFL rules state that no player may join the team they were drafted or signed with until “such player has graduated and received a diploma from a recognized college or university.”

So as players who graduated in May joined the Broncos for most if not all of their OTAs and minicamp, Bralon Addison, an attendee of the University of Oregon–a school that operates on the quarter system and did not have graduation until this week—was kept from joining the Broncos until today.

With barely enough time to change out of his cap and gown, the undrafted rookie showed up to Dove Valley on Wednesday in time for the very last practice of OTAs.

“It felt great,” he told BSN Denver after practice. “I’m just happy to be back with the team, happy to compete, just felt great to be out here.”

“It was really hard,” he added of having to stay in Oregon while his teammates were gelling. “I was obviously studying plays and stuff like that but it’s always a difference when you actually get out on the field and you hear it called and you have to go do it with only a second to think about it. It was good to get some first-time action and get out here with the guys and compete.”

Addison was able to be with his fellow rookies in May for rookie minicamp and when he left he was given an iPad with the playbook. Also each and every practice was uploaded to the device after their conclusion, anything to help the roster hopeful stay up to date mentally.

“I talked to the coaches pretty much every day if not every other day,” Addison explained of how he tried to stay up to date. “We talked a lot. But that’s a lot different than actually being here actually doing everything with the team physically.”

As for the rule, Addison had a very mature stance.

“I understand it, they’re trying to do a good thing and help guys finish school,” he told. “Prevent guys from leaving early and making sure they’re going to finish school and get their degree. As a player, though, it kind of sucks just being away, having to study your playbook and not being able to hear a quarterback call it or go it there against DBs and run it. I think it’s a 50/50 rule, as a player you’re going to hate it but once you get older you’ll understand it.”

And it’s not as if the rule snuck up on him.

“They tell you right away, they tell you about the rule. From the time you’re a freshman, they tell you about the rule,” the speedy receiver explained. “They bring in the freshman with the upperclassman and they communicate everything about how the down-the-line stuff is when you’re trying to go into the league. You’re well aware as a freshman when you first step on campus.”

It’s a concession you make to play for Oregon but it’s probably worth it to play in an offense that allows a speedster like Addison to put showcase his talents on a national stage week in and week out. At UO, he tallied 1,937 yards on 146 catches for 20 touchdowns.

He also shined in the return game where he took back three touchdowns, a potential road to the roster for the late addition.

The NFL rule has put Addison behind the eight-ball, so when everybody else is on vacation over the next month or so, he’ll be trying to catch up.

“My plan for the next month is to study as much as I can and make sure I have repetition with the plays and things like that,” he explained. “I have a lot of room to make up. It doesn’t end for me here. I have to keep studying and keep working.”

Today was a start.

“I thought I did okay, definitely a lot of room for improvement,” he admitted. “I’m a competitor so that’s the thing I want to do—show up and compete. Any great organization like this is going to bring in guys that can play, that’s why they’ve been so successful, it’s an honor to be a part of this organization and to be with the guys.”

How long he’s a part of the organization will be based on how quickly he can make up all the ground he’s missed on his fellow rookies and if he can prove himself to be more valuable than some of the veterans who have showed what they have in games. A tall task.