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In March of 2014, the Denver Broncos convinced a small receiver testing free agency for the first time, to come catch passes from Peyton Manning. Not a tough sell. For Emmanuel Sanders, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. The Broncos had to convince him that he would succeed here rather than in Kansas City.
Conversely, Sanders had to sell the idea he was worth the three-year $15 million deal and better than his best career season of 67 catches for 740 yards and six touchdowns. Following two unbelievable seasons, Sanders has proved that and more, and Friday he signed a three-year extension for more than double the amount he got per season in 2014.
His position coach, Tyke Tolbert’s opening statements Friday detailed the impact he has had the last two seasons and going forward through 2018.
“On behalf of [Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General Manager] John Elway, [Head] Coach [Gary] Kubiak and all of the Denver Broncos, I would like to say that we are very happy and very excited to have Emmanuel Sanders sign extension with us to be here for the next three years. Couldn’t be happier for Emmanuel. Since Emmanuel has been here, he’s had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons; he has more 30-yard catches than any receiver in the NFL and Emmanuel comes to work with a passion every day.”
Sanders new three-year, $33 million deal ($26.9 million guaranteed) signifies that the Broncos believe in his skills on the field and what an asset he is off of it. He is a leader in the locker room, a notoriously hard worker and a student of the game. With the loss of free agent leadership in the offseason as well as Peyton Manning’s retirement, veteran knowledge is now at a premium for the Broncos. His sure hands will also be a welcomed sight for the next three seasons whether it is current starting quarterback Trevor Siemian or rookie Paxton Lynch throwing him the ball.
The Broncos recently made cap space with the release of Britton Colquitt and Mark Sanchez, and speculation of an extension has been swirling around the Pro Bowl receiver all summer. The two sides had been in talks, and Sanders believes that the core of the Broncos has the potential to win multiple championships and certainly influenced his decision to sign the extension Friday.
“We’ve got a nucleus of guys here and Elway can contest to this that if we can keep these guys around, we’ll have an opportunity every single year to make that run and win another championship and that’s what it’s about,” Sanders said Friday. “I could have went to the open market and I could have made more money, but to play alongside [CB] Aqib Talib and [CB] Chris Harris, guys have to take, they call it the ‘hometown discount.’ At the end of the day, we’re all rocking hardware on our fingers right now and we’re chasing trying get two or maybe three or four so that’s what it’s about.”
Sanders is coming off of another great season, amassing 1,135 regular season receiving yards on 67 catches and is entering his seventh year in the NFL. This season will be his biggest test yet as the team attempts to be more balanced than they have on several years. One thing is certain, though, he will not be outworked and the formula that got him the monumental extension Friday will continue to be the blueprint moving forward.
“I still play from the heart, and the money will come as long as you don’t play for the money,” he said.
Now that the money is locked in, the Broncos will depend on his heart.
