C.J. Anderson responds to Devontae Booker's strong comments

Devontae Booker is already turning heads in Broncos Country, although it’s not yet because of his play on the field.

Last week, at the NFL rookie premiere, an event put on by the Players Association, Booker caught the attention of many with a strong-worded quote.

“My message to Broncos fans is, I want to be one of the best running backs to come out of Denver,” Booker said. “I’m not there to carry pads, I’m there to take someone’s job.”

Whoa. Not exactly an endearing comment from a player who hadn’t even been on the field with the entire team yet. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a negative reaction out of the current Broncos but, knowing this locker room, the actual reaction from expected starter C.J. Anderson wasn’t surprising, either.

“What do you want him to say?” Anderson asked. “You want him to say he’s going to back up C.J. and Ronnie? I like it, it’s good, I’ve said it before. The difference is, when I said it I was undrafted, I wasn’t a fourth-round draft pick, so my comments weren’t as big as his when I said it about Knowshon [Moreno] and Montee [Ball].”

As you know, C.J. is the only one of those three that is still a Denver Bronco, much in part to the culture of open competition the Broncos maintain.

“It’s been a competition since I’ve been here,” he said. “It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a fun backfield, it’s always fun to have competition.”

As for carrying pads, you’d think saying you aren’t going to carry pads would inspire the vets to make you carry some pads. Again, though, it won’t be coming from C.J.

“It doesn’t bother me, man,” he said, putting the whole thing to bed. “To be honest, him carrying pads, him not carrying pads, it doesn’t matter as long as he comes to work. If he comes to work then he’ll get the respect. Now, if he doesn’t come to work then he’ll hear from the veterans but we trust “Book,” I trust Book, I think he’ll come to work.”

It sure is hard to stir up any controversy at Dove Valley.