DENVER — Justin Simmons was not the only Bronco player to step to the microphone Saturday and address the crowd gathered for that day’s rally and march at Civic Center Park. Teammates Jeremiah Attaochu, Davontae Harris, De’Vante Bausby, Alexander Johnson and Von Miller joined him.
But there was something Simmons said that revealed why and how the fifth-year safety has become one of the most crucial Broncos of the post-Super Bowl 50 era.
It revealed what the franchise-tagged player understands about his responsibility to Denver and to Broncos Country.
Simmons didn’t have to fly from Florida to Denver to join approximately 50 of his teammates and his coaches. He had done his part to ensure that protests in his corner of Florida, Martin County, had been peaceful.
But Denver has become a part of him. It’s not just where he works. It has also become another home. He plays not just for the Broncos, but Denver and Broncos Country. He’s invested.
“I’m here today as Justin Simmons, a member of the Denver community,” he said to the audience. I want to make sure the people in this community understand that.
“It was important for us to show our support for our communities, because you show our support for us.”
This is no surprise, really. Simmons is one of the Broncos’ most active players in community endeavors. He’s a two-time winner of the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award, given to a player who shows enthusiasm, professionalism and honesty in his relationship with the media.
How did Simmons become just the second player to win that award twice? By being a stand-up player. Win or lose, Simmons answers questions, showing the accountability that is essential for being a leader that represents the entire team in a public form. That’s the sort of thing that captains do, and even though the Broncos didn’t select season-long captains last year, he would have been on the short list to wear the “C” if he had.
However, there is something more.
Many play for the Broncos. It’s the nature of the NFL in the free-agency-and-salary-cap era. For the Broncos in recent years, this has been heightened by the on-field struggles; in fact, of the 76 players on the Broncos roster (including injured reserve, practice squad and PUP lists) at the end of the 2018 season, just 24 remain, representing only 31.6 percent of the roster.
Relatively few, by comparison, are long enough to stick around, buy in and become an integral part of the Denver community.
Football is a transient sport for most who play it at the professional level; this is why former Oilers and Falcons head coach Jerry Glanville said that NFL stood for “Not for Long.”
So when you find a key starter who doubles down on his commitment to the community in which he plays, you hold fast to him.
The fact that he emerged as a second-team All-Pro selection last year only enhances his case. Simmons is a perfect scheme fit for Vic Fangio’s defense, which finally unlocked the potential evident in flashes during his first three seasons.
All is quiet at the moment regarding Simmons’ contract, but this is typical. The four Broncos who received the franchise tag from John Elway in previous years agreed to multi-year contracts in July, with Ryan Clady, Demaryius Thomas and Von Miller all signing their extensions within 24 hours of the July 15 deadline.
All is quiet at the moment regarding Simmons’ contract, but this is typical. The four Broncos who received the franchise tag from John Elway in previous years agreed to multi-year contracts in July, with Ryan Clady, Demaryius Thomas and Von Miller all signing their extensions within 24 hours of the July 15 deadline.
He has said that he will sign the one-year franchise tender if a long-term deal can’t be made.
But Simmons shouldn’t be a player on a one-year deal.
He is everything a team needs as it establishes an identity that can take it back to contention and relevance.
It’s time to pay the man.
Pay him for his play. Pay him for how he has grown into a team leader. Pay him for where he could help guide this team as one of the core components of its new generation.
