The Denver Broncos are reigning Super Bowl champions and while they’ll have a big change in quarterback this season, the core of the defense is still the same with Von Miller’s recent re-signing.
Denver’s training camp gets under way in about a week and T.J. Ward is already hyping up the 2016-2017 Broncos’ defense. The safety recently held his second annual celebrity golf tournament at Blackstone Country Club in Aurora, Colorado and many of his defensive teammates were there. As a result, Ward took the opportunity to make a strong statement about the defensive unit.
“There is no ceiling,” Ward said. “We can be as good as we want to be. We can become the best defense of all time. That’s what we’re working toward.”
The event was intended to raise money for underprivileged youth with all the proceeds going to the T.J. Ward Foundation. However, with so many of his teammates in attendance, Ward was understandably vocal about what he thinks the defense can do this year.
Some of the other Broncos’ defensive players there included outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, cornerback Aqib Talib, safety Will Parks, and defensive end Kenny Anunike. Kicker Brandon McManus was there along with more than 15 other NFL players.
One player who wasn’t there, was outside linebacker Von Miller. Arguably the leader of the Denver defense, Miller inked a $114.5 million dollar deal this past week. The deal includes $70 million in guaranteed money, the second-highest amount of guaranteed money in NFL history.
Most Guaranteed Money – NFL History
Andrew Luck $87M
Von Miller $70M<<
Eli Manning $65M
Phillip Rivers $65M
>>Reported— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 15, 2016
“Von, he’s up to every challenge,” Ward said about the contract. “That’s the caliber of player that we expect him to be from here on now, and that’s why he got paid the way he did. He is a franchise player, and he is the face of this franchise.”
Miller was named the MVP of Super Bowl 50 after Denver defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10. The Broncos’ defense held the Panthers to just three points in the second half. Additionally, Denver’s defense picked off Cam Newton once while forcing four fumbles and picking up three.
Before he made strong statements about the Broncos’ lack of a defensive ceiling, Ward focused money on raising money for his charity. Ward spent most of the day with Maverick Schutte, 6, who has a heart defect and has to be attached to a ventilator most of the time. Schutte received a signed jersey by all the players there and was taught how to play golf by Ward, Talib, and others.
