If you haven’t heard, there’s a new sheriff in town.
The Denver Broncos, a franchise synonymous with winning thanks to the likes of John Elway and Peyton Manning, currently possess the second-longest playoff drought outside of the New York Jets. The Broncos’ last postseason match came in Super Bowl 50, where a withered Manning was carried by Von Miller and that fierce defence to championship glory.
Since the five-time NFL MVP retired, the list of quarterbacks installed for the Broncos makes for tough, tough reading: Trevor Sieman, Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien, Teddy Bridgewater and wide receiver Kendall Hinton.
Finally, there’s a new dawn in Denver.
What will Russell Wilson bring to the Broncos? He has one of most dynamic skillsets in the NFL and is bringing it to an offence with pieces in skill positions to allow him to flourish. Wilson also possesses an elite mentality after years of contending with the Seattle Seahawks, while he and that dominant defence won Super Bowl XLVIII over Manning and the high-flying Broncos.
But how does the acquisition of Wilson really affect the Broncos? Former NFL cornerback Jason Bell didn’t hesitate to give his two cents on how a player of Wilson’s stature and reputation affects the mentality of a team.
“As a player in the locker room, I look at Russell Wilson and go, ‘Oh, my goodness, we got a chance. We are a championship team today’,” Bell exclusively told Mirror Sport . “I don’t know how he handles the pressure, but that’s exactly what he brings to the locker room. It’s not only because of what he has done on the field but also how he prepares and readies himself for the upcoming season.
“When you look at your quarterback and see the work he puts in, the whole franchise will believe they have a chance. The Denver Broncos already had a good roster, but he’s making them championship-calibre.”
It is some praise by Bell, but it is not unfounded. The Broncos have been heavily praised for the acquisition of Wilson, with many believing the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback will slot into a competitive team seamlessly and lead them to the promised land.
When assessing the Broncos’ roster, it’s easy to see why. Wilson will have weapons like Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hammier to throw to while Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon provide a fierce one-two punch as a running back tandem.
Seeing as Bell was speaking to Mirror Sport at the National Flag Football Championship in Loughborough, he was adamant in his confidence when posed with the question of how Wilson and the Broncos would fare in an NFL-wide flag football tournament. After barely a second’s thought, Bell declared: “They would kill.
“It’s the way he could throw the deep ball paired with the receivers he has on the outside that can make plays. I mean, he had those kind of guys in Seattle, but these are very unique skillset receivers at his disposal and Wilson is the kind of guy who will put the ball in the air and make his receivers go make plays.
“The Broncos built that team up so it was handmade ready to slide a good quarterback in there to start winning - and he has all the pieces to do so.”
Of course, an offence cannot win without a defence and in Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Justin Simmons, and Patrick Surtain, the Broncos are as established without the ball as they are with it. As a former cornerback himself, Bell understands the importance of a functional defence but he was quick to point out the importance of a quarterback for the Broncos given they are in the AFC West - a division home to Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr.
“The defence is great, too; we’re going to see what and who they are without Vic Fangio, but ultimately, they were a quarterback away - and in the AFC West, the toughest division in football right now, you have to have a quarterback to compete,” Bell said. “The Broncos got that guy.
“You have a lot of top quality quarterbacks in the same division. When you have so many elite quarterbacks in one place, the next rends is to get elite pass rushers - and now each of the teams have one of them to go with their great quarterback. It’s going to be chaos and I cannot wait to watch.”
The NFL Flag National Championship, won by Little Ealing Primary School who will represent the UK at the 2023 Pro Bowl in Las Vegas, was attended by a number of NFL stars, including NFL Flag ambassador and Broncos quarterback Wilson. The 33-year-old was enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines as he coached a team of his own while also hosting a quarterback clinic for budding British NFL stars of tomorrow.
For a player of Wilson’s calibre and fame to be promoting American football and the NFL on these shores is truly inspiring - a point Bell wanted to make clear. He added: “I told Russell this - I just appreciate what he’s doing. His time is so valuable; he’s supposed to be getting ready for the season right now, but he’s out here giving his time and effort to us and the kids in this country.
“This is the key to the growth of the game here. If we are asking people to play our game or to be a fan, we have to give that time - and guys like Russell Wilson are key. I'm a big fan of his I appreciate him being out here.
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“You get a little greatness just being that close to him.”
The greatness Bell was referring to may have ultimately been extracted by Little Ealing as they donned the colours of Wilson’s ex-team, the Seahawks, but Wilson will be hoping he still has some ingenuity in the tank as Denver gear up for a 2022 season burdened with expectation and the ever-increasing weight of a playoff drought.
Bell will once again be a key part of the coverage of the NFL on this side of the Atlantic throughout the 2022 season. Naturally, the question had to be posed to him - would he or on-screen partner-in-crime Osi Umenyiora be a more valuable player in Flag Football? The 44-year-old was characteristically honest.
“Osi!” Bell conceded, armed with a mischievous smile. “He’s in better shape and can still get after the passer - I can’t cover anybody!”
Primary Schools all across the UK can get involved in NFL FLAG. Find out more information and register here: 2021 NFL London Games: American Football in the UK – NFL.com
