Following the release of veteran quarterback Russell Wilson earlier this offseason, the two remaining Denver Broncos players with the most experience in the NFL are fullback Michael Burton and defensive lineman Angelo Blackson (both are entering their 10th seasons).
Burton, 32, is the oldest player on Denver’s 90-man offseason roster. He has spent time with six teams and won a Super Bowl, but Burton does not have a glamourous role. Used primarily as a blocker on offense, Burton played just 18% of the team’s offensive snaps last fall. (He also played 63% of the snaps on special teams.)
It might not be a flashy role, but it’s an important role in coach Sean Payton’s setup. Last month, Payton praised Burton as one of the team’s “glue guys,” and the coach gave a lengthy explanation of how the fullback has managed to have such a long career in the NFL.
“There’s a reason he has played this long,” Payton said on June 4. “He understands who he is. Generally speaking, the players that play past eight to 10 years in this league have talent, but they also know who they are. You take a guy like Aaron Glenn — and I’m dating myself — Aaron Glenn got drafted very early by the Jets as a corner. He was an elite corner, and then eventually, he probably was the [No.] 2 corner, and then he played another eight years as the nickel corner. There was never a time in his career where he didn’t know where he was at in that stage of his career. The challenge for some players that maybe don’t have as good a grasp as to where they are, it’s harder for them to play as longer because they don’t agree with the same role or vision.
“‘Burt’ knows exactly where he’s at. I think he’s one of those guys that when you’re game planning, there are certain things that you may or may not want to do with a certain player. So if we’re doing it with Mike, we know exactly what we’re getting, and we feel like he can do it. It’s a really good strength to have as a player — for the coaches — when you know exactly what you’re getting and you know exactly what you’re not getting. It’s easy to define his role in the kicking game or on offense. He’s super passionate.”
Burton is a team-first player, willing to do the dirty work on offense and special teams to help the club succeed — and to keep his job. Anyone who spends a decade in the NFL clearly did something right, and Payton appreciates the fullback’s reliability.
Entering his second season in Denver and third year with Payton, Burton will continue to play his role with no quibbles or objections. And that’s what makes him a coach’s favorite.
