Broncos TE Chris Manhertz describes how he got into football late
The Denver Broncos have a player on their team who was considered a dual sport athlete, and he described how he started football late.The Broncos may have one of the best overall athletes in the NFL on their roster in Chris Manhertz, and many people don't even know his story. Manhertz didn't play football till […]
The Denver Broncos have a player on their team who was considered a dual sport athlete, and he described how he started football late.
The Broncos may have one of the best overall athletes in the NFL on their roster in Chris Manhertz, and many people don't even know his story. Manhertz didn't play football till later in his life. He didn't play football until after his final year of college basketball.
Yes, you read that right. Manhertz played college basketball for the Canisius Golden Griffins in Buffalo, averaging 6.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 94 career games. Manhertz was good in his role in basketball. However, he needed to be better to play pro basketball.
That's where football came in. How Manhertz got a chance to play football, a sport he had never played, is truly remarkable.
"It all stemmed from an opportunity of me being in Buffalo and a scout from the Buffalo Bills kind of kicking the tires and invited me to work out and see what type of skills and traits I had. The long story short is that I gave it a shot because I thought I had nothing to lose," Manhertz said.
"The long skinny is we're here now, but it was definitely a challenging process just, mentally and physically, just acclimating myself to a new sport. A good portion of that, too, is just having a coaching staff that's patient enough to give you the time to really grow and blossom into what you're capable of being."
Manhertz described his basketball game as something you could describe his football game with as well.
"[I was] probably one of those guys that you hate playing against," Manhertz said.
Players hate playing against him in football, too. How aggressive and physical he is blocking in the run game; I know I would hate it. That's why Sean Payton brought him in. Well, that and they had a prior relationship in New Orleans.
The tight-end room is stacked right now. Between Greg Dulcich, Albert Okwuegbunam, Adam Trautman, and maybe the best overall athlete in the NFL in Manhertz. The competition in training camp will be fun to watch.
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Featured Image Via Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
