ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Everywhere he looks at the moment Broncos linebacker Shane Ray spots motivation.
Denver selecting another pass rusher in Bradley Chubb with the No. 5 overall pick? Fuel.
Not having his fifth-year option picked up by the team? More incentive.
Being bashed on social media following an injury-riddled 2017 season? Added drive.
Not that long ago, Ray was all the rage – a first-round pick out of Missouri to play alongside Von Miller. But another pass-rusher has suddenly soared in popularity in Chubb, whose selection on draft night had Miller hooting and hollering .
Ray gets it. He takes it all in stride. Hes trying to, anyway.
”For somebody to come and just try to shove me to the side, Im not that type of player,” Ray said after a team workout Tuesday. ”Im going to come out here and continue to be what my coaches know that I can be, my teammates, and Im not going to let the outside people try to characterize who I am and whats going to happen for this team.
”Ive got to focus on being me. Ive got to focus on coming out here and having a great season, and helping my team and securing my future, wherever it is.”
Ray insisted he understands why Broncos boss John Elway and the team balked at picking up his option. Last season wasnt what he envisioned, either. He broke his left wrist in July, underwent three surgeries that caused him to miss the opening six games. He had one sack over the next eight contests before going back on injury reserve.
His fifth-year option – $9.23 million – would have been worth more than the four-year, $9,118,894 rookie contract he signed after the Broncos selected him with the 23rd overall pick in 2015. Ray, who recently turned 25, has started just 15 games in three NFL seasons, collecting 13 sacks and recovering two fumbles.
”Do you invest $9 million in a guy who had three wrist surgeries the year prior? You know, maybe not?” Ray said. ”I cant blame John for that, and I cant focus on that. Thats not something Im going to allow to mess up my focus or my commitment to the team.”
On draft night, Ray said he, too, cheered the selection of Chubb, even if it was direct competition. Ray also vowed to teach Chubb the tricks of the pass-rushing trade. After all, thats what DeMarcus Ware did for him.
So far, Rays been impressed by Chubb.
”Hes taking notes from me, Von, Shaq (Barrett), the coaches,” Ray said. ”Hes going to develop into a great player because of that.”
One thing: Ray will be standing in his way of a starting role.
”Its going to be hell of a fight,” Ray said, ”for somebody to come and take what Ive worked so hard for my whole life.”
While Rays wrist continues to heal – hes not allowed to do push-ups or bench press yet – Ray spent the offseason increasing his leg strength. Hes beefed up from 219 pounds to around 247.
”I havent been this big in three years,” Ray said. ”Its a nice additional weight I felt I needed … playing the run, just getting into the backfield and moving guys around.”
Broncos coach Vance Joseph can almost sense a hungry Ray, whos trying to hold off Chubb and prove hes worth a lucrative new deal.
”Youre going to have to go out and earn your keep in this league,” Joseph said. ”If you earn it, you keep it. He understands that. So, Shane has been in a great mood. … Ive been proud of how Shanes handled those things because obviously he reads the papers and what you guys write about that stuff.”
Hes not reading this: Whats being said on social media. Hes tuned it out after a series of exchanges with his Twitter followers during the draft weekend.
”Its stressful, when youve got all these other things to worry about in life and have other people that are trying to bash you every moment they get,” Ray explained. ”I dont have time for it.”
Ray had a solid rookie season that included a pair of tackles and a forced fumble in the Broncos win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50. In 2016, he posted eight sacks.
”Last year, I wasnt the same me due to injury,” Ray said. ”For people holding that against me, hey, it is what it is. I dont care. … Focus on you and eliminate the outside noise and life will be a lot easier.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed.
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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Everywhere he looks at the moment Broncos linebacker Shane Ray spots motivation.
Denver selecting another pass rusher in Bradley Chubb with the No. 5 overall pick? Fuel.
Not having his fifth-year option picked up by the team? More incentive.
Being bashed on social media following an injury-riddled 2017 season? Added drive.
Not that long ago, Ray was all the rage – a first-round pick out of Missouri to play alongside Von Miller. But another pass-rusher has suddenly soared in popularity in Chubb, whose selection on draft night had Miller hooting and hollering .
Ray gets it. He takes it all in stride. Hes trying to, anyway.
”For somebody to come and just try to shove me to the side, Im not that type of player,” Ray said after a team workout Tuesday. ”Im going to come out here and continue to be what my coaches know that I can be, my teammates, and Im not going to let the outside people try to characterize who I am and whats going to happen for this team.
”Ive got to focus on being me. Ive got to focus on coming out here and having a great season, and helping my team and securing my future, wherever it is.”
Ray insisted he understands why Broncos boss John Elway and the team balked at picking up his option. Last season wasnt what he envisioned, either. He broke his left wrist in July, underwent three surgeries that caused him to miss the opening six games. He had one sack over the next eight contests before going back on injury reserve.
His fifth-year option – $9.23 million – would have been worth more than the four-year, $9,118,894 rookie contract he signed after the Broncos selected him with the 23rd overall pick in 2015. Ray, who recently turned 25, has started just 15 games in three NFL seasons, collecting 13 sacks and recovering two fumbles.
”Do you invest $9 million in a guy who had three wrist surgeries the year prior? You know, maybe not?” Ray said. ”I cant blame John for that, and I cant focus on that. Thats not something Im going to allow to mess up my focus or my commitment to the team.”
On draft night, Ray said he, too, cheered the selection of Chubb, even if it was direct competition. Ray also vowed to teach Chubb the tricks of the pass-rushing trade. After all, thats what DeMarcus Ware did for him.
So far, Rays been impressed by Chubb.
”Hes taking notes from me, Von, Shaq (Barrett), the coaches,” Ray said. ”Hes going to develop into a great player because of that.”
One thing: Ray will be standing in his way of a starting role.
”Its going to be hell of a fight,” Ray said, ”for somebody to come and take what Ive worked so hard for my whole life.”
While Rays wrist continues to heal – hes not allowed to do push-ups or bench press yet – Ray spent the offseason increasing his leg strength. Hes beefed up from 219 pounds to around 247.
”I havent been this big in three years,” Ray said. ”Its a nice additional weight I felt I needed … playing the run, just getting into the backfield and moving guys around.”
Broncos coach Vance Joseph can almost sense a hungry Ray, whos trying to hold off Chubb and prove hes worth a lucrative new deal.
”Youre going to have to go out and earn your keep in this league,” Joseph said. ”If you earn it, you keep it. He understands that. So, Shane has been in a great mood. … Ive been proud of how Shanes handled those things because obviously he reads the papers and what you guys write about that stuff.”
Hes not reading this: Whats being said on social media. Hes tuned it out after a series of exchanges with his Twitter followers during the draft weekend.
”Its stressful, when youve got all these other things to worry about in life and have other people that are trying to bash you every moment they get,” Ray explained. ”I dont have time for it.”
Ray had a solid rookie season that included a pair of tackles and a forced fumble in the Broncos win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50. In 2016, he posted eight sacks.
”Last year, I wasnt the same me due to injury,” Ray said. ”For people holding that against me, hey, it is what it is. I dont care. … Focus on you and eliminate the outside noise and life will be a lot easier.”
—
AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed.
—
For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
