Eric Decker Says Peyton Manning and Wes Welker Looked Good At Workouts
By Mike Dyce
May 30, 2012; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and wide receiver Eric Decker (87) walk off the field following organized team activities at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos are considered one of the biggest winners of the offseason so far. After an incredible season with Peyton Manning at the helm, he’s managed to acquire one of his rival Tom Brady’s favorite targets, Wes Welker.
Recently Wes Welker, Eric Decker, and Demaryius Thomas, and Peyton Manning all went to Duke to work out. And Peyton Manning was all business.
“It felt like two-a-days,” Decker said on 102.3 ESPN radio in Denver, via Sports Radio Interviews. “He had us working. Peyton. … Peyton had the whole itinerary and had all these plans for us to work out. … We worked out in the morning, meetings in the afternoon and more workouts in the evening time. It was a grind, but it was a good time.”
But what everyone wants to know is how did Manning and Welker look?
“Everything looked good. Starting with Peyton, his arm strength, I thought, was up from last year at this point,” Decker said. “He’s on point with his throws. It’s unbelievable. To see him with Wes, the first time he worked out with Peyton, he’s hitting him in the numbers and putting it in the right spot. … That’s something that takes time usually, but he’s nailing it right away. And Wes looked good, too. … He’s such a quick, explosive guy, and so crafty at what he does inside the slot. It was fun to see him and learn a little bit, as well.”
And the impact he’ll have on the offense will benefit everyone.
“I think, really, he’s going to take a lot of pressure, whether we see a lot of Cover 2, we see safeties kind of bracketing us outside. He’s really going to make the difference of getting those third-down conversions, of making sure guys really key on him. If there are blitzes, you’ve got a guy in the slot that can make a six-yard catch into a 60-yard touchdown. So that’s something that’s going to be interesting, to see how they play us defensively.”
But will everyone get the receptions they’re accustomed to? To Decker it doesn’t matter as long as they’re chasing hardware.
“I think initially, yeah, obviously you think it. This guy had over 1,000 yards and over 100 catches and has done that for five years consistently, that there may be some passes that don’t come your way. … But when you think about it, ultimately you play this game to win a championship. That’s the bottom line is, if you can add someone to your team that’s going to change the aspect and really make you a great team, I’m all for it.”
But despite his serious approach, Peyton Manning had some fun with the guys and gave them fake invoices for the workout. CJ and Kreckman of 102.3 ESPN asked Decker if he fell for it.
“I did for a little bit, yeah. … What got me, though, and I was confused, was the state tax or the sales tax, I think it was state tax they had on there. I was like, ‘Who charges a state tax for a workout?’ I didn’t want to be rude because we’re all there for dinner and the head coach is there and I was like, ‘I had a great week, but $3,000? You’ve got to be kidding me.’”