Drowning out the noise of a Super Bowl can be a tough task, one Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas might be struggling with according to some reports. But if there’s one bit of noise Denver’s three-time Pro-Bowl wide receiver shouldn’t ignore, its the sounds of encouragement coming from one of the greatest to play the game, Michael Irvin.
Irvin, no stranger to attention and challenges in his own right, joined Eric Goodman and Les Shaprio on Mile High Sports AM 1340 from Radio Row at Super Bowl 50 Wednesday to share some insight about his relationship with Thomas and what the Denver wideout is going through as he approaches the biggest game of his life.
This game, his second Super Bowl, is much bigger for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the last time he played in the Super Bowl (a 35-point loss) he set the record for most catches.
“He owns the record in this game,” Irvin reminded Goodman and Shapiro, “13 receptions two years ago.”
This year, however, Thomas has been plagued by dropped passes. Although he eclipsed 1,000 yards and 100 receptions on the year, he failed to live up to the exceedingly high expectations of the $70 million contract he signed at the deadline this past offseason.
“He played well,” Irvin said. “I thought, all things given, [he had] a very good season.”
For many Broncos fans, very good wasn’t good enough. Thomas was Denver’s top receiver again in 2015, but has accounted for just 52 playoff yards in two games this year.
The off-field personal issues he’s endured, specifically the release of his mother from prison after a lengthy drug charge, weighed heavily. Irvin has done his best to be there in support of the talented wide receiver.
“His mom getting out…” Irvin said with a pause. “You know, I talk to Demaryius all the time – that’s my dude – I talk to him all the time. And I told him ‘I know how much you wanted to get to the Super Bowl and how much you wanted to get your mom here. But just relax the best you can. You’ve been here before. Just go play your game. Let her just enjoy watching you.'”
Irvin has confidence that Thomas has saved the best for last.
“He’ll be fine in this situation. He knows one got away from him a couple years ago and he’ll be fine in this situation,” he said.
Irvin is taking on a different role with Thomas than he had on the field. The outspoken Cowboys wideout who never lost a Super Bowl is a stark contrast to the soft-spoken and shy Thomas. Irvin knows Thomas needs to be himself, to be laid back…
“…and not that motor guy everybody talks about. He has all the motor skills but [he’s] not the motor guy. You got guys around you, like [Broncos quarterback] Peyton Manning, guys around you like [wide receiver] Emmanuel Sanders that are always going,” Irvin says.
Thomas and his raw athletic ability can be a superb counter-punch to that.
“This guy [Thomas], you can throw this guy a quick hitch and he can take it the distance, or you can throw the ball up in the air and he can make a play on it. That’s what I think is going to come up big.”
As for Manning, the guy getting Thomas the ball, he’s had his own struggles this year. A plantar fascia injury hobbled him and produced a career-worst 9:17 touchdown-to-interception ratio during the regular season. Manning missed seven starts at the end of the season before returning in the second half against San Diego in Week 17 to lead Denver to victory and a No. 1 seed.
“We don’t know where Peyton will be in this game,” Irvin said, “but he has a Demaryius Thomas. If I’m him, whatever I do, I’m throwing that ball up in the air. that’s a big body that can jump and go make a play.
Manning won’t be able to pass his way out of jams like he once could. Irvin says for Manning to win, it will have to be thanks to guys like Thomas and an old reliable ally, Manning’s mind.
“He has to play his best game ‘shoulders up,'” for Denver to win, Irvin said. “Not just putting them in the right play, checking out of a bad play and into the good run play. He also has to get his guys balls in the right spot.
“We don’t know his physical capabilities. He’s not as accurate on the deep balls. So he has to make sure he understands that and drop off the short passes and get the ball in the playmakers’ hands and let them make plays.”
Thomas is chief among those playmakers, and while he’s struggled (based on outlandish expectations) this year, he has “The Playmaker” offering his support.
Listen to the full discussion with Irvin, including a look at what the Denver defense can expect from the speedy Carolina offense, in the podcast below…
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