Mile High Monday: Wilson’s jet-setting ways won’t be a distraction

The Denver Broncos begin training camp at the end of the month. During this time, players are taking their final break before they go for months pushing for a Super Bowl.

I like the Broncos being Super Bowl contenders once again. This team is one of the best and most historic in NFL history, but the last five years have been out of character. It’s time for this team to be at or near the top in the NFL – which happens this season.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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What Vacation?

Every time you turn around it seems like Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is somewhere across the globe enjoying himself. His wife, Ciara, is an international superstar singer, so the two have a glamorous lifestyle globetrotting around the world. Even though Wilson is traveling all over the place, he’s still got football on his mind.

Over the last week or so, Wilson has been in Morocco, London, California and countless other places it seems. During his travels, Wilson not only packs a football but he also takes his helmet and shoulder pads so he can get some work in. Oh yeah, as Tyler Polumbus reported, Wilson also takes his quarterback coach with him.

Wilson takes vacation, but he never really leaves work behind him. No matter where he goes, Wilson is putting in the work where he can. Playing quarterback is not just a job – for the greatest quarterback out there it’s a lifestyle. As his lifestyle, Wilson knows that he must stay sharp.

On top of the mountain overlooking the sea..Thanks Monaco! Anytime anyplace we work! WINNING is a Habit. ⚽️🏈
Grateful for Team @AS_Monaco pic.twitter.com/yxS7noecOD

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) June 25, 2022

Winning is a habit, and it takes work to win at the level that Wilson wants. The Broncos are in a Super Bowl window because of Wilson, and the work he does when on vacation can keep his skill set sharp for when training camp begins at the end of the month. The team needs to get off to a hot start, especially when their schedule gets much tougher towards the end of the season. It may seem silly to some, but Wilson isn’t going to let his skills gather any rust during the offseason.

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Cold Blooded

It’s a cruel world out there, and often on Twitter things can get a little rough for people in the public spotlight. Drew Lock was a victim of a cold blood tweet – from the U.S. Open – and he didn’t even do anything.

A Seahawks fan tweeted in response to a SportsCenter tweet about the U.S. Open that it’s “not a sport.” The person who runs the U.S. Open account came back at that Seahawks fan in a brutal way that won the internet for the day. Seahawks fans are going to miss Wilson, and the team is trying to promote a quarterback competition between Lock and Geno Smith. The U.S. Open’s twitter account hit hard when it replied to the Seahawks fan that they are getting ready for 17 games with Lock as their starter.

That’s not entirely accurate as Lock may not win the starting job. In fact, Smith is leading the competition throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Even Seahawks players like LB K.J. Wright are public with their support of Smith as the starter. Recently, Wright tweeted that he didn’t want the team to trade for Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and he didn’t want Lock as the starter – he’s fully behind Smith. He’s not the only player with that sentiment, but he went public with his opinion – likely to the chagrin of the team.

Drew Lock just trying to enjoy the Holiday Weekend and he’s catching strays.

Cold world. pic.twitter.com/KRmzJ0Xmng

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 2, 2022

The Broncos don’t have to worry about Lock anymore. Gone are the days of quarterback competitions – and I couldn’t be happier. I hope things work out for Lock in Seattle – I really do – but first he has to beat out Smith in training camp. I’m not sure he does that.

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More Talib Please!

I love former Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib. Covering Talib was a dream because he made plays against the best players in the league, so he gave you plenty to talk about. In the Broncos locker room, Talib was always generous with his time and he gave you plenty to talk about with what he had to say.

It was revealed this week that Amazon has hired Talib to work on Thursday Night Football this season. Talib has done some broadcasting work after his playing days, and he’s been getting better with more reps. Just like Mark Schlereth, Talib stands out as a broadcaster because he doesn’t pull any punches.

Talib was a talker as a player, so now that football fans get to hear him talk more it’s a boost for the game. He’s going to tell it like it is when he breaks down a game, and with Talib you’re never quite sure what he’s going to say. Former players like Marshawn Lynch have given the game coverage “tweetable” moments, and that helps grow the game to a younger audience. That’s something every sport needs to be cognizant of.

Now a done deal: Former All-Pro CB Aqib Talib, who has impressed in the booth recently, will join the Amazon desk for Thursday Night Football, source said. He’ll be involved in pre-game, halftime and postgame. https://t.co/5Xen7zdp9d

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 28, 2022

If TV networks want more people to watch, then hiring players who tell it like it is must be paramount when putting together a broadcast booth. Football fans are smarter than some want to give them credit for, and the same old breakdowns don’t grab the attention of the now more-than-casual fan. Talib will say his truth, and that’s going to be biting at times. No matter what, Talib makes Amazon’s broadcast must-see TV – and that’s good news for football fans (and them).

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America, #### Yeah!

I hope everyone had a great Independence Day weekend. I love this country. I always have, and I always will. Independence Day has always been a big holiday in my house, and I enjoy the festivities every single year.

My mother’s family came here from Mexico for a better life. They suffered greatly just to make it to this country, but the sacrifices they made help make a better life for my mom and her siblings when they were growing up in Laramie, Wyo. I’ve read in my great-grandmother Juanita’s Bible about the stories of why they wanted to come to the United States. Her writings, and the writing of my grandmother Nellie Gonzales, in that bible opened my eyes as to why they made the trek North for freedom.

I know we’re not perfect as a country, but I appreciate that we’re working on it. We have freedom of speech, and the pursuit of happiness is written in our constitution! Seeing, reading and hearing about what others – like my family – have gone through in other countries it makes me very appreciative of the freedoms we have here in America.

How did you spend your Independence Day? Hit me up on social media and let me know!

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Follow @CecilLammey