In the NFL, legends leave the building every day. Football is a young man’s game, after all. Youth is healthy, hungry and cheap—a trifecta former Broncos legend Tim Patrick can longer boast..
The Broncos moved on from beloved wide receiver Tim Patrick last week, sending shockwaves through Broncos Country, including our very own Liv Moods, who curled herself up in a ball and wept upon hearing the news. Tim Patrick had become something of a folk hero in Denver over the last six years—a bright spot in a sea of misery. A guy who did things the hard way. Who overcame adversity. Who earned the respect of his teammates. A favorite in the locker room. A man who was sidelined the previous two seasons with devastating training camp injuries and who returned a few weeks ago in triumphant fashion, scoring a preseason touchdown and looking like the Tim Patrick we all know and love. While many training camp battles felt up in the air, it seemed to some as if Tim Patrick had cemented himself on this roster, proving his worth to Coach Payton, just in the nick of time.
And then came the news last week: Tim Patrick was being waived. Gasp! He has since signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad.
If there is any lesson in Patrick’s departure, it’s that not even folk heroes are safe, and we should never get enamored with the feel-good story. The only thing that makes a coach feel good is winning. The fact is, this is a new Broncos team, and Sean Payton will not be swayed by a fond memory of a miserable time in Broncos Country. Despite his incredible personal journey, Tim Patrick represents just that: a past we are putting behind us.
This is now about the future of the Denver Broncos. It is about Youth and Energy. And with only five roster spots at receiver, it really came down to just that. While Tim had to defy the odds to make it back to camp, and while his preseason touchdown was an incredible moment, there was something happening, steadily, every day at camp that took Coach Payton’s eyes in a different direction: The emergence of rookie wide receiver, Davaughn Vele.
Day after day, play after play, in Tim Patrick’s old #81 jersey, Vele made his presence known. Consistently effective route running, reliable hands, and the ability to make the wow catch. While Tim Patrick paced himself during training camp, allowing his body to catch up to the demand’s of practice, Vele was taking every rep full speed, laying it on the line to execute this new vision of Broncos football---a vision punctuated by Youth and Energy.
Vele’s height, 6’5”, and athleticism make him an ideal target for a young quarterback. His catch radius is bananas. He attacks the football in the air in a way that not all receivers know how to. There was no wat Payton could let him walk, which made Tim Patrick the odd man out.
If Vele develops a real connection with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, it could bear fruit for years to come. But no matter what happens, one thing is certain: Broncos Country will look back fondly on the Legend of Tim Patrick.
