DENVER — The two Broncos players with the most NFL seniority received inglorious notices this week.
Russell Wilson, 35, received word from head coach Sean Payton he would not start today for the first time in his 12-year NFL career.
“It’s just something you’ve got to ride with as far as the coach making a decision and we’re going to rally behind (Jarrett) Stidham just like we did Russ,’’ Broncos safety P.J. Locke said this week in an interview with 9NEWS for the Broncos Huddle.
And Broncos’ safety Kareem Jackson, 35, was cut for the first-time in his 14-year NFL career. Jackson was claimed off waivers the next day by the Houston Texans, the team that drafted him 14 years ago. But a big reason why Jackson was expendable with the Broncos was his protégé, Locke, had nabbed his starting job through his fine play while Jackson was serving his second suspension for what the league determined were rule-breaking hits on opponents.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for me because you dream about being a starting safety in the NFL and I’m getting an opportunity to do that and yet it’s at the expense of losing a brother,’’ Locke said. “A mentor to me. I wouldn’t be the guy I am today, the player I am today without him, without Justin (Simmons), without my DB coaches.
“It hurt. Obviously, mixed emotions. I’m just glad he’s able to go back home to a fan base that knows him, that loves him. I want nothing but the best for him. I just want him to finish the season super strong. He dealt with a lot, a lot, during the season so just finishing on a high note, that’s what I pray for him.”
James Abner Locke III is about family and family provided a logical explanation for how he became known as P.J.
“I’m the Third,’’ Locke said. “My dad is James Locke Jr. His nickname is Pookie. My nickname is Pookie Jr. So none of my family calls me James at all. They all call me P.J. And then his side of the family calls me Pookie.’’
P.J. it is. The NFL has an award it presents for community work called the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Left tackle Garett Bolles is the Broncos’ nominee this year. The league also has a courage award and running back Javonte Williams (who also goes by the nickname ‘Pookie’) earned the Broncos’ nomination.
If the league, or team, had an award for dedication and determinination it would be named after P.J. Locke III. After taking a helmet to the throat in the Broncos’ 24-7 win three weeks ago against the Chargers in Los Angeles, Locke began to experience complications.
“I had some air trapped in my throat,’’ Locke said. “That was the initial exam. Because I lost my voice during the game. I’m on the field trying to communicate to Justin (Simmons, the Broncos’ other starting safety). He can’t hear me. I’m throwing some hand signals. I’m the PP (punt protector) on punts so they couldn’t hear me. So a couple times Mitch (Fraboni, the long snapper) held the ball, he said I couldn’t hear you. I said, ‘I’m trying bro, I’m trying.’
“So, yeah, the initial CT scan said I had air in the throat but I had some chest pains and they wound up checking on that and they said I had air trapped around my heart which didn’t allow my heart to expand while it was beating. So I had to go in and perform anesthesia and put in a little scope to make sure my lungs were all good and everything came back (cleared) and she said, ‘Hey, I do recommend no flying because it’s only going to make it worse. And I was like, well-lll. What kind of options do we have?
“They cooked up a little but of RV rides, some tour buses.’’
The RV was chosen. Locke jumped in with two security personnel – including vice president Keith Bishop, a former Broncos’ offensive guard in the 1980s – and an assistant trainer and made the 20-hour, 1,3000-mile trip to Detroit, arriving a few hours before game time against the Lions. Locke, started, then joined the group for the long RV ride home.
“I was like, ‘Let’s gas it up,’’’ Locke said. “Can’t miss this opportunity.’’’
Extra measures were taken for Locke after he became the first safety in Broncos history to have a sack in three consecutive games.
“I will say that last game (against the Chargers) I wasn’t supposed to blitz,’’ Locke said with a sheepish smile. “It was a formation depending. And I wasn’t supposed to blitz – it was either me or somebody else and I went. I made the play so all that was kind of covered up.’’
Without Kareem, and with Russ on the bench, P.J. will line up one more time Sunday against the Chargers.
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