ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The back-end of the roster is where you will find the players who truly love the game.
They must love it to put up with what receiver Michael Bandy has gone through the past three months.
“Up and down. Keep coming to work,’’ Bandy said Thursday.
A smaller receiver at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Bandy has been cut three times by the Broncos in the past two months, but all three times signed back with their practice squad in short order.
“It’s kind of part of the job,'' Bandy said. "You’ve just got to keep working, working out, staying ready. You never know when you’re opportunity is going to come.”
Bandy, 25, has other underdog traits besides size. He was undrafted out of San Diego, where he was a two-time NCAA FCS All American. Which got him zero looks from the NFL in his first professional season of 2020.
He did catch on with the Los Angeles Chargers the previous two years and caught 10 passes for 89 yards last year. Cut after the 2022 season, Bandy played two games for Wade Phillips and the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL. He signed with the Broncos as training camp commenced in late-July.
He was impressive in the preseason, recording five catches for 40 yards. He's had enough taste of NFL game day to not want to surrender the chance for more.
“No, not at all,'' he said. "I’ve got a lot left in me.”
At least the Broncos don't give him the same old explanation every time they cut him.
“It’s different every time,'' Bandy said. "Just depends on the situation. Sometimes it’s numbers, sometimes it’s other things.”
Clearly, somebody in the Broncos' front office or coaching staff loves Bandy (he played for offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi the previous two years with the Chargers). Still, the question eventually becomes, 'Why? Why does he keep going through a cut tomorrow-back today existence?'
“I love to play,'' he said. "It’s a simple as that, I love to play football. It’s fun here. I like it.”
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports
