Really special teams: Players love it as well

Broncos place-kicker Brandon McManus has worked with Special Olympics dating to his time as a high school student in Pennsylvania. Tuesday at Dove Valley, he was reminded exactly why he continues to volunteer.

The Broncos welcomed about 125 Special Olympics Colorado athletes to its indoor practice facility through the NFL’s Play 60 campaign for an hour-long event with select players, along with cheerleaders and mascot Miles, to run various football drills.

McManus, leading a running back agility workout, was caught by surprise when one attendee took charge, unannounced, while breaking down a huddle.

“Teamwork on three,” the attendee said. McManus followed his lead.

“Seeing these kids out here encouraging one another and clapping for one another, it’s just really moving and empowering for me,” McManus said, “and makes me want to do what I do even more.”

Special Olympics athletes rotated through four stations to practice several football techniques. Other notable Broncos in attendance included quarterback Chad Kelly, tight end Jeff Heuerman and cornerback Brendan Langley.

“(The players) are so great,” said Mindy Watrous, president and CEO of Special Olympics Colorado. “They’ll kneel down and take the time to talk and understand. To show them how to put their fingers on the laces and to do all of that … They were like mi- raculous in their kindness and their 100 percent commitment to what’s happening here today.”

When organized team activities (OTAs) begin next week, second-year Broncos linebacker Joseph Jones will work toward keeping his roster spot as a valued member on special teams. But those goals were on hold Tuesday as Jones found fulfillment working with Special Olympians.

“Everyone thinks that community service is about making the people that we’re serving smile,” Jones said. “For me, it always makes me smile more than I feel like it makes them smile.”

The love is mutual. “They will talk about it for months and years to come,” Watrous said. “It is incredibly meaningful to them.”