GORDON WANTS TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH LINDSAY
New RB Gordon looking forward to working in tandem with Lindsay
New Broncos running back Melvin Gordon is excited about his partnership with Phillip Lindsay, the chance to prove he can regain his 2018 Pro Bowl form … and having a true home-field advantage.
Gordon’s final three years with the Chargers coincided with the team’s move to Los Angeles and being strangers in their own stadium.
“I always felt it was an away game when we played (at home against) the Broncos … and pretty much every team,” Gordon said during a media conference call Friday.
Broncos fans overtook the Chargers’ home stadium in Carson, Calif., and figure to this year when the scene shifts to the new SoFi Stadium. Gordon will face his old team twice a season after signing a two-year, $16 million deal with the Broncos.
“I was with those guys for five years,” he said. “Great relationships with all those guys. It’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be electric. There’s going to be a lot of trash talking. Their defense is going to definitely let me hear it, but I’m going to let them hear it as well.”
Gordon’s goal is to let his play do most of the yelling. The Broncos are getting a motivated, chip-on-his-shoulder player, one whose holdout last year didn’t pan out as planned and significantly dented his production (one 100yard game).
“Oh, it’s huge,” Gordon said of his incentive. “I felt like a lot of people doubt my talent as a back. During the holdout, a lot of people were saying, ‘He’s an average back.’ No one takes into account I didn’t have my center (Mike Pouncey). I didn’t have my left tackle (Russell Okung). I didn’t have my best linemen.
“Nobody cares about that, nor should
they. Some players, they get that excuse (of playing behind a makeshift line). Some players, in my position, they don’t care if your line is hurt. I’m going to take that and use it as fuel because I know what type of player I am and I’m going to show that I’m better than average.”
Gordon is the first to admit his 2019 was sub-par following a holdout that didn’t end until Week 4 of the regular season. He rushed for a career-low 612 yards.
Post-holdout, was the environment untenable for Gordon?
“It was tough,” he said. “I definitely felt I ruined some relationships. It’s all part of it. Obviously, you try your best to put that aside and try to go out there and give it your all. … I kind of felt some tension walking around, but I tried my best to keep a smile on my face, show up for work every day. It was challenging, but I got through. I can’t take back what I did.”
The follow-up question to Gordon: In retrospect, was the holdout a mistake?
“I probably would come back (earlier) just more so because of my legacy and what I’m trying to do as a player and the mark I’m trying to leave,” he said. “Those are games I obviously can’t get back.”
Gordon’s holdout created a starting opportunity for Austin Ekeler, who turned that into a contract extension. When Gordon was rolling, he and Ekeler formed a productive tandem. Gordon envisions the same with him and Lindsay.
“He’s a great back,” Gordon said. “I’ve watched him up close (and) in person, and these past few days, I’ve been watching film on him as well seeing how they open things up for him. I think we can be a great 1-2 punch.”
Gordon said Lindsay reached out to him last week.
“Phillip (said), ‘We’re going to have a great season. Can’t wait to push each other,’” Gordon said.
Gordon has also spent time watching the Broncos’ offensive linemen to get a feel for how they block.
“You only hear great things about Denver,” he said. “I just thought it was a great move and a great place to start off fresh and help boost my career.”
Heath, Jones re-sign. According to the NFL’s transaction wire, the Broncos signed defensive end Joel Heath and inside linebacker Joe Jones.
Heath wasn’t tendered last week as a restricted free agent, which means he was free to sign with another team. But Heath (6foot-6 and 302 pounds) opted to re-up with the Broncos, who claimed him off waivers from Houston in January.
The 26-year old Heath has three sacks in 32 games.
Jones agreed to terms on a one-year contract last week. He made the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has 28 tackles in 35 games. Last year, his 277 special teams snaps were second-most on the team.