Page 20 - Flathead Beacon // 12.25.13

20 | BEACON SPECIAL FEATURE

tract that included a signing bonus of out of Arizona, illed in for an injured In high school, he practiced for a
MANNING’S SHADOW
$997,584.
Michael Vick and after only a couple couple hours a day. Then in college,
Osweiler (17) stretches behind Manning It was a dream come true, but also
(18) during a weekday practice at the months has cemented himself as Phil- between meetings and practices, foot-
team’s Dove Valley training facility.
an eye-opener.
adelphia’s franchise quarterback.
ball took upwards of six hours a day.
“Coach (John) Fox, when I irst In that same light, for Osweiler, But now, he is engrossed. Even in the
came here, he said, ‘If you’re not get- someone whose goals extend beyond ofseason, he returns to the Arizona
ting better, you’re getting replaced,’” the practice squad, being a backup desert and trains daily with a rigorous
uncommon amount of hype for a ju- Osweiler says. “That’s something that means constant preparation. It means schedule, “to keep that game grow-
nior high school athlete. In 1973, Jack sank into me since day one and I take being on-call 24/7. Especially when ing.”
took another coaching job and uproot- it to heart.”
your starting quarterback has nag- “There’s not a day that I’m not

ed the family yet again. John Elway Elway, Fox and the Broncos faith- ging injuries and had multi-
would grow up elsewhere and become ful don’t expect Osweiler to take over ple neck surgeries.
one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks the ofense anytime soon. At 37 years “I’m a huge goal guy.
of all time, playing his entire storied old, Manning is playing like he’s still That’s something my par-
career for the Denver Broncos.
in his prime and doesn’t appear ready ents have really pounded
When Osweiler was in the dorms to hand over the reins.
into my work ethic since I
at ASU, he lived one loor away from But that doesn’t mean Osweiler is was very young,” Osweiler
John Elway’s son, who was named kicking back and relaxing.
said.

after his grandfather. Brock and Jack People often assume backup quar- “I have goals as far as dai-
became best friends during college. terbacks enjoy a life of ease, stand- ly practice goals. I have sea-
That’s how John Elway irst encoun- ing idly on the sidelines holding clip- son goals and I have career
tered the towering QB from Montana.
boards, taking meaningless snaps in goals. I’m a irm believer in
In 2012, Elway had returned to the inal minutes of a blowout.
them. You have to have your
the Broncos organization as execu- The life of an NFL backup is a slow sights set on something, oth-
tive vice president of football opera- but explosive process. Every season a erwise you’ll just loat away

tions, and when it came time for draft solidiied starting quarterback seems without a plan.”
day, Elway had his sights set on who he to go down, suddenly opening the door
wanted as Peyton Manning’s heir ap- for a reserve player to prove his worth.
parent.
When Drew Bledsoe sufered a string THE EARLY YEARS
The Broncos traded picks around of injuries during the New England A younger Osweiler, as a
and positioned themselves accord- Patriots’ 2001 season, an opportunity senior at Flathead, stands
ingly: with the 57th overall pick of the suddenly emerged for a relatively un- next to Braves head coach
NFL Draft, Denver selected Oswei- known young QB named Tom Brady.
Russell McCarvel on the
sidelines of Legends Stadium
ler. A couple months later they signed Just this season, Nick Foles, a in Kalispell.
him to a four-year, $3.1 million con-
24-year-old third-round draft pick
FILE PHOTO BY LIDO VIZZUTTI | FLATHEAD BEACON