Far from his old influences in Jacksonville, Denver Broncos rookie defensive tackle Marcus Thomas is trying to live a quiet existence.
He said his normal routine is work out, study the playbook, maybe hang out with some teammates. He isn’t a hermit, but he knows he has no room for error after ruining his senior year of college.
“I’ll occasionally go out, but it’s not a big deal for me, nothing I look forward to,” Thomas said. “I’m just looking forward to the season, and playing football.”
The Broncos selected Thomas in the fourth round of April’s draft. Denver knew the risk. Thomas failed two drug tests at the University of Florida, then was kicked off the team for violating rules. Instead of following a contract with the coaching staff, in which he had a 7 p.m. curfew, could not leave town and had to attend rehabilitation class six times a week, Thomas stopped going to rehabilitation classes and went back to Jacksonville. That led to his dismissal.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan sent a message to Thomas: one more slip-up and he would be cut. Thomas, who might have been a first-round pick if it weren’t for his problems, said he took that to heart.
“Just basically, I’m letting people know who I am,” Thomas said. “The things in Florida are in the past. Right now I’m trying to show I’m not that type of guy.”
Sports: Broncos rookie Thomas knows he can't screw up | thomas, broncos, jacksonville - Gazette.com
07-23-2007, 06:01 AM
Broncos DT Marcus Thomas 
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