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Surgery on his right foot, then his left foot, made him more of a bit player in Pittsburgh's bid to repeat as AFC champion in 2011.
After the injuries limited him to 22 catches in 2011, Sanders got a starting role in Pittsburgh and caught 111 passes over the next two seasons. Decent stats, but not what he felt was his full potential — the byproduct of being in a run-first offense and paired outside opposite Antonio Brown, who has almost the exact same body and receiving style as Sanders.
Now, Sanders, at 5-foot-11,China Jerseys, 186, will play opposite 6-3, 230-pound Demaryius Thomas.
Playing for the Denver Broncos now, Sanders is back to full health and embracing his role in the sport more than ever.
Some rookie-like enthusiasm from a player getting ready for his fifth year in the league.
After wrapping up his first week of work with the Broncos, he went around to his teammates and asked them, "Can you believe we're in the NFL?"
Now that he's regained it after a couple years overcoming the foot injuries, Sanders isn't taking anything for granted.
"Anytime you get the opportunity to play with Peyton Manning, you've got to capitalize on that," Sanders said Friday, after the Broncos wrapped up their first round of offseason workouts. "To have the opportunity to come into a passing system with one of the greatest, if not the greatest,Cheap NFL Jerseys, player to play the position, it's a blessing."
The injuries taught him to appreciate football. And,NFL Jerseys From China, he said, he figures a spot on the field with Peyton Manning could give him a chance to finally realize his full potential.
"It's from sitting on the sidelines, saying,Wholesale Jerseys, 'Will I ever run again?'" he said. "Now, I'm just coming back into my own. Not having to worry about whether I can cut on a dime. Not having to worry about when I cut, will my feet break. I have an appreciation of everything because of what I've been through with my feet."
Offensive coordinator Adam Gase said the Broncos, after parting ways with Eric Decker,China Jerseys Wholesale, were looking for a receiver who could run the deep routes.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The last time receiver Emmanuel Sanders spent the offseason aiming to get his team back to the Super Bowl, there was only so much he could do.
"Just that quickness, top of the route, and that speed down the field,NFL Jerseys From China, is something that we were very interested in to start with," Gase said. "And he's shown us that he's still got that."
"He's a big, physical receiver and I'm more a smaller, quick, faster receiver that can stretch the field," Sanders said. "It definitely gives our offensive coordinator the ability to go with matchups. I think Peyton likes that a lot better also." |
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