Sports Radio Interviews

Denver Broncos Receiver Demaryius Thomas: “I Want to be the Best in the Game”

Demaryius Thomas is having the best season of his young career, and it’s no coincidence, given that Peyton Manning is now his signal-caller. Thomas has amassed 74 receptions for 1,197 yards and eight touchdowns. Thomas is poised for the Pro Bowl team this season.

The former Georgia Tech standout believes he’s matured a lot in the past year. The Broncos are set to take on the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday in a battle for AFC playoff position.

Demaryius Thomas joined KKFN in Denver with Drew and Scott to discuss his initial scouting of the Baltimore Ravens defense, his maturity as a football player over the past year, being in awe of Peyton Manning, the upcoming game against the  Ravens and his desire to be the best wide receiver in football.

What did you see in your scouting of the Baltimore Ravens?

“They have a good defense. [Host: They have a guy on that defense named Ed Reed. You know who he is?] Yeah I know him. [Host: He likes to hit people] Yeah I know. I know where he is on the field at all times.”

Do you feel like you have grown up a lot in the last year or so?

“Yeah I think so; it’s been a big change. A lot has happened over the past year or whatever — the switch of quarterbacks, I have been healthy. I’ve been looking at the game different. I’ve matured a lot, because I think one of the things that has mainly helped me do it is getting more involved with my coach and watching film and seeing what defenses do. I feel like that made me mature in my game. I feel like I had to step up and be a leader, so I gotta mature.”

Was there ever a time this season where Peyton Manning has seen a weakness in an opposing defense and you’re thinking, “how the heck did he do that?”

“[Laughs] I ain’t got that yet, but I’ve probably said, ‘How the heck does he do that with the things he does on the field?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know how the heck he does that.’”

I know the next game is important, but how do you view the game against the Baltimore Ravens? It could be for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, right?

“You’re right, and it’s always about the next game. We are trying to go out and get another win and put ourselves in a good position for the playoffs and hopefully you get that No. 2 seed, so we can get a bye, but we are just going to go out and play and hopefully everything will work out our way and we get the ‘W.’”

How important is it to you to be the best wide receiver in the league?

“I want to be recognized as the best from all the great receivers in the league. If you can put yourself up there, you are real elite. I am going to keep working on my game and just try to get myself to be the best and not be one of the guys who says, ‘He was good, but he could have worked on things.’ I want to be the best in the game. That’s why I played this sport. I love it and I want to be the best at what I do.”

Listen to Demaryius Thomas on KKFN in Denver here [Interview begins at the 34:25 mark of the podcast]

Tags: AFC playoff race, Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos, Drew and Scott, KKFN in Denver, New England Patriots, NFL, Peyton Manning