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Anderson Keeps Making the Most of His Chances


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By Mark Knudson, The Mtn. Insider
August 12th, 2011

Back in 2006, two wide receivers who played their college football in Colorado were each given a shot at making a professional football team. David Anderson from Colorado State was the lesser known of the two, because Jeremy Bloom from the University of Colorado was not only an Olympic skier, three time World Champion and an 11-time World Cup gold medalist, but had garnered a ton of attention while he fought the NCAA over an eligibility issue as he sought to continue his college football. Bloom had the name, and had wowed people with his speed and athleticism, but it was Anderson who proved to be the better football player.
 
While Bloom was hitting the moguls and fighting the NCAA, Anderson became the schools - and the Mountain West conference’s - all time leading receiver. During his college career, more than one educated observer labeled him, “The best football player on that field” that day.
 
My boss at the time was a CU fan, so being a CSU alum, it was easy for us to argue about who would have the better professional football career, Anderson or Bloom. We even made a friendly wager on it.
 
I won the bet.
 
Bloom was no slouch, but predictably, having not trained full time for football, he ended up injured an unproductive in his brief NFL career. His unique abilities never fully developed on the football field. Don’t feel too bad for him. Jeremy parlayed his Olympian status into a very successful business career.
 
Anderson was drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh and final round of the ‘06 draft, and ended up playing five seasons in Houston before joining the Denver Broncos this year. In Denver’s first pre-season game, he grabbed a team-high three passes. He’s probably a long shot to make Denver’s final roster, given that wide receiver is one of the very few solid groupings these Broncos have. But don’t expect Anderson to give up easily.
 
“I was always told I was too small, or too slow, or whatever, but I always just used it as more motivation,” Anderson told The Mtn in a recent interview.
 
There’s no telling if Denver will utilize Anderson much in the kick return game as well during this pre season. Only time will tell. What we do know if that if given a fair shot, Anderson will make the most of it. He always has.
 
The two men have never been linked by anyone but us, and weren’t compared to one another much as players. Both were somewhat undersized by today’s standards, and while Bloom’s standout athleticism was seen as a way to overcome the size issues, Anderson doesn’t thinks he’s shook those labels to this day - and he still uses it as motivation. He has continued to defy the odds, and hopes to again this season with Denver. If he finds a home on the roster, it will be his sixth NFL season.
 
In his career, Anderson has caught less that 100 passes for less than 1,000 yards, but he’s always found a spot on a team and been able to contribute. Chances are, when the dust settles this season, he will have found a new home while keeping hold of that old fashioned way to contribute.
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