ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When he describes the profile of the free agent he prefers to pursue, Denver Broncos executive vice president of the football operations/general manager John Elway has a clear idea of what he’s looking to find.
He’ll often speak of the importance of a homegrown, draft-built roster and that a free agent needs to fit, both in the locker room and in the lineup. And that, in a perfect world, the free agent is an ascending player, a 20-something set to sign his second contract in the league.
That’s the profile when the Broncos signed guard Louis Vasquez in 2013 and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in 2014, who were both named to their first career Pro Bowls in the seasons following their signings in Denver.
Then there’s another kind of free agent.
"That’s a guy who fits what you do, is the kind of guy you want with your team, has plenty of football left in him and can have impact while he helps your young guys," is how Elway has described it.
That’s why the Broncos signed 33-year-old Antonio Smith to play on the defensive line in their new 3-4 scheme. Because the Broncos believe Smith fits what they do, has a lot of football left in him and can be an important voice in the locker room.
"I do take pride in teaching the craft and giving the craft out," Smith said. "It’s not a thing where I want to keep every little thing that I use to get my edge for myself. I’m always in it for helping my teammates. Everything I do, I do it with passion and I do it with my heart. When I do things with my heart, I tend to get close to everybody that I’ve ever played with. When you do that, you respect each other and you play better. You listen to them and their advice, and they listen to you and your advice. I think that’s the best type of leader, being a server. If you can serve your teammates, they’ll listen to you."
Smith, who will turn 34 in October, has played in 16 games in all but one of his previous 10 NFL seasons (his rookie year in 2005) so he fits the durability mold. He has 44.5 career sacks, most of those coming from the interior of the defensive line, including a three-year stretch for new Denver coach Gary Kubiak in Houston when Smith had 6.5, 7.0 and 5.0 sacks, respectively. So he’s been productive.
And with Wade Phillips now the Broncos' defensive coordinator and Bill Kollar the Broncos’ defensive line coach -- both were with the Texans in Smith’s time there -- he will certainly fit on the field.
But the Broncos also have a group of young defensive linemen, players like Derek Wolfe, Malik Jackson and Quanterus Smith, drafted by the Broncos to play in their 4-3 scheme. Though there are plenty of crossover principles in the defense the Broncos have played in the previous four seasons and the one they will play this coming season, Smith can help those players in the transition.
More importantly, Smith wants to help.
"I do take a lot of humility in it," Smith said. "It stems from my Arizona days when I first came in, the transition and to how the league has changed. Back then it was more or less the guys trying to keep their jobs and different things like that. It was only really three guys that I really got a lot of help from as far as veterans. I always kind of vowed that I would be that type of guy. Anything that I got, I mean anything, anything they need from me -- advice, help, they need me stay after practice with them or whatever it is to teach them something -- I’m an open book. I don’t keep secrets and try not to educate you so that one day you might not come take my job or anything like that."
Smith is the fifth player the Broncos have added in recent weeks who has spent time with a team where Kubiak has been the head coach or on the team’s coaching staff. Guard/center Shelley Smith, tight end Owen Daniels, safety Darian Stewart and center Gino Gradkowski are the others.
The Broncos contacted Smith quickly after Smith had been released by the Oakland Raiders -- "I had an old phone (number) that (Kollar) had. He said that he called me as soon as it went across the wire."
Smith added; "I expect to play a lot ... I’m looking to get a lot of reps ... Whatever you need me to play, I’m able to play it. That’s the mindset that I have. The man in front of me, it’s my job to beat him, whether I’m supposed to two-gap him, pass-rush him or put him in the backfield. It’s my job to do it."
