ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After winning the longsnapper job in training camp, undrafted rookie Aaron Brewer was thrust into a role that demanded perfection under pressure.
If he executed his job every single time, he would remain in relative anonymity. If he didn't, everyone would know.
Brewer relished in his obscurity.
"I talked to the press after I was named the longsnapper (in training camp)," Brewer recalled. "I said I hoped that was the last time I had to talk to all those cameras."
Brewer snapped on every punt, extra point and field goal in 2012. He hasn't had to do another group interview since earning the job.
"I knew I just had to do my job and I'd still be here," he said.
Along the way, he helped Britton Colquitt record the highest net-punting average in team history, resetting his previous record by almost 2 yards. He also had a part in every one of Matt Prater's franchise-record 133 points on the year.
Brewer credits the veteran specialists for simplifying his transition to the NFL.
"They're the best," Brewer said. "Britton and Matt helped me along. When I didn't do so well, they picked up the slack. I love them both."
But it took maturity and the right personality in Brewer to become a trusted member of what he calls a "clan."
Each member of the clan must be fully confident that the other will execute his job. On a field goal, Brewer knows Colquitt will handle the snap. Colquitt knows Brewer will execute the snap. Prater knows the two of them will succeed in getting the ball down for him.
Colquitt and Prater had already established that relationship heading into 2012.
Brewer had to become a part of it quickly, and he did.
"A true professional," Colquitt said. "He didn't make a mistake all year. He really made it easy on us. He just did his job. I think the coaches are really pleased. They should be. He has just done a great job."
The three specialists molded a relationship both on and off the field. Brewer flashed an ear-to-ear grin as he recalled getting to know his teammates' families. Forming a friendship away from the game helped build a stronger foundation that was important in the game.
"The closer you are outside of football, the closer you're going to be in the game," Colquitt said. "You know what each other is thinking. You know what you can do to make it easier on the other guy. That has a lot to do with knowing each other really well."
But there were things that the rookie needed to learn on his own during his transition from college to the NFL.
"It's not new, it's just different," Brewer said. "It's quicker."
When he made the team in the summer, Head Coach John Fox said one of the main reasons was his athleticism. The coaches liked his ability to seal a block and then get down the field on punt pursuit.
"He's an exceptional athlete," Fox said of Brewer in August. "A lot of times with a snapper, one of the things you look at is the protection element. He is like a center on the offensive line. He picked that up very, very quickly. He's very athletic so he's a really good cover guy for a center. A lot of times, people on punt returns don't count that guy. We just felt great about his upside." Brewer showed he had that upside in college and then in the NFL preseason. Still, it was a challenge to adjust to the speed of the game as he tried to prove Fox kept him on the team for the right reason.
"Everybody is faster," he said. "Way faster."
In Denver's Divisional Round game against Baltimore, Brewer successfully snapped on two overtime punts. When he was on the sideline, he stood next to his special-teams counterparts thinking the game could come down to them at any moment. It didn't happen on Saturday, but there will be many more opportunities for Brewer to a part of winning field goals for the Broncos.
"I was thinking it was going to come down to us three," Brewer said. "I thought we would have to kick the game-winner. I was ready for it."
