ENGLEWOOD, Colo. –Rookie wide receiver Lamaar Thomas lined up across from Rahim Moore in a one-on-one drill Saturday morning, expecting to run his route and haul in a pass from quarterback Brock Osweiler.
But Moore was having none of that.
The third-year safety dove in front of Osweiler's delivery and picked it off, then popped up to entice the crowd.
"I want to start back up that excitement," Moore said. "That's why, when I make plays, I want to celebrate. I don't care, I love the fans. They're the best I've ever seen. It's football, so they do a good job of motivating us every morning. When we come out here, the fans just embrace us. It's like no other feeling."
Moore can appreciate that support as he has been one of the most scrutinized players for the past seven months.
Head Coach John Fox said he thinks that attention like that can be good for a player's development.
"I think the guy has grown from it," Fox said in reference to Moore. "In this business there are a lot of eyes watching you and with that comes a lot of criticism. Much like a lot of our guys, when put in that position, they man up and face it head on and I think get better for it."
But Moore said after practice today that he doesn't pay attention to what things are being said about him.
"To be honest, I don't really read a lot of what the press says," he said. "I'm just not into the social media world. A lot of times, I'm blind to what people are saying. I think that's a good thing because it keeps me focused and makes me not worry about anything outside of the field.
"When you get in between those lines, nothing else matters."
The UCLA product was involved in a lot of disrupted passes Saturday morning, including another impressive diving play in one of the 11-on-11 portions of practice. He dove to knock the ball out of the hands of Gerrell Robinson as he was trying to bring in a long pass from Osweiler.
Saturday was the first practice the Broncos wore full pads, but Moore said that with the pace and intensity with which the team has been practicing, he felt like they were in pads already.
Moore's attitude reflected that intensity and he said he's ready to get to work for the 2013 season.
"When you love the game and you give the game what it deserves, you've just got to always constantly keep working," Moore said. "I'm excited, we're all excited, our whole staff is excited.
