With veteran quarterback Russell Wilson joining the Denver Horses this offseason, the team’s remaining players with the most NFL experience are fullback Michael Burton and defensive lineman Angelo Blackson. Both players are entering their tenth season in the league.
At 32 years old, Michael Burton is the oldest player on Denver’s 90-man offseason roster. Over his career, he’s played for six teams and has a Super Bowl win to his name. Despite his achievements, Burton’s role isn’t flashy. He’s primarily a blocker on offense, having played just 18% of the team’s offensive snaps last season. Additionally, he contributed significantly on special teams, logging 63% of those snaps.
While it may not be glamorous, Michael Burton’s role is crucial in Coach Sean Payton’s system. Last month, Payton highlighted Burton as one of the team’s “glue guys,” offering a detailed explanation of how the fullback has sustained a long and successful career in the NFL.
“There’s a reason he’s been able to play for so long,” Payton said on June 4. “He knows exactly who he is. Players who last beyond eight to ten years in this league have talent, but they also have a strong sense of their role. Take Aaron Glenn, for instance—I’m showing my age here—who was drafted early by the Jets as a top cornerback. He excelled in that role but eventually transitioned to the No. 2 corner position and then played an additional eight years as a nickel corner. Throughout his career, he always understood his place and role at each stage. For some players who struggle to grasp where they fit, it’s harder for them to sustain a long career because they find it difficult to adapt to changing roles or expectations.”
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“‘Burt’ knows precisely where he stands,” Payton made sense of. “At the point when we’re down arranging, there are explicit things we may or might not have any desire to allocate to specific players. With Mike, we know precisely very thing to expect and accept he can deal with it. It’s a huge benefit for mentors to have a player where the job is plainly characterized, both in the kicking game and on offense. His enthusiasm for the game just upgrades this lucidity.”
Burton is a team-first player, dedicated to handling the dirty work on offense and special teams to help the team succeed—and to maintain his role. Anyone who spends ten years in the NFL clearly understands how to succeed, and Payton deeply values the fullback’s reliability and commitment.
Entering his second season with Denver and his third year under Payton, Burton will continue to fulfill his role without any complaints. This steadfast commitment makes him a coach’s top choice.