Broncos cornerback Chris Harris barely made the team's roster last year after going undrafted from Kansas.
It was his incredible work ethic that got people to first notice him.
Early on that was enough to play on special teams. He kept impressing the coaches as he found a nice spot as nickel corner.
Now in his second year he knows his job isn't secure and will have to earn a spot in 2012.
"Being an undrafted free agent, you have to prove yourself every year," Harris said. "So I never stop working."
Harris is going to have to show the same thing that got him his job last time and keep it in a crowded secondary, especially since he doesn't have experience with him as do the players that Denver signed in the offseason.
Denver brought in defensive backs Tracy Porter, Drayton Florence, and Mike Adams. Those players have a combined total of 21 years of experience.
Fourteen-year veteran Champ Bailey has seen that Harris isn't backing away from the competition.
"He's holding his own," Bailey said, noting that Harris always has a smile on his face. "That's one thing about him, he's such a competitor. He feels confident about what he does. He's just letting his play speak for itself."
Harris believes the competition will only help him.
"Its just something I can gain experience from," Harris said. "These guys have been in the league for a long time. They are just adding competition and just making me better.
"We all talked as defensive backs and said we're never going to give each other bad advice, always try to help each other," he continued. "The competition is only going to make everybody better."
Many of the players in the secondary are aware that they need to earn their spot, and that most of the openings will be empty until the regular season.
"We all understand every spot is up for grabs, except Champ's,” Harris said. “There's competition everywhere.”
His young age might go against Harris, but he sees it as more room for improvement and that it gives him more time to learn.
"Really I just want to get faster and stronger," he said. "I'm only 22 years old. We drafted a guy that's older than me coming in, so I'm still young, still learning the game a lot more. There's a lot I can learn."
He could be talking about Omar Bolden who is a 23-year old rookie from Arizona St., or he could be talking about center Philip Blake from Baylor who is 26-years old. Like Bolden, Harris himself will be fighting for the second, third, and fourth cornerback spots. Both were four-year starters in college, but Bolden hasn't yet face the pros yet. The experience Harris has is something he holds valuable to himself and the team.
"Playing against top receivers like (Wes) Welker, Antonio Gates, I kind of got thrown in on the fly," Harris said. "Being able to go out there and play against those top guys definitely gives me confidence going into this season."
Harris was able to play in the playoff games Denver was in and made five tackles in the overtime win against the Steelers and started against Brady and the Patriots.
"Not a lot of undrafted rookies get that experience in the playoffs," Harris said.
Harris did point out a fact that while he and his teammates are vying for a spot, that there is a common goal for everyone.
"We're all here for one common goal, and that's to win a Super Bowl," Harris said.
Many of the players in the secondary are aware that they need to earn their spot, and that most of the openings will be empty until the regular season.
"We all understand every spot is up for grabs, except Champ's,” Harris said. “There's competition everywhere.”
His young age might go against Harris, but he sees it as more room for improvement and that it gives him more time to learn.
"Really I just want to get faster and stronger," he said. "I'm only 22 years old. We drafted a guy that's older than me coming in, so I'm still young, still learning the game a lot more. There's a lot I can learn."
He could be talking about Omar Bolden who is a 23-year old rookie from Arizona St., or he could be talking about center Philip Blake from Baylor who is 26-years old. Like Bolden, Harris himself will be fighting for the second, third, and fourth cornerback spots. Both were four-year starters in college, but Bolden hasn't yet face the pros yet. The experience Harris has is something he holds valuable to himself and the team.
"Playing against top receivers like (Wes) Welker, Antonio Gates, I kind of got thrown in on the fly," Harris said. "Being able to go out there and play against those top guys definitely gives me confidence going into this season."
Harris was able to play in the playoff games Denver was in and made five tackles in the overtime win against the Steelers and started against Brady and the Patriots.
"Not a lot of undrafted rookies get that experience in the playoffs," Harris said.
Harris did point out a fact that while he and his teammates are vying for a spot, that there is a common goal for everyone.
"We're all here for one common goal, and that's to win a Super Bowl," Harris said.
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