ENGLEWOOD – Wadmania is shaking the walls at Broncos’ headquarters.
At this time last year, Colby Wadman had a better chance of getting a $5 tip as a delivery person for Pizza Guys in Davis, Calif., then he did of walking into an NFL locker room.
But he’s got his own NFL locker now, if in the practice squad section, for two reasons: One, Marquette King, the Broncos’ current punter, has been inconsistent through three games; and two, Tom McMahon, the Broncos’ special teams coordinator, has been enamored with Wadman for a while.
“When he was in Indy he started scouting me back then,’’ Wadman said. “He visited me in Davis for a workout and he brought me in to Indy for a minicamp. We’ve had a few workouts together.’’
When McMahon moved his coaching talents from the Indianapolis Colts to the Broncos this year, he brought Wadman in to the UCHealth Training Center this summer for a minicamp look.
But at that point, the Broncos were confident King would be their Pro Bowl-caliber punter. While King has had some terrific punts, he’s also had some duds, in particular in the rain Sunday at Baltimore.
And so Wadman was signed to the practice squad Tuesday and practiced with the team Wednesday.
“We have to get better,’’ Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said Wednesday. “We’re looking forward to Marquette having a good week of punting, but it’s a performance-based business, so we’re trying to get better there.”
Wadman punted for the University of California-Davis through the 2016 season. He wasn’t drafted and didn’t have much past the minicamp tryouts in 2017 so he went back to Davis, California to keep in shape.
From June until mid-December, when he moved back to his parents’ home in Thousand Oaks, Wadman delivered pizzas.
“Worked for tips,’’ he said. “I was living with my teammates and finishing school, too.’’
He finished his degree in managerial economics and “I was actually about to start looking for jobs before I got the text from my agent.’’
He understands his presence has created some questions about King’s future.
“I haven’t heard anything,’’ Wadman said. “I’m just taking it day by day. Whatever the coaches tell me on the field and in meetings, I’m just going to soak it up and punt.’’
And how did King interact with him during practice Wednesday?
“He was good,’’ Wadman said. “We know each other from minicamp. Marquette’s been cool with me. Great guy.’’
BRONCO BITS
The Broncos got their two injured veterans cornerbacks -- Adam Jones (hamstring/thigh) and Tramaine Brock (groing) back in practice Wednesday. ...
Inside linebacker Brandon Marshall (knee) sat out practice Wednesday.
