For the Kicking Colquitts, punting is a family affair
By Alex Marvez
FOXSports.com
February 6, 2016
The NFL's greatest family punting legacy -- the Kicking Colquitts -- began with a man who never
attempted a kick in college or professional football and a son who answered a want-ad.
It will grow more if a third-generation Colquitt -- Britton -- is on the winning end Sunday for Denver in
Super Bowl 50.
As much media attention is placed on the Manning family, the Colquitts are an even more impressive
clan when you consider how many members have flourished in the special-teams ranks.
Britton is now in his seventh season with the Broncos.
His brother Dustin has spent the past 11 years in Kansas City.
Their father Craig won two Super Bowl titles with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s.
Craig's nephew Jimmy spent one season with Seattle in the 1980s.
Two cousins (Travis and Greg) were college punters.
And then there's the patriarch who started it all -- Lester Colquitt.
He was a standout high school punter in Knoxville, Tenn., before a military commitment kept Lester
from accepting a scholarship offer to the University of Alabama. Lester didn't pursue playing again once
completing his service, instead returning home and becoming a police officer.
That didn't end Lester's love of kicking.
"They would say he used to come home with his big old cop motorcycle boots and he'd punt the ball,"
Britton told FOXSports.com earlier this week. "It would literally go the entire block. Kids were just
terrified (to catch it) when the ball would come down. They would dive out of the way."
Colquitt admits some of the yarns he's heard about his grandfather may be exaggerated ("B-lesters" is
what the family calls such tall tales). But the improbable story about how Britton's father began his path
to the NFL is true.
The University of Tennessee was so desperate for punting help in 1974 that a classified listing was
placed in the Knoxville News-Sentinel promoting tryouts. Craig Colquitt, who was working in a
department store two years removed from his own high school punting days, answered the
advertisement. He won the job and ended up playing for eight NFL seasons.
Craig then began passing the torch to Britton and Dustin, who is three years older.
"In the backyard he just showed us the fundamentals," Britton said. "Instead of running around passing
the ball with our hands, we were passing it off our feet to each other. You would run a route and it
would be like, 'Lead me.' That's directional punting right there.
"It was great for learning the basics and teaching you the drop, which is the most important thing
anyway."
Although punting is in their DNA, there was no guarantee Britton and Dustin were going to try following
in their father's footsteps. Neither began playing organized football until high school. Dustin didn't even
pursue the sport his first three seasons there, instead focusing on soccer skills that earned him college
scholarship offers.
"Our kicker got hurt and Dustin filled in," Britton said of Dustin's introduction to football. "The story
there is Dustin didn't like the tight pants. It was like, 'I don't think I can do this in front of all these
people.' But in the first real game, he had a girl come up to him behind the fence before the first game
who screamed at him, 'Hey Colquitt -- nice butt!'
"He was like, 'OK, I can do this. Now I'm in.'"
The anecdote is reflective of how the Colquitts grew up without a sibling rivalry. Another one: Britton
would always attend the kicking camps held by his father and former Volunteers/NFL kicker Fuad Reveiz.
Dustin didn't.
"There was no competitive punting between us at that point," said Britton, 30. "Our dad did a real good
job of teaching us early but not pushing football on us. I wanted to play growing up but our parents
wouldn't let us because we did soccer and they didn't want us to get hurt.
"I think my dad knew eventually when the door was open (for football) we'd be able to do it."
Britton's path to NFL success was far bumpier than the one taken by his brother. Britton had four
alcohol-related arrests at Tennessee, which created huge red flags among NFL teams. While his brother
was a third-round draft pick, Colquitt was forced to enter the league in 2009 as an undrafted college
free agent. He spent time on Miami's practice squad before being signed to Denver's 53-man roster later
that season.
Britton has gotten his personal life together, which has led to punting prosperity. He surpassed Dustin as
the NFL's highest-paid punter in 2013 when signing a four-year, $13 million contract extension in
Denver. For their careers, Britton has the higher gross average (45.2 yards to 44.8) while Dustin is better
in net average (39.5 to 39.1).
Now a father of three, Britton says his family's legacy "and what an honor and how crazy it is" means
even more to him as he gets older.
"Whenever Dustin and I play that's very surreal because I'm almost pinching myself being in the NFL ,
much less getting to play against my brother twice a year," said Britton, referencing the AFC West rivalry
between the Broncos and Chiefs. "When you're talking Super Bowls, that's even wilder. But the fact I
grew up around Super Bowl rings has provided some normalcy this week. One reason I think I've been
able to make it is the belief that I can be there and a lot of grace from God because I definitely needed
that."
Britton's own family recently made some off-field news when the Denver Post reported he was forced
to spend $1,800 on a Super Bowl ticket for his week-old daughter to attend. More headlines about
Colquitt's kids may be coming in the future. His 3-year-old son Nash has already learned how to fully
extend his leg whenever playing around with the football.
"My first daughter is into it more than he is, but it's in him," Britton said. "When he came into the
hospital room recently to see the baby, for whatever reason, he was kicking his leg around."
Britton, though, wouldn't be disappointed if Nash tries to follow a different athletic pursuit.
"I'll teach him some stuff, but honestly I'd rather Nash play golf," Britton said. "Then I'd be able to play
golf more."
Maybe so, but the Golfing Colquitts doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
B. Colquitt wants a SB ring to add to the family
collection
By Arnie Stapleton
Associated Press
February 3, 2016
Broncos punter Britton Colquitt always knew that he would get a Super Bowl ring someday. The only
question is whether it'll be bequeathed to him or bestowed upon him.
Britton, brother Dustin of the Chiefs and their father — two-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers
Craig Colquitt — are the NFL's first family of fourth downs.
Craig once sat the boys down and told them they'd each inherit one of his Super Bowl rings.
Crickets. Of course, they were watching cartoons.
Disappointed in their lack of enthusiasm, Craig retreated upstairs to make lunch. Soon, his youngest boy
was tugging at his shirt.
"So, Dad," Britton wondered, "when are you going to die?"
He really wanted that ring.
"Yeah, turns out he could relate to the gold and diamonds after all," Craig said.
Dustin, 33, is in line to inherit his father's ring from Pittsburgh's win over Dallas in 1979.
Britton, 30, will get his father's ring from Pittsburgh's victory over the Los Angeles Rams the following
year.
If the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, baby brother will be getting his
hands on his own gaudy jewelry.
"That would be pretty nice," Britton said. "It would be worth a lot more than my dad's old rings, too."
Britton figures his AFC championship ring, the consolation prize he keeps in its case after losing the
Super Bowl to Seattle two years ago, is probably bigger and more expensive than the Super Bowl rings
his dad won, though certainly not as valuable.
And just where does dad keep his kids' heirlooms?
"With him," Britton shot back incredulously. "The most braggadocios human being you'll ever meet. He's
walking around: 'Hey, are you a Steelers fan? You want to see something?'
"When we went to Pittsburgh in December, oh, my gosh, I mean, he was showing homeless people on
the street."
Flashing the first ring on his left hand, the second on the right, a 1-2 punch that sends Steelers Nation
into a tizzy.
"It's gotten him in trouble, though," Britton said. "I think a year ago, he actually lost it in a restaurant. He
was letting this group of guys check it out and just kind of forgot about it and realized it was gone. So, I
think he's a little safer with it now — but he still shows everybody."
Craig said he found it a week later, jammed into his luggage he'd rolled into the restaurant on a business
trip.
"It was just like losing a child," Craig said.
He doesn't play favorites with his kids but he sure does when it comes to his rings.
"Thirteen is gaudy and we beat the Dallas Cowboys and I love to show that off," he said. "Fourteen looks
like a very expensive class ring, that's all. Super Bowl XIII looks like a Super Bowl ring. I like the ring
because Dallas was going to draft me in the fifth round and Pittsburgh took me in the third round. We
never lost to the Cowboys."
The Colquitts are to punting what the Mannings are to passing, although the patriarch had an
inauspicious start — a safety on the his very first punt at the University of Tennessee in 1975. Craig went
on to rewrite the school record book, averaging 42.5 yards per punt, a mark that would be bested by
three more Colquitts.
His nephew, Jimmy, averaged 43.9 yards from 1981-84. Dustin averaged 42.567 from 2001-04 and
Britton, 42.569 from 2005-08.
After Craig's senior year in 1977, Chuck Noll personally worked him out before drafting him. He
averaged 41.3 yards in six seasons in the pros. He made a brief return to the NFL in 1987 when the
players went on strike. He was in financial straits at the time and the chance to get back into the game
— and more importantly, to earn an $8,000 weekly paycheck — spurred him to cross the picket line.
In his one game with the Indianapolis Colts, he had the only blocked punt of his pro career.
That was the low point of an otherwise joyful journey across America's football fields.
Britton got his dad tickets for Sunday's game, but he didn't have to splurge for tickets for his brother,
who's recovering from surgery on his left knee and isn't coming out to California.
Britton did have to dole out $1,800 for each of his three kids, including his newborn daughter who won't
even be 3 weeks old Sunday.
"That baby's costing him more to take her to the Super Bowl than it cost to bring her into this world,"
Craig said.
Maybe one day she'll inherit her father's Super Bowl ring.
"Yeah," Britton said, smiling, "hopefully one with a big Bronco head on it."
Broncos Q&A: Britton Colquitt on facing brother Dustin,
of Chiefs
By Nicki Jhabvala
Denver Post
November 13, 2015
To the Broncos, Sunday's meeting against the Kansas City Chiefs is just another among many over the
years between the AFC West rivals.
But the meetings are always family affairs for the Colquitts. The Broncos' seventh-year punter Britton
Colquitt is the younger brother of Kansas City punter Dustin Colquitt.
As the No. 1 and 2 highest-paid punters, respectively, in the NFL, Britton and Dustin have continued
their family's tradition of jumping to the pros after college careers at the University of Tennessee. Their
father, Craig, was on two Super Bowl winning teams with the Steelers, and their uncle, Jimmy, punted
for the Seahawks in 1985. Both were Volunteers.
Britton recently spoke to The Post about his upcoming matchup against his brother, his 3-year-old son
Nash and more:
Q. You've faced your brother's team numerous times now. What's it like for you guys?
A. "I think this is the 12th time, but it never gets old. It's always really cool. It's really a dream to be in
the NFL already, and then to play your brother — and the fact that we're in the same division and we get
to do it twice a year is so cool."
Q. Are you and Dustin competitive?
A. "We are but not with each other. I don't know who's a bigger fan of the other. He says he's more
nervous when I'm out there than when he is, and that's probably just because I'm the younger brother.
At an early age he was kind of a father figure — not that my dad wasn't, but he just kind of took over
that role. Especially when I kind of followed his path. When I didn't make it here the first time, I drove to
Kansas City and stayed with him for two or three months and learned under him — not just football, but
he had kids and everything.
"I learned what it was to be a man and a father and how to assume this role and be a professional.
We're definitely really close. Everybody asks, 'Do you guys have a bet?' No, I just hope we win. I hope he
punts good, but I hope we get a return or something on him. I don't feel bad for that."
Q. Did you ever want to break away from the family tradition and not punt, or at least play a different
position?
A. "Well, we were big into soccer and I always wanted to play football, but Dustin didn't really have a
desire to. He didn't play until his senior of high school, and that was my freshman year. I was already
going out for football then because I wanted to play wide receiver and free safety and kick as well.
Dustin, he had scholarship offers for soccer and he was going to do that. But the varsity kicker broke his
ankle and so they asked if he would."
Q. Have you started training your son Nash to punt?
A. "Oh yeah. Mine's 3 ½ and Dustin has four boys and a girl, and his oldest two are kicking everything
and are left-footed like him. My son — it's weird, he started out left-footed, and I don't know if just
doing it in the yard with him, kicking soccer balls, I don't know if he watched me, but now he's rightfooted. Totally right-footed. That makes me happy. But he's left-handed. So he's going to have to do the
same thing Dustin did; Dustin's left-footed but right-handed, and he had to learn how to drop with his
left hand. But if I could choose, I'd have my son play golf. That way I could play more."
Britton Colquitt comes through with clutch punts
By Mike Klis
9 News Sport
October 7, 2015
All but overlooked in the Denver Broncos' 23-20 win Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings were the two
terrific, divergent punts delivered by Britton Colquitt.
Showing his versatility, Colquitt had one punt from the back of his end zone where his effortless leg kick
resulted in the ball exploding off his foot 50 yards before it was marked out of bounds with no return.
"Swing easy, hit it hard," Colquitt said. "That's what my dad always said."
Craig Colquitt is a former Pittsburgh Steelers punter who earned two Super Bowl rings and raised two
NFL punters – Britton and the Kansas City Chiefs' punter Dustin Colquitt.
"I think I got a good mark on that one," Britton Colquitt said of his 50-yard punt. "I didn't necessarily
want to hit it out of bounds. I just wanted to hit it towards the sidelines."
On his other fine punted, Colquitt dropped a 48 yarder on the Vikings' 3-yard line. These are the two
most difficult type of punts, and Colquitt delivered.
"I don't know if inside the 10 is the toughest, but it's definitely where you get the most reward for our
team," Colquitt said. "You want to be aggressive but not too aggressive. That ball could have hit and
bounced into the end zone, but it took a good bounce, and we had guys down there. You also want to
get enough hang so there are guys down there."
Pro Football Focus ranks Britton Colquitt as the league's' No. 4 punter. His brother Dustin is No. 2.
Veteran Colquitt chooses to lead by example
By Allie Raymond
DenverBroncos.com
May 30, 2015
Entering the 2015 offseason as the longest-tenured specialist isn’t something that punter Britton
Colquitt expected or thought about.
“It’s not something you think about all the time,” said Colquitt of his veteran status. “I guess I don’t feel
that old.”
Colquitt might not be ‘that old’, but with 80 regular-season and seven postseason game appearances
under his belt after seven years with the Broncos, the punter has more than enough experience to help
lead the group of young specialists.
“I try to lead by example,” said Colquitt. “I’ve got to really work hard, show what it means to be a pro.
I’m still learning that. I still look for more ways that I can do things to make me a better player and just
try to lead by example.”
With the addition of first-year Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis, Colquitt’s experience is
invaluable to the specialists. His professionalism and attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed by DeCamillis.
“The biggest thing is… you want to see to a pro... and I think he is,” said DeCamillis of his first
impressions of Colquitt. “He’s done a great job so far. It’s a different system for him, it’s a little bit
different – what we’re asking him to do - and he’s bought in completely so far. So we’ve got to keep him
on that path and so far he’s been hitting the ball excellent.”
The franchise career leader in gross (45.5) and net (39.0) punting average, Colquitt is already feeling
comfortable under the direction of DeCamillis.
“It’s going really good, he’s a great guy, a great coach obviously, he’s been around a lot of years, so he
knows what he’s doing,” said Colquitt. “With us, the specialists in particular, he’s big on working and
looking at film and stuff like that and that’s something that at our position you could easily get away
from.
“He’s a coach who’s there pushing you, but also is cool off the field and just a fun guy to be around. So I
think he’s definitely going to make an impact and guys are already starting to buy into his ideas.”
Each year as a Bronco, Colquitt not only gains more experience, but also becomes more comfortable.
When asked what differences he’s noticed this offseason in comparison to 2014, Colquitt says it hit him
this year that Denver feels like home.
“I feel like now that I’ve been in Denver going on seven years, its feels more like home,” said Colquitt.
“Like I’m a real part of this organization, whereas before, you’re kind of just hoping. It’s not that I’m
complacent, I just feel like I have more pride in this team and more of a reason to want to help us to do
well and win.”
Kickin’ It with the Denver Broncos’
Britton Colquitt
By Sam Adams
Colorado Avid Golfer
July 2, 2014
Golfers are labeled “athletes” with some reluctance. So are punters in football.
Don’t tell that to Denver Broncos punter Britton Colquitt, who is a pure athlete at
heart—and a real good golfer.
How good? He’s reached celebrity status. Colquitt received an invitation to play at
the American Century Championship this month at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in
Nevada. The tournament showcases a galaxy of sports greats past and present.
Some in the field, like Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, are pretty good
golfers. Others, like Hall of Fame basketball player Charles Barkley, are not very
good—but they show up for the fun of the event.
Colquitt’s bosses, head coach John Fox and general manager John Elway, are in the
field. Elway has participated every year at the celebrity tournament, which
celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
“What’s crazy is, it’s been on my bucket list ever since I knew about it, one day to
play in it,” said Colquitt, his ever-present smile lighting up a dark corner of the
locker room at his home club, Colorado Golf Club. “It’s come true a lot sooner than
I thought.”
Colquitt believes he will give a good account of himself in Tahoe. He is a 2.2
handicap, “though my game doesn’t always show it.” His best score is a 73, but
Colquitt continues to work hard on different facets of his game with hopes of
reaching his No. 1 goal—to shoot par for the first time ever.
“It changes for me,” Colquitt said. “I really wanted to narrow down my irons and
ball-striking. Lately I’ve felt myself hitting it pretty good off the tee, then I end up
being about 100 yards or less . . . that’s one of those places where you’re so close
you don’t even know what to do. The trouble with that shot is, it’s all feel. When it’s
feel, you just have to do it a lot.
“Of course, with golf every round there might be something different. Now it’s
putting. I was putting great, but lately I haven’t been happy with it.
“Really, it’s a little bit of everything. My putting might be on and my driving might
be in the woods. I’m hoping to be firing on all cylinders in Tahoe.”
Colquitt, 29, will have his older brother Dustin on the bag for the Tahoe
tournament. Dustin Colquitt is the Kansas City Chiefs’ punter. Last season he beat
out his younger brother for Pro Bowl honors in the AFC, although Britton had a
statistically superior season.
Their father, Craig, was punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers on two Super Bowl
championship teams, and his brother Jimmy punted for the Seattle Seahawks.
Punting is a family business —all four Colquitts plied their craft for the University of
Tennessee— even though Britton also showed his athletic prowess as an allstate
soccer player, while playing other positions on the football team at Bearden High
School in Knoxville.
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Colquitt played safety and wide receiver—and was
really good at both positions, according to his father. The threat of injury to their
youngest son kept Colquitt’s father and mother, Anne, on edge.
“Defensively, his instincts were great,” Craig Colquitt said. “It was fun to watch.
What ended it for me was, as a wide receiver Britton would go up for the ball. I was
always afraid that eventually something would happen.
“In a playoff game, a guy tackled him from behind, between the knees and Britton
buckled over. I went straight to the coach and said, ‘Next year he’s punting— and
punting only.’”
Unfazed by the family’s fear of injury, Britton went back to wide receiver in his
senior season.
“I knew it would be my last chance to do something athletic, and then it would be
punting from there on out,” Colquitt said. “By the time I got to college, the level of
competition had jumped so high … I knew I couldn’t run routes with those guys,
whereas in high school I could.
“So it was easy to be ‘just the punter.’ But it’s nice when you have all these great
athletes saying they wish they were you, that they wish had your position. It
reinforces that I can let go of the ‘athletic’ term and just be a punter.
“When it comes to punting and kicking, it is a skill. It’s fun to see some of these big
guys trying to kick a ball. They hit with their toes, trying to punt. The timing and
mechanics of it, if you’ve never learned it, really, it’s so much like golf.”
Craig Colquitt taught his sons how to punt and how to play golf. Britton took to golf
a lot quicker—and with more passion— than Dustin.
“Dustin is not as serious about golf as his younger brother is,” Craig Colquitt says.
“He talks during your backswing, your ball may disappear . . . he’ll be an interesting
caddie in Tahoe.”
On the other hand, Craig says, “Britton’s one of those people that can physically do
anything. I’m not surprised by the golf.” Golf, Britton says, has helped his punting—
and vice-versa. He draws similarities between the two sports from his golf bag.
“Dustin and I talk about different punts and refer to them in golf terms, using
different clubs in the bag,” Colquitt says. He describes his NFL-best 67-yard punt at
Atlanta in 2012 as a “3- wood or driver.”
Colquitt puts the comparison into a historical perspective as well. “A lot of people
talk about the ‘rugby’ punt, and ask what happened to the ‘coffin corner’ punt,” he
explains. “Well, back in the day golfers didn’t have the 60-degree club. Now all
these pros are hitting high and sticking it.
“That’s kind of what the rugby punt is, because you’re closer—almost at an
uncomfortable position. If you’re punting from your own 38, it’s uncomfortable. A
professional punter definitely can hit it into the end zone. Well, if you don’t want to
worry about that, pull out your 60-degree—which essentially hitting that rugby
punt—and try to hit it high and stick it inside the 10-yard line.
“I guess the next biggest thing I learned, and it came from golf, is not to try to kill
it. Most guys look smooth and create clubhead speed with their flexibility. It’s the
same with punting.
“Some of the best, highest and furthest punts I’ve hit, I felt like I didn’t swing. You
hardly feel it off your foot. Dad taught us that in golf, but it holds true in football.
“A lot of times in practice, my mind might be on golf, so I can relate it to don’t try
to kill it and throw my back out, and make a nice, easy swing.”
If he could, Colquitt probably would play golf every day. But his seasonal
obligations to the Broncos, who last year signed him to three-year, $11.7 million
extension, along with the daily duties of marriage and fatherhood, prevent that
from happening.
Colquitt and his wife Nikki have been married for three years. The couple has a
two-year-old son, Nash, and three-month old daughter, Everly. On occasion, Dad
will take Nash to the golf course. The toddler already has started an apprenticeship
in the family punting business. “The other day we were in the basement. He put on
his Broncos helmet and said, “Nash kick it,” Colquitt said.
“He found a football and tried to swing his leg. He doesn’t get the concept of
dropping the ball on his foot, but he gets it pretty high.”
Nikki Colquitt understands her husband’s great passion for golf. She doesn’t get in
his way when he receives a text invite from Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning to
hop a private jet for 54 holes at the exclusive Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska.
“But I mark those things on my calendar,” she says laughing. “If he gets a little too
excited about playing golf all the time., I’ll say, ‘You know, you just went on that
trip …’
“He gets to play whenever. But he is such a good dad and knows how hard it is to
take care of two little ones. He doesn’t try to play too much and stretch me too
much. But he loves golf. It’s his absolute favorite thing.”
Marriage and fatherhood may take Colquitt away from golf a bit more than he’d
like, but his wife has noticed a welcome change in his personality.
“In college, he was that same jovial, smiling guy—but he was wild,” Nikki Colquitt
said. “He went out, he partied and had a great time.
“Now he is the best husband, the best dad and he is so level-headed. He has
matured so much.”
On the football field Colquitt has delivered some outstanding kicks for the Broncos.
But there’s a mildly amazing statistic attached to Colquitt and the Broncos’ recordsetting offense in 2013.
Last season, Denver’s offense produced more touchdowns (71) than Colquitt
produced punts (65) in 16 regular season games. In one three-game stretch,
Colquitt punted only three times—including a punt-less game in Dallas won by the
Broncos 51-48.
“Sometimes it’s kind of uncomfortable,” Colquitt said. “It’s hard to get into a
groove. Back in the day when we were punting nine times a game, it was almost
better because of the repetition.
“Now you have to be mentally strong, mentally ready for every situation. Even the
Dallas game, there were seven times that I was about to run on the field and punt.
But then we’d convert it on third down. “It’s hard to say I want to punt, but it’s my
job.”
Manning’s proficiency may have limited Colquitt’s playing time—and there were
plenty of fourth-and-short situations where the quarterback has tried to wave off
Colquitt as he leads the punting unit onto the field to a chorus of booing fans—but
there is no rift between University of Tennessee alums. However, there might be
some question as to who has the better golf game.
Colquitt recently partnered with Manning against Broncos tight end Jacob Tamme
and retired wide receiver Brandon Stokley at Castle Pines Golf Club. In his first
crack at the former home of The International, the punter carded a 78, the low
round of the four. “I don’t think Peyton blacklisted me from invite list,” he jokes,
but if Colquitt continues to boom punts on the football field while lowering his
scores on the links, the number of celebrity golfing invites he receives is sure to
rise.
Colquitt Sibling Rivalry
By Stuart Zaas
DenverBroncos.com
November 13, 2013
Brothers Britton and Dustin Colquitt will square off at Sports Authority Field at Mile
High on Sunday.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – For the second time this year, a Broncos game will feature a
sibling rivalry.
While plenty of attention was paid to Peyton and Eli Manning’s matchup in Week 2,
this one is flying a bit more under the radar.
“I’ve met with (Peyton), individually, a lot this week just to – the brother-to-brother
thing coming up. I wanted to talk to him about how he handled dealing with Eli,”
Colquitt laughed.
All joking aside, Colquitt said that he was not treating this week any differently
based on the fact that his brother, Dustin, is in his ninth season as the Chiefs’
punter.
“We talk just the same, I guess,” Colquitt said of their communication leading up to
Sunday. “We always talk during the week. We get mixed up with our kids and stuff
like that so we just text
nowadays a little more
than talking. But it doesn’t COLQUITTS' HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS
change.”
Colquitt
Record No. Gross Net LG In20 TB
The Colquitts come from a
Britton Colquitt 4-2
32 43.4 37.8 60 12
2
long lineage of punters.
Dustin and Britton are
Dustin Colquitt 2-4
39 45.7 40.4 67 19
5
both current NFL punters,
while their father, Craig,
won two Super Bowl rings as the Steelers’ punter from 1978-84. The entire family
of punters, including a cousin, Jimmy, all punted collegiately at the University of
Tennessee.
This will be the seventh matchup that pits the Colquitts against one another in the
NFL. In those games, Dustin has a slight statistical edge, but Britton has the
advantage when it comes to record, as Denver is 4-2 in those games.
“To see your brother on the other sideline, it’s even more surreal and just a dream
come true and a blessing,” Colquitt said.
“We’re excited to see each other.”
Colquitts are NFL's first family of punting
By Arnie Stapleton
The Associated Press
September 26, 2013
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Craig Colquitt, who won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh
Steelers in the 1970s, feels like he handed down a family business to his sons
Dustin and Britton.
The brothers each signed offseason deals with the Chiefs and Broncos, respectively,
that made them the highest-paid punters in the NFL at nearly $4 million a year —
about 45 times as much as their father ever earned in the pros.
The Colquitts are to punting what the Mannings are to passing, and this first family
of punters had an inauspicious start — a safety on the patriarch's very first punt at
the University of Tennessee in 1975.
Craig was 21, having worked at a department store for two years after high school,
and the Volunteers were playing Maryland.
Punting from his end zone, "I was so nervous, the ball hit my hands, hit my
facemask and went straight up," Craig recounted. "And just as I grabbed it I could
see this guy coming off my right side. So, I fell down and he fell on top of me."
Time to go back to stocking shelves, he thought.
"I really wanted to run out the back of the stadium because I figured this is the end
for me," Craig said.
George Cafego, Tennessee's renowned kicking coach, instead greeted him with a
hearty, "Great job!"
Those two words would be repeated many times over the next three seasons as
Craig, driven by Cafego's vote of confidence, rewrote the school record book,
averaging 42.5 yards per punt — a mark that would be bested by three more
Colquitts.
His nephew, Jimmy, averaged 43.9 yards from 1981-84. Dustin averaged 42.567
from 2001-04 and Britton, 42.569 from 2005-08.
After Craig's senior year in 1977, Chuck Noll personally worked him out before
drafting him in the third round.
By 1979, he had two Super Bowl rings.
He averaged 41.3 yards in six seasons in the pros, earning $85,000 in his final year
in 1984, before settling down with his wife, Anne, to raise a family in Tennessee.
He made a brief return to the NFL in 1987 when the players went on strike. He was
in financial straits at the time and the chance to get back into the game — and
more importantly, to earn an $8,000 weekly paycheck — spurred him to cross the
picket line.
In his one game with the Indianapolis Colts, he had the only blocked punt of his pro
career.
That was the low point of an otherwise joyful journey across America's football
fields.
Looking back, Craig, who's now a sales rep for a janitorial company in Nashville,
said that safety he took as a sophomore in college was the turning point in his life.
"This was my opportunity to get a scholarship and take the financial burden off my
parents," he said. "So, I really saw a lot of things go through my head that were all
negative. It could have been a calamity and it wasn't. It was a great experience."
Had he been benched, he doubts he would have passed punting onto his sons.
He didn't push them, though.
After his playing career, Craig ran a punting and kicking camp and Britton helped
him out but Dustin didn't.
"I was swimming in the pool when they were punting," Dustin said. "He wanted us
to be two things, holy and happy, and that was good enough for him."
Two weeks before Dustin's senior year in high school, the football coach told him
his kicker had gotten hurt and he also needed a punter.
"And he knew nothing about punting," Craig said.
So, Dad and baby brother gave him a crash course, and Dustin, who's left-footed
and right-handed, which complicated matters, quickly caught on.
Craig was always a mixture of Coach and Dad to his boys.
"When the kid's trying to get up the steps, you've got to push them a little bit.
Yeah, there was a little bit of that, a little parenting, but nothing like if you don't do
this, you're not eating today," Craig said. "We did not live through our children. We
lived with our children."
Britton said his father never pressured them to follow in his footsteps.
"It was the opposite. He didn't let us play football until high school. That was the
rule. He taught us before that, and so it might look like it but I think he was just
preparing us," Britton said, "and I think he knew that soccer was going to train us
up, too."
Britton, who always wanted to play football, said Dustin's real reason for shunning
the sport was "he didn't like tight pants. And then at his very first game, some girl
whistled at him and said, 'Nice butt.' And after the game, he told my dad, 'OK, I
think I can do this.'"
Good thing, because Dad was surreptitiously preparing him all along.
"The way we grew up he was always putting us in crazy situations where we had to
kick a ball over a tree, so we'd already been in those situations," Dustin said.
It paid off this year when Dustin signed an $18.75 million deal and Britton got an
$11.7 million extension.
"People tell me you must be proud," Craig said. "I'm glad they have jobs. They just
happen to have exceptional jobs."
Klee: The Book of Colquitt? Better
believe it
By Paul Klee
Colorado Springs Gazette
September 25, 2013
Editor's note: The "Broncos Roots" series takes you off the field and into the lives of
the Broncos. Denver columnist Paul Klee will profile one individual every Thursday
until the Broncos' bye in Week 8.
DENVER — "The Book of Manning:" Have you seen it?
The documentary on Archie, Olivia and the Manning boys aired Tuesday. It is
award-winningly good, a living-room view of football's first family. Two thumbs up.
Here, ESPN, is another idea: the Book of Colquitt.
"They wouldn't make it a national documentary," Broncos punter Britton Colquitt
said with a laugh when I pitched the idea Wednesday.
"They might give us our own copy. That's it."
As the sports world grabbed a front-row seat for the scratchy home movies of
Peyton and Eli playing catch in the backyard, another family with football ties
jumped to mind.
Britton is the younger brother. He punts for the Broncos.
Dustin is the older brother. He punts for the Chiefs.
Dad is Craig. He won two Super Bowls punting for the Steelers.
This isn't football's first family.
But it might be football's smartest family.
"My son is 1 1/2. He's kicking already," Britton said of Nash, who recently visited
dad's office at Dove Valley. "I'll hold the ball out and he'll kick it. He's figured it
out."
Keep kickin', kid. These are special, rare genes you're working with.
Here's an argument the Colquitts faced taller odds than the Mannings.
No, really. A quick rummage through NFL depth charts revealed 83 quarterbacks
and only 32 punters.
Britton wasn't a math major at the University of Tennessee - yes, all three Colquitts
played in SEC country - but both of us can crunch these numbers:
The odds of a father-son-son trio punting footballs in the NFL are even smaller than
a father-son-son trio throwing footballs in the NFL.
"Dustin and I were talking about that, actually," Britton said. "We're one of 32
people at our position in the entire world."
Hey, ESPN. Fire up the cameras. Someone call Tom Rinaldi.
"When I was watching (The Book of Manning), I could relate to it," Britton said.
"Not just because of the family thing, but because Archie didn't push the two boys
to play quarterback. That was our dad. We couldn't play football till high school.
And I grew up watching our videos, too. Our parents filmed everything."
Father, son and son punted at Tennessee. Ole Miss wasn't a consideration.
"The first games I went to at Neyland Stadium were when Peyton was playing for
Tennessee. I was 10 or 11," Britton said. "He was the hero."
The beauty of Britton Colquitt's career is not simply that he's a punter in the NFL.
It's that he's a punter in the NFL, kicking at altitude, with an offense that has
Peyton Manning at quarterback.
Punting for Peyton is like the dishwasher at a finger-food restaurant, the cab driver
in a ghost town, the weatherman in Palm Springs.
"Very few people can say they have their dream job. I'm fortunate to say that."
Only seven teams have punted fewer times than the Broncos, and Britton has
pinned eight of his 13 punts inside the 20. Dustin and the Chiefs have punted twice
as often.
"As soon as we signed No. 18, my brother said, 'Dude. I hate you,'" Britton
recalled.
There's a method to this family madness. They're not just kickin' it.
With each punt, Britton has a pair of goals, at least: hang time of 5.0 seconds and
downed inside the 10-yard line. His only punt of the first half on "Monday Night
Football" had a hang time of 4.9 seconds and was fair caught at the 9.
"The other night against the Raiders, it was really windy warming up," Britton said.
"I texted Dustin because it's usually windy in Kansas City. He gave me some
advice."
He could've texted Dad, too.
"Our dad does point out they didn't have (big contracts for punters) like we do
now," Britton said. "He's joking, though. He's so happy for us."
Sounds like another father, from another football family, doesn't it?
Colquitt now highest-paid punter in
family, NFL
By Arnie Stapleton
Associated Press
August 12, 2013
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Britton Colquitt spent close to an hour with his wife and
their 1-year-old son in one of the corporate tents at the Denver Broncos
headquarters following practice Monday.
The NFL's new highest-paid punter swears he wasn't being a snob. He just didn't
realize he was keeping a throng of reporters waiting for him at the podium.
It's not every day that punters get this kind of attention — or make this kind of
money.
Colquitt became the league's highest-paid punter when he signed his three-year,
$11.7 million extension upon arriving to work Monday.
The deal included a $3 million signing bonus that, when added to this year's $1.275
million salary, also makes him the NFL's highest-compensated punter in 2013.
His extension averages $3.9 million a season, besting the $3.75 million average
that his older brother, Dustin, is getting with a five-year, $18.75 million deal he
signed this spring with the Kansas City Chiefs.
"He was laughing about it and he's very proud of me and he's kind of my biggest
fan, so it's nice to have a big brother like that," Colquitt said. "And we all know he's
the better punter, so I can give him a hard time about that."
Depending on how you look at it, both brothers can claim they're the pro punter
making the most money.
"Yeah, I think he still does," Colquitt said. "But somehow they've made it look like
he doesn't. He lives in a bigger house, has more kids. He's still picking up the
dinner check."
Fifteen years ago, Chris Jacke raised eyebrows when he said he wanted to become
the league's first $1 million kicker.
Now a punter is making close to four times that much.
"I've already had a few of my friends and people text me saying, 'My son's going to
be a punter. I'm sending him to you when he's 15,'" Colquitt said. "I've always told
people, though, 'Special teams is the way to go. Or golf.'"
His son, Nash, is a lefty, he said, "so I'm sending him to Dustin. So, I don't even
have to worry about that. I'm teaching him to golf and then Dustin can teach him
how to punt."
That would only carry on the family bloodlines.
Colquitt's father, Craig, won two Super Bowls as the Pittsburgh Steelers' punter
from 1978-84, and his uncle, Jimmy, played for Seattle in 1985 after breaking
records at Tennessee, where all four Colquitts went to school.
Dustin and Britton now have given picked-on punters the last laugh.
Along with long snappers and kickers, punters tend to get picked on or shunned
because they're off on the side fields doing their thing while the big linemen are
toiling away and the skill players are racing up and down the football fields.
Now, they not only have lighter workdays to envy but big, fat paychecks.
"No, it's worth it. They make fun of us a lot but then when training camp rolls
around they hate us and they're really jealous of us. They see us hanging out in the
locker room and they're sweating in the meetings," Colquitt said. "Just a blessing,
you know."
Colquitt considers himself fortunate to play for an organization that puts its money
where its mouth is, too.
Coaches always say that special teams are as important as offense or defense, but
few teams show it the way Broncos Executive Vice President John Elway has.
Last year, he signed kicker Matt Prater to a four-year, $13 million deal and five
months ago he signed special teams ace David Bruton to a three-year, $5.5 million
deal. And now he's taken care of Colquitt.
The Broncos feature one of the most dynamic kicking games in the league with
Colquitt, Prater and returner Trindon Holliday, who scored on a kickoff and punt
return in Denver's playoff loss to Baltimore and could come up for a big payday
next summer if he has the kind of season everyone's expecting out of him in 2013.
"Oh yeah, we're expecting to get him into the end zone a lot this year," Bruton
said.
Colquitt is the franchise leader in career gross (46.1) and net (39.5) punting
averages. He ranked third in the NFL last season in net punting with a franchise
record 42.1-yard average, second with a 6.2-yard return average and second with
45 punts inside the 20 with only seven touchbacks.
When Dustin signed his big deal this spring, Colquitt said he never thought he'd
make that kind of money.
"I felt like he's put in the time and deserved that and ... I never dreamed that I'd
be in position to be compensated like that," Colquitt said. "And again, that's why
I'm just humbled and thankful and just want to show that I deserve it."
At the end of his eight-minute Q&A, Colquitt apologized for making the media wait.
"I didn't know," he said, stepping off the podium. "I'm over there playing with the
kid and then I turn around and I'm like, 'There's no way they're waiting on me.'"
Being a nearly $4 million-a-year punter takes some getting used to, even for a
Colquitt.
Colquitt ‘Honored,’ ‘Humbled’ by
Extension
By Mike Morris
DenverBroncos.com
August 12, 2013
After signing a contract extension through 2016, punter Britton Colquitt expressed
his excitement about remaining a Bronco in the upcoming seasons.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Over the past two seasons, Britton Colquitt has been one of
the most effective punters in the NFL.
And after signing a contract extension that will keep him in a Broncos uniform
through 2016, Colquitt is looking to continue to improve his consistency in giving
his team advantageous field position to work from -- the type of shifts in field
position that help win games.
“I want our team to know that when I go out there, our defense is going to be in a
good position — that there’s not going to be a return,” Colquitt said. “It’s not about
just booting the ball. I want to put our defense in a good position. And with an
offense like we have, and a defense like we have, if you can give them the ball in a
good place it just makes a great team.”
The fifth-year pro – who set a franchise record for net punting average in 2011 and
subsequently broke his own record last season – is unmistakably thrilled about
remaining a Bronco for the next few seasons.
“It’s just kind of surreal right now. It’s hard to believe an organization like the
Broncos put faith in me like that, and say they appreciate what I’ve done,” Colquitt
said. “It means a lot. I’m humbled. I’m grateful.”
Colquitt’s net average of 42.1 yards per punt ranked third in the NFL and he held
opponents to a 6.0-yard return average, which was second-best in the league.
For Colquitt, effective punting is measured by a combination of those two statistics.
But, he noted, it’s also the efforts of the coverage players on the punt team that
help make both stats possible and help make a punter more effective.
“Net’s the most important,” Colquitt said “But then last year we had a really good
year in terms of return yards against, which goes hand-in-hand with net. But I’ve
never seen a stat like that. And this says a great deal to our coverage guys, and
our gunners like (CB) Omar Bolden and some of the core guys, (S) David Bruton
and all these guys out there.”
And, Colquitt says, replicating that level of excellence in limiting returns could be a
key element to the Broncos’ success in 2013.
“If we can limit returns, especially against the guys out there, that’s something that
will give your guys a good chance to win,” Colquitt said.
And with his extension, it’s the type of difference-making play on special teams that
Colquitt will look to bring to the Broncos for seasons to come – something he
certainly has no shortage of enthusiasm about doing.
“It’s just great, because this is the top organization in the league,” Colquitt said. “I
want to prove that I’m worth an extension and show them that I’m going to work
harder than anybody out there to be the best.”
“I’m just honored, like I said, and humbled to be here. It’s very exciting.”
Britton Colquitt agrees to new Broncos
deal, now among NFL's richest punters
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
August 11, 2013
Take that big brother. The Broncos have agreed to terms on a new four-year, $13
million contract with punter Britton Colquitt.
He can make another $1.2 million in incentives. The deal will be signed Monday
morning when Colquitt reports to the Broncos' training camp practice.
Colquitt was scheduled to draw a $1.323 million salary as a restricted free agent
this year. The three-year, $11.7 million extension comes to an annual average of
$3.9 million that makes him the NFL's highest paid punter. The previous mostcompensated punter was his older brother Dustin Colquitt, who in March received a
five-year, $18.75 million extension — $3.75 million a year — from the Kansas City
Chiefs.
"I don't really understand how all that works, but Paul (Sheehy) my agent was
saying something about that," Colquitt said.
So Britton won't be calling older brother to rub it in?
"No," Colquitt said laughing. "I definitely feel like he's deserving of all that he's
received for all that he's done. I'm just humbled and thankful and blessed that the
Broncos like me that much."
There's much to like. At 28, Colquitt is not only one of the league's best young
punters. He's one of the best, period. He not only can boom with the best of them,
he is exceptional in height and placement of his punts.
In 2012, Colquitt was third in the NFL with a 42.1 yard net average. He pinned 27
punts inside the 20 against just 4 touchbacks, and he had the second-stingiest
return average of 6.2 yards.
He has been the Broncos' punter since the start of the 2010 season and is already
the franchise leader in gross average (46.2) and net (40.2).
Colquitt's new deal will actually lower his 2013 salary from $1.323 million to $1.275
million but he will receive a $3 million upfront signing bonus, plus a $500,000
roster bonus in March.
The new deal brings security to Colquitt, who is married with a 1-year-old.
"The family is growing fast," Colquitt said. "It is nice to put down roots down here.
It's a great city. Now we just want to focus on helping our team win a championship
or more."
Denver Broncos punter Britton Colquitt in
position for new contract
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
August 2, 2013
Outside John Elway's office door, the line is lengthening with players hoping for a
raise in pay. Offensive tackle Ryan Clady got his. Next in line for a contract
extension: Britton Colquitt.
As a punter, a new deal for Colquitt won't approach the five-year, $52.5 million
contract Clady received last month. But the Broncos have opened negotiations to
give Colquitt long-term security beyond the $1.323 million salary he will have this
season.
Other players whose contracts expire after this season: Eric Decker, Zane Beadles,
J.D. Walton and Wesley Woodyard. The contracts for Von Miller, Demaryius
Thomas, Chris Harris, Orlando Franklin and Rahim Moore expire after 2014.
That's not including veterans such as Wes Welker and Dominique RodgersCromartie, who just signed short-teams deals as free agents.
Elway, who once collected a nice check as Denver's quarterback, is now the team's
front- office boss who apparently will be busy the next two seasons with Pat
Bowlen's checkbook.
Colquitt may have moved to the front of the line because a case can be made that
he is one of the top three in the league at his position.
What's indisputable is Colquitt's past two seasons were the best in Broncos history
in terms of net punting average.
His 42.1-yard net average last season ranked third in the NFL and the 6.2-yard
return average on his punts was second-best. He had only four touchbacks, and he
placed 27 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Brothers being brothers, Colquitt no doubt would like a contract that approaches
the five-year, $18.75 million contract older brother Dustin Colquitt received from
the Kansas City Chiefs in March.
Secondary situation. For the second consecutive practice, Duke Ihenacho joined
Moore with the first-team defense at safety. David Bruton also mixed in, and
Quentin Jammer is getting some dime time.
Ross Rosner, a rookie who made a diving interception of a Zac Dysert pass
Thursday, and veteran Mike Adams are waiting their turn.
Who will be Moore's partner in the Sept. 5 season opener against the Baltimore
Ravens?
"We're all players out there. We don't worry about that," Moore said. "We're about
the team we have in front of us, competing, having fun, making plays."
Rookie cornerback claimed. Matt Russell and Tom Heckert continue to serve their
suspensions. And the Broncos' front office continues to operate business as usual.
With Rodgers-Cromartie down with a high ankle sprain and Champ Bailey on orders
not to take many reps, the other cornerbacks have moved up a notch on the depth
chart. To help fill out the depth chart, the Broncos claimed undrafted rookie Nigel
Malone off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Malone played at Kansas State.
Broncos money matters: Don’t forget
punter Britton Colquitt
Mike Klis
The Denver Post
March 4, 2013
In ways other than say, $7.8 million or so, left tackle Ryan Clady is no different
than punter Britton Colquitt.
To prevent Clady from becoming an unrestricted free agent, the Broncos slapped
the left tackle with the restrictive franchise tag that pays him a $9.8282 million
salary in 2013. Other teams can still try to sign away Clady, but they would not
only have to lure him with a big contract, they would also have to give the Broncos
two, first-round draft choices. That’s highly unlikely to happen.
Colquitt is already a restricted free agent. To make sure he stays restricted, the
Broncos are expected to place a second-round tender on him March 12, which
would pay him a $2.023 million salary for 2013. Other teams can still try to sign
away Colquitt, but besides paying him a relatively lucrative contract they would
have to give the Broncos a second-round draft choice. That’s highly unlikely to
happen.
While tagging Clady, the Broncos would at the same time like to work out a
longterm contract extension with the left tackle before training camp. And after the
Broncos tender Colquitt, the team will no doubt try to work out a long-term
contract extension with the punter before training camp.
The Broncos have three other restricted free agents: Fullback Chris Gronkowski,
running back Lance Ball and offensive tackle Chris Clark. Gronkowski has already
been informed he will not be tendered. It’s possible Ball and Clark could receive an
”original round” tender of $1.323 million, although that’s substantially more than
then $715,000 minimum salary that back-up, fourth-year players normally receive.
Q&A with Britton Colquitt
Tyler Everett
DenverBroncos.com
December 25, 2012
DenverBroncos.com talks one-on-one with punter Britton Colquitt
about his strong start to 2012 and the birth of his son this past
offseason.
*EDITOR'S NOTE: This Q&A story ran in the Dec. 23 Gameday
program, when the Broncos hosted the Cleveland Browns.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Punter Britton Colquitt is enjoying one of the best
seasons of his career. A year after setting franchise marks in both gross and
net punting average, Colquitt has improved his net and ranks among the
best punters in the NFL in multiple statistical categories. The punter
discusses the impact of his first season as a father, the key to his success
and what it is like having a father and brother who have also punted in the
NFL.
You are currently ranked second in the NFL with a net punting
average of 42.8 and opponent return average of 4.9 through Week 14
of the 2012 season. Do you feel like this has been the best season of
your career?
“I feel like we’re definitely up there, second in the league. That’s mainly
because of our coverage unit. We have a really good coverage unit. First of
all, they protect me real well and give me a chance to get a good punt off.
They’re down there quick and just haven’t given guys much of a chance to
return it. They put me in a good position to succeed.”
How comforting is it to know that you have good protection giving
you time to punt?
“It’s good, I don’t even think about it because I know that those guys are
doing a good job and they’re going to protect me. It’s not even an
afterthought in my mind. I just can focus on catching the ball and getting a
good kick off.”
What has made the punt team so effective in coverage this season?
“We definitely have really good athletes all across the board. A lot of punt
teams have maybe bigger guys on the inside. We just have real good
athletes. They have good size, but they’re very athletic. It’s the second year
with (Special Teams) Coach (Jeff) Rodgers and the guys are really just
buying into the way we do it, to the scheme, and really committing to
working hard, and it’s obviously paying off.”
Was there anything in particular that you did this offseason that
explains your success this year?
“I don’t know of much different. I probably worked a little harder as far as
just focusing and being more serious and really treating this as my job,
because that’s what it is. It’s not just necessarily a sport and a game
anymore, it’s your job and it’s putting food on the table. And of course it
changes things when you have a wife and she’s pregnant in the offseason.
We actually had Nash in April so it definitely changes things. I have to take
this serious because I want to do this for a long time. It makes it easier when
you have a coaching staff and an organization like this to play for. You really
enjoy it. Really just working hard and having the confidence of a couple
years under my belt helps a lot too.”
What has it been like working with a new long snapper in rookie
Aaron Brewer?
“It’s been great. We miss (former Broncos long snapper) Lonie (Paxton), of
course, he was a good friend to us all, still friends. But Aaron’s done great,
he really hasn’t made any mistakes. He’s been very successful and made it
easy on (kicker) Matt (Prater) and I to do our job. He’s definitely made it
easier. He’s done a great job. It’s really impressive. It’s a tough job. A lot of
people think all you do is kick, or all you do is snap and stuff like that. But
there’s a whole lot more to it. There’s a lot of pressure on the line, and Aaron
has really stepped up to that and done a great job on a really big stage.”
How did growing up with a dad and a brother who punted in the NFL
affect your career?
“It’s definitely really cool. I was used to it growing up just because I saw it. I
saw the pictures of all the Steelers players on the wall and my dad’s Super
Bowl rings and stuff like that. With that being said, it was just something that
was always ingrained in me, that this is a possibility. So I always believed
that I could follow in their footsteps. It’s just given me confidence and made
it a lot better. Also I have guys that I can talk to in my family any time I’m
having struggles. I think it’s been everything, just to know that I’m not alone
and it’s not like I don’t have anybody to turn to. I can call them any time and
they’re always there. And I can turn on film and watch my brother (Dustin)
over in Kansas City, and he’s been very consistent and top in the league
since he’s been in the league. So it’s really confidence for me.”
Is your relationship with your brother competitive?
“We’re not extremely competitive as far as against each other. We kind of
want each other to do well. Obviously we want our team to win and we’ve
gotten the better hand in that lately. But it’s just fun to be out there and it’s
kind of surreal to know that’s my big brother, and growing up with him and
then there he is in another jersey and we’re doing the same thing.
Have things changed for you in your first season as a father?
“Life is definitely different. I have a beautiful, loving wife in Nikki and our son
Nash is just awesome. It changes every day. It’s honestly taken a lot of the
pressure off because you get home from work and say if you didn’t hit the
ball well or had a bad game, he doesn’t know. He just looks at you at smiles
and it kind of puts life into perspective and just shows that that’s a lot more
important than everything else.”
Does having a son give you added inspiration?
“I always go out there with the mindset of audience of one, which means I’m
playing for God, because he’s given me the ability and put me out there. But
it’s really nice to know that I have a wife and kid. She has brought him to all
the home games and I know he doesn’t know anything that’s going on, but I
look up there every now and then, and I see him just looking out and
watching everything, so it’s pretty awesome. It makes it all the more worth
it.”
What has winning eight games in a row been like for you personally?
“It’s amazing. In high school and college, I never really had successful
teams. And even the first couple years here. Last year we did, we made it.
But it’s a lot better making it to the playoffs the way we are this year. Each
game, just knowing that we have a chance to win and do something great.
It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve had less of a job I guess you could say, as far as
number of punts, but it’s definitely put the emphasis on each one, every one
is important. I try to do my job and make sure I help out whenever we need
it.”
Woody Paige: Brothers Dustin, Britton
Colquitt kicking around NFL careers
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
December 2, 2011
Two Colquitt brothers arrived by ship in Virginia in 1608 and settled at the
Jamestown colony. There is no historical evidence that they kicked pumpkins to
each other.
Included among the Colquitts' descendents were a U.S. senator, a pair of
governors, Civil War soldier Peyton Colquitt, wealthy Southern businessmen and
four NFL punters. The Punting Colquitts are to football what the Flying Wallendas
were to circuses.
And the youngest — the Broncos' Britton — is experiencing the best season of the
Colquitt Quartet's professional careers spanning from 1978-2011. He has a leg up
on father Craig, uncle Jimmy and brother Dustin.
Britton is on track to become only the seventh punter in league history to average
more than 47 yards (gross) and 40 (net).
Two years ago, Colquitt was cut by the Broncos. The Broncos later re-signed him,
and last season Britton averaged 44.6 (gross) and 36.6 yards (net).
Through 11 games, he's having a monster-truck season — averaging 47.6 and
40.9, with 20 kicks inside the opponents' 20, and 17 that have resulted in fair
catches. In San Diego last Sunday, Colquitt put the Chargers inside their 10-yard
line three times, and inside the 20 three more times. His final overtime punt was 61
yards.
He's become a bludgeon.
"It's definitely been crazy," Colquitt said Thursday afternoon. "We've been
averaging eight or nine punts the last several weeks, and every punt is important
because of field position and the close games. I love it and feel like a bigger part of
the team. There's more emphasis on the special teams, and I think we've
responded to that challenge."
Because of the late comeback victories, the offense seems to get the most credit,
and there have been suggestions that the defense's contribution had been ignored.
When the public and media attention shifted to the defense, somebody forgot that
the Broncos also have special teams — Britton the punter and holder, Matt Prater
the kicker, the returners, the blockers, the gunners, the tacklers.
The grunt guys.
As Prater and Colquitt ran onto the field for the winning field goal in overtime at
San Diego, no words were exchanged. Then, just before Prater kicked, Colquitt
said, "Crush it." Prater did.
On Sunday, at Minnesota, Colquitt will be punting for the first time in a regularseason game in a stadium with the dome closed. "I'm excited. No elements to
worry about," he said.
In Knoxville, Tenn., near the Old Smokies, Craig Colquitt played high school
football, and punted some, but there were no scholarship offers; his parents didn't
have money to send him to college, and he wasn't a scholar.
Craig worked at the major department store downtown for two years in the early
1970s before, one day, reading a newspaper story stating that the University of
Tennessee football team was holding open tryouts for punters at spring practice.
Craig showed up, was invited to join the Volunteers and wound up as an AllAmerica punter and a third- round draft choice of the Steelers. He punted for
Pittsburgh for six years and two Super Bowl-winning teams.
Craig's successor at Tennessee broke all his records and also was an All-American.
Younger brother Jimmy was undrafted but played briefly for the Seahawks.
A generation later in the new millennium, Craig's son Dustin became the Vols'
punter, then was followed by kid brother Britton. At a workout, Dustin, a senior,
shanked a punt, and Britton, a redshirt, "had exactly the same shank," he said.
Coach Phillip Fulmer shouted, "You two must have come from the same mother."
Dustin surpassed the elder Colquitts' punting achievements, was drafted by the
Chiefs in the third round in 2005 and has been a Pro Bowl alternate. Britton filled
up the rest of the Volunteers' book on punting.
There must have been something strange in the water at Colquitt home. "Dad
didn't push us, but he taught us the fundamentals and the proper leg swing. I think
he had an idea that we might be able to duplicate what he did. But Dustin wanted
to play soccer, and I wanted to be a wide receiver. It didn't turn out quite like we
wanted."
The Colquitt reign must be over, right?
Cousin Greg Colquitt has broken the family tradition by going to Clemson — but
he's a punter.
"Dustin's son (Brinkley) is 6, and he's already punting the ball like you can't
believe," Britton said.
In March, Britton and Nikki Colquitt were married.
They are expecting a child in four months. "A boy," he said. "Check back in 20-25
years and see if Tennessee and the Broncos don't have another punter named
Colquitt."
It was wise that the original Brothers Colquitt decided to take a road trip to
America.
Kickin’ it with Colquitt
By Stuart Zaas
DenverBroncos.com
October 13, 2011
Broncos punter Britton Colquitt has started strong this season through five games,
building off his hot preseason.
After leading all NFL punters in net punting average this preseason, Colquitt
currently ranks No. 2 with an average of 43.7 net yards per punt.
―Net punts are an important indicator of how we‘re doing field position wise with
returning the ball to the defense,‖ Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Rodgers said.
―Britton will be the first one to tell you that unless he‘s got guys covering well, it‘s
not going to help him statistically…He‘s done a good job, but the guys around him
have done a pretty decent job too.‖
While other position groups may have been affected by the shortened offseason,
kickers and punters work more as individuals and did not have their normal training
routines impacted as much as offensive or defensive units.
―I‘d say this. With the way the offseason was structured this year, the kicker and
the punter, their offseason was about the same,‖ Rodgers said. ―Those guys don‘t
need anybody else to work on their craft with them. Britton certainly had a good
offseason on his own.‖
Colquitt has improved his 2010 numbers across the board. His gross average is up
more than six yards per punt (from 44.6 to 50.7) and his net average has improved
by almost seven yards (from 36.6 to 43.7).
Colquitt‘s eight games with a 50-plus-yard gross punting average are the second
most through a punter‘s first two seasons in NFL history. He needs just one more
50-plus-yard game to tie the record set by former Broncos punter Jim Fraser in
1963.
Still Growing
By Eric Detweiler
DenverBroncos.com
February 9, 2011
After finishing up his first full season as the Broncos punter, Britton
Colquitt hopes he can keep improving heading into the 2011 season.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- As the youngest in a prolific family of punters, Britton
Colquitt has plenty of special-teams wisdom at his disposal.
When thinking ahead to his first offseason as a full-time NFL punter, Colquitt -whose father, older brother and cousin all have NFL punting experience-- recalled
an anecdote from his father Craig's playing days.
"When my dad was with Pittsburgh, he said Gary Anderson, who was the kicker,
wouldn't touch a ball until two weeks before the preseason started," Colquitt said
with a laugh. "I'm not at that point in my career."
Even after producing the league's No. 10 yards per punt average in 2010, Colquitt
knows he still has room for improvement. Heading into his third NFL season,
Colquitt is as comfortable as ever and perhaps even more motivated to reward the
Broncos for entrusting him with their punting duties.
The punter said he'll go back to work this offseason with an eye toward an even
more impressive 2011 campaign.
"I did better with (consistency) than I have in my entire career, but I want to be
even more consistent," Colquitt said. "That's the biggest thing as a professional
athlete. You want to always be reliable."
Colquitt -- who spent one game on the Broncos active roster in 2009 but did not
play -- entered last offseason in competition with A.J. Trapasso for the Broncos'
punting job before heading into training camp as the team's lone punter. He said
he'd welcome more competition this season but feels confident in his place on the
squad after finishing 2010 with a 44.6 yards per punt average on his 86 attempts.
He enjoyed one of the best seasons in recent history for a Broncos punter,
averaging more than 50 yards per punt six times during the season. That included
a Dec. 12 performance at Arizona in which his 56.2 yard average on five punts set
a new team single-game record for a road game.
Colquitt's first season as a full-time punter also featured a pair of chances to
compete against his brother, Dustin -- who just finished his sixth season with
Kansas City.
As part of his effort to top that next season, Colquitt hopes to take a little more
time off from kicking this offseason before resuming his regular preparation. The
Tennessee product said he will use the extra down time to focus on adding muscle
to his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame.
"I've got these little chicken legs," Colquitt joked.
The punter said he'll soon start a strict regiment based around regular weight
training and healthy eating with the goal of adding 10-to-15 pounds before next
season.
On the field, he'd like to improve net punting average -- which ranked tied for 22nd
in the league last season.
Those are just the next set of goals for a player who readily talks about his
progress since the Broncos released him at the conclusion of training camp in 2009.
Thanks to a unique inner-circle in his punter-friendly family to help him along the
way, Colquitt won't forget the hard work that will allow him to stay there.
Colquitt said he'd love to make Denver his long-term NFL home, and he feels like
his 2010 season provided a good start toward that wish.
"Obviously, there's some kicks I'd like to take back and I wish I could've helped the
team a little more," Colquitt said. "But I think this year was a good foundation, and
I feel like it will really help me for next year and beyond."
Britton Colquitt: Punting is the family business
By Lindsay H. Jones
The Denver Post
December 26, 2010
When Britton Colquitt was getting into football as a teenager in Knoxville, Tenn., he
thought about playing wide receiver. Any position, really, but kicker or punter.
But with the last name of Colquitt, and in Knoxville, it wasn't like he really had
much choice. If you're a Colquitt, that means you're a punter, you go to the
University of Tennessee and then to the NFL.
Britton has followed his father Craig (who won two Super Bowl titles with the
Steelers in the 1970s), cousin Jimmy (Tennessee's career punting leader) and
brother Dustin on that path. Britton, 25, is in his first season as the Broncos'
punter, and Dustin, 28, is in his sixth season punting for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The brothers are kicking well for the AFC West rivals. Each has punted 77 times this
year. They're separated by only 0.4 of a yard in net average and by a 0.6 difference
in gross average, with Dustin holding a slight advantage in both categories.
"That's pretty cool. I guess it just shows how similar our styles are," Britton said.
Q: It must have been pretty natural to become a punter with your family pedigree.
Was that the case?
A: Dad never pressured us or anything. In the backyard we'd always do stuff with
the football. He was teaching us how to do the drop and stuff without us knowing it.
We grew up playing soccer and basketball, especially soccer. . . . I always wanted
to play football, not necessarily kicker. I wanted to play receiver. But I was the only
one that could kick, so I did all the kicking as well.
Q: How much pressure was there on you to attend Tennessee and play for the
Volunteers, like the others had before you?
A: Even before I went to Tennessee, I'd be in the newspaper because of my family.
They'd write stuff like, "The youngest will be coming to Tennessee soon." It was like
I had no choice to go to UT. Of course, I wanted to after I saw what else was out
there. I did a lot of unofficial visits. I wasn't highly recruited, and part of that might
have been that everyone knew I was going to Tennessee. I went on an official to
Marshall, and they offered me and told me I'd get to do everything, kicking and
punting, as a freshman. I almost took it.
Q: What was your relationship like with your brother when you were kids? Any
sibling rivalry?
A: We were always real close. Even growing up, we never really fought. My
girlfriend turned some baby videos into DVDs and we were watching them the other
day, and in them I was like 3 and 4 years old, and I was just always with Dustin.
He was good to me, just took me under his wing, so we always got along, which is
kind of surprising for brothers.
Q: What was the best advice he's given you about punting in the NFL?
A: He told me you have to become a good practice punter too. You can't just show
up on Saturdays or Sundays and expect to do good, for multiple reasons.
Eventually it'll catch up with you if you're just a gamer and you don't succeed in
practice. You'll quit being lucky. And the other reason is because this is a job. Every
day the coaches are looking at you and going, "Can I rely on this guy?"
Q: What about your life away from football? Do you have hobbies? What do you
have planned for the offseason in 2011?
A: I like playing golf a lot. Well, as much as my girlfriend, Nikki, will allow. I'm a 7
or an 8 handicap. And I just got engaged a couple of days.
Q: You're going to have to stop calling her your girlfriend then. How did the
proposal go?
A: I had been thinking about it ever since she came out here last summer and
visited, and we went up to Estes Park. We found this really cool valley. There was a
winding river going through it, and we took a whole bunch of pictures there and it
was really pretty. Since then, I was thinking, if I marry this girl, this is where I
want to propose. I did it on Monday because I wanted to do it before Christmas. I
had the ring made and everything, so we went back up there. . . . We found our
little spot. There's half a foot of snow, and it was just beautiful.
Helmets Off: Britton Colquitt
By Gray Caldwell
DenverBroncos.com
September 30, 2010
The second-year punter talks about his performance so far this season, the
advantages of kicking in Denver and the history of NFL punters in his
family in this edition of Helmets Off.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Britton Colquitt has taken over the full-time punting duties
in just his second year in the NFL. He currently ranks fifth in the league in gross
punting average -- ahead of his brother, Kansas City Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt.
This week, Colquitt -- whose father and cousin also punted in the NFL -- heads back
home to Tennessee as the Broncos take on the Titans.
How do you feel you're performing three games into your professional
career?
"I feel like I'm getting better each game just as far as confidence and knowing how
to be a professional and how to help the team out. I'm learning new stuff, and I feel
like I could always help this team more -- I'm not going to give up in that area."
Can you tell right off your foot when you've kicked a huge punt -- like your
63-yarder against Seattle?
"It's like hitting a monster drive in golf -- you almost don't feel it, then it just takes
off. That's exactly how it felt. I knew it was going to be a little bit long and I was
just hoping that we could cover. That's the thing about a punt that long, even if you
hang it up there good, it's often times a little bit too much for your coverage team.
So it felt good, yeah, but it feels way worse when it gets returned for 63 as well."
Last week you only allowed one return for four yards -- what goes into
that?
"I think hangtime is a big thing. Obviously the guys are doing great protecting me - I don't ever feel any pressure or anything like that. We worked on last week after
that (63-yard) punt, (Special Teams Coordinator Mike) Priefer was like, 'That was a
great punt, but if you don't hit it 63 yards, then we get it down there and we cover
them. If you hit it 50 yards, we'll end up covering that and there won't be any
return.' So last week I just wanted to work on getting it higher. Not that the 63yarder wasn't high, it was just too long. Especially here in Denver, you can
concentrate on hitting it high and it's going to get at least 40, 45 yards usually.
That's going to help our team the best, because I'm not worried about trying to hit
long bombs."
Does kicking at high altitude really give you an advantage?
"Yeah. The ball kind of jumps off your foot a little better, so you can not-knowingly
get ahold of one and it's going to travel farther. On the upside of that, you can just
be like, 'Alright, I'm going to hammer this as high as I can,' and it's going to travel
at least long enough to where it's good field position. So that's good. It's definitely
a place that you can really experiment and figure out your best punt."
Do you and your brother Dustin have a competition going for who will have
the better year?
"We're always rooting for each other. It's cool to be in the same division, and we
both want to help our team win. As far as the statistical stuff, that's kind of on the
side, that's not our focus. But I'm not going to lie, I called him this week -- he had
a good game, but my numbers ended up fine and helped our team, and I told him,
'Your little brother had a higher net average than you this game,' and gave him a
hard time about that. But he was just excited about it as I was. He's happy to see
that. We like to give each other a hard time. Hopefully we'll be neck-and-neck and
just kind of joke about it all year. The main thing is helping our teams win, and
that's what both of our focuses are."
With your family history, did you always know you wanted to be a punter
in the NFL?
"No. I grew up playing soccer and basketball, and I always wanted to play football
but our parents wouldn't let us until high school. I wanted to play receiver, so I did
receiver and free safety. My freshman year, that was Dustin's first year ever
playing, his senior year. He never touched the football field or anything, then he got
out there and ends up getting invited to walk on to play football (at the University
of Tennessee). My eyes were kind of opened that my dad did this, my cousin did
this, Dustin is now at Tennessee -- that could be my future. I realized it came kind
of naturally just from my dad showing us little stuff in the back yard. I was like,
'This could be a really good opportunity.' And once I played my first football game
in high school, it was like any kind of championship game in any other sport was
like one regular-season (football) game as far as energy and fans. I was like, 'This
is the sport.'"
Was there any pressure to follow that path?
"No. Everybody always would ask me that because seemingly there would be, but
my parents never said, 'We want you to play football.' In fact, like I said, they
wouldn't even let me play until high school. My dad, I guess he did it the right way
-- he didn't pressure us, he taught us, and psychologically maybe he knew what he
was doing letting us play in the backyard. He let us do what we wanted to do. We
were good athletes -- we're not anymore because we're punters, we have to accept
that -- but there was no pressure. Even at Tennessee I didn't feel pressured to
fulfill that and do as good as they did. It was just something I saw as an
opportunity and I enjoyed the pressure. If you don't enjoy the pressure as a punter
or a kicker, then you're not going to make it."
Do you take just as much pride in your holding duties as punting?
"When I came in last year, I was really struggling with that. Points are huge, and
Matt Prater's a great kicker, and they want to utilize the best out of him. If he can't
have confidence in somebody, then that's going to be bad for the team. I really
worked on that in the offseason, got in and worked with Prater every day. Even
now that we've gotten started, we haven't let up. We're at least 30 holds on the
JUGS Machine every day, then getting some with Lonie (Paxton). We're doing that
every day. I feel like I'm still getting better at it. The biggest thing with doing all
that work is I don't feel scared anymore. Last year when I would get out there for a
hold, I would be like, 'Don't mess this up, don't mess this up.' Now I feel
comfortable out there, and I think that's made it a lot better, too."
Do you and Robert Ayers stick together in the locker room as Tennessee
guys against the rest of the players from SEC schools?
"Oh yeah. Especially a couple weeks ago when we played Florida, we've got to be
all over the guys even though we haven't beaten Florida in a while. Me and Robert
are talking smack. We definitely represent Tennessee and the SEC -- we're close on
that. We play Georgia in a couple weeks, so we'll be all over Champ Bailey and
Knowshon (Moreno), of course. It's amazing the pride that you take after you get
out of there. Around these guys, it's awesome, I wear more Tennessee stuff now
than I did when I was at Tennessee. You feel like I'm not just wearing the team's
gear, now you're wearing it for pride. You're like, check out this orange -everybody thinks it's the worst color ever, but I think it's the best."
The Vols are at LSU this Saturday -- what do you think?
"That's big. It's a young team -- all these true freshmen playing. It's their first
away game and it's in Death Valley. That's scary. I know in my freshman year in
2005, it was the Hurricane Katrina year, and we were playing down there in Death
Valley. The game got cancelled on Saturday so we played on Monday. None of the
UT fans were able to come, no cheerleaders, no band, no nothing. So literally in the
whole stands there were maybe like 100 UT fans scattered. You could hardly see
them. And it was still wet. We had Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen sharing duties (at
quarterback) then. It was the loudest place we've ever been. The first half was a
blowout, it was like 21-7 or something like that, they were just killing us. Then in
the second half we come out, Rick's in there, and we start just beating them up and
start running the ball. We score the first touchdown -- it literally is silent, because
the UT fans were so scattered, you can't even hear anybody cheering. It was crazy.
We ended up going into double overtime and winning that game. That was the
coolest experience of my life, and it was the quietest stadium I've ever been in
during the second half, compared to the loudest in the first half. So who knows,
there might be a game like that, because they were supposed to beat us that year.
So who knows."
Trapasso, Colquitt contend for Broncos
punting job
Pat Graham
The Associated Press
June 15, 2010
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—With the World Cup in full swing, the conversations
between a pair of Denver Broncos punters center more on corner kicks than coffin
kicks.
More on headers than hang time. More on countries capable of winning than
coverage capable of stopping punt returners.
The soccer frenzy has swept up Britton Colquitt) and A.J. Trapasso, who are
competing for the starting job yet glued together by the world’s game.
As soon as minicamp practice ended Saturday, the two bolted into the building,
intent on catching the U.S. game against England. Their passion has even been
contagious, with other Broncos players gathering around the television set as the
U.S. earned a 1-1 tie when England goalkeeper Robert Green fumbled in Clint
Dempsey’s kick.
“I don’t know if they know anything about it, but they’re getting into it,” Colquitt
said of his teammates.
Thanks to these two punters, of course.
“This has been a lot of fun to watch,” Trapasso said. “I’m really excited to see what
happens between Germany and Australia; that should be a good game.”
Not really. Germany rolled to a 4-0 win.
Colquitt and Trapasso come by their fascination for soccer through years of playing
the game. Colquitt even thought about possibly taking the soccer route, especially
after helping Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tenn., to a No. 1 national ranking
and an undefeated record his junior year.
But football was his calling, his destiny.
After all, his father, Craig, punted at Tennessee and later won two Super Bowl rings
with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His cousin, Jimmy, also kicked for the Volunteers,
briefly landing a spot with Seattle.
Then there’s his brother, Dustin, who followed in the footsteps of his family
members and likewise punted for the Volunteers. He’s currently with the Kansas
City Chiefs.
Britton Colquitt couldn’t resist traveling a similar path.
“The doors opened for my brother and it was like, ‘Shoot, my dad played at
Tennessee, my brother did,”’ Colquitt said. “I always wanted to play receiver or
something. But after a couple of years of that, I realized there could be a future (in
kicking).”
Trapasso played soccer up until he was around 15, when he was asked to stop.
Too many red cards.
“A little too physical,” laughed Trapasso, who went to high school in Pickerington,
Ohio. “The league director said, ‘We’ve had about enough of this guy.”’
No problem: His heart was set on football anyway. Trapasso said he had
opportunities to possibly play tailback at Northwestern and Indiana, but elected to
attend Ohio State as a punter, where he averaged 41 yards on 203 career punts.
“I appreciate the decision now—I can walk without any pain, I can raise my arms,”
Trapasso said, smiling. “But I’m also not afraid to pick up the ball and run with it, if
that were to happen. That’s something I bring to it.”
Heading into training camp in July, Colquitt holds a slight advantage over Trapasso.
However, the race is far from over.
“It’s always good to have young players pushed,” Broncos coach Josh McDaniels
said. “That’s a competitive situation.”
These two also have a burgeoning rivalry on the golf course, with Colquitt usually
winning but Trapasso posting the low score of the season, a 5-over 77.
“I did get my clubs regripped, so I’m good to go now,” Trapasso said.
As for the punting competition, Trapasso knows he has his work cut out. Colquitt
does have family pedigree on his side.
“Obviously, Britton’s a heck of a punter,” Trapasso said. “He comes from a good
family line. I knew it was going to be a good competition, a day-to-day-thing. It’s
going to be hard to tell who’s going to win the job.”
Colquitt couldn’t agree more.
“We watch each other. We even point out things that each other are doing right and
wrong,” said Colquitt, who averaged 42.6 yards on 209 career punts at Tennessee.
“I know we’ve both made each other better.”
After each day of minicamp over the weekend, the two sauntered off the field and
plopped down in front of the television to watch soccer matches.
Colquitt is a big Ivory Coast fan, as much for the country’s star, Didier Drogba, as
the fact the team colors resemble Tennessee orange. Trapasso is going with Italy to
retain the title—“or maybe Brazil,” he quickly adds.
“This is fun to get into,” Colquitt said. “It’s cool to watch.”