The Denver Broncos had just finished a training camp practice in 90-degree August weather under their new coach, Sean Payton, when the players marched into a final formation and lined up for a round of sprints that took them the width of the football field.
Payton had been stressing strength and conditioning for a team that finished with a disappointing 5-12 record last season, one that began with Super Bowl hopes but disintegrated under the weight of an ineffectual offense. The gassers were a new wrinkle added to the end of every practice.
“When you’re done with practice and you think everything’s over, you got to push past your limits a little bit more,” said Justin Simmons, a safety in his eighth season with the Broncos.