Rahim Moore – Denver Broncos draft quotes

Rahim Moore celebrates his successful goal line stand. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

UCLA S Rahim Moore addresses the media via conference call following his drafting by the Denver Broncos 45th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.

On being a Denver Bronco

“First of all it’s a blessing. I feel thankful. I thank God I met with the Broncos at the Combine. It’s been one of my favorite teams after watching (CB) Champ Bailey and being a big-time fan of him. It’s truly a blessing. I’m so excited.”

On learning from S Brian Dawkins

“I can’t wait. I look forward to the time that I’ll be there because I know he’s getting older. I wish I could meet him professionally where he could never age and me and him could play for several years. I’m excited to learn from a hall of famer and Champ Bailey. These guys are my favorite—Champ and BD—ever. You know, I even have a picture of them on my phone and my laptop. I’m a huge fan. I can’t wait to get hooked up with them and get to work.”

On whether he expected being picked by the Broncos

“I was confident at the Combine I was a possible pick, but when I woke up I knew I was going to be a Bronco. I just felt it; I knew what they needed. I’m excited; I can’t wait.”

On receiving a Broncos helmet in NYC

“They gave it to me. Shannon Sharpe signed it, and I’m excited. It’s a blessing. It’s funny, I was talking to Shannon before and I just said it’s been an honor to meet you and I got to go up on stage and meet him again. It’s a great feeling.”

On what he brings to his position

“I understand the game. I put in work. The coaches around me are able to prep me and I can’t wait to get around Brain Dawkins and Champ.”

On receiving the call

“I couldn’t even hear. I knew it was Denver, but I thought it was the Denver Nuggets (laughing). It was Coach (John) Fox. John Elway got on the phone.”

On the 2011 Broncos draft class

“Defense wins championships…Von Miller is a big-time talent. He has every little bit of a second (overall) pick you can think of. He’s just that type of guy. I can’t wait to make plays on the field with him.”

On his statistics dropping from 10 interceptions his junior year to one his senior year

“There are a lot of people staying away from me. I have that respect where people don’t want to throw over me. There were those games where it wouldn’t come my way at all. I learned a lot from that. Overall, I made more tackles and other plays than I ever did. So that’s the reason for that. It wasn’t a lack of play-making ability. It was just one of those years where they stayed away from you. They knew all about you through the whole off season.”

On his draft experience in NYC

“I knew I wasn’t going to be a first-round draft pick, which is fine because I never planned to be one. I knew my range; I knew what I was going to be coming out of college. The overall experience has been spectacular. Today I feel like I went No. 1 overall. I’m so excited. I can’t wait to get to work and get to Denver.”