Renck: Broncos RB Charles ‘motivated,’ ‘eager’ to prove Chiefs wrong

Last week, in his first press conference as a member of the Denver Broncos, Jamaal Charles made no waves, said all the right things — that he’s “feeling good” coming back from injury, that he’s “excited to be a Broncos,” how the running back group is learning from each other, etc.

But occasionally, Charles showed his hand, letting the football world know, twice, that he was “fired” from the Kansas City Chiefs and that he wants to show that he’s still “at the top” of his career.

“Why would I not think I’m going to be the man?” Charles said. “… My whole life, I’ve always felt like I’m going to the be the man. That is what I want to come up in here. If I’m not going to be the man, why am I here? I should be at home sitting on the couch.”

And that’s why Denver 7 Broncos insider Troy Renck said, though he “might be naïve” and “the 30-year-old running backs are not great,” he may have “undersold Jamaal Charles.”

“In talking to a couple of ex-teammates of his, they had watched some video, they see a guy who’s been fired — his words — with a chip on his shoulder,” Renck told “Schlereth & Evans” on Friday.

“He might not have a chip; he’s got the whole freaking cylinder of Pringles on his shoulder. He’s motivated. He’s mad. And I like that with former great players.”

But can Charles, who has had two ACL injuries during his 10-year career and played in just eight games during the past two seasons, stay healthy?

“I don’t know that,” Renck said. “Some former great players get to this point in their career and they’re just not interested in proving it anymore, for obvious reasons. This guy’s eager to show Kansas City they were wrong, and that’s a good place to be mentally.”

Charles said that he feels “really good” and that he could have participated fully in OTAs, but there was no need.

“It’s not like we’re about to go out there and play a game. It’s just being more careful,” Charles said.

When healthy, the third-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2008 was among the top running backs in the NFL during his tenure in Kansas City.

Charles appeared 103 regular season games, with 69 starts, and two postseason bouts with Kansas City, producing a franchise best 7,260 yards and an NFL record 5.5 yards per carry.

Aside from his 43 career rushing touchdowns, the four-time Pro Bowler and twice first-team All-Pro has 285 receptions for 2,456 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.