Kubiak: Good thing when Broncos WR Thomas plays with ‘fire,’ ‘emotion’

Nov 15, 2016, 4:33 AM Updated: 4:49 am

After wide receiver Demaryius Thomas defended himself against critics following one of his better games of the season Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak backed up his team’s captain on Monday.

Following Denver’s 25-23 win over the Saints on the road, in which Thomas snagged 8 catches on 11 targets for 87 yards and a touchdown, the Pro Bowl wide receiver said he brought an intensity and focus to Sunday’s game.

“I hear it all the time, people always on my back about I’m quitting or not doing stuff. Then first time in the Superdome, lights are real bright, so whenever I got a chance, I made a play,” Thomas said. “I did whatever I had to do for my team, our offense, to keep us rolling.”

And Kubiak on Monday said Thomas has been “very consistent” in his play and he’s “capable of taking the team on his shoulders.”

“He is a captain of this football team, and when he plays with that type of emotion and that type of fire and he’s making those plays, usually good things are happening for our team,” Kubiak said.

However, DMac, co-host of Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan’s “The Drive,” said it’s not that there’s not incredible potential with Thomas to put up big numbers but critics believe he doesn’t always show he can enough.

“When D.T. is really good, he’s probably the best in the NFL. The problem (his) critics have is that we don’t see it enough. We know how good (he) really (is),” DMac said.

“The Drive” co-host Alfred Williams said Thomas has another gear left in him, but until he plays with that high level of intensity on a regular basis, he’s not going to be a “franchise guy.”

“He can be the franchise guy,” Williams said. “He could be the greatest wide receiver in Denver Broncos history, and that’s saying a lot considering all the great members of that wide receiving corps that we’ve had around here.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.