The Denver Broncos' new safety, Talanoa Hufanga, is eager to face off against his former San Francisco 49ers teammate, offensive tackle Trent Williams, when the two teams clash in their preseason opener next month.
Until he wasn't.
Hufanga, who weighs 200 pounds, had second thoughts about "fighting" Williams, who tips the scales at 318 pounds. In a funny moment during his Thursday press conference, he quickly apologized for even bringing it up.
This exhibition game is going to be amazing," Hufanga commented. "I really appreciate the chance they've given me. My initial four years there hold a special place in my heart. I experienced both incredible highs and, as you mentioned, injury setbacks. It's a place that means a lot to me. I always kid around, and I'm going to tell Trent Williams that I'm going to playfully start a fight with him. He's probably the last person anyone would want to actually fight.(Laughs)Right now, and I'm being serious, Trent Williams isn't the player everyone thinks he is. Putting the humor aside, I feel incredibly fortunate and enthusiastic about being involved.
Trent, should you happen to read this, please know that I deeply regret my actions.
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Williams and Hufanga played together for five seasons in San Francisco before Hufanga left for Denver, inking a three-year, $45 million deal when free agency began in March. The Broncos also successfully recruited former 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, drawing him away from the San Francisco area.
Hufanga, a 2022 first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler who has played in the Super Bowl, adds a proven track record of success to a defense that was already one of the best, consistently ranking high in key stats last year.
A fresh start to build upon.
Hufanga explained to the press that the unifying element is having a solid group of key players who can guide the less experienced members of the team. "That's something the 49ers had," he noted. "When I joined, there were leaders like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, and their example set the tone. Now, we're in a situation with a quarterback who's improving and stepping up as a leader. He's a crucial figure. On offense, you've got Garett Bolles and Evan Engram as central players, and on defense, Alex Singleton and Pat Surtain II are helping to develop the unit. I believe that's the foundation for building a successful team. Every year is a clean slate. Regardless, we need to embrace this new beginning and demonstrate our capabilities."
This piece was first released on.www.si.com/nfl/broncos as Broncos' new safety playfully mentions a mock "fight" with his previous teammate..
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