Brady Quinn Teams Up With Rookie Julius Thomas To Stay Sharp

DENVER (CBS4) - The NFL lockout continues with no progress Saturday except for the lawyers continuing to roll up billable hours. If there's any positive about the lockout, it's that players have gotten to know each other in a way they probably wouldn't have if it was business as usual.

They've only known each other for a short time, but Broncos quarterback Brady Quinn and rookie tight end Julius Thomas have already bonded. Their agents got them together and now, not only are they working out together, Thomas is living at Quinn's place.

"We've been going over the playbook and working on pass routes and working on kind of getting him adjusted to the altitude," Quinn said. "He's been lifting with me and all that and as you can see he's a talented player."

"I actually came out here earlier this month and I stayed with him. I called him last week and I said, 'I've been hearing a lot of good things about (the lockout) ending soon and I want to get out there if I can,'" Thomas said. "He was so welcoming and told me to come out here as soon as I can and start working. I'm very appreciative."

Thomas was primarily a basketball player at Portland State and only played football for one season. But the rookie's potential is undeniable.

"He's a quick learner and another thing is he's very willing to; and I think that says a lot about a person," Quinn said. "A lot of times guys won't be willing to put in extra effort, but you see, he's flying out here from California and he hasn't signed a contract or a deal yet. It's on his own bill to be out here."

"Living with Brady and coming out here and starting to pick up certain things about the offense, certain rules, routes, concepts," Thomas said. "It might be only six or seven days, but I've got a six or seven day head start that's really valuable for me."

Thomas was named to the All-Big Sky Conference team in 2010. He caught 29 passes for 453 yards and 2 touchdowns.