Broncos win in remarkable fashion, thanks to rookies and ballet

NEW ORLEANS — Will Parks was in elementary school when his grandmother came up with the progressive idea to sign him up for ballet classes.

This was not an activity that fueled his passion. He lasted all of one week.

“That ain’t what I do,” the Denver Broncos rookie safety told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday. “I’m a hitter. But grandma got it right for this specific moment.”

Parks returned a blocked extra point, racing 80-plus yards down the sideline for a stunning two-point conversion with 1:22 on the clock, that provided the winning margin in a 25-23 victory against the New Orleans Saints.

It was a remarkable finish to a wild game. For an instant, it appeared that Drew Brees, who threw three second-half touchdown passes, put the Saints over the top with a 32-yard strike to Brandin Cooks, an incredibly precise throw that landed between two defenders.

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Then the blocked extra point happened, with a bounce better explained by higher powers.

About halfway through his sprint, Parks nearly went out of bounds. He remarkably kept his balance as he tip-toed along the sideline.

Or as he explained it, “I’ve got toe game.”

It’s funny how some little things can make a huge difference when least expected. Parks said the ballet class back in Philadelphia — he figures he went to two or three lessons — was the first thing he thought about as referee Bill Vinovich went to the replay monitor to ultimately confirm the play.

“I learned something, obviously,” he said.

It was just third time that a blocked PAT was converted into points since the NFL implemented the rule in 2015.

Another rookie safety, Justin Simmons, had an equally important role in the play. Simmons leapt over the center to get a full frontal block of Wil Lutz’s kick.

At Martin County High, in Stuart, Fla., Simmons played basketball and was a member of the track and field team — where he participated in the long jump, triple jump and, of course, the high jump.

Yet Simmons never considered himself exceptional in the other sports.

“I didn’t even make all-state,” he said, talking basketball and track.

But he just had to jump well, right?

“I had terrible technique,” he said.

That was hardly the case Sunday. The Broncos, apparently discovering on tape, practiced what they called the "Leaper” play at least three times while preparing for the Saints. Typically, they will practice it once a week.

When special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis called for the hurdle — which by rule would have been nullified if Simmons landed on or made significant contact with long snapper Justin Drescher — the rookie was stoked to see he they could pull it off as he repeatedly did in practice.

“When he called it, my heart would not stop pounding,” Simmons said.

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That Simmons and Parks combined for the game-saving moment was striking on a number of levels. They are roommates, naturally paired as members of the same draft class who play the same position. Simmons was a third-round pick with Parks drafted in the sixth round. Parks admits that he initially sensed there could be friction as they competed for jobs, but instead they developed a bond.

As they shared the spotlight following the game, they crowded each other’s space — literally and by design.

They were the only two players who shared a locker on Sunday — two chairs in front of a stall where both of their slacks and shirts hung — a decision that obviously flowed from their status in the pecking order as rookies.

Yet here they were, when the Broncos (7-3) really needed a bounce-back performance after getting crushed in Oakland, standing as the men of the hour.

Sure, the Broncos would not have won without safety Darian Stewart, who collected three of the four turnovers forced by the defense (two interceptions, one fumble recovery). They got a whale of a game from Demaryius Thomas, who caught eight of Trevor Siemian’s passes for 87 yards, including a 2-yard, game-tying touchdown grab early in the fourth quarter.

But you’d expect clutch performances from the name players, the veterans who went on the ride to a Super Bowl 50 crown last season. That Parks and Simmons stepped up, though, adds juice for a team that needs it as it plays through assorted struggles.

“It shows you what we’ve got coming up,” star linebacker Von Miller told USA TODAY Sports. “The next guys on deck.”

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Said Simmons: “As rookies, we just want to contribute in whatever way we can.”

And by drawing on any source necessary.

Parks talked to his grandmother, Aldo Parks, on Saturday — and not about ballet memories.

“She just told me, ‘Go, make a play,’ " he said.

He followed those instructions. And you can believe the ballet lessons will come up in the next phone call.

In fact, Parks said that he’s inspired to go buy himself some new ballet shoes.

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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell

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