you know? We don't play without shoulder pads

Sam Shields thought hard about quitting football during his darkest Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys Womens , saddest days at home in South Florida over the past two years.
As a former undrafted free agent who became a Pro Bowl cornerback and a Super Bowl champion with Green Bay, Shields knows all about overcoming tremendous odds. Four recorded concussions and the ensuing months of agonizing headaches were a daunting obstacle to be surmounted 鈥?and moreover, he wasn't even sure if he should.
With the support of his friends and family, Shields eventually decided he couldn't just stop. He had to play again, and he's taking a shot with the Los Angeles Rams.
"I have a tough mind," Shields said after stepping off the practice field at UC Irvine in full pads. "I'm not going to lie. I guess that's just a gift that I have, and that's an important thing on your body. I've been through a lot. I took time off, and now I'm here and I'm doing a hell of a job."
Shields wore pads Sunday for the first time since Sept. 11, 2016, when he suffered the final concussion that kept him out of football for nearly two full seasons. He is already drawing attention during the first few days of camp with the defending NFC West champion Rams, who added him to a well-stocked defensive secondary last March while allowing him to recapture his career.
Shields is 30 years old now, but his body is completely healthy, and he says his mind is clear. In fact, his biggest physical obstacles these days are the braces on the back of his teeth, slightly altering his speech.
He realizes the odds he's facing Authentic James Washington Jersey , and he isn't naive about the potentially catastrophic damage from another major head injury. Shields still wants to be part of a team again after seven seasons with the Packers, who cut him in February 2017.
"I had a year and a half to think about it, to be with my family," Shields said. "So I definitely had enough time to think about it, and I think I made the right choice."
Shields' teammates and coaches with the Rams are already impressed by the former University of Miami receiver who transitioned to defense as a senior and then carved out an NFL career on the strength of his speed and will.
The Rams also know how perilous Shields' health could be.
"He's doing a great job," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "I think people forget what a productive player Sam has been in this league. Elite man-to-man skills, unbelievable lateral agility and just short-space quickness. He's a great guy. ... Really happy for him. We're hoping he's able to stay healthy."
Shields had become an elite defensive back during his career in Green Bay. He had 18 interceptions with the Packers across 80 games, including 62 starts.
He made two tackles while the Packers won the Super Bowl in February 2011 to cap his rookie season. Several months after earning a $39 million contract from the Packers in 2014, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl.
But he missed four games in 2015 due to concussions, and he suffered that fourth concussion in the 2016 season opener against Jacksonville. He hasn't played football since.
Shields was beset by headaches in the months after his most recent concussion, enduring blinding pain and light sensitivity. He traveled around the country for help, eventually spending six months getting treatment at UCLA.
When the headaches dissipated, his desire to play came flooding back.
"I felt better just out of nowhere," he said. "It was crazy, and I started Cheap Brian O'Neill Jersey , just like, 'Let's go work out.' And I worked out. Felt fine that morning. I kept going out there, and that's when I knew I was finally all right."
Shields said his biggest current challenge is getting his body back in football shape, and getting rid of "soreness in different spots that I haven't moved in a while." The Rams haven't done any major hitting yet, but their first preseason game is Aug. 9 at Baltimore.
Ever since he joined the Rams, Shields has repeatedly said he isn't fooling himself about what could happen. He wants another shot anyway.
"It's a blessing," Shields said. "Two, almost 2 1/2 years out, I mean, it's hard mentally for anybody to be able to come back, put these pads on. But I'm just happy to be here with my brothers. That's the most important part."
The Denver Broncos don't put their full pads on until Tuesday but they're already a banged-up bunch.
Newly signed receiver Corey "Philly" Brown is in concussion protocol after hitting his head in the weight room and when the Broncos put on shoulder pads for the first time Monday several players hobbled off.
"Football is played in pads, so to put the pads on and watch the guys bang a little bit is always fun," coach Vance Joseph said. "For the running game, and obviously stopping the run, the pads are critical."
Left tackle Garett Bolles and inside linebacker Brandon Marshall were among the casualties Monday.
"Garett Bolles took a shot to the chin. He's being evaluated for a head injury Marcus Davenport Jersey ," Joseph said, adding that Marshall "had a minor wrist injury. He's OK."
Cornerback Marcos Rios sat out with a sore hip and tight end Jeff Heuerman sat out with a sore knee, which Joseph said was strictly precautionary.
The Broncos are also dealing with second-year wide receiver Carlos Henderson, who failed to report to training camp while dealing with what the team calls a family situation.
Although Joseph has said it's up to Henderson whether his career will continue, several members of the organization are keeping in touch with their absent teammate.
"Lots of guys have called Carlos. (Wide Receivers) Coach Zach (Azzanni) has been calling him, I've been calling Carlos, his teammates have been," Joseph said. "Obviously, he's having some family issues he's working through and it's really his timeline.
"He can return any time he gets ready to return. It's on him, but his guys are supporting him, the coaches are supporting him. So we're looking forward to having him back."
Henderson was a third-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech last year but he missed his rookie season with a hand injury. He missed much of the offseason program this year with a pulled hamstring and is a long-shot to even make the 53-man roster if he does return.
Joseph said he has no timeline for Henderson to get back.
"We've had some conversations about other things than football. He's not ready for football right now, so we're not talking about football a lot," Joseph said. "We're doing a good job as a team of checking on him on a daily basis."
Things should ratchet up overall Tuesday when the Broncos also wear their thigh pads.
"Any time we're full pads, it's like game day," Joseph said. "Every pad's on Vikings Mike Remmers Jersey , mouth guard, chin straps buckled, so it'll look different as far as what they're wearing, but the practice shouldn't look that much different as far as the physical part of it."
Nose tackle Domata Peko, for one, appreciated finally getting to do some hitting in the trenches Monday.
"That what it's about, you know? We don't play without shoulder pads, so when you get them on that's when you really get to get real physical and do your job," Peko said. "Especially up front. In the trenches, you've got to have the pads on and feel that contact to see where you're at and sharpen each other up.
"It was a good first day of shells today. They call it shells, and then full pads tomorrow, but in the trenches, every time we put the pads on it's pretty much full pads. It felt good today."
The Broncos will also be in full pads Wednesday.
.