BRONCOS Pryce's roller-coaster ride hasn't hardened his attitude

The defensive end's odyssey has been on the upswing.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The past 16 months have been pretty wild for Denver Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce.
He hurt his back, had surgery and missed all but a few plays of the 2004 season. Pryce spent a few months on the trading block last off-season but eventually stayed with the Broncos. He was given a lesser role this season, had his fewest tackles and sacks since he was a rookie, but will play in the AFC Championship Game against Pittsburgh on Sunday and said he was very pleased with how he has played.
"If I let any of that stuff affect me, good or bad, they'd have to check me into a mental ward," Pryce said.
Misleading
Judging Pryce only by his statistics, it would appear Pryce never fully recovered from back surgery. Pryce had four sacks -- he had no fewer than seven in a season from 1998, his second year in the NFL, to 2003. He had 41 tackles. Not counting last season, Pryce's previous career low was 28 tackles as a rookie.
But Pryce is being used differently this season because the Broncos often use blitzes with linebackers and safeties to put pressure on the quarterback.
"I think I had a pretty good year, but we didn't get a lot of chances to cut loose and go after the quarterback," Pryce said. "We're a blitzing football team."
Pryce said his back was completely healed, and he also had his healthiest season. Pryce, who turned 30 in August, said he didn't have any injuries, even a minor one, all season.
"As a guy gets older and he has a back injury, you're never sure if he's going to be able to make it through the season," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.
QB radar
Pryce still made quarterbacks nervous. He said he stopped counting quarterback pressures when he reached 33 in Denver's 10th game. When Pryce made the Pro Bowl from 1999-2002, he said he would usually have about 45 pressures in a season.
"It was strange, I'd beat whoever and run toward the quarterback and you know he sees you, and you're like 'Just pull the ball down,' " Pryce said. "They just throw it up, and we wind up with 30 interceptions."
The trade talk that surrounded Pryce seems very distant. From shortly after last season ended to April, when he agreed to a restructured contract to save Denver some salary-cap space, Pryce didn't know if he would be coming back to the Broncos.
The Broncos couldn't find a trade partner and talks never got serious with any team. Pryce said the trade rumors never bothered him.
"You have to be confident in your ability," Pryce said. "I'm confident I can play football and I'm a good football player, and everything I've gotten I've earned. I think that's what kept me from going crazy. I'm like 'This is one of 32 teams and I can play somewhere.' I didn't want to, but it's out of your hands."
Super Bowl veteran
Pryce played in the Super Bowl each of his first two seasons. He said he wasn't sure he'd get back to a conference championship game, but he said getting close to the Super Bowl again was more exciting than when he made four straight Pro Bowls.
"It's nice to be pointed out but it's nicer when you feel good about what the team is doing and you're relaxed," Pryce said. "You don't have a feeling like the Raiders felt. I'm sure they had some guys with good stats but I'm sure the mood wasn't real bright inside their facility."