Nine years after he threw his last professional pitch, James Casey remains a reminder of how difficult it is to reach the major leagues.
And that’s good news for the Broncos.
After exhausting all options on the mound with the Chicago White Sox and the independent league Fort Worth Cats, Casey set foot on a more a challenging path, writing a script that is easier to appreciate than explain.
Casey stood before the Broncos press on Monday, articulating how he chose Denver over six other teams, drawn to his former coach in Houston Gary Kubiak and potentially a larger role than the special teams ace position afforded to him in Philadelphia the past two seasons.
“He brings versatility,” Kubiak said.
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How he ended up in the NFL boggles the mind. It starts with his inability to hold a starting role in the minor leagues, lacking a changeup to complement a 95-mph fastball and 80-mph hammer curve. He received a $120,000 signing bonus as the White Sox’s seventh-round pick in 2003. It changed his life, but not how he expected.
“I thought I was doing pretty well. I came from no money at all and when I got that check I thought I was rich,” said Casey, a prep star for the Azle (Texas) Hornets. “It was the most money I had seen in my life. I am thinking I am going to the big leagues, going to all-star games, become famous, and you get into professional sports you realize how many good players there are and how hard it is. As an 18-year-old I didn’t have the best mindset. I was worried about what other guys were doing. Maybe I could have worked harder. I had some regrets. That really changed how I thought about everything.”
As former minor league teammates Carlos Torres and Boone Logan accelerated to the bigs, Casey made one last attempt at pro ball in Fort Worth. He recognized that if he couldn’t dominate indy league hitters, it was time to move on. The baseball dream died in 2006. It gave birth to an unlikely football chapter. Casey excelled in high school as a quarterback, and watched several friends play college ball.
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He began the arduous process of trying to find a university interested. He sent letters, by his admission, to every school in Texas. Finally, Rice University responded, agreeing to a meeting. The coaches offered him a scholarship as — wait for it — a defensive end.
“Of course I took it. I was nearing the end of the road,” Casey said. “It was the first time I had ever put my hand in the dirt. It made me tougher.”
But not single-minded. Casey kept bugging the coaches to move him to offense. So after spending spring practice at defensive end, he joined the offense as the wildcat quarterback in the fall.
“Yeah, players showed up and were like, what the heck?” Casey said in a slight Texas drawl.
Where others saw a project, Rice offensive coordinator Tom Herman found a weapon. Herman, who ran Ohio State’s offense so well last season he landed the University of Houston coaching job, used Casey in different sets and multiple formations. As a sophomore, Casey broke through as a slot receiver, catching 111 passes for 13 touchdowns.
“I wasn’t going to get much better. I was 25 years old, so I took my shot with the NFL,” Casey said. “And I go from the absolute bottom of the barrel in baseball to getting drafted (in the fifth round by Houston). It was crazy.”
Casey became a priority for the Broncos when Kubiak was hired. He will bring back the fullback for the first time in a decade. Casey is big enough to lead block — his arms look like piano legs — but capable of running routes as a tight end.
“I always thought he had the best hands on the team when he was in Houston,” said Broncos defensive end and former Texans teammate Antonio Smith. “He could catch anything, and he can play anywhere you need him.”
Casey is rotating between fullback and tight end. The possibility of receiving more snaps at tight end increased with the season-ending knee injury to rookie Jeff Heuerman. For now, Denver is not looking to sign another tight end.
“I felt terrible what happened to him. I have spoke to him, and told him he’s going to be back,” said Casey, who became friends with Heuerman while attending practices at Ohio State last season after being invited by Herman. “I am just doing my job. It will be a fair process. That’s that great thing about football, you get from it what you put into it.”
And it doesn’t throw you as many curveballs. Or changeups.
“It’s been a crazy journey,” Casey said. “Failing at baseball kind of eats you up inside. Luckily I had a chance to redeem myself athletically. And I’ll never have any regrets.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck
Casey no longer at the bat
James Casey failed as a minor league pitcher. It was the best thing that happened to him. He forged an unlikely path to the NFL. NFL reporter Troy E. Renck examines:
— Received $120,000 signing bonus as White Sox’s 2003 seventh-round pick out of high school
— Threw 95 mph fastball with 80-mph curveball. Never mastered changeup or reached Double-A.
— Bottomed out in independent ball in 2006
— Received scholarship from Rice as a defensive end, became a wildcat quaterback and wide receiver
— Caught 111 passes as a sophomore slot receiver and entered the draft
— Has made 72 catches for 842 yards and six touchdowns in six NFL seasons. A special teams ace
