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Broncos' focused and fastidious Royal a regular Mr. Clean

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 12, 2008 at 9:20 p.m.

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Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal has numerous nicknames that are based on his impeccable integrity. Among them: “Mr. Clean,” “Mr. Perfect,” “Mama’s Boy” and “Ed Rock.”

Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal has numerous nicknames that are based on his impeccable integrity. Among them: “Mr. Clean,” “Mr. Perfect,” “Mama’s Boy” and “Ed Rock.”

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He's "Mr. Clean." Not in an antiseptic kind of way, though make no mistake, neat freak Eddie Royal could endorse that kind of product and sell it in good conscience.

Rather, his integrity appears to be beyond reproach.

The NFL is a business that looks to find those kind of character deficiencies, under rocks, over time. The Broncos' interviews went into double digits at the wide receiver's university, Virginia Tech, trying to unearth a hint of trouble.

None of the 10 to 15 people the Broncos interviewed would provide any ammunition as to why they shouldn't consider drafting Royal, from a personality and background standpoint.

Royal had been nicknamed "Mr. Perfect" by some teammates, kiddingly called the coach's son by others, even "Mama's Boy."

Close friends called Royal "Ed Rock" because he carried himself like a rock star. The fans called him Ed-die, a true two-syllable name spoken in shouts at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., that called to mind Denver's love affair with another receiver, Ed McCaffrey.

Thing is, after research, a case seemingly could be made for each of his nicknames, and not in a derisive way. Maybe the Broncos were looking in the wrong places for the real dirt on Royal. (We'll get to that one later.) But, on paper, the 8-by-10 variety the scouts prepared for the front office that, in turn, ended up in Denver's draft-day war room on index cards, Royal was the real deal.

Oh, and he could play a little, too.

He showed that again in his pro debut, at Oakland, in a nationally televised game Monday night, when his 146 receiving yards led the NFL in Week 1.

"The scouting profession is kind of the opposite of the legal profession. It's guilty until proven innocent with every player," said Broncos assistant general manager Jeff Goodman, who was a primary scout for the Broncos in the country's southeast region last fall and is a former prosecutor. "We couldn't find anything good. And I love to dig."

Family ties

Royal was the youngest of seven children who split time between two Virginia cities, Reston and Herndon. Two brothers, Levi and Lucky, were mainly out of the house during Eddie's formative years. Brothers Dale and Chris helped teach him to shoot hoops and throw a football. Sister Gale provided support. But it was Christina, closest in age to Eddie, to whom he was closest.

It was a handful for any parent, much less a single mom, with which to cope.

Pearl Royal drove a school bus in Herndon, mainly to make sure her kids got to school safely, and volunteered at the facility to keep an eye on everyone. She always made sure church was a family staple. And she did everything in her power to provide meals as well as distance from the personal strife she felt internally trying to make a go of it alone.

"Even though I tried to hide it, I would go in the shower and cry so they couldn't hear me cry," Pearl Royal said this week. "They'd come to me and say, 'Mom, what's wrong?' 'Oh, I was humming.' But I was crying because it was really hard, though I'd do it all again, because I'm proud of all of them."

When there was trouble in the neighborhood - a robbery, a broken window - Pearl would play a game and have a picnic in her bedroom with the children, a chair wedged under the doorknob.

Always, it took creativity to provide meals. Pearl would toast bread, put some maple syrup on it and proclaim it French toast. Adding sugar made tap water seem exotic. Eggs were mixed with rice to make them more substantial. Eddie loved his mom's pancakes, but they weren't always available.

"I made up some dishes that I later found out were dishes," she said.

"I look back at it now, and I'm still amazed at how she provided dinner for us every single night," Eddie recalled.

But while Pearl Royal's love knew no bounds, she didn't take any back talk, either, even while standing 5-foot-3. And she was respected enough not to be tested much - at least by Eddie or his friends - who also called her "Mom" and sought her comfort and advice.

Eddie took his complaints straight to God, writing notes when he was angry, sad or wistful, though, as the baby of the family, he'd learned to devise ways to usually get what he wanted, a thread that would weave through Eddie's life.

"I only had trouble with him one time, and it was nothing, basically," Pearl remembered. "Once he realized he was taller than me and was acting up in a store. I said, 'OK, you might be a little taller than me, but I can still snatch you by the collar.' "

Which she did, stunning Eddie.

"He looked down at me, and from then on, I never, ever had a problem."

There were some issues with Eddie's grades in high school. He had to bust tail as a junior to get himself eligible for college, spurred by the similar struggles of his brother Chris, who was forced to attend a prep school before he could play football at Marshall University. He would write Eddie letters, warning him to avoid the same pitfalls.

"They were very encouraging," Royal said.

But eventually getting the work done showed the youngest Royal it wasn't an ability issue, but one of effort. He noticed his mother's gleeful reaction to his good grades far exceeded anything he was doing on the football field for Westfield High School. And he decided he didn't want to be one of those people seen as lazy by coaches, friends or family.

"I saw struggle and lived it. And I didn't want to go through that. I didn't want my family to go through that," Royal said. "It kind of molded me into a hard worker."

Royal ended up graduating from Virginia Tech in 31/2 years with a 2.9 grade- point average while setting Atlantic Coast Conference football records.

As Royal's career was winding down, he signed a photo and gave it to his mother.

"The struggle's almost over," he wrote.

Forming a bond

Sean Glennon admits he didn't like Eddie Royal much when Glennon first met him.

That's because Glennon was Westfield High's quarterback and Royal had transferred from another school where he had played QB. But the Westfield coaching staff saw Royal's speed and shiftiness and decided there was a new position in his future.

It also benefited the relationship between Glennon and Royal, and soon they and Justin Born, another receiver, became inseparable, later becoming college roommates.

They'd have frequent film sessions together on weekends and critique one another honestly - brutally, at times. They'd run routes together and break down one another's games.

"We only knew that nothing bad could come out of it," Born remembered. "When it came to football, we all took it pretty seriously."

And Royal kept taking it to the house - high school, college, it didn't matter. Royal was developing into an on-field star.

"Eddie's always been the best player on the field. Always," said Born, who's still at Virginia Tech with Glennon, the Hokies' starting quarterback. "Even when he'd only play for a couple plays, he'd take the opening kickoff back for a touchdown or bring another play back to the house. He's got it, if you want to call it that."

Royal has a tendency to treat opponents the way he has chased his goals - sidestepping or taking them head-on, but ultimately getting to where he wanted to be.

"Eddie's a great guy. But he definitely has a strong personality that can wear on you after a while," Glennon said.

"Eddie knows what he wants and nothing's going to stop him from getting what he wants. He's going to make sure he gets it. It's also what makes him successful."

But, come on, guys. Is he really that straight-laced? Isn't there some deep, dark secrets he's carrying?

"He has some prissy qualities about him," Glennon said with a laugh. "But I don't know if he wants me to get into that."

Do tell.

A Royal diva?

Royal shared a college apartment with Glennon and Born and two of their girlfriends, so they didn't live the typical Top Ramen, Merry Maids college lifestyle.

There was order. But Eddie's room matched his structured personality.

And with that backdrop, it all comes flowing out. His buddies are more than willing to provide the dirt on their close friend.

"His whole closet is color-coded. He's got it from white-color to dark-color white, to gray, yellow, orange, red, blue, black, all down the line," Glennon said.

Turns out, Royal also placed 10 to 15 candles around his college room. Multiple colognes filled the dresser.

"He has to stand in front of the mirror for a long time, even though he has short hair that doesn't move anyway and is perfect," Glennon added.

"Yeah, and he's got a little shrine to himself, too," Born revealed. "He's got all his articles printed out and everything - pictures of him all over the place."

But his room wasn't cluttered.

"Eddie's a little bit of a girl," Glennon continued, relishing in his good-natured smear campaign. "He listens to some girl music. Every now and again, we'll hear him listening to Backstreet Boys or Natasha Bedingfield."

Royal also has become super picky about the foods he eats. No mushrooms. No peppers. No to a lot of things.

He's starting to sound like something of a diva.

"That's a great word to describe him," Glennon said with a hearty laugh.

But his friends save the worst for last. Royal, the tough football player, frequented a manicurist.

"He went with his girlfriend all the time," Born said. "And he paints his fingernails with clear fingernail polish. I don't know why."

Royal's rebuttal

So what do you have to say for yourself now, Ed Rock? Mr. Perfect?

Royal cops to the color-coded closet.

"I don't want to be scrambling for something when I need it," he responded.

OK, then. The music. Royal calmly explains he likes a wide variety of "alternative" sounds.

Candles? They were for the girlfriend's benefit so the room didn't have a "nasty" smell, he shot back.

Food habits? Royal has no explanation, really, on that point. "Now I'm able to pick and choose what I eat. Maybe I'm taking advantage of it."

Actually, that sounds reasonable. Well, what about all the time primping?

"I guess you could say that's true," Royal said. "The sport that I play and the demands in meetings all the time, your life is controlled to the point to where, when I can relax and it's on my time, I want to take as much time doing things as I can."

All right. But the nail polish and manicures, there's no way out now . . .

"Yeah, who wants to have long nails like that?"

The truth finally comes out.

"Nah, they made that one up there," Royal added with a laugh.

"Actually," he continued, "I came back home and I wanted to do something nice for my mom, and she doesn't let me do much for her. But I took her to get her nails and feet done at the manicure and pedicure spot, and she didn't really want to go through with it. So I told her I'd do it with her. And me and my sister did it . . . to make her feel better."

Even the "shrine" had a feel-good explanation.

Eddie took a trip, and Pearl and Christina surprised him with the newspaper clips, his high school and college jerseys and photographs.

Mr. Clean it is, then.

Striving for perfection

Royal recently thanked his mom by persuading her, and giving her the means to, quit driving the school bus, though Pearl continues to volunteer at the school.

Royal also penned one of his frequent notes back home, including the phrase, "The struggle is over."

Not that Royal's work ethic will reflect it. He's the last one off the field at Broncos practices almost daily.

And Royal doesn't mind being portrayed as so straight-laced.

"That's my goal," he said. "I'm trying to be a good friend and teammate to everybody. You want to be the guy that, if something's wrong with a teammate, they can come to you and talk about it and let them know you'll be there for them. That's the type of person I want to be. I want to be a perfectionist. I want to do everything full speed and 100 percent. This game is all about being reliable and doing things the right way. That's how I've tried to present myself."

MORE ON EDDIE ROYAL

Linked to tragedy: It was Eddie Royal who carried the memorial flag into Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., during pregame ceremonies the first time the Virginia Tech football team played after a campus shooting in April 2007 cost 32 people their lives.

Royal had another link to the tragedy, though one he'd wish he never had. Cho Seung-Hui, the deranged student who went on the killing spree, actually went to Royal's high school in Chantilly, Va.

Royal previously has described that sobering news as "pretty devastating" and a "scary thing to think about."

Further, he knew peripherally of the two girls murdered from Westfield High, 18-year-old freshmen Erin Peterson and Reema Samaha.

'Captain' Christina: One of Royal's biggest confidantes to this day is his sister, Christina.

The family calls her "Captain," because when something's needed, she's on it.

But Christina Royal has a real military background.

She was the first black woman to serve as commander of Virginia Tech's Reserve Officer Training Corps. She's now serving in Iraq.

"She was probably the deciding factor in me going to Virginia Tech," Eddie said. "Because she's really there for me, no matter what."

Christina helped Eddie with his homework, washed his clothes and made sure he ate properly in college.

When Royal joined the Broncos, he traded Bible verses via e-mail with his sister, as he does with the rest of his family.

The two have been able to speak on the phone recently.

"She's everything you could ask for in a sister," Eddie said.

Mom knows best: There were no congratulatory phone calls from Mom when Royal broke out with his nine-catch performance against the Raiders on national television Monday.

Instead, Pearl Royal grilled her son about an illegal-formation penalty.

"I'm his greatest fan, but I help him get out the kinks," his mother said. "I have him explain what happened. I enjoy that. I'm not going to say, 'You're the best thing on the field.' I'll say, 'What happened right there?' "

Eddie wouldn't have it any other way.

He actually started his conversation with his mother after Denver's 41-14 victory wanting to know what other mistakes she had noticed so he could build off his errors and improve as a player.

The receiver looks for the same attention to detail from coaches.

"It's hard to do everything the right way," Royal said. "That's what drives me."

Comments

  • September 13, 2008

    8:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    MarcoPolo writes:

    Nothing wrong his fashion qualities. He color-coded DeAngelo Hall pretty well on Monday night - yellow hanky to be exact.

  • September 13, 2008

    8:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mighty_Mile writes:

    I hope he's a Bronco for a long time. What an amazing family he has. Good luck Sunday, San Diego can't stop him.

  • September 13, 2008

    8:20 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    tmcd writes:

    Wow! Great article and I am so happy the Broncos drafted Eddie Royal. This is a football player and more importantly, citizen Denver can be proud to cheer for. The Broncos should be commended for drafting all good character guys this off season and I truly believe it will pay off. Also, it sounds like a lot of us parents including myself could learn a lot from Eddies mom. I can't wait to see what Eddie does lined up with B Marsh. Once again, great article Lee.

  • September 13, 2008

    9:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    If Eddie continues to play the way he is, I smell "Rookie of the Year". He is "off the hook". He seems very relaxed and having fun. Not all stressed out like some rookie's are (or have been, like Ryan Leaf, for example). He will be a force in this league. Financial worries are over for his family (not that it was a "major concern", to start with). Good for them. From middle class, to upper class. It's always nice to see good people prosper.

  • September 13, 2008

    9:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    davis_x_machina writes:

    I'm inclined to believe that Mr.Royal shows the benefits of not only his personal character but the limited contact he must have had with Rod Smith, my personal favorite all-time Bronco, and one class human and football player.

  • September 13, 2008

    11:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncodano writes:

    With all of the negative sports stories out there, sure is refreshing to get a guy who can DEFINATELY play the game, as well as the game of life.

    Cudos to Eddie, but truly, hats off to Mother Royal. Raised seven children, one a soon to be NFL star, another a ROTC commander and a soldier, and I am sure the rest of the Royals will be just as impressive.

    Well done Mother Royal.

    Well done.

    (ps sign this kid to a lifetime contract. Ability and integrity? Now thats a keeper)

    bd

  • September 13, 2008

    11:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    cmcray1 writes:

    Yeah Davis. I agree. Eddie Smith or is it rod Royal. Nah, it's all Eddie Royal, but Eddie will be a fan favorite for al ong time here. The boy's got it all. Now--i am off to buy a jersey..

  • September 13, 2008

    12:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bygolly writes:

    Ed…die was truly sensational Monday running routes to perfection. Reading this article explains why a rookie receiver was able to devastate the Raiders’ defense. This young man has the potential to become a genuine hero and roll model to so many youngster, not only in Colorado but in the entire United States. This is the first season in a long time that makes me feel like the Broncos will have an exciting season. If the Broncos play this good on Sunday the rest of the league had better take notice because there is a pale horse coming……….

  • September 13, 2008

    12:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncos_dude1026 writes:

    It's nice to see that the moment a class-A, genuine great person, Rod Smith, retires, a young man comes along with the same attitude. I just hope Eddie can remain like this for the duration of his career. But reading this article, it's hard to imagine him suddenly turning into someone like T.O. Like Rod, he recognizes that being a professional football player is not a right, but a privilege. The game needs players with that kind of humble mentality. And he can flat out play. I am very excited about this season. GO BRONCOS!!

  • September 13, 2008

    12:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    J_Phil writes:

    Nice article Mr. Rasizer. I enjoyed it.

  • September 13, 2008

    2:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    garwoodpr writes:

    Will the owner of the game-day jersey Eddie Royal wore when playing at Virginia Tech please contact CollegeJersey.com - - Thank you.

  • September 13, 2008

    8 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncody writes:

    Great read, I really enjoyed it. Good to have good skills and good character on the Broncos. Hope he retires here in Denver after a few superbowl W's.

  • September 13, 2008

    9:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    den2mke writes:

    When DBs awaken in cold-sweat in the middle of the night, it's someone like Eddie Royal they have nightmares about: Someone fast enough to blow by you, able to sell virtually any route, able to stop on a dime with soft hands.

    One thing I haven't seen anyone talk much about lately is his strength. This guy benched 225 lb like 25 or 26 times if memory serves. Expect DBs to start getting physical at the line, but his strength and elusiveness is liable to make them pay.

  • September 14, 2008

    10:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    chgrbill writes:

    Sounds like a class act. Too bad donky fans couldn't spell the word. "No class" would be a perfect description for you morons.

  • September 14, 2008

    10:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    joeybudke writes:

    THANK YOU BRONCOS for deciding to make character matter. Hopefully Royal will rub off on Marshall and we'll have an elite tandem of WR's for years to come.