Some players say they root for their former team. Not New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker.
Decker said Monday in an interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "The Michael Kay Show" that he has "nothing against" the Denver Broncos, but isn't a fan of the team any longer now that he's a Jet.
"I'm rooting for the other team," Decker said. "You gotta have a little sting, of course."
Decker, who posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Broncos in which he pulled in a combined 172 receptions, was not offered a contract by Denver in the offseason. The 27-year-old free agent ended up signing a five-year, $36.25 million contract ($15 million guaranteed) with the Jets.
The Broncos signed Emmanuel Sanders to replace Decker. Sanders could earn as much as $18 million over the next three seasons if he hits all of his incentives. Denver, which reached the Super Bowl last season, already had several weapons for All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning -- Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Wes Welker (suspended) -- and needed to revamp its defense.
The Broncos opened the 2014 campaign with a 31-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night. Decker watched his old team following his new team's 19-14 Week 1 win earlier in the afternoon.
"I think it was more weird (watching them) in the preseason, just the first couple of games I guess seeing the guys that you played with and you buckled up with the last couple seasons -- four seasons for me -- but now it's not," Decker said. "Not that I have anything against Denver or anything because I had such great teammates and such great respect for everyone in that organization, but you find yourself rooting for the other team.
"It was a good ballgame. Indianapolis came back and challenged them, but Denver looked really efficient offensively."
The Jets face the Broncos in Week 6 on Oct. 12 at MetLife Stadium.