Denton getting his life, career back on track

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003 | 10:03 a.m.

Until a month ago, Jon Denton used an alias and garnished wages while working in a Las Vegas collection agency for a year and a half. Only infrequent clients skewed a look at him, asking if he ever played quarterback at UNLV.

"Nope," he responded, "don't know what you're talking about."

Most had another, more desperate, concern on their minds. A slip arrived in the mail, detailing their dire financial circumstance, and their first step toward rectifying the situation would be a visit to the agency.

Nobody ever pulled a gun or knife on Denton, who declined to reveal the alias he used or the company for which he worked. But he is certain that some of those visitors were as accustomed to carrying a weapon as a wallet or car keys.

"I mean, I've been in some pretty heated arguments," Denton said. "Almost came to blows a couple of times. Other than that, you just walk to the back and cool off. That's what you have to do.

"I'm a confrontational guy. Someone gets in my face, I hop right back in it. It's the way I was raised -- don't let people push you around. Other than that, I made pretty good money and worked with pretty good people."

Of course, Denton did play a little football for the Rebels, after a prep career at Green Valley High that included a trip to a state championship game. Mention his name, and many outsiders remember an arrogant, brash and cocky kid.

He once guaranteed a victory over Nevada-Reno, then the Wolf Pack trounced UNLV, 54-17, at Sam Boyd Stadium. He admits that he should have endeared himself to many more Rebels, instead of only hanging with a select clique of five or six.

However, UNLV coach Jeff Horton is still an avid fan of the quarterback who has impressed Las Vegas Gladiators coach Frank Haege during the Arena Football League team's current training camp.

Horton, now quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin, said Denton always displayed the demeanor and characteristics that he wants in a leader.

"I always liked his spunk," Horton said. "That's what made him special. That attitude. The way he carried himself. I want a quarterback to be confident, or cocky. I want them to think they're better than everybody else on the field. Jonnie had those qualities. He's as good as anyone who came down the pike.

"He could play."

Denton redshirted in 1995, then had a spectacular rookie season in which he set 10 NCAA freshman records by throwing for 3,591 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The Rebels, though, struggled, going 1-11. Then they went 3-8, and Denton etched what was thought to be his final chapter in Las Vegas when a pair of positive tests for marijuana hastened his departure for Division I-AA Eastern Kentucky.

He had an even shorter stay in Richmond, Ky., where an abrasive relationship with long-time and universally respected coach Roy Kidd drew a heap of scrutiny from NFL personnel.

Since then, Denton has bounced in and out of a variety of camps and tryouts on both coasts and in Canada, trying to catch some interest with a right arm that can still zip a football. His most regular work has been at the collection agency.

When the New Jersey Gladiators announced they were relocating to Las Vegas last month, Denton quickly rang his agent, Warren Schmidt, in Philadelphia. Schmidt had already placed a call to the Gladiators on Denton's behalf.

Two Sundays ago, Denton and more than 100 others appeared at Sam Boyd for an open tryout. Haege took quick note, and Denton built upon that impression during a two-day mini-camp.

Denton, battling to either back up starter Jay McDonagh or run the Gladiators' practice squad, is the sole survivor from that original Sam Boyd workout.

"He's doing a fantastic job," Haege said. "He's throwing to the right people, making the right reads and doing all the right things required of a leader."

Denton is also tutoring the transplanted Gladiators on Las Vegas, where to eat and where to stay, and whom to befriend. The 25-year-old quarterback has learned plenty in a checkered career that started with such promise.

Denton does not dodge a past that includes the positive marijuana tests, his exit from Kentucky and strings of rumors.

"Obviously, I did have some bad moments at UNLV. But that's what everyone remembers -- a couple bad moments," Denton said. "I remember the thousands and thousands of good moments I had at UNLV."

The father of 2 1/2-year-old Olivia and nine-month-old Roxy, Denton has been married for a year and a half. Natalie, his wife, supports every second he can keep his football dream alive.

He hasn't become devoutly religious, as one of those rumors goes. He isn't an atheist, either. He dabbles in Buddhism to tune his spirit, and he keeps his body limber with yoga exercises.

"I'm a little more mature," Denton said. "I have a few more brains in my head. I'm not as wild, not as rambunctious. I lived on the edge back when I was 18 through 21, 22. There's a place and a time for that, and my time and place went.

"Being married and having two kids has really brought me down to earth, knowing that if this doesn't work out, hey, I have to go get me a 9-to-5 (job) to provide for the kids, for their futures. One day at a time, that's my motto."

Denton stated that motto more than half a dozen times during a recent interview.

Since his college days, the nods, whispers and pointed fingers have been unmistakable whenever he dines out with family.

"Around town, people say, 'You were the heavy cocaine user,' " said Denton, rolling his eyes. "I get it now more than ever, about the partying and stuff. I had a 2.7 (grade-point average). I went to classes and did my work. I just had a couple good times that turned out to hurt me. That was it."

That Denton's exploits would be such a constant topic with so many was only natural, according to Horton.

"As a freshman and sophomore, he played well beyond his years," said Horton, fired from UNLV after the 1998 season. "But he got thrown into the fire, so to speak. He's a guy we were looking at as a savior to the program. Being a local guy, I think that added a lot of pressure to it."

A suspension for a petty infraction -- missing curfew when he went to a store for medicine to cure a stomach ache -- induced him to leave Eastern Kentucky. Kidd didn't care that Denton had a receipt. Denton, knowing he already had two strikes against him, admitted he never got along with Kidd.

Anyway, Denton's days at UNLV are what most remember.

"I didn't do anything that any one of my teammates didn't do, and I'm not going to put anyone out on the line there," he said. "When you're 1-11, there aren't too many bright things to look at. There were rumors that I had done every drug in the world. I mean, I got popped for marijuana a couple times.

"That's the extent of my partying, and that's in the past. People make their suggestions, little jokes or comments, and you just have to let it fly off your shoulders. My family knows what I do, and that's all I really care about."

Horton holds nothing against Denton, either, and said Denton would have shattered UNLV's career passing records had he played there all four years.

"I always liked Jonnie Denton," Horton said. "Fun to be around, and a good guy. I never had a problem with him, or his parents. Rick and Karen (Denton) are good people. I always wished things would have worked out better."

The notoriety Denton received did not add insult, he said, because he knew that came with the prominence of his position and that he had actually been his own worst enemy.

Denton cringed last season when Rebels quarterback Jason Thomas showed emotion to fans who booed him at Sam Boyd.

"He went back with gestures, and you can't do that," Denton said. "You can't show people that you have that side to you, because it eggs them on and keeps them going. I basically kept it to myself."

The Gladiators will play in the Thomas & Mack Center. The narrow, 50-yard Arena field mirrors the fine line that remains of Denton's football career. Every decision must be made twice as fast. That's good, considering he has to make up for lost time.

A few days into training camp, receivers were catching passes from Denton out in front of them and on stride. Denton had already figured out if the first two options are covered, the ball must quickly wind up in the stands ... or else.

"I don't think his story's finished," Horton said. "You never know what he could parlay that into. Kurt Warner? Tommy Maddox? Who knows? Maybe there's a Jon Denton (NFL story)."

Given the option, Denton said he wouldn't change a thing from his past because of everything he learned about people and football.

"People can turn on you ... teammates can turn on you," he said. "I'm out here absorbing everybody ... kickers, coaches, equipment people, media. Anybody who wants to say 'hi,' I say 'hi' to them. I'm a personable guy and feel I'm a pretty good person.

"If you had any bad notions or bad thoughts about me, all that changes if you get to know me."