Issue Date: Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008 BRONCOS HOST PACKERS IN KEY THIRD PRESEASON GAME With starters expected to see their most extensive action of the preseason, the Denver Broncos (1-1) host the Green Bay Packers (0-2) on Friday in their final home exhibition game of 2008. Kickoff at INVESCO Field at Mile High is set for 7 p.m. MDT, and the game will be televised locally on KCNC-TV (CBS 4). Denver is coming off a 23-13 home victory against Dallas on Saturday after conducting four practices with the Cowboys leading up to the contest. Quarterback Jay Cutler completed his first 12 passes, the longest such streak by a Bronco in any game in five seasons, and guided Denver to touchdowns on its first two drives against the Cowboys. He finished the game 16-of-20 (80.0%) for 178 yards with one touchdown (120.4 rtg.), helping Denver to its first preseason win of the year. The Broncos face a Packers team that lost 34-6 at San Francisco on Saturday in its most recent action. The two clubs last played each other during the 2007 regular season with Green Bay earning a 19-13 overtime win in Denver on Monday Night Football. The second-to-last preseason game for most NFL teams is the contest in which their starters see extended playing time, and the Broncos have had success in these games under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.). Denver is 9-4 (.692) in its second-to-last preseason game under Shanahan, having won six of its last eight such contests. Through the first quarter of their opening two preseason games, the Broncos have outscored their opponents 14-3 and outgained them 179-108 yards while posting an 18:47-11:13 time-of-possession lead. In the first half, Denver owns a 394-266 (+128) yardage advantage and a 38:12-21:48 (+16:24) time-of-possession lead. Cutler ranks second in the NFL in passer rating (110.7) and has completed 24-of-30 (80.0%) passes for 237 yards with one touchdown. Second-year kicker Matt Prater (21 pts.) leads the league in scoring while rookie free agent linebacker Wesley Woodyard is tied for fifth in the NFL in tackles (13). TELEVISION AND RADIO INFORMATION vs. GREEN BAY TELEVISION: CBS (KCNC-TV - Channel 4): Gary Miller (play-byplay) and Reggie Rivers (color commentary) will call the game while Tom Helmer will be reporting from the sidelines. Vic Lombardi will host the broadcast. LOCAL RADIO: KOA Radio (850 AM): Dave Logan (play-by-play) and David Diaz-Infante (color commentary) will call the game while Andy Lindahl will report from the sidelines. LOCAL SPANISH RADIO: KBNO Radio (1280 AM): Fernando Sergio (play-by-play) and Yuri Vasquez (color commentary) will call the game. denver broncos 2008 weekly press release Preseason Game #3 Denver (1-1) vs. Green Bay (0-2) Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 7 p.m. MDT INVESCO FIELD AT MILE HIGH (76,125) Denver, Colorado MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT INFORMATION Jim Saccomano (303) 649-0572 jim.saccomano@broncos.nfl.net Patrick Smyth (303) 649-0536 patrick.smyth@broncos.nfl.net Dave Gaylinn (303) 649-0512 dave.gaylinn@broncos.nfl.net Rebecca Villanueva (303) 649-0598 rebecca.villanueva@broncos.nfl.net Erich Schubert (303) 649-0503 erich.schubert@broncos.nfl.net WWW.DENVERBRONCOS.COM/MEDIAROOM The Denver Broncos have a media-only Web site, which was created to assist accredited media in their coverage of the Broncos. By going to www.denverbroncos.com/mediaroom, members of the press will find complete statistical packages, press releases, rosters, updated bios, transcripts, injury reports, game recaps, news clippings, photos and much more. The 2008 Broncos Media Guide is available in PDF format on the media Web site as well as a complete archive of gamebooks and flip cards for every game in franchise history. BRONCOS 2008 SCHEDULE PRESEASON Wk. Day Date Opponent Site Time/Result TV/Rec. 1 Sat. Aug. 9 at Houston Reliant Stadium L, 19-16 0-1 2 Sat. Aug. 16 DALLAS INVESCO Field at Mile High W, 23-13 1-1 3 Fri. Aug. 22 GREEN BAY INVESCO Field at Mile High 7 p.m. MDT CBS 4 4 Fri. Aug. 29 at Arizona University of Phoenix Stadium 7 p.m. MST CBS 4 REGULAR SEASON Wk. Day Date Opponent Site Time/Result TV/Rec. 1 Mon. Sept. 8 at Oakland McAfee Coliseum 7:15 p.m. PDT ESPN 2 Sun. Sept. 14 SAN DIEGO INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MDT CBS 3 Sun. Sept. 21 NEW ORLEANS INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 p.m. MDT FOX 4 Sun. Sept. 28 at Kansas City Arrowhead Stadium 12 p.m. CDT CBS 5 Sun. Oct. 5 TAMPA BAY INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 p.m. MDT FOX 6 Sun. Oct. 12 JACKSONVILLE INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 p.m. MDT CBS 7 Mon. Oct. 20 at New England Gillette Stadium 8:30 p.m. EDT ESPN 8 Bye 9 Sun. Nov. 2 MIAMI INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 p.m. MST CBS 10 Thu. Nov. 6 at Cleveland Cleveland Browns Stadium 8:15 p.m. EST NFLN 11 Sun. Nov. 16 at Atlanta Georgia Dome 1 p.m. EST CBS 12 Sun. Nov. 23 OAKLAND INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 p.m. MST CBS 13 Sun. Nov. 30 at New York Jets Giants Stadium 1 p.m. EST CBS 14 Sun. Dec. 7 KANSAS CITY INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 p.m. MST CBS 15 Sun. Dec. 14 at Carolina Bank of America Stadium 1 p.m. EST CBS 16 Sun. Dec. 21 BUFFALO INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:05 p.m. MST CBS 17 Sun. Dec. 28 at San Diego Qualcomm Stadium 1:15 p.m. PST CBS 2008 AFC WEST PRESEASON STANDINGS Team W L T PF PA Home Road AFC NFC DIV Streak Denver 1 1 0 39 32 1-0 0-1 0-1 1-0 0-0 Won 1 Kansas City 1 1 0 41 47 0-1 1-0 0-0 1-1 0-0 Lost 1 Oakland 1 1 0 34 23 1-0 0-1 0-1 1-0 0-0 Lost 1 San Diego 1 1 0 37 24 1-0 0-1 0-0 1-1 0-0 Lost 1 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 1 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release BRONCOS VS. PACKERS POINTS OF INTEREST The Broncos own a 6-2 all-time record against the Packers in the preseason, including a 3-0 mark at home... The two clubs last met in the preseason in 2001 (22-7 Packers win in Green Bay)... In the regular season, the Broncos are 5-5-1 against Green Bay and last played the Packers in 2007 (19-13 Packers overtime win in Denver)... The two clubs also met in Super Bowl XXXII during the 1997 season with Denver earning a 31-24 win for its first-ever World Championship... This week s game marks the first of two Friday games for Denver, which is 7-1 in its last eight Friday preseason games and will play two Friday games in the same preseason for the first time since 1993... The Broncos are 9-4 (.692) since 1995 in their second-tolast preseason game (when starters see extended playing time)... Head Coach Mike Shanahan owns a 40-18 (.690) preseason record with Denver (1995-Pres.), including a 22-5 (.815) mark at home... Denver has outscored its opponents 14-3, outgained them 179-108 yards and posted a 18:47-11:13 time-of-possession advantage in the first quarter of its first two preseason games... In the first half this preseason, Denver has outgained its opponents 394-266 (+128) and held a 38:12-21:48 (+16:24) time-of-possession advantage... Denver s first-string offensive line has not allowed a sack in the preseason and helped the club post a seven-quarter streak of not giving up a sack to begin the preseason The Broncos have given up one sack this year... Broncos QB Jay Cutler has completed 80 percent (24-of-30) of his passes and owns a 110.7 passer rating that ranks second in the NFL for the 2008 preseason... Cutler completed his first 12 passes vs. Dallas on Aug. 16 for the longest such streak by a Denver QB in any game since 2003 (Jake Plummer, 16)... Broncos K Matt Prater (21 pts., 6 FGs, 3 PATs) leads the NFL in scoring and has converted 6-of-8 field goal attempts... Denver rookie WR Eddie Royal is tied for seventh in the league in yards per reception (20.0 / 4-for-80) and has hauled in a pair of 30+yard passes... Royal and T Ryan Clady became the first two rookies in club history to start a preseason opener at their respective positions vs. Houston on Aug. 9... Broncos LB Wesley Woodyard, a college free agent from Kentucky, is tied for fifth in the NFL with 13 tackles... CB Jack Williams became the first Broncos rookie to post an interception in the preseason since 2003 (LB Terry Pierce) vs. Dallas on Aug. 16... The Broncos and Cowboys practiced four times in a two-day period in Englewood, Colo., leading up to their preseason game this year, marking the first time a club has visited Denver to practice in the preseason since 1996 (Carolina)... Denver held its training camp at its facility in Englewood, Colo., for the sixth consecutive year in 2008 The club practiced 33 times (27 full squad, 6 special teams) before breaking camp on Aug. 15... Notable veteran additions to the Broncos in the offseason include LB Boss Bailey, WR Darrell Jackson, LB Niko Koutouvides, S Marlon McCree, RB Michael Pittman, DT Dewayne Robertson and C Casey Wiegmann... Cutler begins his third NFL season in 2008 Since being named Denver s starter in Week 13 of the 2006 season, he has totaled the 10th-most passing yards (4,498) in the NFL... WR Brandon Marshall had the third-most receptions (102-1,325 yds.) by a second-year player in NFL history in 2007, finishing second in club annals for receptions in a season and fifth in the league for the year... CB Champ Bailey has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last eight years That streak is the longest in NFL history at the cornerback position, and his eight overall Pro Bowl selections tie for the second most at the position in NFL history (Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Haynes has nine)... DE Elvis Dumervil, who had 12.5 sacks in 2007, ranks sixth in the league with 21 sacks since being drafted in 2006... RB Selvin Young in 2007 posted the third-most rushing yards (729) by an undrafted rookie in NFL history (common draft era)... C Tom Nalen (1994) is the longest-tenured player on Denver s roster and ranks second in team history with 188 career starts... LB D.J. Williams led the AFC (2nd in NFL) with 141 tackles in 2007 according to NFL.com stats... The Broncos last year extended their streak of ranking among the league s top-10 rushing teams (122.3 / 9th) for the eighth year in a row (longest active streak in NFL)... The Broncos 34 forced fumbles in 2007 led the AFC and were their highest season total since 1990. GAME INFORMATION BRONCOS/PACKERS 2008 COMPARISON BRONCOS PACKERS Record..............................1-1..........0-2 Division Standing.............T-1st (AFCW)..T-3rd (NFCN) NFL Offensive Ranking................21st........T-4th Offense-Points Per Game..............19.5.........11.5 Possession Average.................31:45........30:14 Total Net Yards Per Game.............315.0........282.5 Net Rushing Yards Per Game..........112.0........106.5 Net Passing Yards Per Game..........203.0........176.0 Had Intercepted/Yards Lost.............2/64..........2/7 Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost...............1/2.........9/56 Field Goals/FGA.......................6/8..........3/3 NFL Defensive Ranking................18th..........7th Defense-Points Per Game..............16.0.........27.0 Defense-Total Net Yards Per Game.....321.5........298.0 Defense-Rushing Yards Per Game......105.0........120.5 Defense-Passing Yards Per Game......216.5........177.5 Defense-Intercepted by/yards...........1/32.........2/11 Defense-Sacks For/Yards..............4/12..........1/0 Punts-Average Yards (Gross)...........44.0.........43.6 Punts-Average Yards (Net).............36.0.........33.2 Punt Returns-Average Per..............4.0..........6.0 Punt Returns-Average Per Allowed.......9.0.........12.3 Kickoff Returns-Average Per............24.0.........17.5 Kickoff Returns-Average Per Allowed.....27.4.........27.6 Penalties Against/Yards.............18/116.......16/153 Fumbles/Lost.........................1/0..........6/4 Opponent Fumbles/Lost................2/1..........1/0 BRONCOS PACKERS PASSING YARDS Cutler...............237 Rodgers...........175 Ramsey...............99 Flynn..............130 Hackney..............72 Brohm.............103 RUSHING YARDS Hall..................67 Lumpkin............87 Pittman...............54 Jackson.............54 Young................39 Herron..............52 RECEIVING YARDS Royal.................80 Driver..............54 Marshall..............68 Nelson..............45 Scheffler..............55 Jones..............44 POINTS SCORED Prater................21 Crosby..............11 Cutler.................6 Jones...............6 Hall, Marshall...........6 Lumpkin.............6 INTERCEPTIONS J. Williams.............1 Woodson.............1 Rouse...............1 SACKS Beck.................1.0 Hunter.............1.0 Dumervil.............1.0 Morton*, Peterson......1.0 * - Not on club s current roster DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 2 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION 2008 TEAM COMPARISON - OTHER KEY AREAS CATEGORY (NFL RANK) BRONCOS PACKERS 3rd Down Offense 37.0% (16) 32.3% (23t) 3rd Down Defense 40.0% (18t) 36.4% (12) Red Zone Offense TD Pct. 37.5% (20t) 20.0% (28t) Red Zone Defense TD Pct. 28.6% (11) 66.7% (29t) Takeaways 2 (17t) 2 (17t) Giveaways 2 (11t) 6 (29t) Turnover Ratio +/-0 (15t) -4 (31t) BRONCOS/PACKERS SERIES BREAKDOWN (PRESEASON) Series Meetings: 8 Broncos Record: 6-2-0 (Home: 3-0-0 / Away: 2-2-0 / Neutral: 1-0-0) First Game: Den. 31, at G.B. 21 (8/24/74) Last Game: at G.B. 22, Den. 7 (8/30/01) Current Streak: Lost 1 Longest Den. Win Streak: 5 (8/24/74-8/24/98) Longest G.B. Win Streak: 1, 2x, last (8/30/01) Last Den. Home Win: at Den. 26, G.B. 20 (8/13/00) Last Den. Home Loss: None Last Den. Road Win: Den. 38, at G.B. 0 (8/30/80) Last Den. Road Loss: at G.B. 22, Den. 7 (8/30/01) Den. Shutouts: 1 (8/30/80): Den. 38, at G.B. 0 G.B. Shutouts: None Most Den. Points: 38 (8/30/80): Den. 38, at G.B. 0 Most G.B. Points: 31 (8/24/98): at Den. 34, G.B. 31 Total Den. Points: 185 Total G.B. Points: 142 Average Den. Points: 23.1 Average G.B. Points: 17.8 Largest Den. Win: 38 (8/30/80): Den. 38, at G.B. 0 Largest G.B. Win: 15, 2x, last (8/30/01): at G.B. 22, Den. 7 Most Pts., Both Teams: 65 (8/24/98): at Den. 34, G.B. 31 Fewest Pts., Both Teams: 24 (8/22/81): at Den. 17, G.B. 7 KEY UPCOMING DATES Tuesday, Aug. 26: Roster cut to maximum of 75 players on active list by 2 p.m. MDT. Saturday, Aug. 30: Roster cut to maximum of 53 players on active/inactive lists by 2 p.m. MDT. Sunday, Aug. 31: Clubs may establish practice squad of eight players after 10 a.m. MDT. Sept. 4-8: Regular season begins. BRONCOS/PACKERS COACHING COMPARISON MIKE SHANAHAN MIKE McCARTHY YR. AS AN NFL HEAD COACH: 16th 3rd YR. AS TEAM S HEAD COACH: 14th 3rd OVERALL YR. IN NFL: 25th 16th OVERALL YR. WITH TEAM: 21st 4th NFL COACHING CAREER REG. SEASON RECORD: 138-90-0 (.605) 21-11-0 (.656) POSTSEASON RECORD: 8-5 (.615) 1-1 (.500) OVERALL RECORD: 146-95-0 (.606) 22-12-0 (.647) WITH CURRENT TEAM REG. SEASON RECORD: 130-78 (.625) 21-11-0 (.656) POSTSEASON RECORD: 8-5 (.615) 1-1 (.500) OVERALL RECORD: 138-83-0 (.624) 22-12-0 (.647) AGAINST OPPONENT REG. SEASON RECORD: 1-3-0 (.250) 1-0-0 (1.000) POSTSEASON RECORD: 1-0 (1.000) 0-0 (.000) OVERALL RECORD: 2-3-0 (.400) 1-0-0 (1.000) AGAINST OPP. HEAD COACH REG. SEASON RECORD: 0-1-0 (.000) 1-0-0 (1.000) POSTSEASON RECORD: 0-0 (.000) 0-0 (.000) OVERALL RECORD: 0-1-0 (.000) 1-0-0 (1.000) NFL SCHEDULE - PRESEASON WEEK 3 Thursday, August 21 San Francisco at Chicago............(FOX) 7:00p (CT) Friday, August 22 Houston at Dallas..................(CBS) 7:00p (CT) Green Bay at Denver.................7:00p (MT) Philadelphia at New England...............7:30p (ET) Tennessee at Atlanta.....................7:30p (ET) Saturday, August 23 Pittsburgh at Minnesota.............(CBS) 7:00p (CT) Baltimore at St. Louis....................7:00p (CT) Cleveland at Detroit......................4:00p (ET) Jacksonville at Tampa Bay................7:30p (ET) Kansas City at Miami.....................7:30p (ET) New Orleans at Cincinnati.................7:35p (ET) NY Giants at NY Jets.....................7:00p (ET) Washington at Carolina...................7:00p (ET) Arizona at Oakland......................6:00p (PT) Sunday, August 24 Buffalo at Indianapolis.............(NFLN) 8:00p (ET) Monday, August 25 Seattle at San Diego...............(ESPN) 5:00p (PT) DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 3 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release BRONCOS/PACKERS ALL-TIME RESULTS (PRESEASON) Season (Date) W/L Result Site 1974 (8/24) W Denver 31, @Green Bay 21 Lambeau Field 1980 (8/30) W Denver 38, @Green Bay 0 Lambeau Field 1981 (8/22) W @Denver 17, Green Bay 7 Mile High Stadium 1987 (8/15) W Denver 20, Green Bay 14 Sun Devil Stadium 1998 (8/24) W @Denver 34, Green Bay 31 Mile High Stadium 1999 (8/23) L @G.B. 27, Denver 12 Camp Rand. Stad., Madison, Wisc. 2000 (8/13) W @Denver 26, Green Bay 20 Mile High Stadium 2001 (8/20) L @Green Bay 22, Denver 7 Lambeau Field BRONCOS/PACKERS SERIES BREAKDOWN (REGULAR SEASON) Series Meetings: 11 Broncos Record: 5-5-1 (Home: 5-1-0 / Away: 0-4-1) First Game: at G.B. 34, Den. 13 (9/26/71) Last Game: G.B. 19, at Den. 13 OT (10/29/07) Current Streak: Lost 2 Longest Den. Win Streak: 3 (9/29/75-10/15/84) Longest G.B. Win Streak: 2, 2x, last (12/28/03-10/29/07) Last Den. Home Win: at Den. 31, G.B. 10 (10/17/99) Last Den. Home Loss: G.B. 19, at Den. 13 OT (10/29/07) Last Den. Road Win: None Last Den. Road Loss: at G.B. 31, Den. 3 (12/28/03) Den. Shutouts: None G.B. Shutouts: None Most Den. Points: 31 (10/17/99): at Den. 31, G.B. 10 Most G.B. Points: 41 (12/8/96): at G.B. 41, Den. 6 Total Den. Points: 188 Total G.B. Points: 225 Average Den. Points: 17.1 Average G.B. Points: 20.5 Largest Den. Win: 21 (10/17/99): at Den. 31, G.B. 10 Largest G.B. Win: 35 (12/8/96): at G.B. 41, Den. 6 Most Pts., Both Teams: 57 (10/10/93): at G.B. 30, Den. 27 Fewest Pts., Both Teams: 19 (11/19/78): at Den. 16, G.B. 3 BRONCOS/PACKERS ALL-TIME RESULTS Season (Date) W/L Result Site 1971 (9/26) L @Green Bay 34, Denver 13 Milwaukee County Stadium 1975 (9/29) W @Denver 23, Green Bay 13 Mile High Stadium 1978 (11/19) W @Denver 16, Green Bay 3 Mile High Stadium 1984 (10/15) W @Denver 17, Green Bay 14 Mile High Stadium 1987 (9/20) T Denver 17, @Green Bay 17 Milwaukee County Stadium 1990 (12/30) W @Denver 22, Green Bay 13 Mile High Stadium 1993 (10/10) L @Green Bay 30, Denver 27 Lambeau Field 1996 (12/8) L @Green Bay 41, Denver 6 Lambeau Field 1997 (1/25) W Denver 31, Green Bay 24* Qualcomm Stadium 1999 (10/17) W @Denver 31, Green Bay 10 Mile High Stadium 2003 (12/28) L @Green Bay 31, Denver 3 Lambeau Field 2007 (10/9) L Green Bay 19, @Denver 13 OT INVESCOField at Mile High *Super Bowl XXXII GAME INFORMATION BRONCOS/PACKERS 2007 COMPARISON BRONCOS PACKERS Record..............................7-9.........13-3 Division Standing..............2nd (AFCW)....1st (NFCN) NFL Offensive Ranking................11th.........2nd Offense-Points Per Game..............20.0.........27.2 Possession Average.................29:09........30:19 Total Net Yards Per Game.............346.3........370.7 Net Rushing Yards Per Game..........122.3.........99.8 Net Passing Yards Per Game..........224.0........270.9 Had Intercepted/Yards Lost...........15/229.......15/166 Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost............32/175.......19/127 Field Goals/FGA.....................27/31........31/39 NFL Defensive Ranking................19th.........11th Defense-Points Per Game..............25.6.........18.2 Defense-Total Net Yards Per Game.....336.0........313.3 Defense-Rushing Yards Per Game......142.6........102.9 Defense-Passing Yards Per Game......193.4........210.4 Defense-Intercepted by/yards.........14/105.......19/233 Defense-Sacks For/Yards............33/203.......36/218 Punts-Average Yards (Gross)...........43.8.........43.0 Punts-Average Yards (Net).............36.3.........37.6 Punt Returns-Average Per..............9.1.........10.3 Punt Returns-Average Per Allowed......10.8..........5.9 Kickoff Returns-Average Per............22.3.........21.8 Kickoff Returns-Average Per Allowed.....23.0.........20.9 Penalties Against/Yards.............90/610....113/1,006 Fumbles/Lost.......................30/14.........25/9 Opponent Fumbles/Lost..............34/16.........17/9 BRONCOS PACKERS PASSING YARDS Cutler..............3,497 Favre*...........4,155 Ramsey..............262 Rodgers...........218 Nall*...............88 RUSHING YARDS Young...............729 Grant..............956 Henry*..............691 Jackson............267 Hall.................216 Wynn..............203 RECEIVING YARDS Marshall............1,325 Driver...........,1,048 Stokley..............635 Jennings...........920 Scheffler.............549 J. Jones...........676 POINTS SCORED Elam*...............114 Crosby.............141 Marshall..............42 Jennings............72 Scheffler, Stokley.......30 Grant...............48 INTERCEPTIONS Bly....................5 Bigby................5 Bailey.................3 Woodson.............4 Paymah................2 Three Players.........2 SACKS Dumervil............12.5 Kampman..........12.0 Crowder..............4.0 Gbaja-Biamila........9.5 Mallard...............3.5 C. Williams*.........7.0 * - Not on club s current roster DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 4 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release 2007 TEAM COMPARISON - OTHER KEY AREAS CATEGORY (NFL RANK) BRONCOS PACKERS 3rd Down Offense 40.4% (15) 42.6% (8) 3rd Down Defense 42.7% (27) 33.0% (3) Red Zone Offense TD Pct. 49.0% (21) 54.0% (14) Red Zone Defense TD Pct. 57.4% (24) 48.8% (8) Takeaways 30 (11t) 28 (17t) Giveaways 29 (14t) 24 (7t) Turnover Ratio +1 (13t) +4 (10t) DENVER STRONG IN KEY PRESEASON GAME The second-to-last preseason game for most NFL teams is the contest in which their starters see extended playing time, and the Broncos have had success in these games under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.). Denver is 9-4 (.692) in its second-to-last preseason game since 1995. The Broncos have won three of their last four and six of their last eight such games. BRONCOS IN THEIR SECOND-TO-LAST PRESEASON GAME, SINCE 1995 Season (Date) W/L Result Site 1995 (8.21) W @Denver 20, Dallas 17 Mile High Stadium 1996 (8/17) W Denver 20, @Dallas 3 Texas Stadium 1997 (8/17) L @New England 31, Denver 21 Foxboro Stadium 1998 (8/24) W @Denver 34, Green Bay 31 Mile High Stadium 1999 (8/29) L @Dallas 22, Denver 12 Texas Stadium 2000 (8/19) W @Denver 36, Dallas 23 Mile High Stadium 2001 (8/25) W @Denver 31, New Orleans 24 INVESCO Field at Mile High 2002 (8/24) W Denver 19, @Arizona 13 Sun Devil Stadium 2003 (8/25) L Indianapolis 28, @Denver 23 INVESCOField at Mile High 2004 (8/27) W @Denver 31, Houston 17 INVESCO Field at Mile High 2005 (8/27) W @Denver 37, Indianapolis 24 INVESCO Field at Mile High 2006 (8/27) W @Denver 17, Houston 14 INVESCO Field at Mile High 2007(8/25) L Cleveland 17, @Denver 16 INVESCOField at Mile High BRONCOS ON FRIDAYS The Broncos will conclude the 2008 preseason by playing their final two games on Fridays, facing Green Bay this week before visiting Arizona on Aug. 29. Those contests mark the first time since 1993 that the Broncos will play two Friday games in the same preseason. Denver, which has not played on a Friday since 2006, has won seven of its last eight preseason games played on that day. The Broncos are 21-24 all-time in Friday preseason games. Under Head Coach Mike Shanahan, the Broncos are 7-3 on Fridays in the preseason. LAST EIGHT BRONCOS PRESEASON GAMES PLAYED ON FRIDAY Date Opponent Result Aug. 14, 1998 vs. New Orleans W, 17-10 Sept. 3, 1999 vs. San Francisco W, 34-3 Aug. 25, 2000 at San Francisco W, 28-24 Aug. 31, 2001 vs. San Francisco W, 35-7 Aug. 29, 2003 vs. Seattle W, 20-3 Aug. 27, 2004 vs. Houston W, 31-17 Sept. 2, 2005 at Arizona W, 30-21 Aug. 11, 2006 at Detroit L, 20-13 GAME INFORMATION BRONCOS ALL-TIME YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORDS YEAR PRESEASON REG. SEASON PLAYOFFS 1960........0-5............4-9-1................0-0 1961........1-4............3-11................0-0 1962........2-2.............7-7.................0-0 1963........2-3...........2-11-1...............0-0 1964........2-3...........2-11-1...............0-0 1965........1-4............4-10................0-0 1966........1-3............4-10................0-0 1967........3-1............3-11................0-0 1968........1-4.............5-9.................0-0 1969........1-4............5-8-1................0-0 1970........3-2............5-8-1................0-0 1971........1-4............4-9-1................0-0 1972........2-3.............5-9.................0-0 1973........2-3............7-5-2................0-0 1974........4-2............7-6-1................0-0 1975........3-3.............6-8.................0-0 1976........5-2.............9-5.................0-0 1977........5-1............12-2.......2-1 (S.B. loss) 1978........2-2............10-6................0-1 1979........3-1............10-6................0-1 1980........2-2.............8-8.................0-0 1981........2-2............10-6................0-0 1982........4-0.............2-7.................0-0 1983........3-1.............9-7.................0-1 1984........3-1............13-3................0-1 1985........2-2............11-5................0-0 1986........2-2............11-5.......2-1 (S.B. loss) 1987........3-2...........10-4-1.......2-1 (S.B. loss) 1988........3-1.............8-8.................0-0 1989........2-2............11-5.......2-1 (S.B. loss) 1990........3-2............5-11................0-0 1991........2-3............12-4................1-1 1992........1-4.............8-8.................0-0 1993........2-2.............9-7.................0-1 1994........2-3.............7-9.................0-0 1995........3-2.............8-8.................0-0 1996........3-1............13-3................0-1 1997........3-2............12-4........4-0 (S.B. win) 1998........3-1............14-2........3-0 (S.B. win) 1999........3-2............6-10................0-0 2000........4-0............11-5................0-1 2001........3-1.............8-8.................0-0 2002........3-1.............9-7.................0-0 2003........3-1............10-6................0-1 2004........2-3............10-6................0-1 2005........4-0............13-3................1-1 2006........3-1.............9-7.................0-0 2007........2-2.............7-9.................0-0 2008........1-1.............0-0.................0-0 TOTAL..120-103 (.538)..378-336-10 (.529)....17-15 (.531) DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 5 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION TRACKING DENVER S 2008 PRESEASON OPPONENTS Opponent Date/Result 08 Rec. LAST GAME THIS WEEK Houston L, 19-16 2-0 Won at New Orleans, 31-27 (Aug. 16) at Dallas (Aug. 22) Dallas W, 23-13 0-2 Lost at Denver, 23-13 (Aug. 16) vs. Houston (Aug. 22) Green Bay Aug. 22 0-2 Lost at San Francisco, 34-6 (Aug. 16) at Denver (Aug. 22) Arizona Aug. 29 1-1 Won at Kansas City, 27-17 (Aug. 16) at Oakland (Aug. 23) Combined 2008 preseason record of opponents: 3-5 (.375) / Combined 07 regular-season record of opponents: 42-22 (.656) DENVER FIRST-TEAMERS ENJOYING SOLID PRESEASON Through two preseason games, the Broncos first-team offense and defense have fared well against their opponents. In the first quarter, Denver has outscored its opponents 14-3 and outgained them 179-108 while posting an 18:47-11:13 time-of-possession advantage. FIRST QUARTER COMPARISON, 2008 PRESEASON Category Broncos Opponents Points 14 3 Total Yards 179 108 Rushing Yards 53 37 Passing Yards 126 71 First Downs 11 7 Time of Possession 18:47 11:13 The Broncos also own a 394-266 advantage in total yards, a 27-15 advantage in first downs and a 38:12-21:48 advantage in time of possession through the first half of their games in the 2008 preseason. FIRST HALF COMPARISON, 2008 PRESEASON Category Broncos Opponents Points 21 20 Total Yards 394 266 Rushing Yards 134 80 Passing Yards 260 186 First Downs 27 15 Time of Possession 38:12 21:48 BRONCOS BLOCKERS HOLDING THE LINE The Broncos starting offensive line, which consists of two tackles (Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris) in their first year as starters along with one second-year starter (RG Chris Kuper), has yet to allow a sack through two preseason games. As a team, the Broncos did not allow a sack through the first seven quarters of the preseason. The streak was snapped in the fourth quarter vs. Dallas on Aug. 16 when quarterback Darrell Hackney was sacked for a loss of two yards by Cowboys defensive end Marcus Smith. The Broncos rank third in the NFL in sack percentage, giving up one sack in 62 pass attempts (.016). FEWEST SACKS PER PASS ATTEMPT, NFL, 2008 PRESEASON Team Gms. Sacks Yds. Pct. 1. Detroit 1 0 0.000 2. San Francisco 2 1 6.014 3. Denver 2 1 2.016 4. Carolina 2 2 16.029 Jacksonville 2 2 10.029 SHANAHAN IN THE PRESEASON During his 14 seasons as the Broncos head coach, Mike Shanahan has positioned Denver with the league s best in the preseason. Denver owns a 40-18 record in the preseason under Shanahan since 1995, marking a.690 winning percentage that is the best by a coach in club history. The Broncos are 22-5 (.815) at home, 16-12 (.571) on the road and 2-1 (.667) at neutral sites in the preseason under Shanahan. CAREER WINNING PERCENTAGE BY BRONCOS HEAD COACHES IN THE PRESEASON Head Coach Years Record 1. Mike Shanahan 1995-Pres. 40-18-0 (.690) 2. Red Miller 1977-80 12-6-0 (.667) 3. Dan Reeves 1981-92 30-22-0 (.577) 4. John Ralston 1972-1976 16-13-0 (.552) 5. Wade Phillips 1993-94 4-5-0 (.444) 6. Jack Faulkner 1962-64 6-8-0 (.429) 7. Lou Saban 1967-71 9-15-0 (.375) 8. Mac Speedie 1965-66 2-7-0 (.222) 9. Frank Filchock 1960-61 1-9-0 (.100) DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 6 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION TRACKING DENVER S 2008 REGULAR-SEASON OPPONENTS Opponent Date/Result 08 Rec. LAST GAME THIS WEEK Oakland Sept. 8, Nov. 23 1-1 Lost at Tennessee, 17-16 (Aug. 15) vs. Arizona (Aug. 23) San Diego Sept. 14, Dec. 28 1-1 Lost at St. Louis (Aug. 16) vs. Seattle (Aug. 25) New Orleans Sept. 21 1-1 Lost vs. Houston, 31-27 (Aug. 16) at Cincinnati (Aug. 23) Kansas City Sept. 28, Dec. 7 1-1 Lost vs. Arizona (Aug. 16) at Miami (Aug. 23) Tampa Bay Oct. 5 1-0 Won at Miami, 17-6 (Aug. 9) vs. New England (Aug. 17) Jacksonville Oct. 12 1-1 Lost vs. Miami, 19-14 (Aug. 16) at Tampa Bay (Aug. 23) New England Oct. 20 0-1 Lost vs. Baltimore, 16-15 (Aug. 7) at Tampa Bay (Aug. 17) Miami Nov. 2 1-1 Won at Jacksonville, 19-14 (Aug. 16) vs. Kansas City (Aug. 23) Cleveland Nov. 6 0-1 Lost vs. N.Y. Jets, 24-20 (Aug. 7) at N.Y. Giants (Aug. 18) Atlanta Nov. 16 0-2 Lost vs. Indianapolis, 16-9 (Aug. 16) vs. Tennessee (Aug. 22) N.Y. Jets Nov. 30 1-1 Lost vs. Washington, 13-10 (Aug. 16) vs. N.Y. Giants (Aug. 23) Carolina Dec. 14 1-1 Lost at Philadelphia, 24-13 (Aug. 14) vs. Washington (Aug. 23) Buffalo Dec. 21 1-1 Won vs. Pittsburgh, 24-21 (Aug. 14) at Indianapolis (Aug. 24) Combined 2008 preseason record of opponents: 13-16 (.448) / Combined 2007 regular-season record of opponents: 114-142 (.445) CUTLER COMPLETES FIRST 12 PASSES VS. DALLAS Quarterback Jay Cutler set the tone for Denver s 23-13 win against Dallas on Aug. 16 by completing his first 12 passes to five different receivers, helping the Broncos take a 14-0 lead. The streak covered 142 yards and included one touchdown, giving the third-year player a 143.8 rating. The streak was the longest of his career In 2007, the quarterback had two 11-pass completion streaks (vs. Min., 12/30/07 and vs. Jac., 9/23/07). In addition, Cutler s 12 completions in a row marked the longest such streak by a Bronco in any game since Jake Plummer completed 16 consecutive passes vs. Det. (9/28/03). Below is a look at Cutler s 12 completions in a row against the Cowboys. JAY CUTLER S 12-PASS COMPLETION STREAK, VS. DALLAS, 8/16/08 Qtr. Time Dwn, Yards Player 1 14:36 1-20 DEN 25 12 WR Marshall 1 13:58 2-8 DEN 37 35 WR Royal 1 12:57 2-2 DAL 20 4 WR Marshall 1 12:15 1-10 DAL 16 2 FB Sapp 1 11:00 3-9 DAL 15 8 WR Stokley 1 0:57 1-10 DEN 28 6 TE Jackson 2 15:00 1-10 DEN 41 32 WR Royal 2 14:22 1-10 DAL 27 18 WR Marshall 2 13:02 2-3 DAL 3 3t WR Marshall 2 11:28 1-10 DEN 10 6 WR Marshall 2 10:24 3-2 DEN 18 5 TE Jackson 2 9:14 2-4 DEN 29 11 WR Stokley TOTALS 12-FOR-12 142 YDS., 1 TD, 0 INT 143.8 RTG. Cutler finished Denver's game against Dallas completing 16-of-20 (80.0%) passes for 178 yards with one touchdown for a 120.4 passer rating. He was replaced at halftime. CUTLER PASSER RATING In three quarters of work (7 possessions) during the 2008 preseason, Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler has registered the second-best passer rating (110.7) in the NFL. He has completed 80 percent of his passes (24-of-30) for 237 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. BEST PASSER RATING, NFL, 2008 PRESEASON (minimum 14 attempts per team s games played) Player Att. Comp. Pct. Yds TD INT Rtg. 1. Brett Ratliff, NYJ 39 27 69.2 400 2 0 119.6 2. Jay Cutler, Den. 30 24 80.0 237 1 0 110.7 3. Brian Griese, T.B. 14 10 71.4 59 1 0 103.0 4. Donovan McNabb, Phi. 37 21 56.8 195 1 0 80.3 5. Chad Henne, Mia. 36 22 61.1 200 0 0 76.2 CUTLER IMPRESSES IN OPENER Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler had a solid debut to the 2008 preseason, completing 8-of-10 passes for 59 yards (91.3 rtg.) and rushing for a 15-yard touchdown in Denver s preseason opener at Houston on Aug. 9. Cutler started the game and saw time in Denver s first two offensive possessions (15 total plays / entire first quarter). He engineered a 12-play, 74-yard scoring drive that lasted 6:09 and culminated with his scoring run. On the drive, Cutler completed passes to five different Broncos (2-20 to RB Selvin Young, 2-13 to Eddie Royal, 1-10 to TE Nate Jackson, 1-9 to WR Brandon Marshall and 1-7 to TE Daniel Graham) and a total of 8-of-9 passing attempts. DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 7 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES CUTLER CONTINUES SUCCESS IN EXHIBITION OPENERS Although he has seen only limited action in preseason openers during his three-year career, Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler has fared well in the first exhibition game of the season, a trend he continued with his play at Houston on Aug. 9. He has accounted for a touchdown in two of his three openers (1 passing, 1 rushing) and has a combined passer rating of 106.9 in preseason openers. JAY CUTLER IN PRESEASON OPENERS, CAREER Game G/S W/L Att. Cmp. Pct. Yds. TD INT Rtg. at Det. (8/11/06) 1/0 L 22 16 72.7 192 1 0 114.2 at S.F. (8/13/07) 1/1 W 2 1 50.0 24 0 0 93.8 at Hou. (8/9/08)* 1/1 L 10 8 80.0 59 0 0 91.3 TOTALS 3/2 1-2 34 25 73.5 275 1 0 106.9 * - Also scored on a 15-yard touchdown run PRATER LEADS NFL IN SCORING Matt Prater, a second-year player who is the only kicker on Denver s roster, leads the NFL in scoring with 21 points (6 FGs, 3 PATs) through two preseason games. He has connected on 6-of-8 (.750) field goal attempts thus far in the preseason. In each of Denver s first two preseason contests, he has missed his first field goal attempt before going on to make three in a row. MOST POINTS SCORED, NFL, 2008 PRESEASON Player FGM FGA Pct. PAT Tot. 1. Matt Prater, Den. 6 8.750 3 21 2. Kris Brown, Hou. 5 5.000 5 20 3. Dan Carpenter, Mia. 6 6.000 1 19 4. John Kasay, Car. 5 6.833 3 18 5. Brandon Coutu, Sea. 5 5.000 2 17 ROYAL EMERGES AS A BIG-PLAY THREAT Broncos rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal, selected by the club in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, is tied for seventh in the NFL in yards per reception in the 2008 preseason. The Virginia Tech University product is averaging 20.0 yards per reception, having caught four passes for 80 yards. Royal is the only Broncos receiver to post two receptions of at least 20 yards He caught a 35-yarder and a 32-yarder in Denver s game against Dallas on Sept. 16. MOST YARDS PER RECEPTION, NFL, 2008 PRESEASON (minimum 2 receptions per team s games played) Player Rec. Yds. Avg. LG TDs 1. Robert Meachem, N.O. 5 140 28.0 60 1 2. David Clowney, NYJ 8 222 27.8 71 2 3. Sinorice Moss, NYG 2 55 27.5 46 0 4. Paul Hubbard, Cle. 2 49 24.5 44 0 5. Martin Nance, Min. 4 88 22.0 32 1 6. Josh Morgan, S.F.* 9 182 20.2 59 1 7. Eddie Royal, Den.* 4 80 20.0 35 0 Kellen Davis, Chi.* 4 80 20.0 35 1 * - Denotes rookie 2008 NFL PRESEASON STANDINGS AFC East Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC Buf. 1 1 0.500 38 38 1-0 0-1 0-0 1-0 0-1 Mia. 1 1 0.500 25 31 0-1 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-1 NYJ 1 1 0.500 34 33 0-1 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-1 N.E. 0 1 0.000 15 16 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 AFC North Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC Cin. 1 0 0 1.000 20 17 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 Bal. 1 1 0.500 31 38 0-1 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-1 Pit. 1 1 0.500 37 34 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 1-0 Cle. 0 1 0.000 20 24 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 AFC South Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC Ten. 2 0 0 1.000 51 29 2-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 Hou. 2 0 0 1.000 50 43 1-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 Jac. 1 1 0.500 34 36 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 1-0 Ind. 1 2 0.333 52 62 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-2 AFC West Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC Den. 1 1 0.500 39 32 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 1-0 K.C. 1 1 0.500 41 47 0-1 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-1 Oak. 1 1 0.500 34 23 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 1-0 S.D. 1 1 0.500 37 24 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-1 NFC East Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div NFC AFC Was. 3 0 0 1.000 60 40 2-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 3-0 Phi. 1 1 0.500 34 29 1-0 0-1 0-0 1-0 0-1 Dal. 0 2 0.000 30 54 0-0 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-2 NYG 0 1 0.000 10 13 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-0 NFC North Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div NFC AFC Det. 1 0 0 1.000 13 10 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 Min. 1 1 0.500 40 49 0-1 1-0 0-0 0-1 1-0 Chi. 0 2 0.000 46 53 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-1 G.B. 0 2 0.000 23 54 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-1 NFC South Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div NFC AFC T.B. 1 0 0 1.000 17 6 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 Car. 1 1 0.500 36 44 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 1-0 N.O. 1 1 0.500 51 41 0-1 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-1 Atl. 0 2 0.000 26 36 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-2 NFC West Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div NFC AFC Sea. 2 0 0 1.000 63 43 1-0 1-0 0-0 2-0 0-0 Stl. 1 1 0.500 20 40 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-1 Ari. 1 1 0.500 37 41 0-1 1-0 0-0 0-1 1-0 S.F. 1 1 0.500 40 24 1-0 0-1 0-0 1-0 0-1 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 8 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES BRONCOS TOP TWO DRAFT PICKS MAKE HISTORY Broncos 2008 first-round draft choice Ryan Clady, a tackle from Boise State, and 2008 second-round draft choice Eddie Royal, a wide receiver from Virginia Tech, accomplished a rare feat in Denver s preseason opener at Houston on Aug. 9. Each player became the first in club history at their respective positions (tackle and wide receiver) to earn a start in a preseason opener during their rookie season. Both Clady and Royal have started Denver s first two preseason games. WOODYARD TIED FOR FIFTH IN NFL IN TACKLES Broncos rookie linebacker Wesley Woodyard, a college free agent from the University of Kentucky, is tied for fifth in the NFL with 13 tackles (12 solo). He posted a game-high eight tackles (all solo) and added one stop on special teams in his NFL debut Denver s preseason opener at Houston on Aug. 9. Woodyard established himself as one of the top tacklers in the country at the University of Kentucky, where he led the Southeastern Conference in tackles per game (10.6) as a senior. He finished his Wildcats career with three 100-tackle seasons and ranked eighth in UK history with 395 career stops. MOST TACKLES, NFL, 2008 PRESEASON (based on press box statistics) Player Pos. TT UT AT 1. Jordan Senn, Ind. LB 19 17 2 2. Matt Sinclair, Was. LB 16 12 4 3. Khary Campbell, Was. LB 15 9 6 4. Brannon Condren, Ind. S 14 13 1 5. Wesley Woodyard, Den. LB 13 12 1 Erin Henderson, Min. LB 13 11 2 Brendon Ayanbadejo, Bal. LB 13 12 1 WILLIAMS POSTS FIRST INT AS A PRO Cornerback Jack Williams, whom the Broncos selected in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, notched the first interception of his professional career when he picked off Dallas quarterback Richard Bartel late in the fourth quarter on Aug. 16. Williams returned the interception 34 yards to the Broncos 42-yard line, setting up a field goal seven plays later. Williams interception against the Cowboys marked the first time since 2003 (LB Terry Pierce) that a Broncos rookie posted an interception in the preseason. 2007 NFL FINAL REGULAR-SEASON STANDINGS AFC East Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC *- N.E. 16 0 0 1.000 589 274 8-0 8-0 6-0 12-0 4-0 Buf. 7 9 0.438 252 354 4-4 3-5 4-2 6-6 1-3 NYJ 4 12 0.250 268 355 3-5 1-7 2-4 4-8 0-4 Mia. 1 15 0.063 267 437 1-7 0-8 0-6 1-11 0-4 AFC North Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC z- Pit. 10 6 0.625 393 269 7-1 3-5 5-1 7-5 3-1 Cle. 10 6 0.625 402 382 7-1 3-5 3-3 7-5 3-1 Cin. 7 9 0.438 380 385 5-3 2-6 3-3 6-6 1-3 Bal. 5 11 0.313 275 384 4-4 1-7 1-5 2-10 3-1 AFC South Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC z- Ind. 13 3 0.813 450 262 6-2 7-1 5-1 9-3 4-0 y- Jac. 11 5 0.688 411 304 6-2 5-3 2-4 8-4 3-1 y- Ten. 10 6 0.625 301 297 5-3 5-3 4-2 7-5 3-1 Hou. 8 8 0.500 379 384 6-2 2-6 1-5 5-7 3-1 AFC West Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC z- S.D. 11 5 0.688 412 284 7-1 4-4 5-1 9-3 2-2 Den. 7 9 0.438 320 409 5-3 2-6 3-3 6-6 1-3 K.C. 4 12 0.250 226 335 2-6 2-6 2-4 3-9 1-3 Oak. 4 12 0.250 283 398 2-6 2-6 2-4 4-8 0-4 NFC East Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC *- Dal. 13 3 0.813 455 325 6-2 7-1 4-2 3-1 10-2 y- NYG 10 6 0.625 373 351 3-5 7-1 3-3 3-1 7-5 y- Was. 9 7 0.563 334 310 5-3 4-4 3-3 2-2 7-5 Phi. 8 8 0.500 336 300 3-5 5-3 2-4 3-1 5-7 NFC North Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC z- G.B. 13 3 0.813 435 291 7-1 6-2 4-2 4-0 9-3 Min. 8 8 0.500 365 311 5-3 3-5 3-3 2-2 6-6 Det. 7 9 0.438 346 444 5-3 2-6 3-3 3-1 4-8 Chi. 7 9 0.438 334 348 4-4 3-5 2-4 3-1 4-8 NFC South Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC z- T.B. 9 7 0.563 334 270 6-2 3-5 5-1 1-3 8-4 Car. 7 9 0.438 267 347 2-6 5-3 3-3 0-4 7-5 N.O. 7 9 0.438 379 388 3-5 4-4 3-3 1-3 6-6 Atl. 4 12 0.250 259 414 3-5 1-7 1-5 1-3 3-9 NFC West Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Road Div AFC NFC z- Sea. 10 6 0.625 393 291 7-1 3-5 5-1 2-2 8-4 Ari. 8 8 0.500 404 399 6-2 2-6 3-3 3-1 5-7 S.F. 5 11 0.313 219 364 3-5 2-6 3-3 1-3 4-8 Stl. 3 13 0.188 263 438 1-7 2-6 1-5 0-4 3-9 * - Clinched Division and Homefield Advantage; y - Clinched Wild Card; z - Clinched Division DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 9 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES BRONCOS ROOKIES MAKE NFL DEBUTS Twelve Broncos rookies made their NFL debuts in Denver s preseason opener at Houston on Aug. 9. In order of appearance, below is a review of Denver rookies in their first-ever NFL contest: WR Eddie Royal - Took the game s opening kickoff 21 yards and stayed in the game for the Broncos first offensive play. Finished with two receptions for 20 yards and two kickoff returns for 48 yards. T Ryan Clady - Started and did not allow a sack while often blocking 2007 second-team All-Pro defensive end Mario Williams. S Josh Barrett - Made his debut on the first-string punt team unit (first quarter). He started at safety to open the second half and finished the game second on the squad in tackles (7). FB Spencer Larsen - Debuted on the kick return unit (first quarter). CB Jack Williams - Debuted on the kickoff unit (first quarter). He tackled Texans WR André Davis on a return at the 29-yard line with 0:49 remaining in the first quarter for his first tackle. Williams started the second half on defense and finished the game with one defensive stop in addition to his special-teams tackle. P Brett Kern - Made his debut as K Matt Prater s holder on an extra-point attempt (and make) in the first quarter. His first and only punt came in the third quarter (42 yds.). RB Anthony Alridge - Had a 23-yard kickoff return on his first play in the second quarter with 9:33 remaining. Finished with four rushes for 20 yards, three receptions for 20 yards and the 23-yard kickoff return (7.9 yards per play). LB Wesley Woodyard - Debuted on the punt coverage unit in the second quarter, making the tackle on Texans P Matt Turk on a fourth-down punt attempt. Finished with a game-high eight tackles (all solo) in addition to his special-teams stop. WR Lorne Sam - Made his debut on the kickoff return unit in the third quarter. T Tyler Polumbus - Debuted at right tackle on offense with 9:34 remaining in the third quarter. Recovered a Broncos fumble (Alridge) on his second play. G Mitch Erickson - Debuted at right guard on offense with 9:34 remaining in the third quarter. C Kory Lichtensteiger - Made his debut at right guard on offense with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter. NOTES FROM THE BRONCOS LAST GAME: at DENVER 23, DALLAS 13 (8/16/08) QB Jay Cutler completed his first 12 passes for 142 yards while leading Denver on two touchdown drives to begin the game... The consecutive completion streak was the longest of his professional career He had two 11-completion streaks in 2007 (vs. Min. 12/30 and vs. Jac. 9/23)... Cutler s streak was the longest by a Broncos QB in any game since Jake Plummer completed 16 consecutive passes vs. Detroit (9/28/03)... Cutler played the entire first half (5 series, 36 plays), completing 16-of-20 (80.0%) passes for 178 yards with one touchdown for a 120.4 passer rating... Broncos RB Andre Hall scored on a 1-yard touchdown run shortly after converting a fourth-and-1 from the Dallas 7-yard line... Seven different Broncos finished with at least two receptions (WR Brandon Marshall, 6-51 TD; WR Brandon Stokley, 3-34; WR Clifford Russell, 3-28; WR Eddie Royal, 2-67; WR Keary Colbert, 2-30; RB Cecil Sapp, 2-12; TE Nate Jackson, 2-11)... Denver s starting wide receivers, Marshall and Royal, combined for six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown during the Broncos first two drives (both touchdowns)... Broncos QB Patrick Ramsey completed 8-of-13 passes for 67 yards in four series of work in the second half... Dallas DE Marcus Smith s fourth quarter sack of Broncos QB Darrell Hackney snapped Denver s seven-quarter streak of not allowing a sack to open the preseason... The Broncos dominated in time of possession in the first half, owning an 18:50-11:10 advantage en route to posting a 33:07-26:53 advantage for the game... Denver s defense held the Cowboys to 128 net yards in the first half on 25 plays from scrimmage... In the second half, the Broncos did not allow a third-down conversion (0-for-5)... Denver was 2-of-2 in the red zone (1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD) in the first half... The Broncos capitalized on a sloppy game by Dallas penalty-wise The Cowboys had nine penalties for 78 yards, including two personal fouls, and had four penalties that led to Broncos first downs... Broncos K Matt Prater kicked off six times with four of his kickoffs resulting in touchbacks... For the second consecutive game Prater connected on 3- of-4 field goal attempts... Broncos CB Domonique Foxworth recorded six total tackles, all solo, to lead the Broncos... Broncos P Brett Kern had two punts for a 57.5 average (long of 63), one of which resulted in a touchback... Kern had a 36-yard gain (miscellaneous yardage) on an aborted punt in the second half after scooping up his punt that was blocked by Dallas RB Tashard Choice, and the play resulted in a first down... Denver P Sam Paulescu had two punts for a 50.0 average (long of 57) with one punt inside the 20... The Broncos finished the game with a +1 turnover ratio, posting one takeaway (INT) and no giveaways... Broncos rookie CB Jack Williams fourth quarter interception led to a Prater field goal... Williams became the first Denver rookie to post an interception in a preseason game since 2003 (LB Terry Pierce)... Denver defensive linemen Elvis Dumervil and Kenny Peterson each recorded one sack... The Broncos allowed only one touchdown on three Cowboys red zone possessions. DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 10 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES BRONCOS TRAINING CAMP For the sixth consecutive year, the Broncos held their training camp in 2008 at their practice facility, the Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre, in Englewood, Colo. The Broncos first practice of camp was held on Friday, July 25, and the club broke camp on Friday, Aug. 15, after 33 total practices (27 full team workouts / 6 special teams). Below is a look at where the team has conducted its training camp since the franchise s first year in 1960. BRONCOS ALL-TIME TRAINING CAMP SITES Years Site Location 1960-61 Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colo. 1962-64 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colo. 1965-66 Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colo. 1967-71 Broncos headquarters Adams County, Colo. 1972-75 California Poly-Pomona Pomona, Calif. 1976-81 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colo. 1982-2002 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colo. 2003-08 Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre Englewood, Colo. BRONCOS, COWBOYS CONDUCT FOUR PRACTICES TOGETHER The Broncos and Cowboys practiced twice per day together in Englewood, Colo., during a two-day period (Aug. 13-14) leading up to their preseason game, which Denver won 23-13 on Aug. 16. It marked the second consecutive year that the two clubs practiced together leading up to a preseason game. Last season, Denver practiced four times (two-day period) with Dallas at its training facility in Irving, Texas, before playing the Cowboys in Week 2 of the preseason (31-20 Dallas win). This year marked the fifth time under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.) that the Broncos practiced with another club in the preseason. In addition to last year against Dallas, Denver has worked out with the Texans in Houston (2003, 05) as well as with the Panthers in Greeley, Colo. (1996) during the preseason. The combined final regular-season record of those Broncos teams that practiced with another club in the preseason was 43-21 (.672). BRONCOS PRACTICING WITH ANOTHER TEAM IN THE PRESEASON, SINCE 1995 Year Team Location Final Rec. 1996 Carolina Panthers Greeley, Colo. 13-3 2003 Houston Texans Houston 10-6 2005 Houston Texans Houston 13-3 2007 Dallas Cowboys Dallas 7-9 2008 Dallas Cowboys Englewood, Colo. TBD BRONCOS DO TEXAS TWO-STEP For the first time since 1978, the Broncos played multiple teams from the state of Texas in the same preseason with the club facing the Texans (Aug. 9, 19-16 loss) and Cowboys (Aug. 16, 23-13 win). The Broncos began their 1978 exhibition schedule in a similar fashion to this year s, opening at Houston to play the Oilers (W, 17-12) before hosting the Cowboys the following week (L, 21-14). Including this year, Denver has played multiple teams from Texas in the same preseason a total of five times (2008, 1978, 1960-62). From 1960-62, the Broncos faced the Houston Oilers and Dallas Texans (Kansas City Chiefs) during their exhibition schedule. NOTES FROM DENVER S LAST FIVE PRESEASON GAMES VS. GREEN BAY at GREEN BAY 22, DENVER 7 (Aug. 20, 2001) Denver allowed 16 points in the third quarter to drop a 22-7 contest against Green Bay at Lambeau Field... Broncos QB Brian Griese posted a 93.3 passer rating, completing 8-of-10 passes for 79 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown toss to Patrick Hape in the second quarter... Denver WR Rod Smith led all receivers with five catches for 59 yards while RB Mike Anderson totaled 56 rushing yards on 14 carries. at DENVER 26, GREEN BAY 20 (Aug. 13, 2000) The Broncos scored 10 points in each of the second and third quarters en route to their 26-20 win over Green Bay at Mile High Stadium... The Broncos passing tandem of Brian Griese and Gus Frerotte combined for 309 gross passing yards, completing 23-of- 36 passes... Denver RB Olandis Gary led all rushers with 94 yards with one touchdown on 22 carries... WR Rod Smith paced the receivers with six catches for 73 yards while WR Ed McCaffrey turned a 61-yard grab on Denver s first offensive play... Denver K Jason Elam connected on all four of his field goal attempts. at GREEN BAY 27, DENVER 12 (Aug. 23, 1999) Green Bay opened a 24-3 lead by halftime and took a 27-12 decision over Denver at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisc... Broncos QB Brian Griese connected on 16-of-28 attempts for 176 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions... Broncos RB Terrell Davis averaged 4.8 yards per rush as he registered 24 yards on five attempts while Denver RB Leeland McElroy added 12 carries for 56 yards (4.7 avg.)... Broncos S George Coghill and S Brad Trout recorded interceptions... The game started auspiciously for the Packers when Brett Favre jammed a finger on John Mobley s helmet on the first play of Green Bay s second possession. at DENVER 34, Green Bay 31 (Aug. 24, 1998) In a game that featured an interception returned for a touchdown (Green Bay s LeRoy Butler, 30 yds.), a fumble returned for a touchdown (Denver s Tyrone Braxton, 7 yds.), a punt returned for a touchdown (Denver s Darrien Gordon, 65 yds.) and a kickoff returned for a touchdown (Green Bay s Roell Preston, 99 yds.), it DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 11 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES was Jason Elam s 49-yard field goal with 3:10 remaining in the fourth quarter that provided the difference in a 34-31 Broncos victory over the Green Bay Packers at Mile High Stadium... Broncos QB John Elway completed 13-of-22 passes for 179 yards, including an 80-yard scoring strike to WR Rod Smith. at DENVER 20, GREEN BAY 14 (Aug. 15, 1987) Denver used two touchdown passes from QB John Elway to earn a 20-14 win over Green Bay at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz... Elway finished the game connecting on 7-of-12 passes for 107 yards with a pair of scores... Denver RB Sammy Winder gained 36 yards on eight carries (4.5 avg.)... DB Bruce Plummer and S Tony Lilly each posted an interception for the Broncos defense. BRONCOS/PACKERS CONNECTIONS FORMER GREEN BAY PACKERS Broncos Defensive Coordinator Bob Slowik coached for the Packers from 2000-04, working as defensive backs coach (2000-01), assistant head coach/defensive backs (2002-03) and defensive coordinator (2004)... Denver Offensive Assistant Joe Baker and Defensive Assistant Charlie Jackson each held coaching positions with Green Bay in 2005 Special Teams Coordinator Scott O'Brien signed a contract to play for the Packers following his collegiate career as a linebacker at Wisconsin-Superior Broncos DE Larry Birdine competed in the Packers 2007 training camp after entering the NFL with Green Bay as a college free agent that year Denver S Marquand Manuel started all 16 games for the Packers in 2006 Denver DT Kenny Peterson was drafted by the Packers in the third round (94th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft and spent three seasons (2003-05) with the club. FROM DENVER AND THE SURROUNDING AREA Packers K Mason Crosby played at the University of Colorado from 2003-06. FROM GREEN BAY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA Broncos Offensive Assistant Joe Baker coached outside linebackers and special teams at the University of Wisconsin during its 1999 Rose Bowl season. CROSSING PATHS (PRO) Broncos LB Jamie Winborn suited up next to Packers LB Tracy White with Jacksonville in 2005 White also was in Seattle with Broncos WR Darrell Jackson from 2003-05 Broncos CB Dré Bly along with Packers Defensive Ends Coach Carl Hairston and DT Ryan Pickett were together in St. Louis from 1999-2002 Packers Secondary Coach Kurt Schottenheimer coached Broncos CB Champ Bailey in Washington in 2001. CROSSING PATHS (COLLEGE) From 1989-90, Broncos Special Teams Coordinator Scott O'Brien and Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy coached together at the University of Pittsburgh Also at Pittsburgh, O'Brien coached with Packers Assistant Special Teams Coach Shawn Slocum in 1989 In 1999, Broncos Offensive Assistant Joe Baker and Packers T Mark Tauscher were at Wisconsin together From 2002-05, Broncos TE Tony Scheffler and Packers WR Greg Jennings were teammates at Western Michigan... Broncos LB Louis Green and Green Bay WR Donald Driver competed at Alcorn State together in 1998 Broncos QB Darrell Hackney and Packers FB Corey White were teammates at Alabama-Birmingham from 2003-05 Broncos T Ryan Clady was at Boise State with Packers G Daryn Colledge from 2004-05 and FB Korey Hall from 2004-06 The Denver trio of WR Brandon Marshall, DE Paul Carrington and K Matt Prater played at Central Florida with Packers S Atari Bigby from 2003-04 and G Josh Sitton from 2003-05 Broncos T Tyler Polumbus was teammates with Packers K Mason Crosby at the University of Colorado from 2003-06 Green Bay RB DeShawn Wynn was teammates with a host of Broncos players at the University of Florida, including WR Taylor Jacobs in 2002, DE Jarvis Moss and DT Steven Harris from 2002-06 and DT Marcus Thomas from 2003-06 Broncos CB Jack Williams was teammates with Packers DT Daniel Muir at Kent State from 2003-06 Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil was at Louisville with Packers G/C Jason Spitz from 2002-05 and QB Brian Brohm and T Breno Giacomini from 2004-05 Broncos CB Domonique Foxworth was teammates with Packers DT Conrad Bolston and TE Joey Haynos at Maryland from 2003-04 In 1999, Broncos DT Alvin McKinley and Packers TE Donald Lee were teammates at Mississippi State Broncos T Ryan Harris was at Notre Dame with Packers RB Ryan Grant from 2003-04 and with LS J.J. Jansen from 2004-06 Broncos DT Kenny Peterson was at Ohio State with Packers DT Ryan Pickett from 1998-00 and LB A.J. Hawk in 2002 Broncos WR Glenn Martinez and Packers WR Ruvell Martin were teammates at Saginaw Valley State from 2000-03 Broncos TE Brett Pierce was at Stanford in 2003 with Packers TE Evan Moore Packers TE Jermichael Finley was teammates with Broncos DE Tim Crowder and RB Selvin Young at the University of Texas from 2005-06 Broncos WR Eddie Royal was at Virginia Tech with Packers S Aaron Rouse from 2004-06. ALSO OF NOTE: Broncos C Casey Wiegmann and Packers DE Aaron Kampman both attended Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, Iowa, and were active in raising funds when the city and high school suffered severe damage in late May due to a tornado. DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 12 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES FOND FAREWELL FOR SMITH On Thursday, July 24, Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith officially announced his retirement from the NFL in a press conference at the team s training facility in Englewood, Colo. Smith, who entered the NFL with the Broncos in 1994 as a college free agent from Missouri Southern, was named to three Pro Bowls and finished his 13-year career with Denver as its all-time leader in receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389) and touchdown catches (68). Those totals rank as the best by an undrafted player in NFL history, and his production rivals some of the top wide receivers in league annals. Among his accomplishments: * - Retired ranked 12th in NFL history in career receptions, 19th in career receiving yards and tied for 31st in career receiving touchdowns. * - Totaled more receptions than 18 of the 19 wide receivers currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and more receiving yards than 13 of the 19 wide receivers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. * - Helped the Broncos to seven postseason berths, three AFC West titles and two Super Bowl victories (XXXII in 97 and XXXIII in 98). Denver had a 126-70 (.643) record in the 196 overall games he played. * - Recorded a nine-year streak (1997-2005) of posting at least 70 receptions that tied for the second longest in NFL history. * - Holds five of the top-10 single-season reception totals in Broncos history, including his club-record 113 catches in 2001. * - Owns four of the top-10 single-season receiving yardage totals in Denver annals, including a club-record 1,602 yards in 2000. * - Set Broncos career records for combined yards (12,488), yards from scrimmage (11,737), overall touchdowns (71), 1,000- yard receiving seasons (8) and 100-yard receiving games (31). ZIMMERMAN ENSHRINED INTO PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Tackle Gary Zimmerman, who played for the Broncos from 1993-97 after spending his first seven seasons with the Vikings, was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 2 at a ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. He joins quarterback John Elway, a 2004 inductee, as the second player named to the Hall of Fame who spent a primary portion of his career with the Broncos. Zimmerman was joined in his class by defensive end Fred Dean, cornerback Darrell Green, wide receiver Art Monk, cornerback Emmitt Thomas and linebacker Andre Tippett. Among his accomplishments: * - Earned seven Pro Bowl selections and became one of a handful of players in NFL history to be named to two All-Decade Teams (1980s and 90s). * - Received first or second-team All-Pro honors eight times. * - Helped Denver to its first-ever Super Bowl win (XXXII in 97). * - Blocked for Broncos offenses that led the NFL in total yards twice (1996-97) and units that posted three consecutive top-five league rushing rankings (1995-97). * - Started all 76 games played with Denver and all 184 games played during his NFL career. * - Inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2003. DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 13 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES DENVER UPGRADES CLUB IN OFFSEASON Below is a look at the Broncos key acquisitions in the offseason leading up to their 2008 campaign. DRAFT T RYAN CLADY (Rd. 1-12 Boise State) Clady earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors during his final two years at Boise State, where he was a key part of its 13-0 squad in 2006 that finished the year ranked No. 5 in the country (AP). WR EDDIE ROYAL (Rd. 2-42 Virginia Tech) Royal set a Virginia Tech career record for all-purpose yards (4,686), including an Atlantic Coast Conference-record 1,296 punt return yards. C KORY LICHTENSTEIGER (Rd. 4-108 Bowling Green State) Lichtensteiger tied a Bowling Green State career record for starts (48) and earned All-Mid-American Conference honors during each of his four years at the school. CB JACK WILLIAMS (Rd. 4-119 Kent State) Williams totaled 20 takeaways (13 interceptions / 7 fumble recoveries) in 44 career games at Kent State, where he was a threeyear starter. RB RYAN TORAIN (Rd. 5-139 Arizona State) Torain averaged 93.8 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry during two seasons at Arizona State after transferring from Butler Community College. He is expected to miss at least two months after suffering an elbow injury in training camp. DT CARLTON POWELL (Rd. 5-148 Virginia Tech) Powell was a 13-game starter during each of his final two years at Virginia Tech, helping the Hokies field one of the nation s top defenses, but was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list with an Achilles tendon injury suffered in offseason workouts. FB SPENCER LARSEN (Rd. 6-183 Arizona) Larsen was a two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference choice at Arizona, where he finished his career ranked 15th in school history with 312 tackles. S JOSH BARRETT (Rd. 7-220 Arizona State) Barrett started 21 games in his final two years at Arizona State and was an honorable mention All-Pacific-10 Conference choice as a junior in 2006. FB PEYTON HILLIS (Rd. 7-227 Arkansas) Hillis set Arkansas career records for running backs for receptions (118), receiving yards (1,195) and touchdown catches (11) while blocking for two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden. FREE AGENCY LB BOSS BAILEY (UFA-6th yr. Detroit) Bailey, the younger brother of Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, started at least 11 games in every season that he played while spending his first five NFL seasons with Detroit. WR KEARY COLBERT (UFA-5th yr. Carolina) Colbert played his first four professional seasons in Carolina, where he started 42 games for the Panthers and set a club rookie record with a personal-best 754 receiving yards in 2004. WR DARRELL JACKSON (FA-9th yr. San Francisco) Jackson owns three 1,000-yard receiving seasons for his career (seven years with Seattle, one with San Francisco) and has totaled the ninth-most receiving touchdowns (50) in the NFL since entering the league in 2000. LB NIKO KOUTOUVIDES (UFA-5th yr. Seattle) Koutouvides ranks seventh in the NFL in special-teams tackles (60) since he entered the league in 2004 and owns 20 games with multiple special-teams stops for his career. S MARQUAND MANUEL (UFA-7th yr. Carolina) Manuel has played 91 career games (38 starts) in the NFL with Cincinnati (2002-03), Seattle (2004-05), Green Bay (2006) and Carolina (2007). S MARLON McCREE (FA-8th yr. San Diego) McCree has started for clubs that reached the playoffs during each of the last three seasons with San Diego (2006-07) and Carolina (2005), helping them post a 34-12 (.739) regular-season record in games that he played during that period. WR SAMIE PARKER (UFA-5th yr. Kansas City) Parker played for the Chiefs during his first four years in the NFL, posting consecutive 500-yard receiving seasons for the club from 2005-06. RB MICHAEL PITTMAN (UFA-11th yr. Tampa Bay) Pittman, who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in 2002, ranks second among active NFL running backs with 3,400 career receiving yards and has totaled 8,707 career yards from scrimmage with the Buccaneers (2002-07) and Cardinals (1998-2001). C CASEY WIEGMANN (UFA-13th yr. Kansas City) Wiegmann has played every possible regular-season and postseason snap (7,062) since early in 2001 campaign, and that streak is the longest active streak of its kind among NFL offensive linemen. TRADES DT DEWAYNE ROBERTSON (6th yr. N.Y. Jets) Robertson, acquired by Denver from the Jets for a conditional 2009 draft choice, was the fourth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft and has missed only three contests during his first five professional seasons. COACHES JEDD FISCH (8th NFL Season / Wide Receivers) Fisch spent the last three years coaching the Ravens quarterbacks and also instructed the club s wide receivers in 2006, a year in which Baltimore had one of four wideout tandems in the AFC with each player posting 65+catches (Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton). DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 14 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release GAME INFORMATION / PRESEASON NOTES 2007 YEAR IN REVIEW The Denver Broncos franchise-record tying seven-year streak of posting at least a.500 winning percentage came to an end in 2007 as the club wrapped up its 48th season with a 7-9 record and a second-place finish in the AFC West. The Broncos began the year with their first 2-0 start in four seasons, posting wins at Buffalo and against Oakland on walk-off field goals. Denver played its next five games against clubs that qualified for the postseason, including a 31-28 Sunday Night Football win at home against Pittsburgh on Oct. 21, and entered the midway point of the season with a 3-5 record. Denver s second half of the year got off to a promising start as the Broncos earned their first win in Kansas City in five seasons before posting a 34-20 victory against playoff-qualifier Tennessee the next week at home on Monday Night Football. They appeared to be on their way to winning a third consecutive game and improving to 6-5 for the year with a 14-point fourth-quarter lead at Chicago on Nov. 25, but the Bears rallied to earn a 37-34 overtime victory. The Broncos struggled through a stretch of playing four-of-five games on the road and were eliminated from playoff contention following Week 15. They ended the year with a 22-19 overtime win at home against a Minnesota squad that was fighting for a playoff berth. KEY NOTES FROM THE BRONCOS 2007 SEASON * - In his first full season as a starter, second-year quarterback Jay Cutler finished among the NFL s top-10 passers in yards per attempt (7.49-9th) and passing yards (3,497-10th) in addition to recording the third-best completion percentage (63.6) for a season in club history. * - Wide receiver Brandon Marshall totaled the third-most receptions (102) by a second-year player in NFL history while posting the second and third-best respective single-season outputs for receptions and receiving yards (1,325) by a Bronco in team annals. * - Champ Bailey was selected to his eighth Pro Bowl, a total that ties for the second highest in NFL history among cornerbacks. * - Elvis Dumervil tied for the NFL lead in takeaways (4) among defensive linemen and tied for sixth in the league in sacks (12.5) while linebacker D.J. Williams led the AFC (2nd in NFL) with 141 tackles. * - The Broncos four walk-off game-winning field goals were the most by an NFL team in the same season since 1990. * - The Broncos were among the league s top-10 rushing clubs (122.3 ypg. - 9th) for the eighth consecutive year (longest active streak in NFL). * - Denver appeared in the most overtime games (4 / 2-2 record) by an NFL team in four seasons and posted all seven of its wins with an even or positive turnover ratio (7-2 in those situations). * - The Broncos 161 overall games missed due to injury and 82 contests missed by starters both were the highest season totals for the club under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.). BRONCOS 2007 RESULTS PRESEASON Wk. Day Date Opponent Site Result Rec. 1 Mon. Aug. 13 at San Francisco Monster Park W, 17-13 1-0 2 Sat. Aug. 18 at Dallas Texas Stadium L, 31-20 1-1 3 Sat. Aug. 25 CLEVELAND INVESCO Field at Mile High L, 17-16 1-2 4 Thu. Aug. 30 ARIZONA INVESCO Field at Mile High W, 21-3 2-2 REGULAR SEASON Wk. Day Date Opponent Site Result Rec. 1 Sun. Sept. 9 at Buffalo Ralph Wilson Stadium W, 15-14 1-0 2 Sun. Sept. 16 OAKLAND INVESCO Field at Mile High W, 23-20 OT 2-0 3 Sun. Sept. 23 JACKSONVILLE INVESCO Field at Mile High L, 23-14 2-1 4 Sun. Sept. 30 at Indianapolis RCA Dome L, 38-20 2-2 5 Sun. Oct. 7 SAN DIEGO INVESCO Field at Mile High L, 41-3 2-3 6 Bye 7 Sun. Oct. 21 PITTSBURGH INVESCO Field at Mile High W, 31-28 3-3 8 Mon. Oct. 29 GREEN BAY INVESCO Field at Mile High L, 19-13 OT 3-4 9 Sun. Nov. 4 at Detroit Ford Field L, 44-7 3-5 10 Sun. Nov. 11 at Kansas City Arrowhead Stadium W, 27-11 4-5 11 Mon. Nov. 19 TENNESSEE INVESCO Field at Mile High W, 34-20 5-5 12 Sun. Nov. 25 at Chicago Soldier Field L, 37-34 OT 5-6 13 Sun. Dec. 2 at Oakland McAfee Coliseum L, 34-20 5-7 14 Sun. Dec. 9 KANSAS CITY INVESCO Field at Mile High W, 41-7 6-7 15 Thu. Dec. 13 at Houston Reliant Stadium L, 31-13 6-8 16 Mon. Dec. 24 at San Diego Qualcomm Stadium L, 23-3 6-9 17 Sun. Dec. 30 MINNESOTA INVESCO Field at Mile High W, 22-19 OT 7-9 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES FROM 2007 All seven of the Broncos wins came when the club had an even or positive turnover ratio (7-2 in those situations)... During the final eight weeks of the season, Denver tied for third in the league in takeaways (20) and turnover ratio (+9)... Head Coach Mike Shanahan finished his 13th year as Denver s head coach ranked 10th in NFL history in career regular-season wins with one team (130-78) and 17th in league annals in overall career wins (146-95)... Denver s strength of schedule in 2007 tied for the eighth toughest in the NFL (.516 / 132-124), and the club played seven games against teams that qualified for the postseason, including five contests in a row vs. playoff teams from Sept. 23-Oct. 29... The Broncos tied a franchise single-season record by appearing in four overtime games, the most by an NFL team in a season since 2003 (Carolina)... With RBs Selvin Young (729) and Travis Henry (691), the Broncos were one of four teams in the NFL to have two 650+yard rushers en route extending their streak of ranking among the league s top-10 rushing teams (122.3 / 9th) for the eighth year in a row (longest active streak in NFL)... Young finished fourth in the NFL in yards per rush (5.2) and totaled the third-most rushing yards (729) by an undrafted rookie in league history while becoming the first undrafted player ever to lead Denver in rushing... The Broncos 5.7 yards per play average was the fourth best in the league (sixth-best single-season total in club history)... WR Brandon Marshall, who led the NFL with 319 receiving yards after contact, also had three 10-catch games that tied for the most in the league... TE Tony Scheffler tied for fourth among league tight ends in receptions (47) during the final 11 weeks of the year... The Broncos 34 forced fumbles led the AFC and were their highest season total since 1990... Denver concluded the season by holding its final six opponents to 200 or fewer passing yards and was seventh in the league in pass defense (193.4 ypg.)... The Broncos Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee was CB Domonique Foxworth, and their Ed Block Courage Award nominee was DE John Engelberger. DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 15 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release Mike Shanahan in 2008 begins his 14th season as head coach of the Denver Broncos, a franchise he has guided to two Super Bowl victories, three conference championship game appearances, seven postseason berths and nine winning seasons. His achievements since being named Denver s head coach on Jan. 31, 1995, have helped position the 49-year-old franchise among the most successful and highly regarded in all of professional sports. The veteran coach, who holds additional responsibilities as the Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations, has led Denver to 130 regular-season victories, a total that marks the 10th most by a head coach with one franchise in NFL history. Among the nine coaches who have more wins with one club than Shanahan, all eight who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame have been honored with membership to the game s most exclusive club. Shanahan s 130 regular-season wins with Denver tie for the most by an NFL coach in the last 13 years and give the Broncos the league s third-best record (130-78 /.625) during that time. A leader whose standard continually has raised the expectations of the football team and entire Denver Broncos organization, Shanahan has the 17th-most overall career wins (146) by a head coach in NFL history and ranks second in that category among active coaches. His all-time winning percentage is a sterling.606 (146-95), including a.624 (138-83) mark in 13 seasons with the Broncos that qualifies as the best by a coach in club history. SHANAHAN YEAR-BY-YEAR Year Position Team Record 1975 Assistant Coach University of Oklahoma 10-1 1976 Assistant Coach University of Oklahoma 9-2 1977 Backfield Coach Northern Arizona 9-2 1978 Offensive Coordinator Eastern Illinois 9-2 1979 Offensive Coordinator University of Minnesota 4-6-1 1980 Offensive Coordinator University of Florida 8-3 1981 Offensive Coordinator University of Florida 7-4 1982 Offensive Coordinator University of Florida 8-3 1983 Asst. Head Coach/O.C. University of Florida 8-2-1 1984 Receivers Coach Denver Broncos 13-3 1985 Offensive Coordinator Denver Broncos 11-5 1986 Offensive Coordinator Denver Broncos 11-5 1987 Offensive Coordinator Denver Broncos 10-4-1 1988 Head Coach Los Angeles Raiders 7-9 1989 Head Coach Los Angeles Raiders 1-3 1989 Quarterbacks Coach Denver Broncos 6-4 1990 Quarterbacks Coach Denver Broncos 5-11 1991 Offensive Coordinator Denver Broncos 12-4 1992 Offensive Coordinator San Francisco 49ers 14-2 1993 Offensive Coordinator San Francisco 49ers 10-6 1994 Offensive Coordinator San Francisco 49ers 13-3 1995 Head Coach Denver Broncos 8-8 1996 Head Coach Denver Broncos 13-3 1997 Head Coach Denver Broncos 12-4 1998 Head Coach Denver Broncos 14-2 1999 Head Coach Denver Broncos 6-10 2000 Head Coach Denver Broncos 11-5 2001 Head Coach Denver Broncos 8-8 2002 Head Coach Denver Broncos 9-7 2003 Head Coach Denver Broncos 10-6 2004 Head Coach Denver Broncos 10-6 2005 Head Coach Denver Broncos 13-3 2006 Head Coach Denver Broncos 9-7 2007 Head Coach Denver Broncos 7-9 HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN SHANAHAN S NFL COACHING CAREER OVERALL YEAR: 16th as a Head Coach (14th with Denver) CAREER REG. SEASON HEAD COACHING RECORD: 138-90-0 (.605) CAREER POSTSEASON HEAD COACHING RECORD: 8-5 (.615) OVERALL HEAD COACHING RECORD: 146-95-0 (.606) REG. SEASON RECORD w/denver (HEAD COACH): 130-78 (.625) POSTSEASON RECORD w/denver (HEAD COACH): 8-5 (.615) OVERALL RECORD w/denver (HEAD COACH): 138-83-0 (.624) PLAYOFF APPEARANCES (HEAD COACH): 7 DIVISION TITLES (HEAD COACH): 3 SUPER BOWLS WON (HEAD COACH): 2 ( 97 and 98 w/denver) SUPER BOWLS WON (ASSISTANT): 1 ( 94 w/san Francisco) TOTAL SUPER BOWLS WON: 3 Including seven seasons as an assistant with Denver, a time period in which he helped the Broncos advance to three Super Bowls, Shanahan owns 20 years of experience on the Broncos coaching staff that tie for the highest total by an individual in club history. His 13 full seasons as head coach of the Broncos tie him with Jeff Fisher (Tennessee) as the longest active continuously tenured head coach in the NFL. Under Shanahan s superb guidance, the Broncos have had staggering team accomplishments, including: Posting the most wins in pro football history in a two-year period, seasons in which the club won back-to-back Super Bowls (33 in 1997-98; New England has since won 34 in 2003-04); Posting the most wins in pro football history in a three-year period (46 in 1998); Winning 18 consecutive games over 1997-98 to tie the all-time NFL record at that time for consecutive wins; And going undefeated for three consecutive regular seasons (1996-98) at home, just the second team ever to be undefeated and untied at home in three consecutive years. In 2004, Shanahan joined the exclusive club of head coaches to post 100 wins in his first 10 seasons with one club, finishing the campaign and decade tied for fourth on this ultra-impressive list of 12 coaches, six of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Shanahan s 138 wins with Denver include seven consecutive in the playoffs during the 1997 and 1998 Super Bowl seasons, years in which he established himself among the game s sideline greats. His postseason winning percentage is.615 on an 8-5 record. Shanahan elevated his career and the Broncos to new levels in 1997 and 1998 as the intense and personable Denver Broncos head coach made his mark on Super Bowl history, coming into the 2006 campaign as one of only 12 all-time National Football League head coaches with two Super Bowl victories. Over the last 16 years entering the 2008 season (13 in Denver and the previous three in San Francisco), Mike Shanahan s offenses have finished number one in the NFL four times, second twice, third three times and fourth once; in two of those campaigns Denver was just 17 and 83 yards short of the number one spot. During his NFL career, Shanahan has been a part of teams that have played in 10 AFC or NFC Championship Games in addition to his six Super Bowl appearances (five with Denver and the Super Bowl XXIX game with San Francisco). In his nine seasons coaching at the collegiate level, Shanahan s teams participated in eight bowl games, winning two national championships. DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 16 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN TOP 25 NFL HEAD COACHES ALL-TIME IN OVERALL CAREER VICTORIES REGULAR SEASON POSTSEASON OVERALL Coach Years W L T Pct. W L Pct. W L T Pct. 1. Don Shula 33 328 156 6 0.677 19 17 0.528 347 173 6 0.666 2. George Halas 40 318 148 31 0.682 6 3 0.667 324 151 31 0.682 3. Tom Landry 29 250 162 6 0.607 20 16 0.556 270 178 6 0.603 4. Earl Lambeau 33 226 132 22 0.631 3 2 0.600 229 134 22 0.631 5. Chuck Noll 23 193 148 1 0.566 16 8 0.667 209 156 1 0.572 6. Marty Schottenheimer 21 200 126 1 0.613 5 13 0.278 205 139 1 0.596 7. Dan Reeves 23 190 165 2 0.535 11 9 0.550 201 174 2 0.536 8. Chuck Knox 22 186 147 1 0.558 7 11 0.389 193 158 1 0.550 9. Bill Parcells 19 172 130 1 0.569 11 8 0.579 183 138 1 0.570 10. Joe Gibbs 16 154 94 0 0.621 17 7 0.708 171 101 0 0.629 11. Paul Brown 21 166 100 6 0.624 4 8 0.333 170 108 6 0.612 Mike Holmgren 17 157 99 0 0.613 13 11 0.542 170 110 0 0.607 13. Bud Grant 18 158 96 5 0.621 10 12 0.455 168 108 5 0.608 14. Bill Cowher 15 149 90 1 0.623 12 9 0.571 161 99 1 0.619 15. Marv Levy 17 143 112 0 0.561 11 8 0.579 154 120 0 0.562 16. Steve Owen 23 151 100 17 0.602 2 8 0.200 153 108 17 0.586 17. Mike Shanahan 16 138 90 0 0.605 8 5 0.615 146 95 0 0.606 18. Bill Belichick 14 127 81 0 0.611 15 4 0.789 142 85 0 0.626 19. Tony Dungy 13 127 65 0 0.661 9 9 0.500 136 74 0 0.648 Hank Stram 17 131 97 10 0.574 5 3 0.625 136 100 10 0.576 21. Weeb Ewbank 20 130 129 7 0.502 4 1 0.800 134 130 7 0.508 22. Mike Ditka 14 121 95 0 0.560 6 6 0.500 127 101 0 0.557 23. Dick Vermeil 15 120 109 0 0.524 6 5 0.545 126 114 0 0.525 24. Jim Mora 15 125 106 0 0.541 0 6 0.000 125 112 0 0.527 25. George Seifert 11 114 62 0 0.648 10 5 0.667 124 67 0 0.649 CLIMBING THE CHARTS As illustrated in the chart above, Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan is 17th in NFL history in career victories with 146 (138 regular season, 8 postseason). He moved into sole possession of 17th in career wins after the Broncos 17-13 win at Oakland on Nov. 12, 2006. Shanahan needs seven wins to tie Steve Owen (153 total) for 16th in NFL history in career victories. SHANAHAN STANDS SECOND AMONG ACTIVE COACHES IN CAREER VICTORIES Mike Shanahan s 146 career victories (138 regular season, 8 postseason) rank as the second-highest total among active NFL coaches. CAREER WINS, ACTIVE NFL HEAD COACHES Coach Reg. Post. Overall 1. Mike Holmgren, Sea. 157-99-0 13-11 170-110-0 (.607) 2. Mike Shanahan, Den. 138-90-0 8-5 146-95-0 (.606) 3. Bill Belichick, N.E. 127-81-0 15-4 142-85-0 (.626) 4. Tony Dungy, Ind. 127-65-0 9-9 136-74-0 (.648) DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 17 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN SHANAHAN AMONG NFL ALL-TIME LEADERS IN WINS WITH ONE TEAM Mike Shanahan s 130 career regular-season wins in 13 years as Denver s head coach mark the 10th most by a head coach with one team in NFL history. Shanahan moved into that spot, passing Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Hank Stram, with Denver s 23-20 overtime victory against the Raiders on Sept. 16, 2007. MOST REGULAR-SEASON WINS WITH ONE TEAM, NFL HISTORY Head Coach Team Years Wins 1. George Halas Bears 1920-29, 33-42, 46-55, 58-67 318 2. Don Shula Dolphins 1970-95 257 3. Tom Landry Cowboys 1960-88 250 4. Earl Lambeau Packers 1921-49 209 5. Chuck Noll Steelers 1969-91 193 6. Bud Grant Vikings 1967-83, 85 158 7. Joe Gibbs Redskins 1981-92, 2004-07 154 8. Steve Owen Giants 1930-53 151 9. Bill Cowher Steelers 1992-2006 149 10. Mike Shanahan Broncos 1995-Pres. 130 11. Hank Stram Chiefs 1960-74 124 SHANAHAN SETS BRONCOS ALL-TIME WINS MARK With Denver s 12-10 win against Baltimore on Dec. 11, 2005, Mike Shanahan became the Broncos all-time leader in career victories with 118. Shanahan, who now has 130 regular-season and eight postseason victories for 138 total wins as Denver s head coach, entered that Broncos game against the Ravens tied with Dan Reeves in career wins. Reeves collected 117 victories as head coach of the Broncos from 1981-92, 110 of which he earned in the regular season and seven of which occurred in playoff action. CAREER WINS BY BRONCOS HEAD COACHES, ALL-TIME Head Coach Yrs. Reg. Post. Total 1. Mike Shanahan 1995-Pres. 130-78-0 8-5 138-83-0 (.624) 2. Dan Reeves 1981-92 110-73-1 7-6 117-79-1 (.596) 3. Red Miller 1977-80 40-22-0 2-3 42-25-0 (.627) 4. John Ralston 1972-76 34-33-3 0-0 34-33-3 (.507) 5. Lou Saban 1967-71 20-42-3 0-0 20-42-3 (.331) MOST POSTSEASON WINS IN CLUB HISTORY Mike Shanahan, who in 2005 passed Dan Reeves for first place in overall wins by a Broncos head coach, took over sole possession of first place on Denver s all-time postseason wins chart with a 27-13 victory against New England on Jan. 14, 2006. Shanahan now owns an 8-5 career postseason record for a winning percentage of.615 that also is the best in team annals. CAREER POSTSEASON WINS BY BRONCOS HEAD COACHES, ALL-TIME Head Coach Yrs. Rec. Pct. 1. Mike Shanahan 1995-Pres. 8-5.615 2. Dan Reeves 1981-92 7-6.538 3. Red Miller 1977-80 2-3.400 SHANAHAN BRINGS THE MAGIC BACK TO THE MILE HIGH AREA Since taking over the coaching reins of the Broncos in 1995, Mike Shanahan has a 79-25 (.760) regular-season record at home, the second-best home winning percentage among head coaches in the Broncos 49-year history. HOME WINNING PERCENTAGE, BRONCOS HEAD COACHES Head Coach (Years) Reg. Season Pct. 1. Dan Reeves (1981-92) 72-21.774 2. Mike Shanahan (1995-present) 79-25.760 3. Red Miller (1977-80) 22-9.710 4. John Ralston (1972-76) 20-13-2.600 5. Wade Phillips (1993-94) 9-7.563 DENVER WINS UNDER SHANAHAN The Broncos have posted the third-most wins (130) in the regular season and have tied for the third-most overall wins (138) in the NFL since 1995 under the direction of Head Coach Mike Shanahan. REGULAR-SEASON WINS, NFL, 1995-Pres. Team Reg. Wins 1. New England 135 2. Green Bay 134 3. Denver 130 4. Pittsburgh 127 5. Indianapolis 126 TOTAL WINS, NFL, 1995-Pres. Team Reg. Post Tot. 1. New England 135 17 152 2. Green Bay 135 10 145 3. Denver 130 8 138 Pittsburgh 127 11 138 5. Indianapolis 126 9 135 6. Philadelphia 118 9 127 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 18 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN BRONCOS OFFENSE CLICKS SINCE 1995 Under Head Coach Mike Shanahan, the Broncos offensive success has ranked among the league s best. Denver leads the NFL in total yards and rushing yards while ranking second in the league in first downs and third in points scored since 1995 in regularseason play. TOTAL YARDS, NFL, 1995-Pres. Team Tot. Yards 1. Denver 74,727 2. Minnesota 73,459 3. Indianapolis 73,043 4. Green Bay 72,960 5. St. Louis 72,009 RUSHING YARDS, NFL, 1995-Pres. Team Rush Yards 1. Denver 29,131 2. Pittsburgh 28,132 3. Kansas City 25,874 4. Jacksonville 25,803 5. Minnesota 25,392 FIRST DOWNS, NFL, 1995-Pres. Team 1st Downs 1. Indianapolis 4,341 2. Denver 4,324 3. Green Bay 4,155 4. Kansas City 4,139 5. New England 4,076 POINTS SCORED, NFL, 1995-Pres. Team Points 1. Indianapolis 5,170 2. Green Bay 5,088 3. Denver 5,079 4. New England 4,883 5. Minnesota 4,870 SHANAHAN POSTS IMPRESSIVE WIN TOTAL THROUGH 200 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES With a 13-3 victory against Baltimore on Oct. 9, 2006, Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan tied Chuck Knox and Marty Schottenheimer for the third-most victories (125) by a coach through his first 200 career regular-season games among those who began their career in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). Shanahan totaled a 117-63 (.650) record in 180 regular-season games with Denver and posted an 8-12 mark in 20 regular-season games as the Los Angeles Raiders head coach (1988-89). Of the six coach coaches with the most victories through their first 200 regular-season games in the Super Bowl era, three are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. MOST REG. SEASONS WINS BY A COACH THROUGH 200 GAMES (AMONG THOSE WHO BEGAN CAREER IN SUPER BOWL ERA) Coach Years Wins 1. Joe Gibbs^ 1981-92, 04 130 Bud Grant^ 1967-80 130 3. Mike Shanahan 1988-89, 95-06 125 Chuck Knox 1973-86 125 Marty Schottenheimer 1984-96 125 6. Chuck Noll^ 1969-82 123 ^ - member of Pro Football Hall of Fame SELECT COMPANY In 2004, Mike Shanahan joined the exclusive club of head coaches to post 100 wins in their first 10 seasons with one club, finishing the campaign and decade tied for fourth on this ultra-impressive list with 108 total wins. COACHES WITH 100 WINS FOR ONE TEAM THROUGH THE FIRST 10 SEASONS WITH THAT TEAM (including playoffs) S.B. Team Years Reg Post Tot. Wins 1. Joe Gibbs, Washington 1981-1990 101 12 113 2 2. John Madden, Raiders 1969-1978 103 9 112 1 Don Shula, Miami 1970-1979 104 8 112 2 4. Mike Shanahan, Broncos 1995-2004 101 7 108 2 George Seifert, S.F. 1989-1996 98 10 108 2 6. Mike Ditka, Chicago 1982-1991 101 6 107 1 Marv Levy, Buffalo 1986-1995 96 11 107 0 8. Bud Grant, Minnesota 1967-1976 98 8 106 0 9. Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh 1992-2001 99 6 105 0 10. Marty Schottenheimer, K.C. 1989-1998 101 3 104 0 11. Bill Walsh, San Francisco 1979-1988 92 10 102 3 12. Dennis Green, Minnesota 1992-2001 97 4 101 0 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 19 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN SHANAHAN ONE OF NFL S LONGEST-TENURED HEAD COACHES Mike Shanahan, who has spent the last 13 seasons as Denver s head coach, is the second-longest continuously tenured head coach in the NFL. Only Tennessee s Jeff Fisher, who has coached 13 full seasons with the team (1995-Pres.) as well as the final part of the 1994 campaign, has more continuous service with one club than Shanahan. Shanahan was named Broncos head coach on Jan. 31, 1995. LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY TENURED ACTIVE NFL HEAD COACHES Coach Team Years with team 1. Jeff Fisher* Tennessee 13 (1995-2007) 2. Mike Shanahan Denver 13 (1995-2007) 3. Mike Holmgren Seattle 9 (1999-2007) Andy Reid Philadelphia 9 (1999-2007) 5. Bill Belichick New England 8 (2000-07) * - Fisher was the Oilers head coach for the final six games in 1994. DENVER STRIKES FAST UNDER SHANAHAN Since Mike Shanahan became Denver s head coach before the start of the 1995 season, the Broncos have not only scored the most points in the first quarter in the NFL, but they also have the biggest point differential in the opening period (+485). BEST FIRST-QUARTER POINT-DIFFERENTIAL SINCE 1995 Team Differential Points For Points Against 1. Denver +485 1,177 692 2. New England +309 1,011 702 3. Green Bay +222 1,000 778 4. Pittsburgh +203 1,009 806 5. Indianapolis +200 1,041 841 TURNOVER RATIO IN THE SHANAHAN ERA Below is a look at Denver s record by turnover ratio under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.). The Broncos are 104-30 (.776) with an even or positive turnover ratio since 1995 and are 26-48 (.351) with a negative turnover ratio during that time. BRONCOS RECORD BY TURNOVER RATIO UNDER HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN (1995-Pres.) Ratio Record Win Pct. -3 or Worse 1-14.067-2 9-13.409-1 16-21.432 +/-0 31-11.738 +1 33-15.688 +2 15-2.882 +3 or Better 25-2.926 TOTALS 130-78.625 FREQUENT PLAYOFF TRIPS Since becoming the Broncos head coach in 1995, Mike Shanahan has led Denver to the postseason during seven different seasons. That total ties for the sixth most in the league during that period. MOST POSTSEASON BERTHS, NFL, SINCE 1995 Team No. Years 1. Indianapolis 10 1995-96; 1999-2000; 02-07 2. Green Bay 9 1995-98; 2001-04, 07 New England 9 1996-98; 2001; 03-07 4. Philadelphia 8 1995-96; 2000-04; 06 Pittsburgh 8 1995-97; 2001-02; 04-05, 07 6. Denver 7 1996-98; 2000; 03-05 Dallas 7 1995-96; 98-99; 03; 06-07 Tampa Bay 7 1997; 1999-2002; 05; 07 Shanahan has twice led the Broncos to the postseason in three consecutive seasons, doing so most recently from 2003-05. CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF BERTHS, BRONCOS HISTORY Consec. Years Dates 1. 3 2003-05 3 1996-98 3 1977-79 4. 2 1986-87 2 1983-84 SEVEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS WITHOUT A LOSING SEASON Head Coach Mike Shanahan led the Broncos to seven consecutive seasons with at least a.500 record from 2000-06, a streak that tied for the longest in club history. The Broncos also went seven consecutive years without a losing record from 1983-89, a time period in which they advanced to three Super Bowls. MOST CONSECUTIVE SEASONS WITH AT LEAST A.500 RECORD, BRONCOS HISTORY Consec. Seasons Years Playoff Berths 1. 7 2000-06 4 7 1983-89 5 3. 6 1976-81 3 4. 4 1995-98 3 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 20 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN / PLAYER NOTES SHANAHAN ONE OF FOUR FORMER DENVER ASSISTANTS WHO ARE ACTIVE NFL HEAD COACHES Mike Shanahan is one of four active head coaches in the NFL in 2008 who were named a head coach after serving as an assistant on the Broncos staff. The three others are Mike Nolan of the 49ers, Gary Kubiak of the Texans and Wade Phillips of the Cowboys. All-time, 14 former Broncos assistants were hired as NFL head coaches after their time on Denver s staff. ASSISTANTS WHO BECAME NFL HEAD COACHES AFTER THEIR TIME ON THE BRONCOS COACHING STAFF Yrs. w/den. Yrs. as NFL Career Rec. Coach as an asst. Head Coach Inc. Postseason 1. Mac Speedie 1962-64 Den. ( 64-66) 6-19-1 (.250) 2. Ray Malavasi 1964-66 Den. ( 66)/Rams ( 78-82) 47-44 (.516) 3. Ed Hughes 1963 Hou. ( 71) 4-9-1 (.321) 4. Jerry Smith 1971 Den. ( 71) 2-3 (.400) 5. Red Miller 1963-65 Den. ( 77-80) 42-25 (.627) 6. Sam Rutigliano 1967-70 Cle. ( 78-84) 47-52 (.475) 7. Rod Dowhower 1980-82 Ind. ( 85-86) 5-24 (.172) 8. Mike Shanahan 84-87, 89-91 Raiders ( 88-89)/Den.( 95-Pres.) 146-95-0 (.606) 9. Dick MacPherson 1967-70 N.E. ( 91-92) 8-24 (.250) 10. Wade Phillips 1989-92 N.O. ( 85)/Den.( 93-94) Buf. ( 98-00)/Atl.( 03)/Dal.( 07) 61-46 (.570) 11. Chan Gailey 1985-90 Dal. ( 98-99) 18-16 (.529) 12. Jim Fassel 1993-94 NYG ( 97-03) 60-56-1 (.517) 13. Mike Nolan 1987-92 S.F. ( 05-Pres.) 16-32 (.333) 14. Gary Kubiak 1995-05 Hou. ( 06-Pres.) 14-18 (.438) Note: Bold denotes active NFL head coach. NALEN SECOND IN CAREER STARTS BY A BRONCO Center Tom Nalen ranks second in career starts by a Bronco with 188. Only John Elway (231 starts) has started more games in a Denver uniform than Nalen, who also is third in career games played (194) as a Bronco. Nalen is the longest-tenured player on Denver s roster, having joined the club in 1994 as a seventh-round draft choice from Boston College. The veteran also is the only remaining player from the Broncos backto-back Super Bowl championship teams of 1997 and 98. CAREER STARTS, BRONCOS HISTORY Player Pos. Starts Years 1. John Elway QB 231 1983-98 2. Tom Nalen C 188 1994-Pres. 3. Billy Thompson DB 178 1969-81 4. Tom Jackson LB 177 1973-86 Barney Chavous DE 177 1973-85 6. Dennis Smith S 170 1981-94 CAREER GAMES PLAYED, BRONCOS HISTORY Name Games Years Played 1. Jason Elam 236 1993-2007 2. John Elway 234 1983-98 3. Tom Nalen 194 1994-Pres. 4. Tom Jackson 191 1973-86 5. Paul Howard 187 1973-86 6. Dennis Smith 184 1981-94 CUTLER AMONG NFL S BEST SINCE BECOMING A STARTER Since being named the Broncos starting quarterback in Week 13 of the 2006 season, Jay Cutler has totaled the 10th-most passing yards in the NFL. MOST PASSING YARDS, NFL, SINCE WEEK 13 OF 2006 SEASON Player Gms. Att. Com. Pct. Yds TD INT Rtg. 1. Tom Brady, N.E. 21 727 496 68.2 5,772 54 9 111.6 2. Peyton Manning, Ind. 21 693 455 65.7 5,473 41 17 99.2 3. Tony Romo, Dal. 21 677 430 63.5 5,458 42 27 92.7 4. Brett Favre, G.B. 21 745 469 63.0 5,406 32 23 86.2 5. Jon Kitna, Det. 21 753 476 63.2 5,400 27 29 80.5 6. Drew Brees, N.O. 21 793 521 65.7 5,378 35 19 89.8 7. Carson Palmer, Cin. 20 709 448 63.2 5,064 32 25 84.9 8. Matt Hasselbeck, Sea. 21 721 442 61.3 5,002 33 17 87.5 9. Derek Anderson, Cle. 20 644 364 56.5 4,580 34 27 78.9 10. Jay Cutler, Den. 21 604 378 62.6 4,498 29 19 88.2 CUTLER CLIMBING DENVER PASSING CHARTS After totaling 3,497 passing yards in 2007, third-year quarterback Jay Cutler ranks ninth in Denver history in career passing yards (4,498). MOST PASSING YARDS, CAREER, BRONCOS HISTORY Player Att. Com. Pct. Yds TD INT Rtg. 1. John Elway, 1983-98 7,250 4,123 56.9 51,475 300 226 79.9 2. Craig Morton, 1977-82 1,594 907 56.9 11,895 74 65 79.1 3. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 1,678 1,044 62.2 11,763 71 53 84.1 4. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 1,596 944 59.1 11,631 71 47 84.3 5. Frank Tripucka, 1960-63 1,277 662 51.8 7,676 51 85 55.9 6. Charley Johnson, 1972-75 970 517 53.3 7,238 52 52 73.1 7. Steve Ramsey, 1971-76 919 456 49.6 6,437 35 58 59.0 8. Steve Tensi, 1967-70 810 348 43.0 5,153 38 45 56.9 9. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 604 378 62.6 4,498 29 19 88.2 CUTLER COMPLETES SECOND SEASON Selected by Denver in the first round (11th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft from Vanderbilt University, quarterback Jay Cutler completed his second professional season in 2007. Below is where Cutler, who was in his first season as a full-time starter in 2007, ranked in the NFL among other quarterbacks last season. JAY CUTLER NFL RANKINGS AMONG QUARTERBACKS, 2007 Category No. NFL Rank Attempts 467 12th Completions 297 T-10th Comp. Pct. 63.6 13th Passing Yards 3,497 10th Yds./Attempt 7.49 9th Touchdown Passes 20 13th TD Percentage 4.3 15th Interceptions 14 T-21st INT Percentage 3.0 15th Passer Rating 88.1 12th Rushing Yards 205 4th DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 21 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release CUTLER AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN YARDS PER ATTEMPT, PASSING YARDS In his first season as a full-time starter in 2007, quarterback Jay Cutler placed ninth in the NFL in yards per attempt (7.49) and 10th in the league in passing yards (3,497). His 3,497 passing yards marked the seventh-highest single-season total in Broncos history. Cutler had three games in 2007 in which he averaged at least 9.5 yards per pass, including a season-best 9.74-yard average at Chicago on Nov. 25 that helped him record the second 300-yard passing outing of his career. He finished the season with two 300- yard passing games, reaching that total at Buffalo on Sept. 9 (304 yds.) and at Chicago on Nov. 25 (302 yds.). MOST YARDS PER PASS ATTEMPT, NFL, 2007 Player Att. Yards Y/A 1. Tom Brady, N.E. 578 4,806 8.31 2. Tony Romo, Dal. 520 4,211 8.10 3. Peyton Manning, Ind. 515 4,040 7.84 4. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit. 404 3,154 7.81 5. Brett Favre, G.B. 535 4,155 7.77 6. Matt Schaub, Hou. 289 2,241 7.75 7. David Garrard, Jac. 325 2,509 7.72 8. Kurt Warner, Ari. 451 3,417 7.58 9. Jay Cutler, Den. 467 3,497 7.49 MOST PASSING YARDS, NFL, 2007 Player Att. Comp. Pct. Yds TD INT Rtg. 1. Tom Brady, N.E. 578 398 68.9 4,806 50 8 117.2 2. Drew Brees, N.O. 652 440 67.5 4,423 28 18 89.4 3. Tony Romo, Dal. 520 335 64.4 4,211 36 19 97.4 4. Brett Favre, G.B. 535 356 66.5 4,155 28 15 95.7 5. Carson Palmer, Cin. 575 373 64.9 4,131 26 20 86.7 6. Jon Kitna, Det. 561 355 63.3 4,068 18 20 80.9 7. Peyton Manning, Ind. 515 337 65.4 4,040 31 14 98.0 8. Matt Hasselbeck, Sea. 562 352 62.6 3,966 28 12 91.4 9. Derek Anderson, Cle. 527 298 56.5 3,787 29 19 82.5 10. Jay Cutler, Den. 467 297 63.6 3,497 20 14 88.1 PLAYER NOTES THE BRONCOS RECORD WHEN JAY CUTLER... (Regular-season starts only) Situation Record Situation Record Throws 0 touchdown passes:...............0-4 Throws 1+touchdown passes:..............9-8 Throws 2+touchdown passes:..............6-3 Throws 3+touchdown passes:..............2-0 Throws 4+touchdown passes:..............1-0 Throws for less than 200 yards:.............2-5 Throws for 200+ yards:....................7-7 Throws for 250+ yards:....................3-3 Throws for 300+ yards:....................1-1 Was not intercepted:......................3-4 Was intercepted:.........................6-8 Was not sacked:.........................1-0 Was sacked:...........................8-12 Rushes for 1+touchdowns:.................0-1 Rushes for 50+yards:.....................0-0 Plays on Sunday:.........................8-9 Plays on Monday:........................1-2 Plays on Thursday:.......................0-1 Plays on Saturday:.......................0-0 Plays in September:.......................2-2 Plays in October:.........................1-2 Plays in November:.......................2-2 Plays in December:.......................4-6 Plays at home:...........................6-5 Plays on the road:........................3-7 Plays outside:..........................8-10 Plays inside:............................1-2 Faces the AFC:...........................7-7 Faces the NFC:...........................2-5 Faces the AFC West:......................3-4 MOST PASSING YARDS IN A SEASON, BRONCOS HISTORY Player Att. Comp. Pct. Yds TD INT Rtg. 1. Jake Plummer, 2004 521 303 58.2 4,089 27 20 84.5 2. John Elway, 1993 551 348 63.2 4,030 25 10 92.8 3. John Elway, 1995 542 316 58.3 3,970 26 14 86.4 4. John Elway, 1985 605 327 54.0 3,891 22 23 70.2 5. John Elway, 1997 502 280 55.8 3,635 27 11 87.5 6. John Elway, 1990 502 294 58.6 3,526 15 14 78.5 7. Jay Cutler, 2007 467 297 63.6 3,497 20 14 88.1 JAY CUTLER 300-YARD PASSING GAMES, 2007 (CAREER) Date Opponent Att. Comp. Pct. Yds TD INT Rtg. 1. Sept. 9, 2007 at Buffalo 39 23 59.0 304 1 1 81.6 2. Nov. 25, 2007 at Chicago 31 17 54.8 302 2 1 96.4 CUTLER RANKS WITH NFL S BEST ROOKIES Jay Cutler finished his first NFL season in 2006 by recording the second-highest touchdown percentage by a league rookie since the 1970 merger, throwing nine touchdown passes in 137 attempts (6.57%). The quarterback also totaled the third-best touchdown to interception ratio by a rookie since the 1970 merger, throwing nine touchdowns to only five interceptions (1.80 ratio). HIGHEST TOUCHDOWN PERCENTAGE, NFL ROOKIES, SINCE 1970 MERGER (MINIMUM 125 ATTEMPTS) Player Year Att. TDs Pct. 1. Dan Marino, Mia. 1983 296 20 6.76 2. Jay Cutler, Den. 2006 137 9 6.57 3. Jim Plunkett, N.E. 1971 328 19 5.79 4. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit. 2004 295 17 5.76 5. Jim Everett, L.A. Rams 1986 147 8 5.44 HIGHEST TD-TO-INT RATE, NFL ROOKIES, SINCE 1970 MERGER (MINIMUM 125 ATTEMPTS) Player Year TDs INTs Ratio 1. Dan Marino, Mia. 1983 20 6 3.33 2. Charlie Batch, Det. 1998 11 6 1.83 3. Jay Cutler, Den. 2006 9 5 1.80 4. Shaun King, T.B. 1999 7 4 1.75 5. Don Majkowski, G.B. 1987 5 3 1.67 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 22 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release Some other notes on Cutler s rookie season in 2006: * - Cutler became the first rookie in NFL history and one of only two players in league annals (Mark Rypien) to throw at least two touchdown passes in each of his first four games. He also became only the fifth player in NFL history and second rookie (Dan Marino) to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of his first four NFL starts. * - Cutler recorded the highest passer rating (88.5), completion percentage (59.1) and touchdown percentage (6.6) among all rookies in Broncos history (min. 50 attempts). * - He ranked second in yards per pass attempt (7.31) among Broncos rookies and became the first Denver rookie to throw for at least 1,000 yards (1,001) in a season since John Elway in 1983. CUTLER VS. 2006 FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS THROUGH FIRST 16 STARTS Below is a look at how Jay Cutler s numbers through his first 16 starts compare with the two other quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He made the 16th start of his career in the Broncos game at Chicago on Nov. 25. Cutler was picked 11th overall by Denver while Vince Young was taken third by Tennessee and Matt Leinart was chosen 10th by Arizona. Cutler is 2-0 in regular-season play when starting against Young (34-20 win vs. Tennessee in 2007) and Leinart (37-20 win at Arizona in 2006). FIRST 16 STARTS, 2006 1ST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS (Players listed by passer rating) Player S Record Att. Com. Pct. Yds. TD IN Rtg 1. Jay Cutler, Den. 16 7-9-0 437 275 62.9 3,385 22 15 89.3 2. Matt Leinart, Ari. 16 7-9-0 480 268 55.8 3,140 13 15 71.9 3. Vince Young, Ten. 16 10-6-0 400 216 54.0 2,492 14 14 70.1 JAY CUTLER CAREER PASSING BREAKDOWN BY RECEIVER, CAREER: Player Comp. Yds. Avg. LG TDs WR Brandon Marshall 108 1,471 13.6 71t 8 TE Tony Scheffler 55 722 13.1 41 9 WR Javon Walker 44 517 11.8 54t 2 WR Brandon Stokley 36 603 16.8 58 4 RB Selvin Young 33 216 6.5 24 0 TE Daniel Graham 22 209 9.5 28 2 WR Rod Smith 14 130 9.3 15 1 FB Cecil Sapp 14 50 3.6 16 1 WR Glenn Martinez 11 148 13.5 23 0 RB Tatum Bell 10 62 6.2 15 0 RB Travis Henry 6 58 9.7 21 0 TE Chad Mustard 5 62 12.4 15 0 RB Mike Bell 5 54 10.8 24 0 TE Nate Jackson 5 50 10.0 24 1 TE Stephen Alexander 3 32 10.7 16 1 WR Brian Clark 2 14 7.0 7 0 RB Andre Hall 2 69 34.5 65 0 WR David Kircus 2 29 14.5 18 0 FB Kyle Johnson 1 2 2.0 2 0 TOTALS 378 4,498 11.9 71t 29 PLAYER NOTES HOME, CAREER: G S Rec. Att. Com. Pct. Yds. TD INT Rate Career 11 6 6-5 316 210 66.5 2,477 19 10 97.0 ROAD, CAREER: G S Rec. Att. Com. Pct. Yds. TD INT Rate Career 10 10 3-7 288 168 58.3 2,021 10 9 78.5 AFC WEST, CAREER: G S Rec. Att. Com. Pct. Yds. TD INT Rate Career 7 7 3-4 219 130 59.4 1,494 8 8 76.9 BY QUARTER, CAREER: Quarter Att. Com. Pct. Yds. TD INT Rate First 128 77 60.2 1,014 7 2 96.9 Second 150 97 64.7 1,065 8 4 92.2 Third 160 112 70 1,399 10 8 96.8 Fourth 155 85 54.8 967 4 5 68.9 Overtime 11 7 63.6 53 0 0 75.2 TOTALS 604 378 62.6 4,498 29 19 88.2 MARSHALL NEARS TOP RECEPTION TOTALS BY SECOND-YEAR PLAYERS IN LEAGUE HISTORY Brandon Marshall s 102 receptions in 2007 marked the third-most receptions by a second-year player in NFL history. MOST RECEPTIONS BY A SECOND-YEAR PLAYER, NFL HISTORY Player Year Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 1. Isaac Bruce, Stl. 1995 119 1,781 15 13 2. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. 2005 103 1,409 13.7 10 3. Brandon Marshall, Den. 2007 102 1,325 13.0 7 4. Marques Colston, N.O. 2007 98 1,202 12.3 11 5. Lionel Taylor, Den. 1960 92 1,235 13.4 12 6. Sterling Sharpe, G.B. 1989 90 1,423 15.8 12 7. Kellen Winslow, S.D.* 1980 89 1,290 14.5 9 Kellen Winslow Jr., Cle.* 2006 89 875 9.8 3 * - Tight end DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 23 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release PLAYER NOTES MARSHALL EMERGES Second-year wide receiver Brandon Marshall led the club in receptions (102), receiving yards (1,325) and receiving touchdowns (7) in 2007. He posted four 100-yard receiving games for the year, including two in consecutive games (vs. Kansas City on Dec. 9 and at Houston on Dec. 13). The wide receiver finished the year fifth in the league in receptions and sixth in receiving yards. On Denver s all-time single-season lists, Marshall s 102 grabs ranked second while his 1,325 receiving yards placed third. Marshall s 102 catches also marked the fifth 100-reception season by the fourth different Bronco. He also became the first player selected by the Broncos in the NFL Draft to total at least 100 catches in a season. MOST RECEPTIONS, NFL, 2007 Player Rec. Yds. Avg. LG TDs 1. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin. 112 1,143 10.2 42t 12 Wes Welker, N.E. 112 1,175 10.5 42 8 3. Reggie Wayne, Ind. 104 1,510 14.5 64 10 4. Derrick Mason, Bal. 103 1,087 10.6 79t 5 5. Brandon Marshall, Den. 102 1,325 13.0 68t 7 MOST RECEIVING YARDS, NFL, 2007 Player Rec. Yds. Avg. LG TDs 1. Reggie Wayne, Ind. 104 1,510 14.5 64 10 2. Randy Moss, N.E. 98 1,493 15.2 65t 23 3. Chad Johnson, Cin. 93 1,440 15.5 70t 8 4. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. 100 1,409 14.1 48t 10 5. Terrell Owens, Dal. 81 1,355 16.7 52t 15 6. Brandon Marshall, Den. 102 1,325 13.0 68t 7 MOST RECEPTIONS, SINGLE SEASON, BRONCOS HISTORY Player Rec. Yds. Avg. LG TDs 1. Rod Smith, 2001 113 1,343 11.9 65t 11 2. Brandon Marshall, 2007 102 1,325 13.0 68t 7 3. Ed McCaffrey, 2000 101 1,317 13.0 61 9 4. Rod Smith, 2000 100 1,602 16.0 49 8 Lionel Taylor, 1961 100 1,176 11.8 52 4 MOST RECEIVING YARDS, SINGLE SEASON, BRONCOS HISTORY Player Rec. Yds. Avg. LG TDs 1. Rod Smith, 2000 100 1,602 16.0 49 8 2. Rod Smith, 2001 113 1,343 11.9 65t 11 3. Brandon Marshall, 2007 102 1,325 13.0 68t 7 4. Ed McCaffrey, 2000 101 1,317 13.0 61 9 5. Steve Watson, 1981 60 1,244 20.7 95t 13 THE NFL S BEST AFTER CONTACT According to Stats Inc, Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall led the NFL in receiving yards after contact in 2007. A league-high 319 of his 1,325 receiving yards (24.1%) came after initial contact with a defender. MOST RECEIVING YARDS AFTER CONTACT, NFL, 2007 Player Yds. After Contact Pct. 1. Brandon Marshall, Den. 1,325 319 24.1% 2. Brian Westbrook, Phi. 771 222 28.8% 3. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ 1,130 220 19.5% 4. Donald Driver, G.B. 1,048 213 20.3% 5. Jason Witten, Dal. 1,145 193 16.9% MARSHALL HITS STRIDE WITH CUTLER AS QB Since Jay Cutler took over as Denver s starting quarterback on Dec. 3, 2006, against Seattle (21 games ago), Brandon Marshall leads the Broncos in receiving yards (1,558) and receptions (116). MOST RECEIVING YARDS, BRONCOS, LAST 21 GAMES, DATING BACK TO 12/3/06 VS. SEATTLE Player G Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs 1. Brandon Marshall 21 116 1,558 13.4 8 2. Tony Scheffler 21 61 768 12.6 9 3. Brandon Stokley 13 40 635 15.9 5 4. Javon Walker 13 44 517 11.8 2 5. Daniel Graham 15 24 246 10.3 2 MARSHALL S PRODUCTION RIVALS OTHER 2006 WIDEOUTS DRAFTED Selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft from the University of Central Florida, Brandon Marshall ranks second among wide receivers from his draft class with 122 career receptions. Marshall was the 16th wide receiver taken in the 2006 NFL Draft. MOST CAREER RECEPTIONS, 2006 WIDE RECEIVERS DRAFTED Player Draft Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs 1. Marques Colston, N.O. 7-252 168 2,240 13.3 19 2. Brandon Marshall, Den. 3-119 122 1,634 13.4 9 3. Santonio Holmes, Pit. 1-25 101 1,766 17.5 10 4. Greg Jennings, G.B. 2-52 98 1,552 15.8 15 5. Derek Hagan, Mia. 3-82 50 594 11.9 3 JACKSON A TOUCHDOWN TARGET Since entering the NFL in 2000, wide receiver Darrell Jackson has totaled the ninth-most touchdown catches (50) in the NFL. Jackson joined the Broncos as a free agent in the offseason after playing for San Francisco (2007) and Seattle (2000-06). MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS, NFL, 2000-PRES. Player Gms. Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 1. Terrell Owens, Dal./Phi./S.F. 111 660 9,763 14.8 99 2. Randy Moss, N.E./Oak./Min. 122 625 9,467 15.1 96 3. Marvin Harrison, Ind. 115 731 9,803 13.4 90 4. Torry Holt, Stl. 126 753 11,076 14.7 65 5. Hines Ward, Pit. 122 643 7,853 12.2 58 6. Plaxico Burress, NYG/Pit. 118 470 7,391 15.7 51 Tony Gonzalez, K.C. 127 652 8,044 12.3 51 Joe Horn, Atl./N.O. 114 550 7,865 14.3 51 9. Darrell Jackson, S.F./Sea. 111 487 6,942 14.3 50 10. Chad Johnson, Cin. 108 559 8,365 15.0 49 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 24 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release PLAYER NOTES SCHEFFLER SOLID DOWN THE STRETCH Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler has been one of the league s top players at his position during the final eight games of his first two professional seasons. He ranks sixth among NFL tight ends in receiving yards totaled during the second half of a season since entering the NFL in 2006, posting 607 of his 835 career yards (72.7%) during that span. MOST RECEIVING YARDS DURING THE FINAL EIGHT GAMES OF A SEASON, NFL TIGHT ENDS, 2006-07 Player Gms. Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 1. Chris Cooley, Was. 16 72 959 13.3 6 2. Tony Gonzalez, K.C. 15 82 953 11.6 3 3. Jason Witten, Dal. 16 84 915 10.9 2 4. Antonio Gates, S.D. 16 65 853 13.1 9 Kellen Winslow, Cle. 16 78 853 10.9 2 6. Tony Scheffler, Den. 13 45 607 13.5 7 YOUNG CONTRIBUTES IN FIRST YEAR Rookie running back Selvin Young, who joined the Broncos in 2007 as a college free agent from the University of Texas, ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing average (5.2) among players with at least 125 carries last season. Young also finished the campaign with the third-most rushing yards (729) among league rookies and led the Broncos ground game for the season, becoming the first undrafted rookie ever to accomplish that feat. The running back posted the first two 100-yard rushing games of his career during the Broncos wins against the Chiefs. By doing so, he became the 12th different Bronco to record at least 100 rushing yards in a regular-season game under Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.), a total that ties with Carolina for the most in the league since 1995. Young posted 15 runs of at least 10 yards in 2007, including a career-best 50-yard rush against Kansas City on Dec. 9. RUSHING AVERAGE, NFL, 2007 (min. 125 carries) Player Att. Yds. Avg. LG TDs 1. Adrian Peterson, Min. 238 1,341 5.6 73t 12 2. Fred Taylor, Jac. 223 1,202 5.4 80t 5 3. Chester Taylor, Min. 157 844 5.4 84t 7 4. Selvin Young, Den. 140 729 5.2 50 1 5. Ryan Grant, G.B. 188 956 5.1 66t 8 RUSHING YARDS, NFL ROOKIES, 2007 Player Att. Yds. Avg. LG TDs 1. Adrian Peterson, Min. 238 1,341 5.6 73t 12 2. Marshawn Lynch, Buf. 280 1,115 4.0 56t 7 3. Selvin Young, Den. 140 729 5.2 50 1 YOUNG AMONG NFL S BEST UNDRAFTED BACKS IN 07 With 729 rushing yards in 2007, Selvin Young became the sixth undrafted rookie in league history since the inception of the common draft in 1967 to total at least 500 rushing yards. The University of Texas product finished the year ranked third in league annals in rushing yards by an undrafted rookie. His play marked the second consecutive year that a Broncos undrafted rookie running back reached the 500-yard mark. In 2006, Mike Bell (University of Arizona) totaled the fifth-most rushing yards (677) and tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns (8) by an undrafted rookie in NFL history. Denver is the only franchise to have two undrafted rookies each reach 500 rushing yards in a season. MOST RUSHING YARDS BY UNDRAFTED ROOKIES, NFL HISTORY (SINCE INCEPTION OF COMMON NFL DRAFT IN 1967) Player Year Att. Yds. Avg. TD 1. Dominic Rhodes, Ind.* 2001 233 1,104 4.7 9 2. Fred Lane, Car.* 1997 182 809 4.4 7 3. Selvin Young, Den.* 2007 140 729 5.2 1 4. Clark Gaines, NYJ* 1976 157 724 4.6 3 5. Mike Bell, Den. 2006 157 677 4.3 8 6. Samkon Gado, G.B.* 2005 143 582 4.1 6 * - Led club in rushing YOUNG CLIMBS DENVER ROOKIE CHARTS Selvin Young s 729 rushing yards in 2007 were the sixth most by a rookie in Broncos history. MOST RUSHING YARDS BY A ROOKIE, BRONCOS HISTORY Player Year Rd. Att. Yds. Avg. TDs 1. Clinton Portis 2002 2nd 273 1,508 5.5 15 2. Mike Anderson 2000 6th 297 1,487 5.0 15 3. Olandis Gary 1999 4th 276 1,159 4.2 7 4. Terrell Davis 1995 6th 237 1,117 4.7 7 5. Bobby Humphrey 1989 1st 294 1,151 3.9 7 6. Selvin Young 2007 CFA 140 729 5.2 1 7. Mike Bell 2006 CFA 157 677 4.3 8 8. Billy Joe 1963 11th 154 646 4.2 4 9. Rob Lytle 1977 2nd 104 408 3.9 1 10. Tatum Bell 2004 2nd 75 396 5.3 3 11. Floyd Little 1967 1st 130 381 2.9 1 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 25 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release PLAYER NOTES PITTMAN SHOWS PASS-CATCHING ABILITY Running back Michael Pittman, whom the Broncos signed as an unrestricted free agent from Tampa Bay in the offseason, has established himself as one of the NFL s top receiving threats out of the backfield during his 10 years in the league. Pittman s 3,400 career receiving yards rank second in the NFL among active running backs. MOST RECEIVING YARDS, ACTIVE NFL RUNNING BACKS Player Years Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 1. Warrick Dunn, Atl./T.B. 1997-Pres. 463 4,009 8.7 15 2. Michael Pittman, T.B./Ari. 1998-Pres. 415 3,400 8.2 8 3. LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. 2001-Pres. 458 3,375 7.4 14 4. Edgerrin James, Ari./Ind. 1999-Pres. 418 3,260 7.8 11 5. Brian Westbrook, Phi. 2002-Pres. 347 3,207 9.2 23 BAILEY PRO BOWL STREAK Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey was named to the Pro Bowl for the eighth consecutive season in 2007, a streak that is the longest in NFL history at his position group. His eight career Pro Bowl selections also tie for the second most by a cornerback in NFL history. Bailey also joins Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez and former Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden as one of three players in the NFL to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last eight seasons. MOST PRO BOWL SELECTIONS AT CORNERBACK, NFL HISTORY Player Pro Bowls Years 1. Mike Haynes* 9 1976-80, 1982, 1984-86 2. Champ Bailey 8 2000-07 Lemar Parrish 8 1970, 1971, 1974-1977, 1979-80 Deion Sanders 8 1991-94, 1996-99 * - Pro Football Hall of Fame member PLAYERS TO EARN A PRO BOWL BERTH IN EACH OF THE LAST EIGHT SEASONS, NFL (2000-07) Player Position Consec. Pro Bowl Berths Champ Bailey, Den. Cornerback 8 (2000-07) Tony Gonzalez, K.C. Tight End 9 (1999-07) Jonathan Ogden, Bal. Tackle 11 (1997-2007) INTERCEPTION TOTAL RISING FOR BAILEY Since joining the Broncos in 2004, cornerback Champ Bailey has totaled an NFL-best 24 interceptions in regular-season play. His 18 interceptions from 2005-06 marked the most by an NFL player in a two-year stretch since Everson Walls had 18 interceptions for Dallas from 1981-82. Bailey, who also has one interception in the postseason during this time, led Denver with a career-best 10 interceptions in 2006. MOST INTERCEPTIONS, NFL, 2004-PRES. (REGULAR SEASON ONLY) Player INTs Yds. 1. Champ Bailey, Den. 24 304 2. Ed Reed, Bal. 22 581 3. Darren Sharper, Min. 21 444 4. Asante Samuel, N.E. 20 258 5. Rashean Mathis, Jac. 19 290 PLENTY OF PICKS Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey owns four multiple-interception games for his career. CHAMP BAILEY MULTIPLE-INTERCEPTION GAMES, CAREER Game INTs Yds. 1. 10/17/99 at Ari. 3 51 2. 9/10/00 at Det. 2 0 3. 11/5/06 at Pit. 2 5 4. 12/17/06 at Ari. 2 37 IT STARTS WITH BAILEY Cornerback Champ Bailey, who earned the eighth consecutive Pro Bowl nomination of his career in 2007, made the 100th start of his career in Denver s win against New England on Oct. 16, 2005. Bailey s 141 starts trail only Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber (143) for most starts in the NFL since he entered the NFL in 1999. He started 99 consecutive games to begin his career before a hamstring injury forced him inactive for Denver s games at Jacksonville (10/2) and vs. Washington (10/9) in 2005. Those two contests, along with Denver s game vs. Pittsburgh (10/21/07 - quadriceps), are the only three games Bailey has missed in his NFL career. MOST STARTS BY A CORNERBACK, NFL, 1999-Present Cornerback Starts 1. Ronde Barber, T.B. 143 2. Champ Bailey, Den. 141 3. Sam Madison, NYG 135 4. Chris McAlister, Bal. 122 A CHAMP ON OPENING DAY Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey has recorded an interception in five of the nine season openers that he has played since entering the NFL in 1999. CHAMP BAILEY S INTERCEPTIONS DURING SEASON OPENERS Date Opponent INT-Yds. Sept. 12, 1999 vs. Dallas 1-4 Sept. 9, 2001 at San Diego 1-5 Sept. 8, 2002 vs. Arizona 1-2 Sept. 12, 2004 vs. Kansas City 1-0 Sept. 11, 2005 at Miami 1-11 TOTALS 5-22 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 26 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release PLAYER NOTES BAILEY OWNS BRONCOS INT STREAK RECORD Cornerback Champ Bailey has posted seven streaks of consecutive games with an interception during his career. In 2006, he posted two three-game streaks with at least one interception to mark the first time in his career he accomplished such a feat. He set the Broncos franchise record for consecutive games with an interception (5) during the 2005 season. CHAMP BAILEY INTERCEPTION STREAKS, CAREER GAMES INT Yds. 1. 11/20/00 at Stl. 1 4 11/26/00 vs. Phi. 1 0 2. 12/24/00 vs. Ari. 1 0 9/9/01 at S.D. 1 5 3. 9/22/02 at S.F. 1 0 10/6/02 at Ten. 1 0 4. 9/11/05 at Mia. 1 11 9/18/05 vs. S.D. 1 25t 5. 11/13/05 at Oak. 1 18 11/20/05 vs. NYJ 1 0 11/24/05 at Dal. 1 65t 12/4/05 at K.C. 1 10 12/11/05 vs. Bal. 1 10 6. 10/9/06 vs. Bal. 1 0 10/15/06 vs. Oak. 1 0 10/22/06 at Cle. 1 30 7. 12/17/06 at Ari. 2 37 12/24/06 vs. Cin. 1 20 12/31/06 vs. S.F. 1 70t BAILEY AND BLY FORM TOP DUO Denver cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Dré Bly both entered the NFL in 1999, and their production during that time has been among the best in the league at the defensive back position. Bailey s 42 interceptions since 1999 rank as the second-highest total in the league while Bly s 38 interceptions are third. MOST INTERCEPTIONS, NFL, 1999-Pres. Player INTs Yds. 1. Darren Sharper, Min./G.B. 51 954 2. Champ Bailey, Den./Was. 42 428 3. Dré Bly, Den./Det./Stl. 38 544 4. Tory James, N.E./Cin./Oak./Den. 37 362 BAILEY BROTHERS Broncos linebacker Boss Bailey and cornerback Champ Bailey in 2008 are set to become the fourth pair of brothers to play for the Broncos in team history. The two defenders also will be the third pair to play for the Broncos at the same time and first since offensive linemen Dave and Doug Widell did so from 1990-92. Boss joined the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent from Detroit in 2008 while Champ has played for Denver since 2004 when the club acquired him in a trade from Washington. BROTHERS WHO HAVE PLAYED FOR THE BRONCOS, TEAM HISTORY Player Position Years GP GS Albert Carmichael Halfback 1960-61 16 N/A Paul Carmichael Halfback 1965 3 N/A Eldon Danenhauer* Tackle 1960-65 79 N/A William Danenhauer* End 1960 4 N/A Dave Widell* Center/Guard 1990-94 79 39 Doug Widell* Center/Guard 1989-92 64 58 * - Spent at least one season on the Broncos roster during the same time as his brother Boss and Champ will be the ninth brother combination to play on the same team in the NFL since 2000: BROTHERS WHO HAVE PLAYED ON THE SAME TEAM, NFL, SINCE 2000 Player Position Team Years Brendon Ayanbadejo Linebacker Miami 2003 Obafemi Ayanbadejo Running back Miami 2003 Akin Ayodele Linebacker Dallas 2007 Remi Ayodele Defensive tackle Dallas 2007 Chris Clemons Defensive end Washington 2005 Nic Clemons* Defensive end Washington 2005 Andre Dyson Cornerback Tennessee 2001-02 Kevin Dyson Wide receiver Tennessee 2001-02 Aaron Glenn Cornerback N.Y. Jets 2001 Jason Glenn Linebacker N.Y. Jets 2001 Darren Hambrick Linebacker Dallas 2000-01 Troy Hambrick Running back Dallas 2000-01 Dale Carter Cornerback Min./N.O. 2001-02 Jake Reed Wide Receiver Min./N.O. 2001-02 Darnell Walker Cornerback Detroit 2000 Marquis Walker Cornerback Detroit 2000 * - Currently on the Broncos roster DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 27 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release DUMERVIL ADDS TO MULTIPLE-SACK TOTAL Second-year Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil posted four multiple-sack games in 2007, including a three-sack effort vs. Kansas City on Dec. 9. Dumervil now has six multiple-sack games for his career, and he is fourth in the league in 2+sack games (6) since he entered the NFL in 2006. His 21 career sacks rank sixth in the NFL during the last two seasons. MOST GAMES WITH 2+SACKS, NFL, SINCE 2006 Player Pos. 2+Sack Gms. 1. Shawne Merriman, S.D. LB 9 2. Jared Allen, K.C. DE 7 Aaron Kampman, G.B. DE 7 4. Elvis Dumervil, Den. DE 6 MOST SACKS, NFL, 2006-Pres. Player Sacks Yds. 1. Shawne Merriman, S.D. 29.5 174.0 2. Aaron Kampman, G.B. 27.5 181.0 3. DeMarcus Ware, Dal. 25.5 197.5 4. Jason Taylor, Mia. 24.5 137.0 5. Jared Allen, K.C. 23.0 169.5 6. Elvis Dumervil, Den. 21.0 119.0 ELVIS DUMERVIL MULTIPLE-SACK GAMES, CAREER Game Sacks Yds. 1. 10/15/06 vs. Oak. 2 15 2. 10/22/06 at Cle. 3 16 3. 9/16/07 vs. Oak. 2 9 4. 9/23/07 vs. Jac. 2 10 5. 10/21/07 vs. Pit. 2 18 6. 12/9/07 vs. K.C. 3 15 KOUTOUVIDES A SPECIAL-TEAMS STANDOUT Broncos linebacker Niko Koutouvides ranks seventh in the NFL in special-teams tackles (60) since entering the league in 2004. He joined Denver as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason following a four-year stint with Seattle to begin his career. Koutouvides owns a total of 68 special-teams tackles in 67 career games (including postseason) and has recorded 20 contests with multiple stops on special teams. MOST SPECIAL-TEAMS TACKLES, NFL, 2004-PRES. Player Gms Tot Solo Asst. 1. Brendon Ayanbadejo, Chi./Mia. 64 80 64 16 2. Gary Stills, Bal./K.C. 64 77 68 9 3. Larry Izzo, N.E. 64 72 58 14 4. Quintin Mikell, Phi. 60 65 51 14 5. Heath Farwell, Min. 39 61 50 11 James Harrison, Pit. 59 61 46 15 7. Niko Koutouvides, Sea. 59 60 49 11 PLAYER NOTES / TEAM NOTES CENTURY MARK AND BEYOND The Denver Broncos have had one of the most potent rushing attacks in the NFL since Head Coach Mike Shanahan took over in 1995. In addition to having six different players rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season (Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns and Tatum Bell), the Broncos are tops in the NFL with 93 individual 100-yard rushing games in the regular season since 1995. MOST INDIVIDUAL 100-YARD GAMES, NFL, 1995-PRES. 100-yd. Team Games 1. Denver 93 2. Pittsburgh 87 3. Indianapolis 72 4. Jacksonville 65 Kansas City 65 Seattle 65 7. Dallas 63 8. N.Y. Jets 61 9. Washington 59 12 DIFFERENT RUSHERS REACH 100 IN A GAME With 109 yards at Kansas City on Nov. 11, 2007, Selvin Young became the 12th different Bronco to reach 100 yards in a game under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.) during regular-season play. That total ties with Carolina for the most in the NFL during that period. MOST DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL 100-YARD RUSHERS, NFL, 1995-PRES. (Regular season only) 100-yd. Team Rushers 1. Denver 12 Carolina 12 3. Green Bay 11 4. Baltimore 10 Minnesota 10 93 100-YARD GAMES SINCE 1995 Below is a look at a player-by-player breakdown of the Broncos 93 individual 100-yard rushing games in the regular season since 1995. BRONCOS INDIVIDUAL 100-YARD RUSHERS, NFL, 1995-PRES. 100-yd. Player Years Games 1. Terrell Davis 1995-2002 34 2. Clinton Portis 2002-03 18 3. Mike Anderson 2000-05 12 4. Tatum Bell 2004-06 9 5. Reuben Droughns 2002-04 6 6. Olandis Gary 1999-2002 4 7. Travis Henry 2007-Pres. 3 8. Selvin Young 2007-Pres. 2 Quentin Griffin 2003-05 2 10. Mike Bell 2006-Pres. 1 Aaron Craver 1995-96 1 Glyn Milburn 1995 1 TOTALS 93 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 28 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release TEAM NOTES MOST 1,000-YARD RUSHERS SINCE 1995 The Broncos rushing attack has produced 11 individual 1,000- yard rushing seasons since 1995, tying with Indianapolis for the highest such total in the league during that period. Denver has totaled 17 individual 1,000-yard rushing seasons in its history. Third-year running back Tatum Bell was Denver s 1,000-yard rusher in 2006, posting 1,025 yards on the ground for his first career 1,000-yard season. Bell was the sixth different Bronco to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season since 1995, joining Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis and Reuben Droughns. The Broncos four-year streak of having a different 1,000-yard rusher from 2003-06 was the longest of its kind in NFL history. MOST IND. 1,000-YARD RUSHING SEASONS, NFL, 1995-PRES. Team 1,000-Yard Seasons 07 leader 1. Denver 11 Young - 729 yds. Indianapolis 11 Addai - 1,072 yds. 3. N.Y. Jets 10 Jones - 1,119 yds. 4. Seattle 9 Alexander - 716 yds. BRONCOS ALL-TIME 1,000-YARD RUSHING SEASONS Player Year Yards 1. Floyd Little 1971 1,133 2. Otis Armstrong 1974 1,407 3. Otis Armstrong 1976 1,008 4. Sammy Winder 1984 1,153 5. Bobby Humphrey 1989 1,151 6. Bobby Humphrey 1990 1,202 7. Terrell Davis 1995 1,117 8. Terrell Davis 1996 1,538 9. Terrell Davis 1997 1,750 10. Terrell Davis 1998 2,008 11. Olandis Gary 1999 1,159 12. Mike Anderson 2000 1,487 13. Clinton Portis 2002 1,508 14. Clinton Portis 2003 1,591 15. Reuben Droughns 2004 1,240 16. Mike Anderson 2005 1,014 17. Tatum Bell 2006 1,025 O-LINE PROVIDING PASS PROTECTION The Broncos offensive line, renowned for its ability to clear the way for a dominant rushing attack, also has proven to be equally adept in pass protection during the last five seasons. Denver, which set a franchise record in 2004 by allowing only 15 sacks, has given up the third-fewest sacks (126 for 764 yds.) in the NFL since 2003. FEWEST SACKS ALLOWED, NFL, SINCE 2003 Team Sacks Yards 1. Indianapolis 91 542 2. Green Bay 103 715 3. Denver 126 764 4. San Diego 133 917 5. New England 136 901 BLOCKED KICKS BY THE BRONCOS Below is a look at the blocked kicks by the Broncos since 1995. The club has blocked at least one opponent kick (field goal, PAT or punt) in each of the last 10 seasons entering the 2008 campaign. BLOCKED KICKS BY DENVER SINCE 1995 Year FG PAT Punt Total 1995 0 0 0 0 1996 0 0 0 0 1997 0 0 0 0 1998 1 0 1 2 1999 0 1 1 2 2000 0 0 1 1 2001 0 1 0 1 2002 1 1 2 4 2003 0 0 1 1 2004 0 1 0 1 2005 1 0 0 1 2006 1 0 0 1 2007 0 0 1 1 TOTALS 4 4 7 15 SPECIAL-TEAMS THREAT Glenn Martinez s 80-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Tennessee on Nov. 19 was the 17th by a Scott O Brien-coached special-teams unit in the NFL. O Brien in 2008 begins his 16th year coaching special teams in the NFL and his second campaign with the Broncos. O Brien s special teams have now accounted for a total of 32 scores other than field goals and extra points in the NFL. Below is a breakdown: SPECIAL-TEAMS SCORES BY SCOTT O BRIEN-COACHED UNITS IN THE NFL (EXCLUDES FIELD GOALS AND EXTRA POINTS) Type No. Punt Returns 17 Kickoff Returns 9 Fake 2-Pt. Conv. 3 Fake FG for TD 1 Blocked Punt for TD 1 Blocked FG for TD 1 TOTALS 32 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 29 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release TEAM NOTES DISCIPLINED PLAY Since 2004, the Broncos are tied for third in the NFL in fewest penalties (347 for 2,724 yds.). In 2006, the Broncos finished the year committing the fewest penalties in the NFL (67 for 478 yds.) as well as the fewest in club history for a 16-game season. Denver also in 2006 allowed the fewest penalty yards (478) in any season in franchise history. FEWEST PENALTIES, NFL, SINCE 2004 Team Pen. Yds. 1. N.Y. Jets 322 2,540 2. Seattle 326 2,643 3. Denver 347 2,724 Pittsburgh 347 2,975 5. Indianapolis 353 2,724 HOLD IT RIGHT THERE When John Elway was ruling the roost in Denver, comebacks were often times the only thing people talked about. But since Head Coach Mike Shanahan took over the reigns in 1995, the Broncos have learned to not allow the opponents to come back on them. In Shanahan s tenure, the Broncos are 109-17 (.865) in games in which they led after three quarters, including 12-1 in 2005, 6-3 in 2006 and 6-1 in 2007. BRONCOS RECORD WHEN LEADING AFTER THREE QUARTERS Year Record Pct. 1995 6-1.857 1996 10-1.909 1997 12-0 1.000 1998 13-0 1.000 1999 5-2.714 2000 9-1.900 2001 7-2.778 2002 8-2.800 2003 9-3.750 2004 6-0 1.000 2005 12-1.923 2006 6-3.667 2007 6-1.857 Total 109-17.865 BRONCOS HOLD NFL S LONGEST CURRENT SCORING STREAK With Minnesota s 34-0 shutout loss to Green Bay on Nov. 11, 2007, the Broncos 245-game scoring streak became the longest active streak in the NFL. Minnesota s shutout against the Packers snapped its streak at 260 games. Denver s scoring streak, which began on Monday Night Football with a 16-13 overtime loss at Seattle on Nov. 30, 1992, is the fourth-longest such streak in NFL history. MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITHOUT BEING SHUT OUT, NFL HISTORY Team Games Years 1. San Francisco 420 1977-2004 2. Cleveland 274 1950-71 3. Minnesota 260 1991-2007 4. Denver 245 1992-Present 5. Green Bay 233 1991-2006 6. Dallas 218 1970-85 7. Oakland 217 1966-81 8. New Orleans 216 1983-97 9. Washington 201 1980-93 ANATOMY OF DENVER S SCORING STREAK Denver has more often than not extended its current 245-game scoring streak rather quickly. In the impressive run, the Broncos have scored on their first possession 96 times, including one time they scored on their first touch (a punt return). Denver has scored in the first quarter 161 times during the streak and has had it extended by halftime 233 times. Denver has had to wait until the fourth quarter to extend the streak just twice (Sept. 20, 1993, at K.C. and Nov. 4, 2007, at Det.). BREAKDOWN OF THE BRONCOS 245-GAME SCORING STREAK SCORED ON/IN: Year Games 1st Pos. 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1992 5 0 3 0 2 0 1993 16 7 8 6 1 1 1994 16 3 7 9 0 0 1995 16 7 10 5 1 0 1996 16 9 15 1 0 0 1997 16 5 12 4 0 0 1998 16 9 15 1 0 0 1999 16 8* 11 2 3 0 2000 16 8 11 5 0 0 2001 16 4 9 7 0 0 2002 16 7 11 5 0 0 2003 16 8 12 3 1 0 2004 16 6 11 5 0 0 2005 16 7 10 6 0 0 2006 16 2 6 9 1 0 2007 16 6 10 4 1 1 TOTALS 245 96 161 72 10 2 * - Includes one punt return DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 30 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release TEAM NOTES REGULARS ON PRIME-TIME, GETTING TO KNOW NO. 1 CREWS A total of 29 of Denver s previous 45 games (inc. postseason) have been broadcast by a network s top crew or shown on primetime. This includes 15 games broadcast by CBS No. 1 crew, one game broadcast by FOX s No. 1 crew and 13 prime-time games. In 2008, the Broncos are scheduled to appear twice on ESPN s Monday Night Football (Sept. 8 at Oakland, Oct. 20 at New England) and once on NFL Network s Thursday Night Football (Nov. 6 at Cleveland). BROADCAST CREWS OF DENVER S GAMES (OCT. 16, 2005 - PRES., REG. SEASON AND POSTSEASON) BOLD DENOTES NO. 1 CREW OR PRIME-TIME GAME Game Kickoff Network Crew vs. N.E. (10/16/05) 2:16 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms, Bernstein at NYG (10/23/05) 4:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms, Bernstein vs. Phi. (10/30/05) 2:15 p.m. FOX Stockton, Aikman, Oliver at Oak. (11/13/05) 1:05 p.m. CBS Enberg, Gannon, Keteyian vs. NYJ (11/20/05) 2:15 p.m. CBS Harlan, Cross at Dal. (11/24/05) 3:17 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms, Bernstein at K.C. (12/4/05) 3:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms, Bernstein vs. Bal. (12/11/05) 2:15 p.m. CBS Criqui, Beuerlein at Buf. (12/17/05) 8:36 p.m. ESPN Tirico, Sharpe, Kolber vs. Oak. (12/24/05) 2:15 p.m. CBS Enberg, Dierdorf, Keteyian at S.D. (12/31/05) 1:35 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms, Bernstein vs. N.E. (1/14/06) 6:16 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms, Bernstein vs. Pit. (1/22/06) 1:08 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms, Bernstein, Keteyian at Stl. (9/10/06) 12:02 p.m. CBS Gumbel, Dierdorf vs. K.C. (9/17/06) 2:16 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms at N.E. (9/24/06) 8:20 p.m. NBC Michaels, Madden, Kremer vs. Bal. (10/9/06) 6:41 p.m. ESPN Tirico, Theismann, Kornheiser vs. Oak. (10/15/06) 6:21 p.m. NBC Michaels, Madden, Kremer at Cle. (10/22/06) 4:06 p.m. CBS Enberg, Cross vs. Ind. (10/29/06) 2:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms at Pit. (11/5/06) 4:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms at Oak. (11/12/06) 1:05 p.m. CBS Eagle, Wilcots vs. S.D. (11/19/06) 6:21 p.m. NBC Michaels, Madden, Kremer at K.C. (11/23/06) 7:12 p.m. NFLN Gumbel, Collinsworth vs. Sea. (12/3/06) 6:20 p.m. NBC Michaels, Madden, Kremer at S.D. (12/10/06) 1:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms at Ari. (12/17/06) 2:05 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms vs. Cin. (12/24/06) 2:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms vs. S.F. (12/31/06) 2:15 p.m. FOX Menefee, Johnston, Siragusa at Buf. (9/9/07) 1 p.m. CBS Johnson, Cross vs. Oak. (9/16/07) 2:15 p.m. CBS Harlan, Gannon vs. Jac. (9/23/07) 2:05 p.m. CBS Enberg, Cross at Ind. (9/30/07) 4:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms vs. S.D. (10/7/07) 2:15 p.m. CBS Nantz, Simms vs. Pit. (10/21/07) 6:15 p.m. NBC Michaels, Madden, Kremer vs. G.B. (10/29/07) 6:40 p.m. ESPN Tirico, Jaworski, Kornheiser at Det. (11/4/07) 1 p.m. CBS Harlan, Gannon at K.C. (11/11/07) 12 p.m. CBS Gumbel, Dierdorf vs. Ten. (11/19/07) 6:30 p.m. ESPN Tirico, Jaworski, Kornheiser at Chi. (11/25/07) 3:15 p.m. CBS Gumbel, Dierdorf at Oak. (12/2/07) 1:05 p.m. CBS Macatee, Beuerlein vs. K.C. (12/9/07) 2:15 p.m. CBS Johnson, Tasker at Hou. (12/13/07) 6:15 p.m. NFLN Hammond, Collinsworth at S.D. (12/24/07) 5 p.m. ESPN Tirico, Jaworski, Kornheiser vs. Min. (12/30/07) 2:15 p.m. FOX Rosen, Ryan BRONCOS IN DIVISIONAL PLAY The Broncos have posted at least a.500 record in AFC West play for the last 12 seasons (since 1996) and 29 times in club history since the division was formed in 1970. BRONCOS 12-YEAR STREAK OF AT LEAST A.500 DIVISIONAL RECORD Year Home Away Overall 1996 4-0 2-2 6-2 1997 4-0 2-2 6-2 1998 4-0 4-0 8-0 1999 2-2 2-2 4-4 2000 3-1 3-1 6-2 2001 4-0 0-4 4-4 2002 2-1 1-2 3-3 2003 3-0 2-1 5-1 2004 2-1 1-2 3-3 2005 3-0 2-1 5-1 2006 2-1 1-2 3-3 2007 2-1 1-2 3-3 DENVER AT HOME VS. AFC WEST The Broncos 18-4 (.818) regular-season record at home in divisional play since they began playing games at INVESCO Field at Mile High in 2001 ties for the best such mark in the NFL. Under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.), the Broncos own a 37-9 (.804) regular-season record at home in divisional play that also ties for the best in the NFL during that period. BEST HOME RECORDS IN DIVISIONAL PLAY, NFL, 2001-PRESENT Team Record Pct. 1. Denver 18-4-0.818 New England 18-4-0.818 Seattle 18-4-0.818 4. Indianapolis 16-6-0.727 Kansas City 16-6-0.727 BEST HOME RECORDS IN DIVISIONAL PLAY, NFL, 1995-PRESENT Team Record Pct. 1. Denver 37-9-0.804 Green Bay 37-9-0.804 3. Kansas City 35-11-0.761 4. Minnesota 33-13-0.717 5. Dallas 32-14-0.696 FREE-AGENCY ERA SUCCESS (SINCE 1993) Since the league s current free-agent system began in 1993, the Broncos have been extremely successful. In fact, the team has the NFL s fourth-best record, 146-94 (.608), during this time. Below are the NFL s top teams since free agency began: NFL S WINNINGEST TEAMS SINCE FREE AGENCY BEGAN (1993) Playoff Super Bowl Team Record Berths Wins 1. Green Bay 152-88 (.633) 11 1 2. New England 150-90 (.625) 10 3 3. Pittsburgh 148-91-1 (.619) 10 1 4. Denver 146-94 (.608) 8 2 5. Kansas City 135-105 (.563) 6 0 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 31 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release TEAM NOTES INVESCO FIELD PROVIDES HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE Since moving into INVESCO Field at Mile High before the start of the 2001 season, the Broncos have compiled a 40-16 (.714) record at the stadium in regular-season action. The record includes a perfect 8-0 mark in 2005 that was part of the club s 13-game regularseason home winning streak. Denver s.714 winning percentage at INVESCO Field at Mile High ties for fifth in the NFL since 2001. BEST HOME RECORDS, NFL, 2001-PRESENT (REG. SEASON) Team Record Pct. 1. New England 45-11-0.803 2. Seattle 42-14-0.750 3. Indianapolis 41-15-0.732 4. Pittsburgh 41-14-1.741 5. Denver 40-16-0.714 Baltimore 40-16-0.714 7. Kansas City 36-20-0.643 8. St. Louis 34-22-0.607 THE NFL S BEST AT HOME SINCE 1995 The Broncos 79-25 record at home since 1995 under Head Coach Mike Shanahan accounts for a.760 winning percentage that is the league s best during that time. BEST HOME RECORDS, NFL, REGULAR SEASON, SINCE 1995 Team W L T Pct. 1. Denver 79 25 0.760 2. Green Bay 78 26 0.750 3. New England 74 30 0.712 4. Kansas City 73 31 0.702 5. Pittsburgh 72 31 1.697 6. Minnesota 71 33 0.683 BRONCOS RECORD AT HOME, REGULAR SEASON, SINCE 1995 Year W L T Pct. 1995 6 2 0.750 1996 8 0 0 1.000 1997 8 0 0 1.000 1998 8 0 0 1.000 1999 3 5 0.375 2000 6 2 0.750 2001 6 2 0.750 2002 5 3 0.625 2003 6 2 0.750 2004 6 2 0.750 2005 8 0 0.000 2006 4 4 0.500 2007 5 3 0.625 TOTALS 79 25 0.760 HOME, SWEET HOME The Broncos have amassed the NFL s best home record since 1974 in the regular season and postseason. Denver also has the most regular-season home victories in the league since 1974 and the most total victories during that time: TOP HOME RECORDS, NFL, 1974-PRES. Team Regular Season Postseason Total Pct. 1. Denver 196-68-1 (.742) 12-3 (.800) 208-71-1.745 2. Pittsburgh 187-75-1 (.713) 15-6 (.714) 202-81-1.713 3. Miami 178-83-1 (.682) 11-6 (.647) 189-89-1.679 4. Dallas 175-89-0 (.663) 14-5 (.737) 189-94-0.668 5. Washington 164-98-1 (.625) 10-1 (.909) 174-99-1.637 FIVE UNDEFEATED HOME SCHEDULES Denver has proven to provide one of the NFL s best homefield advantages as evidenced by the Broncos five undefeated home schedules. Four of Denver s five unbeaten home records have come under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Present). Denver went undefeated at home in three consecutive seasons under Shanahan from 1996-98 and was 8-0 at home in 1981. UNDEFEATED HOME SCHEDULES, BRONCOS HISTORY Year Home Record Overall Record 2005 8-0 13-3 1998 8-0 14-2 1997 8-0 12-4 1996 8-0 13-3 1981 8-0 10-6 Denver s five unbeaten home records are the most in the NFL since the league adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978. There have been 39 undefeated home records in the NFL during that time with the most recent being New England in 2007. MOST UNDEFEATED HOME RECORDS, NFL, SINCE 1978 (16-GAME SCHEDULE) Team Undefeated Home Records 1. Denver 5 2. Green Bay 3 Kansas City 3 New England 3 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 32 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release TEAM NOTES BRONCOS ON THE ROAD The Broncos are 11-10 (.524) in their last 21 road games dating back to 2005 and have the league s seventh-best road record (51-53) since 1995. BEST ROAD RECORDS, NFL, REGULAR SEASON, SINCE 1995 Team W L T Pct. 1. New England 61 43 0.587 2. Green Bay 56 48 0.538 Indianapolis 56 48 0.538 4. Pittsburgh 55 49 0.529 Tennessee 55 49 0.529 6. N.Y. Giants 51 52 1.495 7. Denver 51 53 0.490 BRONCOS RECORD ON THE ROAD, REGULAR SEASON, SINCE 1995 Year W L T Pct. 1995 2 6 0.250 1996 5 3 0.625 1997 4 4 0.500 1998 6 2 0.750 1999 3 5 0.375 2000 5 3 0.625 2001 2 6 0.250 2002 4 4 0.500 2003 4 4 0.500 2004 4 4 0.500 2005 5 3 0.625 2006 5 3 0.625 2007 2 6 0.250 TOTALS 51 53 0.490 STARTING OFF RIGHT AT HOME The Broncos have won 10 of their last 11 games at home in September with their lone loss during that period occurring against Jacksonville with a 23-14 defeat on Sept. 23. BRONCOS AT HOME IN SEPTEMBER, 2002-Present Date Opponent Result Sept. 8, 2002 St. Louis W, 23-16 Sept. 22, 2002 Buffalo W, 28-23 Sept. 22, 2003 Oakland W, 31-10 Sept. 28, 2003 Detroit W, 20-16 Sept. 12, 2004 Kansas City W, 34-24 Sept. 26, 2004 San Diego W, 23-13 Sept. 18, 2005 San Diego W, 20-17 Sept. 26, 2005 Kansas City W, 30-10 Sept. 17, 2006 Kansas City W, 9-6 OT Sept. 16, 2007 Oakland W, 23-20 OT Sept. 23, 2007 Jacksonville L, 23-14 THE NFL S BEST THROUGH THE FIRST MONTH The Broncos own the NFL s best record through the first month of the season during the last 11 years (1997-2007) with a 28-12-0 (.700) mark. Denver posted a 2-2 record through the first month of the 2007 season. TOP OPENING MONTH RECORDS, NFL, 1997-Pres. Team W L T Pct. 1. Denver 28 12 0.700 2. New England 24 12 0.667 3. Jacksonville 24 13 0.649 Indianapolis 24 13 0.649 5. Seattle 25 14 0.641 DENVER VS. NFC CLUBS Under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Present), the Broncos have compiled a 32-20 record (.615) in their 52 games played against NFC teams. The club faces the NFC South in 2008, playing vs. New Orleans (Sept. 21), vs. Tampa Bay (Oct. 5), at Atlanta (Nov. 16) and at Carolina (Dec. 14). The Broncos win percentage at home against NFC clubs since 1995 is.731 off a 19-7 record in those contests. On the road, Denver is 13-13 (.500) against NFC teams since 1995. DENVER S RECORD IN NFC PLAY, SINCE 1995 Year Division Overall Home Away Win Pct. 1995 NFC East 2-2 2-0 0-2.500 1996 NFC Central 3-1 2-0 1-1.750 1997 NFC West 3-1 2-0 1-1.750 1998 NFC East 3-1 2-0 1-1.750 1999 NFC Central 2-2 1-1 1-1.500 2000 NFC West 3-1 2-0 1-1.750 2001 NFC East 3-1 1-1 2-0.750 2002 NFC West 4-0 2-0 2-0 1.000 2003 NFC North 1-3 1-1 0-2.250 2004 NFC South 3-1 1-1 2-0.750 2005 NFC East 3-1 2-0 1-1.750 2006 NFC West 1-3 0-2 1-1.333 2007 NFC North 1-3 1-1 0-2.333 2008 NFC South TBD TBD TBD TBD TOTALS 32-20 19-7 13-13.615 INTERCONFERENCE RECORD The Broncos.556 winning percentage off a 78-62-2 record in interconference play since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger ranks as the fifth-best mark in the NFL. INTERCONFERENCE RECORDS SINCE 1970 MERGER Team Record Pct. 1. Miami 90-48-0.652 2. Oakland 87-55-1.612 3. Pittsburgh 82-53-1.607 4. Dallas 79-57-0.581 5. Denver 78-62-2.556 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 33 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release BEEN THERE, DONE THAT With five former NFL players serving as Denver coaches in 2008, the Broncos had a combined 51 years and 734 regular-season games of NFL playing experience on their coaching staff. Below are Denver s five coaches with previous NFL playing experience that give it one of the league s most knowledgeable staffs during the 2008 season. 2008 DENVER COACHES WITH NFL PLAYING EXPERIENCE Yrs. Gms. Years Coach Pos. Exp. Played Played Ronnie Bradford (DBs) DB 10 133 1993-95 Keith Burns (Spec. Teams Asst.) LB 13 197 1994-06 Rick Dennison (Off. Coord./OL) LB 9 128 1982-90 Jim Ryan (Linebackers) LB 10 150 1979-88 Steve Watson (Assoc. H.C.) WR 9 126 1979-87 TOTAL 51 734 ALL IN THE FAMILY Denver s 2008 coaching staff includes five individuals who once played for the team. 2008 DENVER COACHES WHO ONCE PLAYED FOR THE BRONCOS Gms. (Starts) Coach Pos. with Denver Years Ronnie Bradford (Defensive Backs) DB 26 (3) 1993-95 Started three games at cornerback for Denver during the 1993 season. Keith Burns (Spec. Teams Asst.) LB 166 (3) 94-98, 00-03, 05-06 Led or tied for the Broncos season lead in special-teams tackles seven times. Rick Dennison (Off. Coord/OL) LB 128 (52) 1982-90 Ranked second on the Broncos with 133 tackles in 1988. Jim Ryan (Linebackers) LB 150 (91) 1979-88 Led Denver with 125 tackles in 1987 and was on two Super Bowl teams. Steve Watson (Assoc. H.C.) WR 126 (87) 1979-87 Posted three 1,000-yard seasons for Denver and had 16 100-yard games. TEAM NOTES DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 34 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release CB CHAMP BAILEY CAREER INTERCEPTIONS, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) INTs 1. Steve Foley, 1976-1986 44 2. Goose Gonsoulin, 1960-1966 43 3. Billy Thompson, 1969-1981 40 4. Tyrone Braxton, 1987-93; 95-99 34 5. Mike Harden, 1980-1988 33 6. Dennis Smith, 1981-1994 30 7. Louis Wright, 1975-1986 26 8t. Champ Bailey, 2004-Pres. 24 8t. Steve Atwater, 1989-1998 24 10t. Randy Gradishar, 1974-1983 20 10t. Tom Jackson, 1973-1986 20 12t. Ray Crockett, 1994-2000 17 12t. Charlie Greer, 1968-1974 17 14. Steve Wilson, 1982-1988 16 15t. Willie Brown, 1963-1966 15 15t. Deltha O'Neal, 2000-2003 15 CAREER INT RETURN YDS., BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Yds. 1. Billy Thompson, 1969-1981 784 2. Mike Harden, 1980-1988 643 3. Steve Foley, 1976-1986 622 4. Tyrone Braxton, 1987-93; 95-99 614 5. Goose Gonsoulin, 1960-1966 542 6. Dennis Smith, 1981-1994 431 7. Steve Atwater, 1989-1998 408 8. Louis Wright, 1975-1986 360 9. Tom Jackson, 1973-1986 340 10. Randy Gradishar, 1974-1983 335 11. Champ Bailey, 2004-Pres. 304 CAREER INTS FOR TDS, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) TDs 1t. Tyrone Braxton, 1987-93; 95-99 4 1t. Mike Harden, 1980-1988 4 3t. Champ Bailey, 2004-Pres. 3 3t. Randy Gradishar, 1974-1983 3 3t. Tom Jackson, 1973-86 3 3t. Billy Thompson, 1969-1981 3 3t. Nemiah Wilson, 1965-67 3 RECORDS WATCH 2008 DENVER BRONCOS RECORDS UPDATE (as of 2008 Preseason) QB JAY CUTLER CAREER PASSING YARDS, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Yds. 1. John Elway, 1983-98 51,475 2. Craig Morton, 1977-82 11,895 3. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 11,763 4. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 11,631 5. Frank Tripucka, 1960-63 7,676 6. Charley Johnson, 1972-75 7,238 7. Steve Ramsey, 1971-76 6,437 8. Steve Tensi, 1967-70 5,153 9. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 4,498 10. Steve DeBerg, 1981-83 3,819 CAREER PASSING ATTEMPTS, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Att. 1. John Elway, 1983-98 7,250 2. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 1,678 3. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 1,596 4. Craig Morton, 1977-82 1,594 5. Frank Tripucka, 1960-63 1,277 6. Charley Johnson, 1972-75 970 7. Steve Ramsey, 1971-76 919 8. Steve Tensi, 1967-70 810 9. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 604 10. Mickey Slaughter, 1963-66 584 CAREER PASS COMPLETIONS, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Comp. 1. John Elway, 1983-98 4,123 2. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 1,044 3. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 944 4. Craig Morton, 1977-82 907 5. Frank Tripucka, 1960-63 662 6. Charley Johnson, 1972-75 517 7. Steve Ramsey, 1971-76 456 8. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 378 9. Steve Tensi, 1967-70 348 10. Steve DeBerg, 1981-83 314 CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASSES, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) TDs 1. John Elway, 1983-98 300 2. Craig Morton, 1977-82 74 3t. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 71 3t. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 71 5. Charley Johnson, 1972-75 52 6. Frank Tripucka, 1960-63 51 7. Steve Tensi, 1967-70 38 8. Steve Ramsey, 1971-76 35 9. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 29 10. Mickey Slaughter, 1963-66 23 CAREER 300-YARD GAMES, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Gms. 1. John Elway, 1983-98 40 2. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 12 3. Frank Tripucka, 1960-63 5 4t. Charley Johnson, 1972-75 4 4t. Craig Morton, 1977-82 4 6t. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 3 6t. Steve DeBerg, 1981-83 3 8. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 2 9t. Gus Frerotte, 2000-01 1 9t. Jacky Lee, 1964-65 1 9t. John McCormick, 1963-66, 68 1 9t. Marlin Briscoe, 1968 1 9t. Steve Tensi, 1967-70 1 CAREER RUSHING YDS. BY A QB, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Yds. 1. John Elway, 1983-98 3,407 2. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 670 3. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 516 4. Norris Weese, 1976-79 362 5. Mickey Slaughter, 1963-66 266 6. Craig Morton, 1977-82 256 7. Gary Kubiak, 1983-91 238 8. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 223 CAREER WINS AS A STARTER, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Wins 1. John Elway, 1983-98 148 2. Craig Morton, 1977-82 41 3. Jake Plummer, 2003-06 39 4. Brian Griese, 1998-2002 27 5. Charley Johnson, 1972-75 20 6t. Steve Ramsey, 1971-76 14 6t. Frank Tripucka, 1960-63 14 8. Jay Cutler, 2006-Pres. 9 9. Steve Tensi, 1967-70 7 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 35 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
broncos 2008 weekly release WR BRANDON MARSHALL CAREER RECEIVING YARDS, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Yds. 1. Rod Smith, 1995-2007 11,389 2. Shannon Sharpe, 1990-99, 02-03 8,439 3. Lionel Taylor, 1960-66 6,872 4. Ed McCaffrey, 1995-2003 6,200 5. Steve Watson, 1979-87 6,112 6. Riley Odoms, 1972-83 5,755 7. Vance Johnson, 1985-95 5,695 8. Haven Moses, 1972-81 5,450 9. Mark Jackson, 1986-92 4,746 10. Rick Upchurch, 1975-83 4,369 11. Al Denson, 1964-70 4,150 12. Ashley Lelie, 2002-05 3,007 13. Anthony Miller, 1994-96 2,921 14. Bob Scarpitto, 1962-67 2,439 15. Floyd Little, 1967-75 2,418 16. Steve Sewell, 1985-91 2,354 17. Clarence Kay, 1984-92 2,136 18. Ricky Nattiel, 1987-92 1,972 19. Gerald Willhite, 1982-88 1,767 20. Dwayne Carswell, 1994-2005 1,707 21. Bill Van Heusen, 1968-76 1,684 22. Brandon Marshall, 2006-Pres. 1,634 CAREER RECEPTIONS, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) Yds. 1. Rod Smith, 1995-2006 849 2. Shannon Sharpe, 1990-99, 02-03 675 3. Lionel Taylor, 1960-66 543 4. Ed McCaffrey, 1995-2003 462 5. Vance Johnson, 1985-95 415 6. Riley Odoms, 1972-83 396 7. Steve Watson, 1979-87 353 8.. Haven Moses, 1972-81 302 9. Mark Jackson, 1986-92 276 10. Rick Upchurch, 1975-83 267 11. Al Denson, 1964-70 250 12. Floyd Little, 1967-75 215 13. Gerald Willhite, 1982-88 207 14. Sammy Winder, 1982-90 197 15. Clarence Kay, 1984-92 193 16. Dwayne Carswell, 1994-2005 192 17. Steve Sewell, 1985-91 187 18. Anthony Miller, 1994-96 175 19. Terrell Davis, 1995-2002 169 20. Ashley Lelie, 2002-05 168 21. Dave Preston, 1978-83 161 22. Bob Scarpitto, 1962-67 145 23. Jon Keyworth, 1974-80 141 24. Glyn Milburn, 1993-95 137 25. Otis Armstrong, 1973-80 131 26. Brandon Marshall, 2006-Pres. 122 RECORDS WATCH C TOM NALEN CAREER GAMES PLAYED, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) No. 1. Jason Elam, 1993-2007 236 2. John Elway, 1983-98 234 3. Tom Nalen, 1994-Pres. 194 4. Tom Jackson, 1973-86 191 5. Paul Howard, 1973-86 187 6. Dennis Smith, 1981-94 184 7. Rod Smith, 1995-Pres. 183 8. Barney Chavous, 1973-85 182 9. Karl Mecklenburg, 1983-94 180 10. Bill Thompson, 1969-81 179 CAREER GAMES STARTED, BRONCOS Rk. Player (Yrs.) No. 1. John Elway, 1983-98 231 2. Tom Nalen, 1994-Pres. 188 3. Bill Thompson, 1969-81 178 4t. Barney Chavous, 1973-85 177 4t. Tom Jackson, 1973-86 177 6. Dennis Smith, 1981-94 170 7. Ken Lanier, 1981-92, 94 165 8. Louis Wright, 1975-86 163 9. Rod Smith, 1995-Pres. 158 10. Steve Atwater, 1989-98 155 11t. Billy Bryan, 1977-88 151 11t. Rubin Carter, 1975-86 151 DENVER VS. GREEN BAY 36 FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON TEAM STATISTICS (1-1) Date W-L Score OT Opponent Attendance 08/09 L 16-19 at Houston 70,020 08/16 W 23-13 Dallas 74,484 08/22 Green Bay 08/29 at Arizona Denver Opponent Total First Downs 39 37 Rushing 13 12 Passing 19 23 Penalty 7 2 3rd Down: Made/Att 10/27 10/25 3rd Down Pct. 37.0 40.0 4th Down: Made/Att 2/2 0/3 4th Down Pct. 100.0 0.0 Possession Avg. 31:44 28:16 Total Net Yards 630 643 Avg. Per Game 315.0 321.5 Total Plays 121 120 Avg. Per Play 5.2 5.4 Net Yards Rushing 224 210 Avg. Per Game 112.0 105.0 Total Rushes 58 56 Net Yards Passing 406 433 Avg. Per Game 203.0 216.5 Sacked/Yards Lost 1/2 4/12 Gross Yards 408 445 Att./Completions 62/43 60/40 Completion Pct. 69.4 66.7 Had Intercepted 2 1 Punts/Average 7/44.0 6/43.7 Net Punting Avg. 7/36.0 6/41.7 Penalties/Yards 18/116 12/115 Fumbles/Ball Lost 1/0 2/1 Touchdowns 3 2 Rushing 2 0 Passing 1 2 Returns 0 0 Score By Periods Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT PTS Team 14 7 6 12 0 39 Opponents 3 17 6 6 0 32 Rushing No. Yds Avg Long TD Hall 15 67 4.5 14 1 Pittman 21 54 2.6 8 0 Young 13 39 3.0 9 0 Alridge 4 20 5.0 19 0 Hackney 1 16 16.0 16 0 Cutler 1 15 15.0 15t 1 Scheffler 1 12 12.0 12 0 D. Jackson 2 1 0.5 2 0 Team 58 224 3.9 19 2 Opponents 56 210 3.8 16 0 Receiving No. Yds Avg Long TD Marshall 8 68 8.5 18 1 Royal 4 80 20.0 35 0 Scheffler 4 55 13.8 38 0 Stokley 3 34 11.3 15 0 Russell 3 28 9.3 19 0 N. Jackson 3 21 7.0 10 0 Alridge 3 20 6.7 12 0 Young 3 17 5.7 15 0 Colbert 2 30 15.0 28 0 Sapp 2 12 6.0 10 0 Pittman 2 10 5.0 6 0 D. Jackson 1 14 14.0 14 0 Parker 1 9 9.0 9 0 Graham 1 7 7.0 7 0 Martinez 1 3 3.0 3 0 Hall 1 0 0.0 0 0 Hillis 1 0 0.0 0 0 Team 43 408 9.5 38 1 Opponents 40 445 11.1 41 2 Interceptions No. Yds Avg Long TD J. Williams 1 34 34.0 34 0 Team 1 34 34.0 34 0 Opponents 2 64 32.0 34 0 Punting No. Yds Avg Net TB In Lg B Kern 3 157 52.3 33.3 1 0 63 1 Paulescu 3 151 50.3 39.7 0 1 57 0 Team 7 308 44.0 36.0 1 1 63 1 Opponents 6 262 43.7 41.7 0 1 58 0 Punt Returns Ret FC Yds Avg Long TD Martinez 2 1 8 4.0 6 0 Royal 1 1 4 4.0 4 0 Team 3 2 12 4.0 6 0 Opponents 4 0 36 9.0 24 0 Scoring TD Rush Rec Ret K-PAT FG S PTS Prater 0 0 0 0 3/3 6/8 0 21 Cutler 1 1 0 0 0 6 Hall 1 1 0 0 0 6 Marshall 1 0 1 0 0 6 Team 3 2 1 0 3/3 6/8 0 39 Opponents 2 0 2 0 2/2 6/6 0 32 2-Pt. Conversions: Team 0-0, Opponents 0-0 Sacks: Beck 1, Dumervil 1, Morton 1, Peterson 1, Team 4, Opponents 1 FUM/Lost: Alridge 1/0 Kickoff Returns No. Yds Avg Long TD Hall 3 72 24.0 32 0 Royal 2 48 24.0 27 0 Russell 2 49 24.5 25 0 Alridge 1 23 23.0 23 0 Team 8 192 24.0 32 0 Opponents 7 192 27.4 39 0 Field Goals 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Prater 1/1 2/2 2/3 1/2 0/0 Team 1/1 2/2 2/3 1/2 0/0 Opponents 0/0 4/4 0/0 1/1 1/1 Prater: (30N,38G,31G,26G)(49N,29G,19G,43G) Team: (30N,38G,31G,26G)(49N,29G,19G,43G) Opponents: (23G,52G,23G,25G)(42G,29G) Passing Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD TD% Int Int% Long Sack/Lost Rating Cutler 30 24 237 80.0 7.90 1 3.3 0 0.0 35 0/0 110.7 Ramsey 24 14 99 58.3 4.13 0 0.0 2 8.3 28 0/0 33.2 Hackney 8 5 72 62.5 9.00 0 0.0 0 0.0 38 1/2 91.7 Team 62 43 408 69.4 6.58 1 1.6 2 3.2 38 1/2 79.2 Opponents 60 40 445 66.7 7.42 2 3.3 1 1.7 41 4/12 92.7
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON DEFENSIVE STATISTICS (1-1) (based on press box statistics) PLAYER TT UT A S Yds. I Yds. PD FF FR 1 Woodyard 13 12 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Barrett 9 5 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Foxworth 9 9 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Winborn 7 5 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 5 Beck 6 6 0 1.0 5.0 0 0 0 0 0 Morton 6 6 0 1.0 7.0 0 0 0 1 0 7 Larsen 5 2 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 McCree 5 3 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 Peterson 5 4 1 1.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 10 Ekuban 4 3 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Paymah 4 3 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Reid 4 4 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Webster 4 4 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 14 Carrington 3 3 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Rogers 3 3 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Williams, D. 3 3 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 Williams, J. 3 2 1 0.0 0.0 1 32 1 0 0 18 Dumervil 2 2 0 1.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Koutouvides 2 2 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Manuel 2 2 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Moss 2 1 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Poole 2 1 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Vaughn 2 1 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 24 Abdullah 1 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Birdine 1 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Bly 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Engelberger 1 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 McKinley 1 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Robertson 1 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Thomas 1 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 TEAM 112 92 20 4.0 12.0 1 32 5 1 0 SPECIAL TEAMS STATISTICS (based on press box statistics) PLAYER TT UT A FF FR BK BP TD 1 Russell 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Carrington 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Larsen 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mallard 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Morton 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paulescu 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paymah 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Williams, J. 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Woodyard 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 Sapp 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 TEAM 10 10 0 0 1 0 0 0 SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLES BREAKDOWN TOTAL KICK PUNT PLAYER TT UT A TT UT A TT UT A 1 Russell 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 Carrington 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Larsen 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Mallard 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Morton 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Paulescu 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Paymah 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Williams, J. 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Woodyard 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 TEAM 10 10 0 7 7 0 3 3 0 MIS. TACKLES: D. Jackson 1, Sapp 1. MIS. FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Polumbus 1. MIS. FORCED FUMBLES: None. DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS: None. TWO-POINT CONVERSION STOPS: None. BLOCKED PUNTS: None. BLOCKED KICKS: None.
GREEN BAY PACKERS 2008 PRESEASON TEAM STATISTICS (0-2) Date W-L Score OT Opponent Attendance 08/11 L 17-20 Cincinnati 69,675 08/16 L 6-34 at San Francisco 67,230 08/22 at Denver 08/28 Tennessee Green Bay Opponent Total First Downs 32 33 Rushing 8 11 Passing 21 18 Penalty 3 4 3rd Down: Made/Att 10/31 12/33 3rd Down Pct. 32.3 36.4 4th Down: Made/Att 2/3 1/1 4th Down Pct. 66.7 100.0 Possession Avg. 30:14 29:47 Total Net Yards 565 596 Avg. Per Game 282.5 298.0 Total Plays 138 130 Avg. Per Play 4.1 4.6 Net Yards Rushing 213 241 Avg. Per Game 106.5 120.5 Total Rushes 45 68 Net Yards Passing 352 355 Avg. Per Game 176.0 177.5 Sacked/Yards Lost 9/56 1/0 Gross Yards 408 355 Att./Completions 84/47 61/29 Completion Pct. 56.0 47.5 Had Intercepted 2 2 Punts/Average 14/43.6 13/38.7 Net Punting Avg. 14/33.2 13/35.0 Penalties/Yards 16/153 9/50 Fumbles/Ball Lost 6/4 1/0 Touchdowns 2 6 Rushing 0 3 Passing 2 2 Returns 0 1 Score By Periods Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT PTS Team 13 0 3 7 0 23 Opponents 0 31 10 13 0 54 Rushing No. Yds Avg Long TD Lumpkin 17 87 5.1 21 0 Jackson 9 54 6.0 22 0 Herron 10 52 5.2 14 0 Wynn 4 10 2.5 6 0 Flynn 1 5 5.0 5 0 Rodgers 1 3 3.0 3 0 Brohm 2 1 0.5 1 0 Morency 1 1 1.0 1 0 Team 45 213 4.7 22 0 Opponents 68 241 3.5 14 3 Receiving No. Yds Avg Long TD Driver 7 54 7.7 12 0 Nelson 4 45 11.3 22 0 Jones 4 44 11.0 30t 1 Quinn 3 28 9.3 13 0 J. Allen 3 26 8.7 10 0 Lumpkin 3 26 8.7 11t 1 Herron 3 17 5.7 8 0 Martin 2 40 20.0 30 0 Smith 2 23 11.5 12 0 Finley 2 17 8.5 9 0 D. Lee 2 17 8.5 13 0 Haynos 2 16 8.0 11 0 Francies 2 12 6.0 6 0 Swain 2 10 5.0 7 0 Moore 2 7 3.5 4 0 Humphrey 2 6 3.0 6 0 Morency 1 20 20.0 20 0 Jackson 1 0 0.0 0 0 Team 47 408 8.7 30t 2 Opponents 29 355 12.2 59t 2 Interceptions No. Yds Avg Long TD Woodson 1 11 11.0 11 0 Rouse 1 0 0.0 0 0 Team 2 11 5.5 11 0 Opponents 2 7 3.5 5 0 Punting No. Yds Avg Net TB In Lg B Ryan 14 611 43.6 33.2 3 5 56 0 Team 14 611 43.6 33.2 3 5 56 0 Opponents 13 503 38.7 35.0 0 4 53 0 Punt Returns Ret FC Yds Avg Long TD Blackmon 4 0 17 4.3 7 0 Nelson 4 1 31 7.8 16 0 Team 8 1 48 6.0 16 0 Opponents 7 1 86 12.3 67t 1 Scoring TD Rush Rec Ret K-PAT FG S PTS Crosby 0 0 0 0 2/2 3/3 0 11 Jones 1 0 1 0 0 6 Lumpkin 1 0 1 0 0 6 Team 2 0 2 0 2/2 3/3 0 23 Opponents 6 3 2 1 6/6 4/4 0 54 2-Pt. Conversions: Team 0-0, Opponents 0-0 Sacks: Hunter 1, Team 1, Opponents 9 FUM/Lost: Flynn 2/1, Brohm 1/1, Lumpkin 1/1, Moore 1/1, Woodson 1/0 Kickoff Returns No. Yds Avg Long TD Jackson 3 49 16.3 19 0 T. Williams 3 62 20.7 27 0 Nelson 2 114 57.0 58 0 Blackmon 1 18 18.0 18 0 P. Lee 1 33 33.0 33 0 Team 10 276 27.6 58 0 Opponents 3 55 18.3 20 0 Field Goals 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Crosby 0/0 0/0 2/2 1/1 0/0 Team 0/0 0/0 2/2 1/1 0/0 Opponents 0/0 0/0 2/2 2/2 0/0 Crosby: (37G)(31G,49G) Team: (37G)(31G,49G) Opponents: (43G,32G)(49G,30G) Passing Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD TD% Int Int% Long Sack/Lost Rating Rodgers 31 18 175 58.1 5.65 1 3.2 1 3.2 30t 6/35 71.3 Flynn 27 17 130 63.0 4.81 1 3.7 0 0.0 13 3/21 87.0 Brohm 26 12 103 46.2 3.96 0 0.0 1 3.8 22 0/0 41.0 Team 84 47 408 56.0 4.86 2 2.4 2 2.4 30t 9/56 67.0 Opponents 61 29 355 47.5 5.82 2 3.3 2 3.3 59t 1/0 63.2
DENVER BRONCOS 2007 FINAL REGULAR-SEASON TEAM STATISTICS (7-9) Date W-L Score OT Opponent Attendance 09/09 W 15-14 at Buffalo 71,132 09/16 W 23-20 OT Oakland 76,784 09/23 L 14-23 Jacksonville 76,463 09/30 L 20-38 at Indianapolis 57,274 10/07 L 3-41 San Diego 76,879 10/21 W 31-28 Pittsburgh 77,038 10/29 L 13-19 OT Green Bay 77,160 11/04 L 7-44 at Detroit 60,783 11/11 W 27-11 at Kansas City 77,368 11/19 W 34-20 Tennessee 76,590 11/25 L 34-37 OT at Chicago 62,148 12/02 L 20-34 at Oakland 61,990 12/09 W 41-7 Kansas City 75,895 12/13 L 13-31 at Houston 70,747 12/24 L 3-23 at San Diego 65,477 12/30 W 22-19 OT Minnesota 76,084 Denver Opponent Total First Downs 305 306 Rushing 96 119 Passing 187 168 Penalty 22 19 3rd Down: Made/Att 80/198 91/213 3rd Down Pct. 40.4 42.7 4th Down: Made/Att 7/22 10/13 4th Down Pct. 31.8 76.9 Possession Avg. 29:09 30:51 Total Net Yards 5541 5376 Avg. Per Game 346.3 336.0 Total Plays 976 992 Avg. Per Play 5.7 5.4 Net Yards Rushing 1957 2282 Avg. Per Game 122.3 142.6 Total Rushes 429 501 Net Yards Passing 3584 3094 Avg. Per Game 224.0 193.4 Sacked/Yards Lost 32/175 33/203 Gross Yards 3759 3297 Att./Completions 515/326 458/279 Completion Pct. 63.3 60.9 Had Intercepted 15 14 Punts/Average 60/43.8 60/43.9 Net Punting Avg. 60/36.3 60/38.7 Penalties/Yards 90/610 82/628 Fumbles/Ball Lost 30/14 34/16 Touchdowns 34 46 Rushing 10 14 Passing 21 25 Returns 3 7 Score By Periods Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT PTS Team 75 89 94 56 6 320 Opponents 68 103 114 115 9 409 Scoring TD Rush Rec Ret K-PAT FG S PTS Elam 0 0 0 0 33/33 27/31 0 114 Marshall 7 0 7 0 0 42 Scheffler 5 0 5 0 0 30 Stokley 5 0 5 0 0 30 Henry 4 4 0 0 0 24 Sapp 3 2 1 0 0 18 Graham 2 0 2 0 0 12 Hall 2 2 0 0 0 12 Crowder 1 0 0 1 0 6 Cutler 1 1 0 0 0 6 Jackson 1 0 1 0 0 6 Jacobs LG 1 0 1 0 0 6 Martinez 1 0 0 1 0 6 Webster 1 0 0 1 0 6 Young 1 1 0 0 0 6 Prater LG 0 0 0 0 1/1 1/4 0 4 Team 34 10 21 3 33/33 27/31 1 320 Opponents 46 14 25 7 42/42 27/33 2 409 2-Pt. Conversions: Team 0-1, Opponents 3-3 Sacks: Dumervil 12.5, Crowder 4, Mallard LG 3.5, Mallard TM 3.5, McKinley 2.5, Gold 2, (group) 2, Bly 1, Engelberger 1, Lynch 1, Moss 1, Peterson 1, Williams 1, Winborn 0.5, Team 33, Opponents 32 FUM/Lost: Cutler 11/4, Henry 3/1, Marshall 3/1, Martinez 3/1, Clark (TM) 2/2, Ramsey 2/1, Young 2/1, Bell 1/1, Hall 1/0, Hixon (TM) 1/1, Scheffler 1/1 Rushing No. Yds Avg Long TD Young 140 729 5.2 50 1 Henry 167 691 4.1 33 4 Hall 44 216 4.9 62t 2 Cutler 44 205 4.7 31 1 Sapp 18 59 3.3 12 2 Marshall 5 57 11.4 24 0 Ramsey 2 6 3.0 4 0 Bell 6 3 0.5 3 0 Walker 2-3 -1.5-1 0 Stokley 1-6 -6.0-6 0 Jacobs LG 1-8 -8.0-8 0 Team 429 1957 4.6 62t 10 Opponents 501 2282 4.6 74t 14 Receiving No. Yds Avg Long TD Marshall 102 1325 13.0 68t 7 Scheffler 49 549 11.2 41 5 Stokley 40 635 15.9 58 5 Young 35 231 6.6 24 0 Walker 26 287 11.0 24 0 Graham 24 246 10.3 28 2 Martinez 14 175 12.5 23 0 Sapp 14 51 3.6 16 1 Henry 7 65 9.3 21 0 Mustard 5 62 12.4 15 0 Clark TM 4 23 5.8 7 0 Jacobs LG 3 40 13.3 21t 1 Jackson 3 34 11.3 24 1 Hall 2 69 34.5 65 0 Bell 1 7 7.0 7 0 Team 326 3759 11.5 68t 21 Opponents 279 3297 11.8 82t 25 Interceptions No. Yds Avg Long TD Bly 5 71 14.2 37 0 Bailey 3 3 1.0 3 0 Paymah 2 0 0.0 0 0 Dumervil 1 27 27.0 27 0 Gold 1 6 6.0 6 0 Williams 1 0 0.0 0 0 Thomas 1-2 -2.0-2 0 Team 14 105 7.5 37 0 Opponents 15 229 15.3 66t 2 Punting No. Yds Avg Net TB In Lg B Sauerbrun 47 2200 46.8 36.1 6 14 65 2 Ernster LG 12 434 36.2 35.6 0 3 59 0 Ernster TM 5 178 35.6 35.6 0 1 59 0 Paulescu 5 221 44.2 40.0 0 1 51 0 Elam 1 31 31.0 31.0 0 1 31 0 Team 60 2630 43.8 36.3 6 17 65 2 Opponents 60 2633 43.9 38.7 5 26 63 1 Punt Returns Ret FC Yds Avg Long TD Martinez 14 12 157 11.2 80t 1 Hixon TM 7 5 32 4.6 14 0 Bly 2 0 20 10.0 10 0 Team 23 17 209 9.1 80t 1 Opponents 31 3 334 10.8 75t 2 Kickoff Returns No. Yds Avg Long TD Hall 19 475 25.0 34 0 Martinez 15 330 22.0 35 0 Hixon TM 12 274 22.8 35 0 Clark TM 3 70 23.3 26 0 Jacobs LG 3 35 11.7 15 0 Jacobs TM 3 35 11.7 15 0 Young 3 56 18.7 25 0 Sapp 2 30 15.0 22 0 Bly 1 23 23.0 23 0 Team 58 1293 22.3 35 0 Opponents 62 1424 23.0 88t 1 Field Goals 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Elam 0/0 11/11 6/6 9/12 1/2 Prater LG 0/0 0/1 0/0 1/3 0/0 Team 0/0 11/11 6/6 9/12 1/2 Opponents 3/3 8/8 8/9 6/7 2/6 Elam: (21G,48G,50N,43N,42G)(23G,45N,20G,23G)() (35G,22G) (30G) (49G)(45G,21G)(48N)(44G,50G) (21G,39G) (23G,22G) (29G,44G)(37G,37G)(41G,47G) (23G)(43G,30G) Opponents: (45N)(38G,52N)(19G,27G,18G)(22G) (26G,45G) (65N) (19G,26G) (43G,53G,38G)(38G,36G, 39G,53N)(56G,37G)(24G,44G,39G)(58N,38G,35N, 44G)()(41G)(40G,23G,29G)(22G) Passing Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD TD% Int Int% Long Sack/Lost Rating Cutler 467 297 3497 63.6 7.49 20 4.3 14 3.0 68t 27/153 88.1 Ramsey 48 29 262 60.4 5.46 1 2.1 1 2.1 21 3/13 73.4 Marshall 0 0 0 --- --- 0 --- 0 --- --- 2/9 --- Team 515 326 3759 63.3 7.30 21 4.1 15 2.9 68t 32/175 86.7 Opponents 458 279 3297 60.9 7.20 25 5.5 14 3.1 82t 33/203 88.3
DENVER BRONCOS 2007 FINAL REGULAR-SEASON DEFENSIVE STATISTICS (7-9) (based on coaches' film review) PLAYER TT UT A S Yds. I Yds. PD FF FR 1 Williams 170 121 49 1.0 14.0 1 0 4 3 2 2 Webster 100 77 23 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 1 1 3 Bailey 81 68 13 0.0 0.0 3 3 14 0 0 Gold 81 62 19 2.0 8.0 1 6 8 1 2 5 Lynch 62 48 14 1.0 11.0 0 0 3 0 0 6 Engelberger 59 40 19 1.0 8.0 0 0 2 1 0 7 Bly 57 42 15 1.0 11.0 5 71 16 0 0 Ferguson 57 45 12 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 9 Dumervil 56 43 13 12.5 62.5 1 27 7 4 3 10 Abdullah 48 40 8 0.0 0.0 0 0 7 1 1 11 Foxworth 42 32 10 0.0 0.0 0 0 4 1 0 12 Thomas 30 17 13 0.0 0.0 1-2 1 0 1 13 McKinley 28 16 12 2.5 12.5 0 0 0 0 0 14 Winborn 24 21 3 0.5 4.5 0 0 3 0 0 15 Crowder 22 18 4 4.0 39.0 0 0 0 1 2 16 Mallard 20 15 5 3.5 7.5 0 0 1 1 0 17 Adams 17 8 9 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 18 Gordon 16 9 7 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 19 Paymah 15 14 1 0.0 0.0 2 0 6 0 0 20 Moss 14 7 7 1.0 7.0 0 0 0 1 0 21 Peterson 13 10 3 1.0 8.0 0 0 2 0 0 22 Rice 11 6 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 2 0 0 23 Shoate 9 7 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 24 Burton 8 5 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 25 Harris 6 2 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 26 Cox 4 2 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 27 Team 2 2 0 2.0 10.0 0 0 0 0 0 TEAM 1052 777 275 33.0 203.0 14 105 83 17 14 SPECIAL TEAMS STATISTICS (based on press box statistics) PLAYER TT UT A FF FR BK BP TD 1 Winborn 11 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Beck 10 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 Green 9 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 Paymah 8 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 Cargile 7 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 6 Leach 6 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 Sapp 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Bailey 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foxworth 5 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 Hall 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 Jackson 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jacobs 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 Cox 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Smith, P. 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 Bell 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Clark 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ferguson 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 Hixon 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Johnson 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Scheffler 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 21 Abdullah 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Webster 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 23 Martinez 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 TEAM 100 86 14 2 3 0 1 0 SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLES BREAKDOWN TOTAL KICK PUNT PLAYER TT UT A TT UT A TT UT A 1 Winborn 11 10 1 7 6 1 4 4 0 2 Beck 10 8 2 8 6 2 2 2 0 3 Green 9 9 0 8 8 0 1 1 0 4 Paymah 8 7 1 5 4 1 3 3 0 5 Cargile 7 6 1 5 5 0 2 1 1 6 Leach 6 5 1 0 0 0 6 5 1 Sapp 6 6 0 4 4 0 2 2 0 8 Bailey 5 5 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 Foxworth 5 2 3 4 1 3 1 1 0 Hall 5 5 0 2 2 0 3 3 0 11 Jackson 4 4 0 3 3 0 1 1 0 Jacobs 4 3 1 2 1 1 2 2 0 13 Cox 3 3 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 Smith, P. 3 3 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 15 Bell 2 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 Clark 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 Ferguson 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 Hixon 2 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 Johnson 2 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 Scheffler 2 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 21 Abdullah 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 Webster 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 TEAM 100 86 14 68 57 11 32 29 3 MIS. TACKLES: Marshall 7, Holland 3, Cutler 2, Kuper 2, Scheffler 2, DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS: Crowder (FR vs. Pit., 10/21), Stokley 2, Team 2, Graham 1, Henry 1, Pears 1, Sapp 1. Webster (FR at K.C., 11/11). MIS. FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Cutler 3, Hall 2, Lepsis 2, Marshall 2, TWO-POINT CONVERSION STOPS: None. Henry 1, Ramsey 1, Young 1. BLOCKED PUNTS: Scheffler (vs. S.D. 10/7). MIS. FORCED FUMBLES: Pears 1. BLOCKED KICKS: None.
GREEN BAY PACKERS 2007 FINAL REGULAR-SEASON TEAM STATISTICS (13-3) Date W-L Score OT Opponent Attendance 09/09 W 16-13 Philadelphia 70,598 09/16 W 35-13 at New York Giants 78,701 09/23 W 31-24 San Diego 70,733 09/30 W 23-16 at Minnesota 63,779 10/07 L 20-27 Chicago 70,904 10/14 W 17-14 Washington 70,761 10/29 W 19-13 OT at Denver 77,160 11/04 W 33-22 at Kansas City 78,988 11/11 W 34-0 Minnesota 70,945 11/18 W 31-17 Carolina 70,805 11/22 W 37-26 at Detroit 63,257 11/29 L 27-37 at Dallas 64,167 12/09 W 38-7 Oakland 70,828 12/16 W 33-14 at St. Louis 66,008 12/23 L 7-35 at Chicago 62,272 12/30 W 34-13 Detroit 70,869 Green Bay Opponent Total First Downs 307 297 Rushing 69 77 Passing 210 176 Penalty 28 44 3rd Down: Made/Att 86/202 69/209 3rd Down Pct. 42.6 33.0 4th Down: Made/Att 5/11 9/24 4th Down Pct. 45.5 37.5 Possession Avg. 30:19 29:41 Total Net Yards 5931 5013 Avg. Per Game 370.7 313.3 Total Plays 985 994 Avg. Per Play 6.0 5.0 Net Yards Rushing 1597 1647 Avg. Per Game 99.8 102.9 Total Rushes 388 424 Net Yards Passing 4334 3366 Avg. Per Game 270.9 210.4 Sacked/Yards Lost 19/127 36/218 Gross Yards 4461 3584 Att./Completions 578/383 534/295 Completion Pct. 66.3 55.2 Had Intercepted 15 19 Punts/Average 62/43.0 80/42.5 Net Punting Avg. 62/37.6 80/33.8 Penalties/Yards 113/1006 118/908 Fumbles/Ball Lost 25/9 17/9 Touchdowns 49 31 Rushing 13 6 Passing 30 23 Returns 6 2 Score By Periods Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT PTS Team 86 128 112 103 6 435 Opponents 56 102 57 76 0 291 Scoring TD Rush Rec Ret K-PAT FG S PTS Crosby 0 0 0 0 48/48 31/39 0 141 Jennings 12 0 12 0 0 72 Grant 8 8 0 0 0 48 Lee 6 0 6 0 0 36 Martin 4 0 4 0 0 24 Wynn 4 4 0 0 0 24 Franks 3 0 3 0 0 18 Blackmon 2 0 0 2 0 12 Driver 2 0 2 0 0 12 J. Jones 2 0 2 0 0 12 Woodson 2 0 0 2 0 12 Jackson 1 1 0 0 0 6 Robinson 1 0 1 0 0 6 T. White 1 0 0 1 0 6 T. Williams 1 0 0 1 0 6 Team 49 13 30 6 48/48 31/39 0 435 Opponents 31 6 23 2 29/29 24/27 0 291 2-Pt. Conversions: Team 0-0, Opponents 2-2 Sacks: Kampman 12, Gbaja-Biamila 9.5, C. Williams 7, Barnett 3.5, Hawk 1, Jenkins 1, Jolly 1, Pickett 1, Team 36, Opponents 19 FUM/Lost: Favre 9/3, J. Jones 3/2, Nall (LG) 2/1, Nall (TM) 2/1, Wells 2/0, Bush 1/0, Driver 1/0, Grant 1/1, Jennings 1/0, Lee 1/1, Martin 1/0, Morency 1/0, Ryan 1/0, Woodson 1/1 Rushing No. Yds Avg Long TD Grant 188 956 5.1 66t 8 Jackson 75 267 3.6 46 1 Wynn 50 203 4.1 44 4 Morency 29 108 3.7 15 0 Rodgers 7 29 4.1 13 0 Favre 29 12 0.4 21 0 Ryan 2 7 3.5 7 0 Nall LG 5 6 1.2 8 0 Nall TM 5 6 1.2 8 0 Robinson 1 5 5.0 5 0 Driver 2 4 2.0 5 0 Team 388 1597 4.1 66t 13 Opponents 424 1647 3.9 55 6 Receiving No. Yds Avg Long TD Driver 82 1048 12.8 47 2 Jennings 53 920 17.4 82t 12 Lee 48 575 12.0 60 6 J. Jones 47 676 14.4 79t 2 Morency 30 199 6.6 18 0 Grant 30 145 4.8 21 0 Robinson 21 241 11.5 43 1 Franks 18 132 7.3 24 3 Martin 16 242 15.1 36 4 Jackson 16 130 8.1 16 0 Wynn 9 73 8.1 18 0 Hall 8 49 6.1 10 0 Krause 2 11 5.5 6 0 Kuhn 2 7 3.5 5 0 Bodiford LG 1 13 13.0 13 0 Bodiford TM 1 13 13.0 13 0 Team 383 4461 11.6 82t 30 Opponents 295 3584 12.1 50 23 Interceptions No. Yds Avg Long TD Bigby 5 50 10.0 22 0 Woodson 4 48 12.0 46t 1 Barnett 2 40 20.0 38 0 Rouse 2 37 18.5 34 0 A. Harris 2 17 8.5 17 0 T. Williams 1 22 22.0 22 0 Hawk 1 10 10.0 10 0 C. Williams 1 9 9.0 9 0 Poppinga 1 0 0.0 0 0 Team 19 233 12.3 46t 1 Opponents 15 166 11.1 85t 1 Punting No. Yds Avg Net TB In Lg B Ryan 60 2664 44.4 37.6 11 18 72 2 Team 62 2664 43.0 37.6 11 18 72 2 Opponents 80 3397 42.5 33.8 10 22 61 0 Punt Returns Ret FC Yds Avg Long TD Woodson 33 5 268 8.1 34 0 Blackmon 8 0 106 13.3 57t 1 T. Williams 6 0 118 19.7 94t 1 Bush 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 Team 48 5 492 10.3 94t 2 Opponents 19 14 113 5.9 26 0 Kickoff Returns No. Yds Avg Long TD T. Williams 30 684 22.8 65 0 Robinson 25 596 23.8 67 0 Bodiford LG 2 41 20.5 22 0 Bodiford TM 2 41 20.5 22 0 Blackmon 1 3 3.0 3 0 Driver 1 4 4.0 4 0 Martin 1 6 6.0 6 0 Montgomery 1 0 0.0 0 0 Wynn 1 15 15.0 15 0 Team 62 1349 21.8 67 0 Opponents 77 1610 20.9 74 0 Field Goals 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Crosby 1/1 8/8 10/11 9/14 3/5 Team 1/1 8/8 10/11 9/14 3/5 Opponents 0/0 4/4 8/9 10/12 2/2 Crosby: (53G,37G,42G)(42N)(28G)(28G,44G,33G) (37G,37G) (46N,37G,38N) (19G,26G)(48G,36G,52N, 32G,45G)(39G,24G)(49B,49N,47G)(20G,20G,26G) (47G,52G)(43N,44G,52N)(44G,50G,25G,46G)()(33G, 35G) Opponents: (33G,47G)(34N,48G,32G)(44G)(44G, 35G,48G) (44G,36G)() (45G,21G) ()()(26G)(47G,41G, 45G,52G)(26G,51G,25G)(44N)(48N)(31G,35G)(35G, 38G) Passing Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD TD% Int Int% Long Sack/Lost Rating Favre 535 356 4155 66.5 7.77 28 5.2 15 2.8 82t 15/93 95.7 Rodgers 28 20 218 71.4 7.79 1 3.6 0 0.0 43 3/24 106.0 Nall LG 15 7 88 46.7 5.87 1 6.7 0 0.0 32t 1/10 87.6 Nall TM 15 7 88 46.7 5.87 1 6.7 0 0.0 32t 1/10 87.6 Team 578 383 4461 66.3 7.72 30 5.2 15 2.6 82t 19/127 95.9 Opponents 534 295 3584 55.2 6.71 23 4.3 19 3.6 50 36/218 75.6
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 DEPTH CHART (as of Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008) Broncos Offense WR 15 Brandon Marshall 19 Eddie Royal 17 Glenn Martinez 10 Clifford Russell 16 Marquay McDaniel 9 Taylor Jacobs LT 78 Ryan Clady 64 Erik Pears LG 50 Ben Hamilton 65 Dylan Gandy 67 Kory Lichtensteiger C 66 Tom Nalen 62 Casey Wiegmann 69 P.J. Alexander RG 73 Chris Kuper 70 Montrae Holland 61 Mitch Erickson RT 74 Ryan Harris 76 Tyler Polumbus TE 89 Daniel Graham 88 Tony Scheffler 81 Nate Jackson 84 Brett Pierce 85 Chad Mustard WR 82 Darrell Jackson 14 Brandon Stokley 13 Keary Colbert 12 Samie Parker 87 Lorne Sam QB 6 Jay Cutler 11 Patrick Ramsey 4 Darrell Hackney RB 35 Selvin Young 23 Andre Hall 42 Ryan Torain 38 Anthony Alridge FB 37 Cecil Sapp 48 Peyton Hillis 28 Michael Pittman 46 Spencer Larsen Broncos Defense LE 60 John Engelberger 91 Ebenezer Ekuban 96 Tim Crowder LT 63 Dewayne Robertson 99 Alvin McKinley 93 Nic Clemons RT 79 Marcus Thomas 90 Kenny Peterson 98 Josh Mallard 68 Steven Harris RE 92 Elvis Dumervil 94 Jarvis Moss 95 Paul Carrington 77 Larry Birdine WLB 55 D.J. Williams 51 Jamie Winborn 59 Wesley Woodyard MLB 58 Nate Webster 53 Niko Koutouvides 56 Manuel Padilla SLB 97 Boss Bailey 52 Louis Green 57 Jordan Beck LCB 24 Champ Bailey 22 Domonique Foxworth 26 Jack Williams RCB 32 Dré Bly 41 Karl Paymah 39 Tyrone Poole 31 Wale Dada SS 21 Hamza Abdullah 43 Roderick Rogers 36 Josh Barrett FS 20 Marlon McCree 33 Marquand Manuel 34 Vickiel Vaughn Broncos Specialists P 2 Sam Paulescu 1 Brett Kern K 5 Matt Prater 2 Sam Paulescu 1 Brett Kern KO 5 Matt Prater 2 Sam Paulescu 1 Brett Kern PR 19 Eddie Royal 17 Glenn Martinez 16 Marquay McDaniel 12 Samie Parker KR 19 Eddie Royal 23 Andre Hall 38 Anthony Alridge 10 Clifford Russell 17 Glenn Martinez PC 83 Mike Leach 88 Tony Scheffler 98 Josh Mallard KC 83 Mike Leach 98 Josh Mallard 84 Brett Pierce H 1 Brett Kern 2 Sam Paulescu 11 Patrick Ramsey [] designate an injured player Rookie and first-year players underlined BRONCOS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Hamza Abdullah (HAHM-zah) Larry Birdine (bir-dine) Keary Colbert (KER-ee) Wale Dada (wah-lee) Elvis Dumervil (doo-mehr-vill) Ebenezer Ekuban (EK-you-BON) Niko Koutouvides (KOO-tah-VEE-dees) Chris Kuper (KOO-pehr) Kory Lichtensteiger (LICK-ten-sty-ger) Josh Mallard (MAL-urd) Marquand Manuel (mar-kwand) Marquay McDaniel (mar-kway) Manuel Padilla (pah-dee-yah) Sam Paulescu (paw-less-cue) Erik Pears (PEERS) Matt Prater (PRAY-ter) Lorne Sam (LORN) Edell Shepherd (eh-dell) Ryan Torain (toh-rain) Vickiel Vaughn (vih-kell) Casey Wiegmann (WIG-mann)
2008 Denver Broncos Alphabetical Roster Updated: 8/17/08 NFL High School 2007 No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Exp. College Hometown How Acq. P-S-DNP-INA 21 Abdullah, Hamza S 6-2 216 24 4 Washington State Pomona, Calif. PS(TB)- 05 11-8-0-5 69 Alexander, P.J. G 6-4 297 29 6 Syracuse Tallahassee, Fla. FA- '07 11-0-0-0 38 Alridge, Anthony RB 5-9 185 24 R Houston Denton, Texas CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 97 Bailey, Boss LB 6-3 232 28 6 Georgia Folkston, Ga. UFA(Det)- '08 15-12-0-1 24 Bailey, Champ CB 6-0 192 30 10 Georgia Folkston, Ga. T(Was)- 04 15-15-0-1 36 Barrett, Josh S 6-3 225 23 R Arizona State Reno, Nev. D7- '08 0-0-0-0 57 Beck, Jordan LB 6-2 235 25 4 Cal Poly/SLO Mount Hermon, Calif. FA- '07 11-0-0-0 77 Birdine, Larry DE 6-4 270 24 2 Oklahoma Lawton, Okla. PS(Ten)- '07 0-0-0-8 32 Bly, Dré CB 5-10 188 31 10 North Carolina Chesapeake, Va. T(Det)- 07 16-16-0-0 95 Carrington, Paul DE 6-7 270 25 3 Central Florida Springfield, Ga. FA- '07 0-0-0-8 78 Clady, Ryan T 6-6 325 21 R Boise State Rialto, Calif. D1- '08 0-0-0-0 93 Clemons, Nic DT 6-6 300 28 2 Georgia Griffin, Ga. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 13 Colbert, Keary WR 6-1 205 26 5 Southern California Oxnard, Calif. UFA(Car)- '08 12-8-0-2 96 Crowder, Tim DE 6-4 275 23 2 Texas Tyler, Texas D2-07 13-1-0-3 6 Cutler, Jay QB 6-3 233 25 3 Vanderbilt Lincoln City, Ind. D1-06 16-16-0-0 31 Dada, Wale CB 5-10 201 25 1 Washington State Orland Park, Ill. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 92 Dumervil, Elvis DE 5-11 260 24 3 Louisville Miami, Fla. D4b- 06 16-16-0-0 91 Ekuban, Ebenezer DE 6-4 275 32 10 North Carolina Bladensburg, Md. T(Cle)- 05 0-0-0-0 60 Engelberger, John DE 6-4 260 31 9 Virginia Tech Springfield, Va. T(SF)- 05 16-15-0-0 61 Erickson, Mitch G 6-6 290 23 R South Dakota State Hutchinson, Minn. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 22 Foxworth, Domonique CB 5-11 180 25 4 Maryland Catonsville, Md. D3b- 05 14-6-1-1 65 Gandy, Dylan G 6-3 290 26 4 Texas Tech Pflugerville, Texas FA- '08 10-1-3-3 89 Graham, Daniel TE 6-3 257 29 7 Colorado Denver, Colo. UFA(NE)- 07 15-15-0-1 52 Green, Louis LB 6-3 237 28 5 Alcorn State Fayette, Miss. FA- 03 16-0-0-0 4 Hackney, Darrell QB 6-0 248 25 2 Alabama-Birmingham Atlanta, Ga. FA- 07 0-0-0-8 23 Hall, Andre RB 5-10 212 25 2 South Florida St. Petersburg, Fla. FA- 06 10-1-1-5 50 Hamilton, Ben G/C 6-4 290 30 8 Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. D4a- 01 0-0-0-3 74 Harris, Ryan T 6-5 300 23 2 Notre Dame St. Paul, Minn. D3-07 11-0-0-5 68 Harris, Steven DT 6-5 305 24 2 Florida Coral Gables, Fla. CFA- 07 4-0-0-0 48 Hillis, Peyton FB 6-2 250 22 R Arkansas Conway, Ark. D7b- '08 0-0-0-0 70 Holland, Montrae G 6-2 322 28 6 Florida State Ore, Texas UFA(NO)- 07 16-16-0-0 82 Jackson, Darrell WR 5-11 210 29 9 Florida Tampa, Fla. FA- '08 15-15-0-1 81 Jackson, Nate TE 6-3 235 29 6 Menlo College San Jose, Calif. T(SF)- 03 5-1-0-0 9 Jacobs, Taylor WR 6-1 205 27 6 Florida Tallahassee, Fla. FA- '07 10-0-0-2 1 Kern, Brett P 6-3 205 22 R Toledo Grand Island, N.Y. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 53 Koutouvides, Niko LB 6-2 238 27 5 Purdue Plainville, Conn. UFA(Sea)- '08 15-0-0-1 73 Kuper, Chris G 6-4 302 25 3 North Dakota Anchorage, Alaska D5-06 16-11-0-0 46 Larsen, Spencer FB 6-2 240 24 R Arizona Gilbert, Ariz. D6- '08 0-0-0-0 83 Leach, Mike TE/LS 6-2 240 31 9 William & Mary Jefferson Township, N.J. FA- 02 16-0-0-0 67 Lichtensteiger, Kory C 6-3 295 23 R Bowling Green Van Wert, Ohio D4a- 08 0-0-0-0 98 Mallard, Josh DT 6-2 265 29 5 Georgia Savannah, Ga. FA- '07 11-0-0-0* 33 Manuel, Marquand S 6-0 213 29 7 Florida Miami, Fla. UFA(Car)- '08 16-2-0-0 15 Marshall, Brandon WR 6-4 230 24 3 Central Florida Winter Park, Fla. D4a- 06 16-16-0-0 17 Martinez, Glenn WR 6-1 190 26 3 Saginaw Valley State Auburndale, Fla. FA- 07 12-1-0-1 20 McCree, Marlon S 5-11 204 31 8 Kentucky Port Orange, Fla. FA- '08 16-16-0-0 16 McDaniel, Marquay WR 5-10 205 24 1 Hampton Virginia Beach, Va. CFA- 07 0-0-0-0 99 McKinley, Alvin DT 6-3 294 30 9 Mississippi State Weir, Miss. UFA(Cle)- 07 15-10-0-1 94 Moss, Jarvis DE 6-6 265 24 2 Florida Denton, Texas D1-07 6-1-0-2 85 Mustard, Chad TE 6-6 277 30 5 North Dakota Columbus, Neb. FA- '07 12-2-0-1 66 Nalen, Tom C 6-3 286 37 15 Boston College Foxboro, Mass. D7c- 94 5-5-0-0 12 Parker, Samie WR 5-11 185 27 5 Oregon Long Beach, Calif. UFA(KC)- '08 15-7-0-1 2 Paulescu, Sam P 6-0 195 24 2 Oregon State La Habra, Calif. FA- '07 1-0-0-0 41 Paymah, Karl CB 6-0 195 25 4 Washington State Culver City, Calif. D3a- 05 15-3-0-1 64 Pears, Erik T 6-8 305 26 3 Colorado State Denver, Colo. CFA- 05 16-16-0-0 90 Peterson, Kenny DT 6-3 300 29 6 Ohio State Canton, Ohio FA- '06 7-0-0-0 84 Pierce, Brett TE 6-5 260 27 3 Stanford Vancouver, Wash. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 28 Pittman, Michael RB 6-0 225 33 11 Fresno State San Diego, Calif. UFA(TB)- '08 10-3-0-6 76 Polumbus, Tyler T 6-8 310 23 R Colorado Greenwood Village, Colo. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 39 Poole, Tyrone DB 5-8 190 36 13 Fort Valley State LaGrange, Ga. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 5 Prater, Matt K 5-10 188 24 2 Central Florida Estero, Fla. PS(Mia)- '07 4-0-0-0* 11 Ramsey, Patrick QB 6-2 225 29 7 Tulane Ruston, La. FA- 07 2-0-14-0 63 Robertson, Dewayne DT 6-1 308 26 6 Kentucky Memphis, Tenn. T(NYJ)- '08 16-15-0-0 43 Rogers, Roderick S 6-2 187 23 2 Wisconsin Stone Mountain, Ga. CFA- 07 2-0-0-0 19 Royal, Eddie WR 5-10 182 22 R Virginia Tech Chantilly, Va. D2- '08 0-0-0-0 10 Russell, Clifford WR 5-11 195 29 6 Utah Ewa Beach, Hawaii FA- '08 0-0-0-0 87 Sam, Lorne WR 6-3 220 23 R Texas-El Paso Buford, Ga. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 37 Sapp, Cecil RB 5-11 236 29 6 Colorado State Miami, Fla. CFA- 03 16-8-0-0 88 Scheffler, Tony TE 6-5 250 25 3 Western Michigan Morenci, Mich. D2-06 16-7-0-0 14 Stokley, Brandon WR 5-11 192 32 10 Southwestern Louisiana Lafayette, La. FA- 07 13-9-0-3 79 Thomas, Marcus DT 6-3 305 22 2 Florida Jacksonville, Fla. D4-07 16-5-0-0 42 Torain, Ryan RB 6-1 225 22 R Arizona State Shawnee Mission, Kan. D5a- '08 0-0-0-0 34 Vaughn, Vickiel S 6-0 213 24 2 Arkansas Plano, Texas FA- '08 0-0-0-0 58 Webster, Nate LB 6-0 232 30 9 Miami Miami, Fla. UFA(Cin)- 06 16-13-0-0 62 Wiegmann, Casey C 6-2 285 35 13 Iowa Parkersburg, Iowa UFA(KC)- '08 16-16-0-0 55 Williams, D.J. LB 6-1 242 26 5 Miami Concord, Calif. D1-04 16-16-0-0 26 Williams, Jack CB 5-9 185 23 R Kent State Norfolk, Va. D4b- '08 0-0-0-0 51 Winborn, Jamie LB 5-11 230 29 8 Vanderbilt Wetumpka, Ala. FA- '07 14-2-0-1 59 Woodyard, Wesley LB 6-1 230 22 R Kentucky LaGrange, Ga. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 35 Young, Selvin RB 5-11 215 24 2 Texas Jersey Village, Texas CFA- 07 15-8-0-1 Active/Physically Unable to Perform 75 Powell, Carlton DT 6-2 300 23 R Virginia Tech Chesapeake, Va. D5b- '08 0-0-0-0 International Practice Squad 56 Padilla, Manuel LB 6-3 242 25 1 No College Mexico FA- '08 0-0-0-0 Reserve/Injured 86 Shepherd, Edell WR 6-1 175 28 5 San Jose State Los Angeles FA- '08 0-0-0-0 KEY: CFA-college free agent; D-drafted; FA-acquired as free agent; RFA-acquired as restricted free agent; UFA-acquired as unrestricted free agent; T-trade; W-waivers. Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (14th year). Assistant Coaches: Rick Dennison (Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line), Bob Slowik (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs), Scott O Brien (Special Teams Coordinator), Steve Watson (Associate Head Coach), Joe Baker (Offensive Assistant), Jeremy Bates (Quarterbacks), Ronnie Bradford (Defensive Backs), Jacob Burney (Defensive Line), Keith Burns (Special Teams Asst.), Dwayne Chandler (Assistant Strength & Conditioning), Jedd Fisch (Wide Receivers), Charlie Jackson (Defensive Asst.), Bill Johnson (Defensive Line), Pat McPherson (Tight Ends), Jim Ryan (Linebackers), Greg Saporta (Asst. Strength & Conditioning), Ryan Slowik (Asst. Defensive Backs), Bobby Turner (Running Backs), Rich Tuten (Strength & Conditioning).
2008 Denver Broncos Numeric Roster Updated 8/17/08 NFL High School 2007 No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Exp. College Hometown How Acq. P-S-DNP-INA 1 Brett Kern P 6-3 205 22 R Toledo Grand Island, N.Y. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 2 Sam Paulescu P 6-0 195 24 2 Oregon State La Habra, Calif. FA- '07 1-0-0-0 4 Darrell Hackney QB 6-0 248 25 2 Alabama-Birmingham Atlanta, Ga. FA- 07 0-0-0-8 5 Matt Prater K 5-10 188 24 2 Central Florida Estero, Fla. PS(Mia)- '07 4-0-0-0 6 Jay Cutler QB 6-3 233 25 3 Vanderbilt Lincoln City, Ind. D1-06 16-16-0-0 9 Taylor Jacobs WR 6-1 205 27 6 Florida Tallahassee, Fla. FA- '07 10-0-0-2* 10 Clifford Russell WR 5-11 195 29 6 Utah Ewa Beach, Hawaii FA- '08 0-0-0-0 11 Patrick Ramsey QB 6-2 225 29 7 Tulane Ruston, La. FA- 07 2-0-14-0 12 Samie Parker WR 5-11 185 27 5 Oregon Long Beach, Calif. UFA(KC)- '08 15-7-0-1 13 Keary Colbert WR 6-1 205 26 5 Southern California Oxnard, Calif. UFA(Car)- '08 12-8-0-2 14 Brandon Stokley WR 5-11 192 32 10 Southwestern Louisiana Lafayette, La. FA- 07 13-9-0-3 15 Brandon Marshall WR 6-4 230 24 3 Central Florida Winter Park, Fla. D4a- 06 16-16-0-0 16 Marquay McDaniel WR 5-10 205 24 1 Hampton Virginia Beach, Va. CFA- 07 0-0-0-0 17 Glenn Martinez WR 6-1 190 26 3 Saginaw Valley State Auburndale, Fla. FA- 07 12-1-0-1 19 Eddie Royal WR 5-10 182 22 R Virginia Tech Chantilly, Va. D2- '08 0-0-0-0 20 Marlon McCree S 5-11 204 31 8 Kentucky Port Orange, Fla. FA- '08 16-16-0-0 21 Hamza Abdullah S 6-2 216 24 4 Washington State Pomona, Calif. PS(TB)- 05 11-8-0-5 22 Domonique Foxworth CB 5-11 180 25 4 Maryland Catonsville, Md. D3b- 05 14-6-1-1 23 Andre Hall RB 5-10 212 25 2 South Florida St. Petersburg, Fla. FA- 06 10-1-1-5 24 Champ Bailey CB 6-0 192 30 10 Georgia Folkston, Ga. T(Was)- 04 15-15-0-1 26 Jack Williams CB 5-9 185 23 R Kent State Norfolk, Va. D4b- '08 0-0-0-0 28 Michael Pittman RB 6-0 225 33 11 Fresno State San Diego, Calif. UFA(TB)- '08 10-3-0-6 31 Wale Dada CB 5-10 201 25 1 Washington State Orland Park, Ill. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 32 Dré Bly CB 5-10 188 31 10 North Carolina Chesapeake, Va. T(Det)- 07 16-16-0-0 33 Marquand Manuel S 6-0 213 29 7 Florida Miami, Fla. UFA(Car)- '08 16-2-0-0 34 Vickiel Vaughn S 6-0 213 24 2 Arkansas Plano, Texas FA- '08 0-0-0-0 35 Selvin Young RB 5-11 215 24 2 Texas Jersey Village, Texas CFA- 07 15-8-0-1 36 Josh Barrett S 6-3 225 23 R Arizona State Reno, Nev. D7- '08 0-0-0-0 37 Cecil Sapp RB 5-11 236 29 6 Colorado State Miami, Fla. CFA- 03 16-8-0-0 38 Anthony Alridge RB 5-9 185 24 R Houston Denton, Texas CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 39 Tyrone Poole DB 5-8 190 36 13 Fort Valley State LaGrange, Ga. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 41 Karl Paymah CB 6-0 195 25 4 Washington State Culver City, Calif. D3a- 05 15-3-0-1 42 Ryan Torain RB 6-1 225 22 R Arizona State Shawnee Mission, Kan. D5a- '08 0-0-0-0 43 Roderick Rogers S 6-2 187 23 2 Wisconsin Stone Mountain, Ga. CFA- 07 2-0-0-0 46 Spencer Larsen FB 6-2 240 24 R Arizona Gilbert, Ariz. D6- '08 0-0-0-0 48 Peyton Hillis FB 6-2 250 22 R Arkansas Conway, Ark. D7b- '08 0-0-0-0 50 Ben Hamilton G/C 6-4 290 30 8 Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. D4a- 01 0-0-0-3 51 Jamie Winborn LB 5-11 230 29 8 Vanderbilt Wetumpka, Ala. FA- '07 14-2-0-1 52 Louis Green LB 6-3 237 28 5 Alcorn State Fayette, Miss. FA- 03 16-0-0-0 53 Niko Koutouvides LB 6-2 238 27 5 Purdue Plainville, Conn. UFA(Sea)- '08 15-0-0-1 55 D.J. Williams LB 6-1 240 26 5 Miami Concord, Calif. D1-04 16-16-0-0 57 Jordan Beck LB 6-2 235 25 4 Cal Poly/SLO Mount Hermon, Calif. FA- '07 11-0-0-0 58 Nate Webster LB 6-0 232 30 9 Miami Miami, Fla. UFA(Cin)- 06 16-13-0-0 59 Wesley Woodyard LB 6-1 230 22 R Kentucky LaGrange, Ga. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 60 John Engelberger DE 6-4 260 31 9 Virginia Tech Springfield, Va. T(SF)- 05 16-15-0-0 61 Mitch Erickson G 6-6 290 23 R South Dakota State Hutchinson, Minn. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 62 Casey Wiegmann C 6-2 285 35 13 Iowa Parkersburg, Iowa UFA(KC)- '08 16-16-0-0 63 Dewayne Robertson DT 6-1 308 26 6 Kentucky Memphis, Tenn. T(NYJ)- '08 16-15-0-0 64 Erik Pears T 6-8 305 26 3 Colorado State Denver, Colo. CFA- 05 16-16-0-0 65 Dylan Gandy G 6-3 290 26 4 Texas Tech Pflugerville, Texas FA- '08 10-1-3-3 66 Tom Nalen C 6-3 286 37 15 Boston College Foxboro, Mass. D7c- 94 5-5-0-0 67 Kory Lichtensteiger C 6-3 295 23 R Bowling Green Van Wert, Ohio D4a- 08 0-0-0-0 68 Steven Harris DT 6-5 305 24 2 Florida Coral Gables, Fla. CFA- 07 4-0-0-0 69 P.J. Alexander G 6-4 297 29 6 Syracuse Tallahassee, Fla. FA- '07 11-0-0-0 70 Montrae Holland G 6-2 322 28 6 Florida State Ore, Texas UFA(NO)- 07 16-16-0-0 73 Chris Kuper G 6-4 302 25 3 North Dakota Anchorage, Alaska D5-06 16-11-0-0 74 Ryan Harris T 6-5 300 23 2 Notre Dame St. Paul, Minn. D3-07 11-0-0-5 76 Tyler Polumbus T 6-8 310 23 R Colorado Greenwood Village, Colo. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 77 Larry Birdine DE 6-4 270 24 2 Oklahoma Lawton, Okla. PS(Ten)- '07 0-0-0-8 78 Ryan Clady T 6-6 325 21 R Boise State Rialto, Calif. D1- '08 0-0-0-0 79 Marcus Thomas DT 6-3 305 22 2 Florida Jacksonville, Fla. D4-07 16-5-0-0 81 Nate Jackson TE 6-3 235 29 6 Menlo College San Jose, Calif. T(SF)- 03 5-1-0-0 82 Darrell Jackson WR 5-11 210 29 9 Florida Tampa, Fla. FA- '08 15-15-0-1 83 Mike Leach TE/LS 6-2 240 31 9 William & Mary Jefferson Township, N.J. FA- 02 16-0-0-0 84 Brett Pierce TE 6-5 260 27 3 Stanford Vancouver, Wash. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 85 Chad Mustard TE 6-6 277 30 5 North Dakota Columbus, Neb. FA- '07 12-2-0-1 87 Lorne Sam WR 6-3 220 23 R Texas-El Paso Buford, Ga. CFA- '08 0-0-0-0 88 Tony Scheffler TE 6-5 250 25 3 Western Michigan Morenci, Mich. D2-06 16-7-0-0 89 Daniel Graham TE 6-3 257 29 7 Colorado Denver, Colo. UFA(NE)- 07 15-15-0-1 90 Kenny Peterson DT 6-3 300 29 6 Ohio State Canton, Ohio FA- '06 7-0-0-0 91 Ebenezer Ekuban DE 6-4 275 32 10 North Carolina Bladensburg, Md. T(Cle)- 05 0-0-0-0 92 Elvis Dumervil DE 5-11 260 24 3 Louisville Miami, Fla. D4b- 06 16-16-0-0 93 Nic Clemons DT 6-6 300 28 2 Georgia Griffin, Ga. FA- '08 0-0-0-0 94 Jarvis Moss DE 6-6 265 24 2 Florida Denton, Texas D1-07 6-1-0-2 95 Paul Carrington DE 6-7 270 25 3 Central Florida Springfield, Ga. FA- '07 0-0-0-8 96 Tim Crowder DE 6-4 275 23 2 Texas Tyler, Texas D2-07 13-1-0-3 97 Boss Bailey LB 6-3 232 28 6 Georgia Folkston, Ga. UFA(Det)- '08 15-12-0-1 98 Josh Mallard DT 6-2 265 29 5 Georgia Savannah, Ga. FA- '07 11-0-0-0 99 Alvin McKinley DT 6-3 294 30 9 Mississippi State Weir, Miss. UFA(Cle)- 07 15-10-0-1 Active/Physically Unable to Perform 75 Carlton Powell DT 6-2 300 23 R Virginia Tech Chesapeake, Va. D5b- '08 0-0-0-0 International Practice Squad 56 Manuel Padilla LB 6-3 242 25 1 No College Mexico FA- '08 0-0-0-0 Reserve/Injured 86 Edell Shepherd WR 6-1 175 28 5 San Jose State Los Angeles FA- '08 0-0-0-0 KEY: CFA-college free agent; D-drafted; FA-acquired as free agent; RFA-acquired as restricted free agent; UFA-acquired as unrestricted free agent; T-trade; W-waivers. Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (14th year). Assistant Coaches: Rick Dennison (Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line), Bob Slowik (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs), Scott O Brien (Special Teams Coordinator), Steve Watson (Associate Head Coach), Joe Baker (Offensive Assistant), Jeremy Bates (Quarterbacks), Ronnie Bradford (Defensive Backs), Jacob Burney (Defensive Line), Keith Burns (Special Teams Asst.), Dwayne Chandler (Assistant Strength & Conditioning), Jedd Fisch (Wide Receivers), Charlie Jackson (Defensive Asst.), Bill Johnson (Defensive Line), Pat McPherson (Tight Ends), Jim Ryan (Linebackers), Greg Saporta (Asst. Strength & Conditioning), Ryan Slowik (Asst. Defensive Backs), Bobby Turner (Running Backs), Rich Tuten (Strength & Conditioning).
2008 Denver Broncos Position-by-Position Roster Updated: 8/17/08 OFFENSE Quarterback (3) Running Back (8) Wide Receiver (11) Tight End (6) Players Exp. Players Exp. Players Exp. Players Exp. Cutler, Jay 3 Alridge, Anthony R Colbert, Keary 5 Graham, Daniel 7 Hackney, Darrell 2 Hall, Andre 2 Jackson, Darrell 9 Jackson, Nate 6 Ramsey, Patrick 7 Hillis, Peyton 2 Jacobs, Taylor 6 Leach, Mike (LS) 9 Larsen, Spencer R Marshall, Brandon 3 Mustard, Chad 5 Pittman, Michael 11 Martinez, Glenn 3 Pierce, Brett 3 Sapp, Cecil 6 McDaniel, Marquay 1 Scheffler, Tony 3 Torain, Ryan R Parker, Samie 5 Young, Selvin 2 Royal, Eddie R Russell, Clifford 6 Sam, Lorne R Stokley, Brandon 10 Tackle (5) Guard (8) Center (5) Players Exp. Players Exp. Players Exp. Clady, Ryan R Alexander, P.J. 6 Alexander, P.J. 6 Harris, Ryan 2 Erickson, Mitch R Hamilton, Ben 8 Kuper, Chris 3 Hamilton, Ben 8 Nalen, Tom 15 Pears, Erik 3 Gandy, Dylan 4 Wiegmann, Casey 13 Polumbus, Tyler R Holland, Montrae 6 Lichtensteiger, Kory R Kuper, Chris 3 Lichtensteiger, Kory R Wiegmann, Casey 13 DEFENSE Defensive End (7) Defensive Tackle (8) Linebacker (8) Players Exp. Players Exp. Players Exp. Birdine, Larry 2 Clemons, Nic 2 Bailey, Boss 6 Carrington, Paul 3 Harris, Steven 2 Beck, Jordan 4 Crowder, Tim 2 Mallard, Josh 4 Green, Louis 5 Dumervil, Elvis 3 McKinley, Alvin 9 Koutouvides, Niko 5 Ekuban, Ebenezer 10 Peterson, Kenny 6 Webster, Nate 9 Engelberger, John 9 Powell, Carlton R Williams, D.J. 5 Moss, Jarvis 2 Robertson, Dewayne 6 Winborn, Jamie 8 Thomas, Marcus 2 Woodyard, Wesley R Cornerback (8) Safety (6) Players Exp. Players Exp. Bailey, Champ 10 Abdullah, Hamza 4 Bly, Dré 10 Barrett, Josh R Dada, Wale 1 Manuel, Marquand 7 Foxworth, Domonique 4 McCree, Marlon 8 Paymah, Karl 4 Rogers, Roderick 2 Poole, Tyrone 13 Vaughn, Vickiel 2 Williams, Jack R Kicker (1) Punter (2) Players Exp. Players Exp. Prater, Matt 2 Kern, Brett R Paulescu, Sam 2 SPECIALISTS
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 TRANSACTIONS by date/by player (Updated August 17, 2008) BY DATE 6/12/08 Signed S Josh Barrett (draft choice) 6/13/08 Waived LB Brandon Archer Waived P Danny Baugher Waived QB Cullen Finnerty Released WR Taylor Jacobs Waived DE Julian Jenkins Assigned LB Manuel Padilla by NFL as Intl. Practice Squad Player Waived S Vickiel Vaughn 7/9/08 Signed FB Spencer Larsen (draft choice) Signed DT Carlton Powell (draft choice) Signed RB Ryan Torain (draft choice) 7/16/08 Signed FB Peyton Hillis (draft choice) 7/21/08 Signed C Kory Lichtensteiger (draft choice) Waived RB Mike Bell Waived K Garrett Hartley 7/22/08 Signed CB Jack Williams (draft choice) 7/24/08 Signed WR Eddie Royal (draft choice) 7/25/08 Signed T Ryan Clady (draft choice) Declared TE Chad Mustard Active/Physically Unable to Perform Declared DT Carlton Powell Active/Physically Unable to Perform 7/26/08 Signed WR Taylor Jacobs Placed WR Edell Shepherd on Reserve/Injured (left knee) 8/1/08 Released S John Lynch 8/3/08 Signed S Vickiel Vaughn 8/12/08 Signed CB Wale Dada Waived CB Lamont Reid 8/13/08 Waived CB Christian Morton Signed CB Tyrone Poole LYNCH, John S 8/1/08 Released MORTON, Christian CB 8/13/08 Waived MUSTARD, Chad TE 7/25/08 Declared Active/Physically Unable to Perform PADILLA, Manuel LB 6/13/08 Assigned by NFL to Intl. Practice Squad POOLE, Tyrone CB 8/13/08 Signed POWELL, Carlton DT 7/9/08 Signed (draft choice) 7/25/08 Declared Active/Physically Unable to Perform REID, Lamont CB 8/12/08 Waived ROYAL, Eddie WR 7/24/08 Signed (draft choice) SHEPHERD, Edell WR 7/26/08 Placed on Reserve/Injured (left knee) TORAIN, Ryan RB 7/9/08 Signed (draft choice) VAUGHN, Vickiel S 6/13/08 Waived 8/3/08 Signed WILLIAMS, Jack CB 7/22/08 Signed (draft choice) BY PLAYER ARCHER, Brandon LB 6/13/08 Waived BARRETT, Josh S 6/12/08 Signed (draft choice) BAUGHER, Danny P 6/13/08 Waived BELL, Mike RB 7/21/08 Waived CLADY, Ryan T 7/25/08 Signed (draft choice) DADA, Wale CB 8/12/08 Signed FINNERTY, Cullen QB 6/13/08 Waived HARTLEY, Garrett K 7/21/08 Waived HILLIS, Peyton FB 7/16/08 Signed JACOBS, Taylor WR 6/13/08 Released 7/26/08 Signed JENKINS, Julian DE 6/13/08 Waived LARSEN, Spencer FB 7/9/08 Signed (draft choice) LICHTENSTEIGER, Kory C 7/21/08 Signed (draft choice)
HOW THE BRONCOS ARE BUILT Updated 8/17/08 Year Draft/College Free Agent Trades Free Agents/Waivers 1994 C Tom Nalen (7c) 7-9 (4th AFC West) 1995 8-8 (4th AFC West) 1996 13-3 (1st AFC West) 1997 12-4 (2nd AFC West) Super Bowl Champs 1998 14-2 (1st AFC West) Super Bowl Champs 1999 6-10 (5th AFC West) 2000 11-5 (2nd AFC West) 2001 C Ben Hamilton (4a) 8-8 (3rd AFC West) 2002 TE/LS Mike Leach** 9-7 (2nd AFC West) 2003 RB Cecil Sapp (CFA) TE Nate Jackson** (S.F.) LB Louis Green** 10-6 (2nd AFC West) 2004 LB D.J. Williams (1) CB Champ Bailey** (Was) 10-6 (2nd AFC West) 2005 CB Karl Paymah (3a) DE Ebenezer Ekuban** (Cle) S Hamza Abdullah** 13-3 (1st AFC West) CB Domonique Foxworth (3b) DE John Engelberger** (SF) T Erik Pears (CFA) 2006 QB Jay Cutler (1) RB Andre Hall** 9-7 (3rd AFC West) TE Tony Scheffler (2) LB Nate Webster*** (UFA-Cincinnati) WR Brandon Marshall (4a) DE Elvis Dumervil (4b) G Chris Kuper (5) 2007 DE Jarvis Moss (1) CB Dré Bly** (Det) G P.J. Alexander** 7-9 (2nd AFC West) DE Tim Crowder (2) LB Jordan Beck** T Ryan Harris (3) DE Larry Birdine** DT Marcus Thomas (4) DE Paul Carrington** DT Steven Harris (CFA) TE Daniel Graham*** (UFA-New England) WR Marquay McDaniel (CFA) QB Darrell Hackney** S Roderick Rogers (CFA) G Montrae Holland*** (UFA-New Orleans) RB Selvin Young (CFA) DT Josh Mallard** WR Glenn Martinez** DT Alvin McKinley*** (UFA-Cleveland) TE Chad Mustard** (PUP) P Sam Paulescu** DT Kenny Peterson** K Matt Prater** QB Patrick Ramsey** WR Brandon Stokley** LB Jamie Winborn** 2008 T Ryan Clady (1) DT Dewayne Robertson** (NYJ) LB Boss Bailey*** (UFA-Detroit) WR Eddie Royal (2) DT Nic Clemons** C Kory Lichtensteiger (4a) WR Keary Colbert*** (UFA-Carolina) CB Jack Williams (4b) CB Wale Dada** RB Ryan Torain (5a) G Dylan Gandy** DT Carlton Powell (5b) (PUP) WR Darrell Jackson** FB Spencer Larsen (6) WR Taylor Jacobs** S Josh Barrett (7a) LB Niko Koutouvides*** (UFA-Seattle) FB Peyton Hillis (7b) S Marquand Manuel*** (UFA-Carolina) RB Anthony Alridge (CFA) S Marlon McCree** OL Mitch Erickson (CFA) WR Samie Parker*** (UFA-Kansas City) P Brett Kern (CFA) TE Brett Pierce** T Tyler Polumbus (CFA) RB Michael Pittman*** (UFA-Tampa Bay) WR Lorne Sam (CFA) CB Tyrone Poole** LB Wesley Woodyard (CFA) WR Clifford Russell** WR Edell Shepherd** (IR) S Vickiel Vaughn** Number in parentheses after draft choice indicates the round in which the player was taken. C Casey Wiegmann*** (UFA-Kansas City) CFA indicates player was a rookie free agent when he joined the Broncos. ** indicates player was an NFL veteran or had been in other camps before joining the Broncos. *** indicates player was an unrestricted free agent who had not been released by previous team. (year) indicates a player who had a previous tenure with the club, and the year it began. PS - indicates player is on Practice Squad for '08 season IR - indicates player is on Injured Reserve list for '08 season NFI - indicates player is on Reserve/Non-Football Injury list for '08 season PUP - indicates player is on Active/Physically Unable to Perform list
2008 PRESEASON BRONCOS SITUATIONAL RECORDS SITUATION Rec. BREAKDOWN when leading after 1st quarter................ 1-1..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when leading after 2nd quarter............... 1-0..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: None. when leading after 3rd quarter............... 1-0..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: None. when trailing after 1st quarter................ 0-0..........Wins: None. Losses: None. when trailing after 2nd quarter............... 0-1..........Wins: None. Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when trailing after 3rd quarter................ 0-1..........Wins: None. Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when Denver scores first................... 1-0..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: None. when opponent scores first.................. 0-1..........Wins: None. Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when tied at the half...................... 0-0..........Wins: None. Losses: None. when Denver rushes for 100 yards............. 1-1..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when opponent rushes for 100 yards........... 0-1..........Wins: None. Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when winning turnover margin............... 1-0..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: None. when losing turnover margin................. 0-1..........Wins: None. Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when Denver passes for 300 yards............. 0-0..........Wins: None. Losses: None. when opponent passes for 300 yards........... 0-0..........Wins: None. Losses: None. when playing indoors...................... 0-1..........Wins: None. Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when playing outdoors..................... 1-0..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: None. when playing on an artificial surface........... 0-0..........Wins: None. Losses: None. when playing on natural grass................ 1-1..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when winning the coin toss.................. 0-1..........Wins: None. Losses: at Hou. (8/9). when losing the coin toss................... 1-0..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: None. when scoring 20 or more points............... 1-0..........Wins: vs. Dal. (8/16). Losses: None. when yielding 20 or more points.............. 0-0..........Wins: None. Losses: None. in overtime games....................... 0-0..........Wins: None. Losses: None. 2008 PRESEASON GAME-BY-GAME OFFENSIVE STARTERS GAME WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB FB at Hou. (8/9) Marshall Clady Hamilton Wiegmann Kuper Harris Graham Royal Cutler Young Sapp vs. Dal. (8/16) Marshall Clady Hamilton Wiegmann Kuper Harris Graham Royal Cutler Young N. Jackson* vs. G.B. (8/22) at Ari. (8/29) * - Opened in a two TE-set 2008 PRESEASON GAME-BY-GAME DEFENSIVE STARTERS GAME LE LT RT RE WLB MLB SLB LCB RCB SS FS at Hou. (8/9) Engelberger Peterson Thomas Dumervil Williams Webster B. Bailey Foxworth Paymah Manuel McCree vs. Dal. (8/16) Engelberger Robertson Thomas Dumervil Williams Koutouvides Winborn Foxworth Bly Manuel McCree vs. G.B. (8/22) at Ari. (8/29)
2008 PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL BRONCOS SINGLE-GAME HIGHS BRONCOS YARDS RUSHING............................43, Andre Hall, at Hou. (8/9/08) RUSHING ATTEMPTS.........................16, Michael Pittman, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS.....................1, 2x, last: Andre Hall, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) YARDS PASSING............................178, Jay Cutler, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PASS ATTEMPTS............................20, Jay Cutler, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PASS COMPLETIONS.........................20, Jay Cutler, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) TOUCHDOWN PASSES........................1, Jay Cutler, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED...................2, Patrick Ramsey, at Hou. (8/9/08) RECEPTIONS...............................6, Brandon Marshall, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) RECEIVING YARDS...........................59, Brandon Marshall, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS....................1, Brandon Marshall, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) TOTAL YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE..............178, Jay Cutler, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) FIELD GOALS...............................3, 2x, last: Matt Prater, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) TACKLES..................................8, Wesley Woodyard, at Hou. (8/9/08) INTERCEPTIONS............................1, Jack Williams, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) SACKS....................................1, 4x, last: Elvis Dumervil, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST RUN FROM SCRIMMAGE.............19, Anthony Alridge, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST PASS COMPLETION..................38, Darrell Hackney, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST PASS RECEPTION...................38, Tony Scheffler, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURN..............32, Jack Williams, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST PUNT RETURN.....................6, Glenn Martinez, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST KICKOFF RETURN...................32, Andre Hall, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST PUNT.............................63, Brett Kern, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST FIELD GOAL........................43, Matt Prater, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) OPPONENTS YARDS RUSHING............................37, Steve Slaton, at Hou. (8/9/08) RUSHING ATTEMPTS.........................11, Steve Slaton, at Hou. (8/9/08) RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS.....................None YARDS PASSING............................137, Sage Rosenfels, at Hou. (8/9/08) PASS ATTEMPTS............................15, Sage Rosenfels, at Hou. (8/9/08) PASS COMPLETIONS.........................10, Sage Rosenfels, at Hou. (8/9/08) TOUCHDOWN PASSES........................1, 2x, last: Brad Johnson, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED...................1, Richard Bartel, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) RECEPTIONS...............................6, David Anderson, at Hou. (8/9/08) RECEIVING YARDS...........................67, David Anderson, at Hou. (8/9/08) RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS....................1, 2x, last: Miles Austin, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) TOTAL YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE..............137, Sage Rosenfels, at Hou. (8/9/08) FIELD GOALS...............................4, Kris Brown, at Hou. (8/9/08) TACKLES..................................6, Bradie James, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) INTERCEPTIONS............................1, Jamar Fletcher and Nick Ferguson, at Hou. (8/9/08) SACKS....................................1, Marcus Smith, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST RUN FROM SCRIMMAGE.............16, Shane Boyd, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST PASS COMPLETION..................41, Sage Rosenfels, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST PASS RECEPTION...................41, Jacoby Jones, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURN..............34, Jamar Fletcher, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST PUNT RETURN.....................24, Adam Jones, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST KICKOFF RETURN...................39, Steve Slaton, at Hou. (8/9/08) LONGEST PUNT.............................58, Mat McBriar, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) LONGEST FIELD GOAL........................52, Kris Brown, at Hou. (8/9/08)
2008 PRESEASON BRONCOS SINGLE-GAME HIGHS AND LOWS BRONCOS.....................HIGHS...........................LOWS TOTAL FIRST DOWNS...............22, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................17, at Hou. (8/9/08) TOTAL NET YARDS.................354, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)....................276, at Hou. (8/9/08) TOTAL OFFENSIVE PLAYS...........67, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................54, at Hou. (8/9/08) NET YARDS RUSHING...............123, at Hou. (8/9/08).....................123, at Hou. (8/9/08) RUSHING ATTEMPTS...............32, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................26, at Hou. (8/9/08) NET YARDS PASSING...............253, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)....................153, at Hou. (8/9/08) PASS ATTEMPTS...................34, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................28, at Hou. (8/9/08 PASS COMPLETIONS...............25, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................18, at Hou. (8/9/08) PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED..........2, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................0, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) TIMES SACKED....................1, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................0, at Hou. (8/9/08) PUNTS...........................5, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................2, at Hou. (8/9/08) GROSS PUNTING AVERAGE..........46.5, at Hou. (8/9/08)....................43.0, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) NET PUNTING AVERAGE.............45.0, at Hou. (8/9/08)....................32.4, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PUNT RETURNS...................2, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................1, at Hou. (8/9/08) PUNT RETURN YARDS..............10, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................2, at Hou. (8/9/08) KICKOFF RETURNS.................5, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................3, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) KICKOFF RETURN YARDS............116, at Hou. (8/9/08).....................76, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) INTERCEPTION RETURNS............1, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................1, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS......32, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................32, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PENALTIES.......................12, at Hou. (8/9/08)......................6, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) YARDS PENALIZED.................80, at Hou. (8/9/08)......................36, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) FUMBLES........................1, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................1, at Hou. (8/9/08) FUMBLES LOST...................0, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................0, at Hou. (8/9/08) SACKS MADE.....................2,2x last: vs. Dal. (8/16/08)................2,2x last: vs. Dal. (8/16/08) FUMBLES FORCED.................2, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................2, at Hou. (8/9/08) FUMBLES RECOVERED..............1, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................1, at Hou. (8/9/08) TIME OF POSSESSION..............33:07, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)..................30:22, at Hou. (8/9/08) 2008 PRESEASON OPPONENTS SINGLE-GAME HIGHS AND LOWS OPPONENTS...................HIGHS...........................LOWS TOTAL FIRST DOWNS...............21, at Hou. (8/9/08)......................16, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) TOTAL NET YARDS.................324, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)....................319, at Hou. (8/9/08) TOTAL OFFENSIVE PLAYS...........63, at Hou. (8/9/08)......................57, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) NET YARDS RUSHING...............140, at Hou. (8/9/08).....................70, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) RUSHING ATTEMPTS...............36, at Hou. (8/9/08)......................20, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) NET YARDS PASSING...............254, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)....................179, at Hou. (8/9/08) PASS ATTEMPTS...................35, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................25, at Hou. (8/9/08) PASS COMPLETIONS...............22, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................18, at Hou. (8/9/08) PASSES HAD INTERCEPTED..........1, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................0, at Hou. (8/9/08) TIMES SACKED....................2, 2x, last: vs. Dal. (8/16/08)...............2, 2x, last: vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PUNTS...........................5, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................1, at Hou. (8/9/08) GROSS PUNTING AVERAGE..........46.4, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)...................30.0, at Hou. (8/9/08) NET PUNTING AVERAGE.............44.4, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)...................28.0, at Hou. (8/9/08) PUNT RETURNS...................2, 2x last: vs. Dal. (8/16/08)...............2, 2x last: vs. Dal. (8/16/08) PUNT RETURN YARDS..............33, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................3, at Hou. (8/9/08) KICKOFF RETURNS.................5, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................2, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) KICKOFF RETURN YARDS............121, at Hou. (8/9/08).....................71, vs. Dal. (8/16/08) INTERCEPTION RETURNS............2, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................2, at Hou. (8/9/08) INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS......64, at Hou. (8/9/08)......................64, at Hou. (8/9/08) PENALTIES.......................9, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................3, at Hou. (8/9/08) YARDS PENALIZED.................78, vs. Dal. (8/16/08).....................37, at Hou. (8/9/08) FUMBLES........................2, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................2, at Hou. (8/9/08) FUMBLES LOST...................1, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................1, at Hou. (8/9/08) SACKS MADE.....................1, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)......................0, at Hou. (8/9/08) FUMBLES FORCED.................1, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................1, at Hou. (8/9/08) FUMBLES RECOVERED..............0, at Hou. (8/9/08).......................0, at Hou. (8/9/08) TIME OF POSSESSION..............29:38, at Hou. (8/9/08)...................26:53, vs. Dal. (8/16/08)
2008 PRESEASON SCORING AND TOUCHDOWN DRIVE ANALYSIS BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON GAME-BY-GAME SCORING DRIVES Date Opp. Plays Yards Time Res. Qtr Scoring Play Quarterback 8/9 at Hou. 12 74 6:09 TD 1 Cutler 15 yd. run Cutler 8/9 at Hou. 4 4 0:47 FG 3 Prater 38 yd. Field Goal Ramsey 8/9 at Hou. 8 39 3:02 FG 4 Prater 31 yd. Field Goal Hackney 8/9 at Hou. 8 72 4:29 FG 4 Prater 26 yd. Field Goal Hackney 8/16 vs. Dal. 9 65 9:43 TD 1 A. Hall 1 yd. run Cutler 8/16 vs. Dal. 9 90 5:53 TD 2 Marshall 3 yd. pass from Cutler Cutler 8/16 vs. Dal. 11 63 4:13 FG 3 Prater 29 yd. Field Goal Ramsey 8/16 vs. Dal. 8 41 3:32 FG 4 Prater 19 yd. Field Foal Ramsey 8/16 vs. Dal. 7 33 1:35 FG 4 Prater 43 yd. Field Goal Hackney 2008 PRESEASON GAME-OPENING DRIVES BRONCOS OPPONENT Pts FD Yds. Pts FD Yds. 8/9 at Hou. 0 0-7 3 3 51 8/16 vs. Dal. 7 4 65 0 3 24 8/22 vs. G.B. 8/29 at. Ari. TOTAL 7 4 58 3 6 75 2008 PRESEASON 2ND HALF-OPENING DRIVES BRONCOS OPPONENT Pts FD Yds. Pts FD Yds. 8/9 at Hou. 0 0 2 3 3 76 8/16 vs. Dal. 3 3 63 3 3 56 8/22 vs. G.B. 8/29 at. Ari. TOTAL 3 3 65 6 6 132 2008 PRESEASON SCORING DRIVE LENGTH BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON TOUCHDOWN DRIVE ANALYSIS TD TD Drive Yards Length Length Possession Time TDs Plays TDs 1-9 yards 2-00:00-00:59-1 - 10-19 yards 1-01:00-01:59-2 - 20-29 yards - - 02:00-02:59-3 - 30-39 yards - - 03:00-03:59-4 - 40-49 yards - - 04:00-04:59-5 - 50-59 yards - - 05:00-05:59 2 6-60 - 69 yards - 1 06:00-06:59 1 7-70 - 79 yards - 1 07:00-07:59-8 - 80-89 yards - - 08:00-08:59-9 2 90-99 yards - 1 09:00-09:59-10 - 11:00-11:59-11 - 12:00-12:59-12 1 13:00-13:59-13 - 14:00-14:59-14 - 15:00 + - 15-16+ - TOTAL 3 3 TOTAL 3 TOTAL 3 BRONCOS OPPONENT YARDS TD FG TD FG (MINUS) - - - - 0-9 - 1 - - 10-19 - - - - 20-29 - - 1-30 - 39-2 - 1 40-49 - 1 - - 50-59 - - - 3 60-69 1 1 1 1 70-79 1 1-1 80-89 - - - - 90-99 1 - - - TOTAL 3 6 2 6
2008 PRESEASON DRIVE/SACK/INT CHARTS / LEADERS AND LEAGUE RANKINGS LONGEST SCORING DRIVES OF 2008 PRESEASON MOST PLAYS Broncos: 12 (at Hou., Aug. 9, TD, 74 yds., 6:09) Opponents: 15 (at Hou., Aug. 9, FG., 25 yds., 5:50) MOST YARDS Broncos: 90 (vs. Dal., Aug. 16, TD, 9 plays, 5:53) Opponents: 76 (at Hou., Aug. 9, FG, 10 plays, 5:21) MOST TIME Broncos: 6:09 (at Hou., Aug. 9, TD,12 plays, 74 yds.) Opponents: 5:50 (at Hou., Aug. 9, FG, 15 plays, 54 yds.) SHORTEST SCORING DRIVES OF 2008 PRESEASON FEWEST PLAYS Broncos: 4 (at Hou., Aug. 9, FG, 38 yds., 0:47) Opponents: 2 (at Hou., Aug. 9, TD, 26 yds., 0:49) FEWEST YARDS Broncos: 4 (at Hou., Aug. 9, FG, 4 plays, 0:47) Opponents: 26 (at Hou., Aug. 9, TD, 2 plays, 0:49) LEAST TIME Broncos: 0:47 (at Hou., Aug. 9, FG, 4 plays, 4 yds.) Opponents: 0:49 (at Hou., Aug. 9, TD, 2 plays, 26 yds.) 2008 PRESEASON SACK CHART 2008 PRESEASON INT CHART TEAM (4.0) Jordan Beck (1.0) - 1.0 at Hou. (8/9), Elvis Dumervil (1.0)- 1.0 vs. Dal. (8/16), Christian Morton (1.0) - 1.0 at Hou. (8/9), Kenny Peterson (1.0) - 1.0 vs. Dal. (8/16). TEAM (1.0) Jack Williams (1.0) - 1.0 vs. Dal. (8/16). BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON LEADERS BY STATISTICAL CATEGORY Category............Player............AFC Rank....AFC Leader..............NFL Rank......NFL Leader Scoring...............Prater - 21..............1st........Prater, Den. - 21...............1st..........Prater, Den. - 21 Rushing...............Hall - 67...............11th.......Ganther, Ten. - 131............29th.........Mason, Was. - 233 Passing Yards..........Cutler - 237.............5th........Ratliff, NYJ - 400..............6th..........Ratliff, NYJ - 400 Passer Rating..........Cutler - 110.7...........6th........Schaub, Hou. - 141.3...........14th.........Kitna, Det. - 158.3 Receiving Yards........*Royal - 80.............7th........Clowney, NYJ - 222..........16th (t)........clowney, NYJ - 222 Receptions............Marshall - 8............3rd(t).......2 tied - 9...................6th (t).........*d. Jackson, Phi. - 12 Punting Avg...........*Kern - 52.3.............1st........*Kern - 52.3..................2nd..........* Prather, N.O. - 53.0 Net Punting Avg........Paulescu - 39.7..........9th........Colquitt, K.C - 45.1............15th.........* Prather, N.O. - 47.7 Interceptions...........*Jack Williams -1.......3rd(t).......2 tied - 2...................3rd (t).........2 tied - 2 Kickoff Ret. Avg........Russell - 24.5...........11th.......*Garcon, Ind. - 39.0............24th.........*Nelson, G.B. - 57.0 Punt Ret. Avg..........2 tied - 4.0............21st.......Figurs, Bal.- 31.0..............41st.........*Bennett, Chi. - 42.0 * - Player does not qualify for league rankings. HOW THE BRONCOS RANK IN THE AFC AND NFL - 2008 PRESEASON OFFENSE.......................Tot.........AFC Rank.......AFC Leader.......NFL Rank........NFL Leader Points Per Game....................19.5.............6th..........Ten. - 25.5...........12th...........Sea. -31.5 Total Yards Per Game................315.0...........8th..........Ten. - 431.5...........15th...........Ten. - 431.5 Yards Per Play......................5.2.............8th..........Ten. - 6.3............15th...........Ten. - 6.3 Rushing Yards Per Game..............112.0...........9th..........Ten. - 240.0..........16th...........Ten. - 240.0 Net Passing Yds. Per Game............203.0...........6th..........Cle. - 275.0...........14th...........Cle. - 275.0 Interceptions Per Pass Attempt.........3.2%...........11th..........7 Teams - 0.0.........22nd...........12 Teams - 0.0 Times Sacked Per Pass Play...........1.0.............1st..........Den. - 1.0............3rd............Det. - 0.0 First Downs Per Game................19.5............6th..........Cle. - 28.0...........11th(t)..........Cle. - 28.0 Third-Down Efficiency................45%...........16th..........Hou. - 59.3...........18th...........Hou. - 59.3 Fourth-Down Efficiency...............100.0%.........1st(t)..........4 Teams.............1st(t)...........9 Teams DEFENSE.......................Tot.........AFC Rank.......AFC Leader.......NFL Rank........NFL Leader Points Per Game....................16.0............5th..........Oak. - 11.5...........13th...........T.B. - 6 Total Yards Per Game................321.0...........10th..........N.E. - 204.0..........20th...........T.B. - 198.0 Yards Per Play......................5.4.............11th..........N.E. - 3.8............24th...........Phi. - 3.5 Rushing Yards Per Game..............105.0...........4th..........NE. - 35.0...........11th(t)..........N.E. - 35.0 Net Passing Yds. Per Game............216.5...........12th..........S.D. -150.0...........22nd...........S.F. - 89.5 Interceptions Per Pass Attempt.........1.7%...........12th..........Bal. - 5.6%...........18th...........Chi. - 5.8% Sacks Per Pass Play..................4.0............8th(t).........Bal. - 8.0.............18th...........Chi. - 5.0 First Downs Per Game................18.5...........9th(t).........N.E. - 10.0..........20th(t)..........2 tied - 10.0 Third-Down Efficiency................40.0%.........7th(t).........N.E. - 16.7%.........18th(t)..........N.E. - 16.7 Fourth-Down Efficiency...............0.0%..........2nd(t).........Ind. - 0.0%..........4th(t)...........3 Teams - 0.0%
BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS OPPONENTS 2008 PRESEASON GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS at Hou. (8/9) vs. Dal. (8/16) vs. G.B. (8/22) at Ari. (8/29) TOTAL First Downs First Downs Total 17 22 39 Total 21 16 37 Rushing 8 5 13 Rushing 8 4 12 Passing 6 13 19 Passing 11 12 23 Penalty 3 4 7 Penalty 2 0 2 Third-Down Efficiency Third-Down Efficiency Converted 5 5 10 Converted 6 4 10 Attempts 11 16 27 Attempts 13 12 25 Efficiency 45% 31% 37% Efficiency 46% 33% 40% Fourth-Down Efficiency Fourth-Down Efficiency Converted 0 2 2 Converted 0 0 0 Attempts 0 2 2 Attempts 2 1 3 Efficiency 0% 100% 0% Efficiency 0% 0% 0% Total Offense Total Offense Net Yards 276 354 630 Net Yards 319 324 643 Plays 54 67 121 Plays 63 57 120 Avg./play 5.1 5.3 5.2 Avg./play 5.1 5.7 5.4 Rushing Rushing Net Yards 123 101 224 Net Yards 140 70 210 Attempts 26 32 58 Attempts 36 20 56 Avg./rush 4.7 3.2 3.9 Avg./rush 3.9 3.5 3.8 TFL - yds. 5-15 2-3 7-18 TFL - yds. 3-10 4-10 7-20 Passing Passing Net Yards 153 253 406 Net Yards 179 254 433 Sacks 0 1 1 Sacks 2 2 4 Yds. Lost 0 2 2 Yds. Lost 12 0 12 Gross Yds. 153 255 408 Gross Yds. 191 254 445 Attempts 28 34 62 Attempts 25 35 60 Compl. 18 25 43 Compl. 18 22 40 Pct. 64% 74% 69% Pct. 72% 63% 67% Int. 2 0 2 Int. 0 1 1 Avg./play 5.5 7.2 6.4 Avg./play 6.6 6.9 6.8 Kickoffs Kickoffs No. 5 6 11 No. 5 4 9 In End Zone-TB 3-0 6-4 9-4 In End Zone-TB 2-0 1-1 3-1 Punts Punts No. 2 5 7 No. 1 5 6 Yards 93 215 308 Yards 30 232 262 Avg. 46.5 43.0 44.0 Avg. 30.0 46.4 43.7 Net Avg. 45.0 32.4 36.0 Net Avg. 28.0 44.4 41.7 Had Blocked 0 1 1 Had Blocked 0 0 0 Kicks, Had Blocked Kicks, Had Blocked Field Goals-PATs 0 0 0 Field Goals-PATs 0 0 0 Punt Returns Punt Returns No. 1 2 3 No. 2 2 4 Yards 2 10 12 Yards 3 33 36 Avg. 2.0 5.0 4.0 Avg. 1.5 16.5 9.0 Kickoff Returns Kickoff Returns No. 5 3 8 No. 5 2 7 Yards 116 76 192 Yards 121 71 192 Avg. 23.2 25.3 24.0 Avg. 24.2 35.5 27.4 Interception Returns Interception Returns No. 0 1 1 No. 2 0 2 Yards 0 32 32 Yards 64 0 64 Avg. 0.0 32.0 0.0 Avg. 32.0 0.0 32.0 Penalties Penalties Number 12 6 18 Number 3 9 12 Yds. Lost 80 36 116 Yds. Lost 37 78 115 Fumbles Fumbles No. 1 0 1 No. 2 0 2 Lost 0 0 0 Lost 1 0 1 Touchdowns Touchdowns Total TDs 1 2 3 Total TDs 1 1 2 Rush 1 1 2 Rush 0 0 0 Pass 0 1 1 Pass 1 1 2 Returns 0 0 0 Returns 0 0 0 Extra Points Extra Points Made-Attempts 1-1 2-2 3-3 Made-Attempts 1-1 1-1 2-2 Kicking Md.-Att. 1-1 2-2 3-3 Kicking Md.-Att. 0-0 1-1 2-2 Rushing Md.-Att. 0-0 0-0 0-0 Rushing Md.-Att. 0-0 0-0 0-0 Passing Md.-Att. 0-0 0-0 0-0 Passing Md.-Att. 0-0 0-0 0-0 Field Goals Field Goals Made-Attempts 3-4 3-4 6-8 Made-Attempts 4-4 2-2 6-6 Red Zone Efficiency Red Zone Efficiency Scored-Attempts 1-4 2-4 3-8 Scored-Attempts 1-4 1-3 2-7 Efficiency 25% 50% 38% Efficiency 25% 33% 29% Goal-to-Go Efficiency Goal-to-Go Efficiency Scored-Attempts 0-1 2-3 2-4 Scored-Attempts 0-2 1-1 1-3 Efficiency 0% 67% 50% Efficiency 0% 100% 33% Safeties 0 0 0 Safeties 0 0 0 Total Points 16 23 39 Total Points 19 13 32 Time of Poss. Avg. 30:22 33:07 31:44 Time of Poss. Avg. 29:38 26:53 28:16 at Hou. (8/9) vs. Dal. (8/16) vs. G.B. (8/22) at Ari. (8/29) TOTAL
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON QUARTER-BY-QUARTER STATISTICS FIRST QUARTER SECOND QUARTER 3rd Dwn. 4th Dwn. Penalties 3rd Dwn. 4th Dwn. Penalties Pts. Yds. Rush Pass 1st Dwn. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. TOP No. Yds. Pts. Yds. Rush Pass 1st Dwn. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. TOP No. Yds. Denver 7 77 18 59 5 2 3 66.7% 0 0 0.0% 9:41 2 10 Denver 0 79 56 23 7 2 3 66.7% 0 0 0.0% 9:41 3 25 at Hou. (8/9) 3 59 17 42 4 1 2 50.0% 0 0 0.0% 5:19 0 0 at Hou. (8/9) 10 79 29 50 5 1 3 33.3% 0 1 0.0% 5:19 1 5 Denver 7 102 35 67 6 0 2 0.0% 1 1 100.0% 9:06 4 21 Denver 7 136 25 111 9 2 4 50.0% 0 0 0.0% 9:44 1 10 vs. Dal. (8/16) 0 49 20 29 3 2 3 66.7% 0 0 0.0% 5:54 4 40 vs. Dal. (8/16) 7 79 14 65 3 2 4 50.0% 0 0 0.0% 5:16 3 18 Denver Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver Denver at Ari. (8/29) at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOT. 14 179 53 126 11 2 5 40.0% 1 1 100.0% 18:47:00 6 31 DENVER TOT. 7 215 81 134 16 4 7 57.1% 0 0 0.0% 19:25:00 4 35 OPP. TOT. 3 108 37 71 7 3 5 60.0% 0 0 0.0% 11:13:00 4 40 OPP. TOT. 17 158 43 115 8 3 7 42.9% 0 1 0.0% 10:35:00 4 23 THIRD QUARTER FOURTH QUARTER 3rd Dwn. 4th Dwn. Penalties 3rd Dwn. 4th Dwn. Penalties Pts. Yds. Rush Pass 1st Dwn. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. TOP No. Yds. Pts. Yds. Rush Pass 1st Dwn. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. TOP No. Yds. Denver 3 55 34 21 2 0 2 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 6:23 1 10 Denver 6 65 15 50 3 1 3 33.3% 0 0 0.0% 4:37 6 35 at Hou. (8/9) 3 107 40 67 4 2 4 50.0% 0 1 0.0% 8:37 0 0 at Hou. (8/9) 3 74 54 20 8 2 4 50.0% 0 0 0.0% 10:23 2 32 Denver 3 60 24 36 4 2 5 40.0% 0 0 0.0% 8:34 0 0 Denver 6 56 17 39 3 1 5 20.0% 1 1 100.0% 5:43 1 5 vs. Dal. (8/16) 3 56 3 53 3 0 3 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 6:26 1 5 vs. Dal. (8/16) 3 140 33 107 7 0 2 0.0% 0 1 0.0% 9:17 1 15 Denver Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver Denver at Ari. (8/29) at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOT. 6 115 58 57 6 2 7 28.6% 0 0 0.0% 14:57:00 1 10 DENVER TOT. 12 121 32 89 6 2 8 25.0% 1 1 100.0% 10:20:00 7 40 OPP. TOT. 6 163 43 120 7 2 7 28.6% 0 1 0.0% 15:03:00 1 5 OPP. TOT. 6 214 87 127 15 2 6 33.3% 0 1 0.0% 19:40:00 3 47 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON HALF-BY-HALF STATISTICS FIRST HALF SECOND HALF 3rd Dwn. 4th Dwn. Penalties 3rd Dwn. 4th Dwn. Penalties Pts. Yds. Rush Pass 1st Dwn. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. TOP No. Yds. Pts. Yds. Rush Pass 1st Dwn. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. TOP No. Yds. Denver 7 156 74 82 12 4 6 66.7% 0 0 0.0% 19:22 5 35 Denver 9 120 49 71 5 1 5 20.0% 0 0 0.0% 11:00 7 45 at Hou. (8/9) 13 138 46 92 9 2 5 40.0% 0 1 0.0% 10:38 1 5 at Hou. (8/9) 6 181 94 87 12 4 8 50.0% 0 1 0.0% 19:00 2 32 Denver 14 238 60 178 15 2 6 33.3% 1 1 100.0% 18:50 5 31 Denver 9 116 41 75 7 3 10 30.0% 1 1 100.0% 14:17 1 5 vs. Dal. (8/16) 7 128 34 94 6 4 7 57.1% 0 0 0.0% 11:10 7 58 vs. Dal. (8/16) 6 196 36 160 10 0 5 0.0% 0 1 0.0% 15:43 2 20 Denver Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver Denver at Ari. (8/29) at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOT. 21 394 134 260 27 6 12 50.0% 1 1 100.0% 38:12:00 10 66 DENVER TOT. 18 236 90 146 12 4 15 26.7% 1 1 100.0% 25:17:00 8 50 OPP. TOT. 20 266 80 186 15 6 12 50.0% 0 1 0.0% 21:48:00 8 63 OPP. TOT. 12 377 130 247 22 4 13 30.8% 0 2 0.0% 34:43:00 4 52
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON THIRD-DOWN CHART (OVERALL) Overall Run Pass 3rd and 1 3rd and 2 3rd and 3 3rd and 4 3rd and 5 3rd and 6 3rd and 7 3rd and 8 3rd and 9 3rd and 10+ GAME Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Denver 5 11 45.5% 3 5 60.0% 2 6 33.3% 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 5 at Hou. (8/9) 6 13 46.2% 2 4 50.0% 4 9 44.4% 1 1 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 Denver 5 16 31.3% 1 4 25.0% 4 12 33.3% 0 0 3 4 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 12 33.3% 0 0 #DIV/0! 4 12 33.3% 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 10 27 37.0% 4 9 44.4% 6 18 33.3% 1 1 3 4 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 1 2 4 1 1 1 3 1 8 OPPONENT TOTAL 10 25 40.0% 2 4 50.0% 8 21 38.1% 1 1 1 1 0 2 5 7 1 3 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 5 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON THIRD-DOWN CHART (RED ZONE) Overall Run Pass 3rd and 1 3rd and 2 3rd and 3 3rd and 4 3rd and 5 3rd and 6 3rd and 7 3rd and 8 3rd and 9 3rd and 10+ GAME Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Md. Att. Denver 1 4 25.0% 1 1 100.0% 0 3 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 at Hou. (8/9) 1 4 25.0% 0 1 0.0% 1 3 33.3% 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Denver 0 3 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0 3 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 1 3 33.3% 0 0 0.0% 1 3 33.3% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 1 7 14.3% 1 1 100.0% 0 6 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 OPPONENT TOTAL 2 7 28.6% 0 1 0.0% 2 6 33.3% 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON THIRD DOWN DISTANCE CHART TOTAL THIRD DOWNS RUSHING PASSING 3RD DOWN TOTALS YARDS GAINED 3RD DOWN AVERAGES Game Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. Md. Att. Pct. Yds. Needed Yds. Gained Run Pass Yds. Needed Yds. Gained Denver 5 11 45.5% 3 5 60.0% 2 6 33.3% 114 78 28 50 10.4 7.1 at Hou. (8/9) 6 13 46.2% 2 4 50.0% 4 9 44.4% 73 57 19 38 5.6 4.4 Denver 5 16 31.3% 1 4 25.0% 4 12 33.3% 97 66 15 51 6.1 4.1 vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 12 33.3% 0 0 0.0% 4 12 33.3% 86 60 0 60 7.2 5.0 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 10 27 37.0% 4 9 44.4% 6 18 33.3% 211 144 43 101 7.8 5.3 OPPONENT TOTAL 10 25 40.0% 2 4 50.0% 8 21 38.1% 159 117 19 98 6.4 4.7
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON FOURTH-DOWN CHART BRONCOS (2-for-2 / 100.0%) Drive Game Qtr. Time Score 4th and Convert Yards Play Pts. at Hou. (8/9) vs. Dal. (8/16) 1 10:25 0-0 1 Yes 6 Hall run 7 vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 13:45 Den., 17-10 1 Yes 28 Ramsey pass to Colbert 3 The Broncos have scored 10 points on drives extended by a fourth-down conversion. Pts: 10 FOURTH-DOWN CONVERSION LEADERS Player Run Rec. Total Hall 1 0 1 Colbert 0 1 1 TEAM TOTALS Md. Att. Pct. RUN: 1 1 100.0% PASS: 1 1 100.0% TOTALS 1 1 2 TOTAL: 2 2 100.0% OPPONENTS (0-for-3 / 0.0%) Drive Game Qtr. Time Score 4th and Convert Yards Play Pts. at Hou. (8/9) 2 1:09 Hou., 13-7 16 No 15 Turk run 0 at Hou. (8/9) 3 3:03 Hou., 16-10 1 No 0 Boyd run 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 2:29 Den., 20-13 5 No 0 Bartel inc. pass (Amendola) 0 Opponents have scored 0 points on drives extended by a fourth-down conversion. Pts: 0 TEAM TOTALS Md. Att. Pct. RUN: 0 2 0.0% PASS: 0 1 0.0% TOTAL: 0 3 0.0%
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON RED ZONE CHART TD BREAKDOWN SCORING EFFICIENCY FAILED Game Pos. TDs Run Pass TD% FGs Score% MFG DWN TO EOH Denver 4 1 1 0 25.0% 2 75.0% 1 0 0 0 at Hou. (8/9) 4 1 0 1 25.0% 3 100.0% 0 0 0 0 Denver 4 2 1 1 50.0% 2 100.0% 0 0 0 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 3 1 0 1 33.3% 1 66.7% 0 0 1 0 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 8 3 2 1 37.5% 4 87.5% 1 0 0 0 OPPONENT TOTAL 7 2 0 2 28.6% 4 85.7% 0 0 1 0 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON GOAL-TO-GO CHART TD BREAKDOWN SCORING EFFICIENCY FAILED Game Pos. TDs Run Pass TD% FGs Score% MFG DWN TO EOH Denver 1 0 0 0 0.0% 1 100.0% 0 0 0 0 at Hou. (8/9) 2 0 0 0 0.0% 2 100.0% 0 0 0 0 Denver 3 2 1 1 66.7% 1 100.0% 0 0 0 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 1 1 0 1 100.0% 0 100.0% 0 0 0 0 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 4 2 1 1 50.0% 2 100.0% 0 0 0 0 OPPONENT TOTAL 3 1 0 1 33.3% 2 100.0% 0 0 0 0
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON TURNOVER LOG (+/-0) TAKEAWAYS (2 TOT., 1 INT, 1 FUMBLE, 6 pts.) GIVEAWAYS (2 TOT., 2 INTS, 0 FUMBLE, 7 pts.) Game Qtr. Time Takeaway Player Field Pos. Pts. Game Qtr. Time Giveaway Player Field Pos. Pts. at Hou. (8/9) 3 6:57 Fumble Sapp HOU 24 3 at Hou. (8/9) 2 10:29 Interception Ramsey DEN 26 7 vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 2:29 Interception J. Williams DEN 42 3 at Hou. (8/9) 2 0:00 Interception Ramsey HOU 39 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) NONE BRONCOS TAKEAWAY LEADERS BRONCOS GIVEAWAY LEADERS Player INT FUM Totals Pts. Player INT FUM Totals Pts. Sapp 0 1 1 3 Ramsey 2 0 2 7 J. Williams 1 0 1 3 TOTALS 1 1 2 6 TOTALS 2 0 2 7 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON TAKEAWAY CHART TOTAL TAKEAWAYS 1ST QTR. 2ND QTR. 3RD QTR. 4TH QTR. OT GAME INT FUM TOTAL PTS. INT FUM TOTAL PTS. INT FUM TOTAL PTS. INT FUM TOTAL PTS. INT FUM TOTAL PTS. INT FUM TOTAL PTS. Denver 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 at Hou. (8/9) 2 0 2 7 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Denver 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 1 1 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 OPPONENT TOTAL 2 0 2 7 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Difference -1 +1 0-1 0 0 0 0-2 0-2 -7 0 +1 +1 +3 +1 0 +1 +3 0 0 0 0
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON PENALTY CHART TOTAL OFFENSIVE DEFENSIVE SPECIAL TEAMS Game No. Yards No. Yards No. Yards No. Yards Denver 12 80 9 65 3 15 0 0 at Hou. (8/9) 3 37 0 0 3 37 0 0 Denver 6 36 4 21 1 5 1 10 vs. Dal. (8/16) 9 78 4 35 4 38 1 5 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 18 116 13 86 4 20 1 10 OPPONENT TOTAL 12 115 4 35 7 75 1 5 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON DRIVE BREAKDOWN CHART FIELD GOALS Game OFF. DRIVES TDs MADE MISS PUNT INT FUM DOWN EOH SAF Denver 9 1 3 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 at Hou. (8/9) 8 1 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 Denver 10 2 3 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 10 1 2 0 5 1 0 0 1 0 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 19 3 6 2 6 2 0 0 0 0 OPPONENT TOTAL 18 2 6 0 6 1 0 2 1 0
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON SCORING DRIVE ANALYSIS SCORING DRIVES ALL SCORING DRIVES TOUCHDOWN DRIVES FIELD GOAL DRIVES PLAYS YARDS PLAYS YARDS PLAYS YARDS Game Tot TDs FGs No. Avg. LG No. Avg. LG No. Avg. LG No. Avg. LG No. Avg. LG No. Avg. LG Denver 4 1 3 32 8.0 12 189 47.3 74 12 12.0 12 74 74.0 74 20 6.7 8 115 38.3 72 at Hou. (8/9) 5 1 4 48 9.6 15 244 48.8 76 2 2.0 2 26 26.0 26 46 11.5 15 218 54.5 76 Denver 5 2 3 44 8.8 11 292 58.4 90 18 9.0 9 155 77.5 90 26 8.7 11 137 45.7 63 vs. Dal. (8/16) 3 1 2 25 8.3 9 190 63.3 69 8 8.0 8 65 65.0 65 17 8.5 9 125 62.5 69 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 9 3 6 76 8.4 12 481 53.4 90 30 10.0 12 229 76.3 90 46 7.7 11 252 42.0 72 OPPONENT TOTAL 8 2 6 73 9.1 15 434 54.3 76 10 5.0 8 91 45.5 65 63 10.5 15 343 57.2 76 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON PER DRIVE COMPARISON CHART GAME TOTALS DRIVE AVERAGES YARDAGE YARDAGE Game Drives Points Plays 1st Dwns. Total Run Pass Points Plays 1st Dwns. Total Run Pass Denver 9 16 54 17 276 123 153 1.8 6.0 1.9 30.7 13.7 17.0 at Hou. (8/9) 8 19 63 21 319 140 179 2.4 7.9 2.6 39.9 17.5 22.4 Denver 10 23 67 22 354 101 253 2.3 6.7 2.2 35.4 10.1 25.3 vs. Dal. (8/16) 10 13 57 16 324 70 254 1.3 5.7 1.6 32.4 7.0 25.4 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 19 39 121 39 630 224 406 2.1 6.4 2.1 33.2 11.8 21.4 OPPONENT TOTAL 18 32 120 37 643 210 433 1.8 6.7 2.1 35.7 11.7 24.1
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON FIELD POSITION CHART CUMULATIVE AVG. INSIDE AT INSIDE AT PAST INSIDE Game OFF. DRIVES STARTING LINE START OWN 20 OWN 20 50 50 50 OPP. 20 Denver 9 321 DEN 36 0 2 7 0 2 0 at Hou. (8/9) 8 268 HOU 34 1 1 7 0 1 0 Denver 10 289 DEN 29 2 1 9 0 1 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 10 228 DAL 23 1 5 10 0 0 0 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 19 610 32.1 2 3 16 0 3 0 OPPONENT TOTAL 18 496 27.6 2 6 17 0 1 0 DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON KICKOFF CHART AVG Game KICKOFFS YARDS LENGTH TBS TB PCT. EZ EZ PCT. IN5 IN10 OB Denver 5 341 68.2 0 0.0% 3 60.0% 4 5 0 at Hou. (8/9) 5 340 68.0 0 0.0% 2 40.0% 4 5 0 Denver 6 424 70.7 4 66.7% 6 100.0% 6 6 0 vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 273 68.3 1 25.0% 1 25.0% 4 4 0 Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 11 765 69.5 4 36.4% 9 81.8% 10 11 0 OPPONENT TOTAL 9 613 68.1 1 11.1% 3 33.3% 8 9 0 Kickoff totals include all kickoffs minus squib kicks, onside kicks and kicks that end a half. DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON THREE-AND-OUTS CHART TOTALS 1ST QTR 2ND QTR 3RD QTR 4TH QTR OT 3&Out Pos. Pct. 3&Out Pos. Pct. 3&Out Pos. Pct. 3&Out Pos. Pct. 3&Out Pos. Pct. 3&Out Pos. Pct. Denver 2 9 22.2% 1 2 50.0% 0 3 0.0% 1 3 33.3% 0 1 0.0% 0 0 0.0% at Hou. (8/9) 0 8 0.0% 0 2 0.0% 0 2 0.0% 0 2 0.0% 0 2 0.0% 0 0 0.0% Denver 3 10 30.0% 0 2 0.0% 1 3 33.3% 1 3 33.3% 1 2 50.0% 0 0 0.0% vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 10 40.0% 0 1 0.0% 2 3 66.7% 2 3 66.7% 0 3 0.0% 0 0 0.0% Denver vs. G.B. (8/22) Denver at Ari. (8/29) DENVER TOTAL 5 19 26.3% 1 4 25.0% 1 6 16.7% 2 6 33.3% 1 3 33.3% 0 0 0.0% OPPONENT TOTA 4 18 22.2% 0 3 0.0% 2 5 40.0% 2 5 40.0% 0 5 0.0% 0 0 0.0%
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON BIG-PLAY LOG BRONCOS RUSHING (10+Yards) BRONCOS PASSING (20+Yards) Game Qtr. Time Yards Player Game Qtr. Time Yards Player (QB) at Hou. (8/9) 1 1:05 15 Cutler at Hou. (8/9) 4 8:38 38 Scheffler (Hackney) at Hou. (8/9) 2 11:52 12 Scheffler vs. Dal. (8/16) 1 13:58 35 Royal (Cutler) at Hou. (8/9) 2 7:05 14 Hall vs. Dal. (8/16) 2 15:00 32 Royal (Cutler) at Hou. (8/9) 3 1:09 19 Alridge vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 13:45 28 Colbert (Ramsey) at Hou. (8/9) 4 7:34 16 Hackney vs. Dal. (8/16) NONE RUSHING BIG-PLAY LEADERS PASSING BIG-PLAY LEADERS PLAYER No. Yds. Avg. TDs Alridge 1 19 19.0 0 PLAYER No. Yds. Avg. TDs Hackney 1 16 16.0 0 Royal 2 67 33.5 0 Cutler 1 15 15.0 1 Scheffler 1 38 38.0 0 Hall 1 14 14.0 0 Colbert 1 28 28.0 0 Scheffler 1 12 12.0 0 TOTALS 5 76 15.2 1 TOTALS 4 133 33.3 0
DENVER BRONCOS 2008 PRESEASON OPPONENTS BIG-PLAY LOG OPPONENT RUSHING (10+Yards) OPPONENT PASSING (20+Yards) Game Qtr. Time Yards Player Game Qtr. Time Yards Player (QB) at Hou. (8/9) 1 11:28 12 Davis at Hou. (8/9) 3 11:44 41 Jones (Rosenfels) at Hou. (8/9) 2 10:29 10 Taylor vs. Dal. (8/16) 2 2:00 37 Austin (Johnson) at Hou. (8/9) 2 1:09 15 Turk vs. Dal. (8/16) 3 15:00 27 Jones (Johnson) at Hou. (8/9) 3 5:03 16 Boyd vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 11:35 39 Lowber (Bartel) at Hou. (8/9) 4 13:20 10 Slaton vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 6:52 20 Hannah (Bartel) at Hou. (8/9) 4 3:44 11 Boyd at Hou. (8/9) 4 2:46 13 Slaton vs. Dal. (8/16) 1 5:06 11 Barber vs. Dal. (8/16) 2 6:45 11 Jones vs. Dal. (8/16) 4 5:21 11 Lattimore RUSHING BIG-PLAY TOTALS PASSING BIG-PLAY TOTALS No. Yds. Avg. TDs No. Yds. Avg. TDs TOTALS 10 120 12.0 0 TOTALS 5 164 32.8 0
2008 BRONCOS PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS PASSING J.Cutler Date Opponent Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD TD% INT INT% LG Sack/Lost Rating 8/9 @ Houston 10 8 59 80.0 5.90 0 0.0 0 0.0 15 0/0 91.2 8/16 Dallas 20 16 178 80.0 8.90 1 5.0 0 0.0 35 0/0 120.4 TOTALS 30 24 237 80.0 7.90 1 3.3 0 0.0 35 0/0 110.7 P.Ramsey Date Opponent Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD TD% INT INT% LG Sack/Lost Rating 8/9 @ Houston 11 6 32 54.5 2.91 0 0.0 2 18.2 14 0/0 20.5 8/16 Dallas 13 8 67 61.5 5.15 0 0.0 0 0.0 28 0/0 74.8 TOTALS 24 14 99 58.3 4.13 0 0.0 2 8.3 28 0/0 33.2 D.Hackney Date Opponent Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD TD% INT INT% LG Sack/Lost Rating 8/9 @ Houston 7 4 62 57.1 8.86 0 0.0 0 0.0 38 0/0 86.6 8/16 Dallas 1 1 10 100.0 10.00 0 0.0 0 0.0 10 1/2 108.3 TOTALS 8 5 72 62.5 9.00 0 0.0 0 0.0 38 1/2 91.7 RUSHING A.Hall M.Pittman S.Young Date Opponent No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 8 43 5.4 14 0 5 13 2.6 5 0 4 3 0.8 7 0 8/16 Dallas 7 24 3.4 7 1 16 41 2.6 8 0 9 36 4.0 9 0 TOTALS 15 67 4.5 14 1 21 54 2.6 8 0 13 39 3.0 9 0 A.Alridge D.Hackney J.Cutler Date Opponent No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 4 20 5.0 19 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 1 15 15.0 15t 1 8/16 Dallas Active, Did Not Play 0 0 0.0 -- 0 0 0 0.0 -- 0 TOTALS 4 20 5.0 19 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 1 15 15.0 15t 1 T.Scheffler D.Jackson Date Opponent No Yds Avg LG TD No Yds Avg LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 1 12 12.0 12 0 2 1 0.5 2 0 8/16 Dallas 0 0 0.0 -- 0 Inactive TOTALS 1 12 12.0 12 0 2 1 0.5 2 0 B.Marshall RECEIVING E.Royal Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 2 9 4.5 9 0 2 13 6.5 8 0 3 47 15.7 38 0 8/16 Dallas 6 59 9.8 18 1 2 67 33.5 35 0 1 8 8.0 8 0 TOTALS 8 68 8.5 18 1 4 80 20.0 35 0 4 55 13.8 38 0 A.Alridge B.Stokley C.Russell Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 3 20 6.7 12 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 8/16 Dallas Active, Did Not Play 3 34 11.3 15 0 3 28 9.3 19 0 TOTALS 3 20 6.7 12 0 3 34 11.3 15 0 3 28 9.3 19 0 N.Jackson S.Young C.Sapp Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 1 10 10.0 10 0 2 20 10.0 15 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 8/16 Dallas 2 11 5.5 6 0 1-3 -3.0-3 0 2 12 6.0 10 0 TOTALS 3 21 7.0 10 0 3 17 5.7 15 0 2 12 6.0 10 0 K.Colbert M.Pittman A.Hall Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 4 4.0 4 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 8/16 Dallas 2 30 15.0 28 0 1 6 6.0 6 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 TOTALS 2 30 15.0 28 0 2 10 5.0 6 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 D.Graham D.Jackson G.Martinez Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD 8/9 @ Houston 1 7 7.0 7 0 1 14 14.0 14 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 8/16 Dallas 0 0 0.0 0 0 Inactive 1 3 3.0 3 0 TOTALS 1 7 7.0 7 0 1 14 14.0 14 0 1 3 3.0 3 0 P.Hillis S.Parker Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG TD No. Yds. Avg. LG TD 8/9 @ Houston Active, Did Not Play 1 9 9.0 9 0 8/16 Dallas 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 TOTALS 1 0 0.0 0 0 1 9 9.0 9 0 T.Scheffler
2008 BRONCOS PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS G.Martinez PUNT RETURNS Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG FC TD No. Yds. Avg. LG FC TD 8/9 @ Houston 1 2 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 8/16 Dallas 1 6 6.0 6 1 0 1 4 4.0 4 1 0 TOTALS 2 8 4.0 6 1 0 1 4 4.0 4 1 0 KICKOFF RETURNS A.Hall C.Russell Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG FC TD No. Yds. Avg. LG FC TD 8/9 @ Houston 1 20 20.0 20 0 0 1 25 25.0 25 0 0 8/16 Dallas 2 52 26.0 32 0 0 1 24 24.0 24 0 0 TOTALS 3 72 24.0 32 0 0 2 49 24.5 25 0 0 E.Royal A.Alridge Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. LG FC TD No. Yds. Avg. LG FC TD 8/9 @ Houston 2 48 24.0 27 0 0 1 23 23.0 23 0 0 8/16 Dallas 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 Active, Did Not Play TOTALS 2 48 24.0 27 0 0 1 23 23.0 23 0 0 PUNTING B.Kern S.Paulescu Date Opponent No. Yds. Avg. TB In20 LG Net No. Yds. Avg. TB In20 LG Net 8/9 @ Houston 1 42 42.0 0 0 42 47.0 1 51 51.0 0 0 51 43.0 8/16 Dallas 2 115 57.5 1 0 63 28.7 2 100 50.0 0 1 57 38.0 TOTALS 3 157 52.3 1 0 63 44.3 3 151 50.3 0 1 57 39.7 FIELD GOALS M.Prater E.Royal Date Opponent 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ Total Pct. PATM PATA Pct. 8/9 @ Houston 0-0 1-1 2-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-4.750 1 1 1.000 8/16 Dallas 1-1 1-1 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 3-4.750 2 2 1.000 TOTALS 1-1 2-2 2-3 1-2 0-0 0-0 6-8.750 3 3 1.000
2008 BRONCOS PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS W.WOODYARD DEFENSE D.FOXWORTH Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 8 8 0 0-0 0-0 7 4 3 0-0 0-0 3 3 0 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas 5 4 1 0-0 0-0 2 1 1 0-0 0-0 6 6 0 0-0 0-0 TOTALS 13 12 1 0-0 0-0 9 5 4 0-0 0-0 9 9 0 0-0 0-0 Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 3 1 2 0-0 0-0 4 4 0 1-5 0-0 6 6 0 1-7 0-0 8/16 Dallas 4 4 0 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 NOT WITH TEAM TOTALS 7 5 2 0-0 0-0 6 6 0 1-5 0-0 6 6 0 1-7 0-0 Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 3 1 2 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas 4 2 2 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 3 2 1 1-0 0-0 TOTALS 5 2 3 0-0 0-0 5 3 2 0-0 0-0 5 4 1 1-0 0-0 Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 4 3 1 0-0 0-0 3 2 1 0-0 0-0 4 4 0 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas DID NOT PLAY 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 NOT WITH TEAM TOTALS 4 3 1 0-0 0-0 4 3 1 0-0 0-0 4 4 0 0-0 0-0 Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 3 3 0 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 TOTALS 4 4 0 0-0 0-0 3 3 0 0-0 0-0 3 3 0 0-0 0-0 Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 1-32 2 2 0 1-0 0-0 TOTALS 3 3 0 0-0 0-0 3 2 1 0-0 1-32 2 2 0 1-0 0-0 Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 2 1 1 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 TOTALS 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 2 2 0 0-0 0-0 2 1 1 0-0 0-0 Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston NOT WITH TEAM 2 1 1 0-0 0-0 DID NOT PLAY 8/16 Dallas 2 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 TOTALS 2 1 1 0-0 0-0 2 1 1 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 L.BIRDINE J.BARRETT J.WINBORN J.BECK C.MORTON S.LARSEN M.MCCREE K.PETERSON E.EKUBAN K.PAYMAH L.REID N.WEBSTER P.CARRINGTON R.ROGERS D.WILLIAMS J.WILLIAMS E.DUMERVIL N.KOUTOUVIDES M.MANUEL J.MOSS T.POOLE V.VAUGHN H.ABDULLAH D.BLY J.ENGELBERGER Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 TOTALS 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 A.MCKINLEY D.ROBERTSON M.THOMAS Date Opponent TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. TT UT AT S-Yds. I-Yds. 8/9 @ Houston 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 DID NOT PLAY 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 8/16 Dallas 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 TOTALS 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0-0 0-0
1 WEATHER: Indoors TIME: 3:02 ATTENDANCE: 70,020 For only the third time in 14 seasons under Head Coach Mike Shanahan, the Denver Broncos lost a preseason opener with their 19-16 defeat to the Houston Texans in front of 70,020 fans at Reliant Stadium. Houston kicker Kris Brown converted a 25-yard game-winning field goal with no time left on the clock. Wide receiver Eddie Royal and tackle Ryan Clady made their NFL debut along with 10 other Broncos rookies. The two players became the first rookies in franchise history to start a preseason opener at the wide receiver and tackle positions, respectively. Denver rookie linebacker Wesley Woodyard led the Broncos defense with eight tackles (all solo). He was part of a Denver defense that limited the Texans to 1-of-4 success in the red zone. Quarterback Jay Cutler played the first two series for Denver, completing 8-of-10 passes for 59 yards (91.2 rtg.). He scored the Broncos lone touchdown on a 15-yard scramble. It was the Texans who struck first in the contest, knocking through a 23-yard field goal with their first possession of the game. After a quick three-and-out on their first drive, the Broncos first-team offense responded with a 12-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-3 lead with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter. Brown s 52-yard field goal along with a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sage Rosenfels to wide receiver David Anderson gave the Texans a 13-7 lead entering halftime. After another Brown field goal, Broncos kicker Matt Prater made three consecutive field goals (38, 31, 26) to tie the game at 16 with less than six minutes remaining in the contest. Houston set up its game-winning score by driving 54 yards on 15 plays, putting Brown in position to make a 25-yard field-goal attempt. More than 60 Broncos saw time against the Texans in their preseason opener. Denver suffered a pair of injuries to two of its linebackers in Boss Bailey (ankle) and Louis Green (neck/concussion), who was taken to an area hospital for tests before being released and accompanying the Broncos on their flight back to Denver. Denver s contest against the Texans was its final tune-up before practicing against the Cowboys on Aug. 13-14 at its training facility in Englewood, Colo. OFFICIALS: Referee Mike Carey (94); Umpire Dan Farrell (64); Head Linesman Dana McKenzie (8); Line Judge Tom Barnes (55); Side Judge Don Carlsen (39); Field Judge Buddy Horton (82); Back Judge Don Carey (126); Replay Tommy Moore. Houston 19, Denver 16 Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008 7:07 p.m. CDT Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas DENVER BRONCOS OFFENSE DEFENSE WR 15 B. Marshall LE 60 J. Engelberger LT 78 R. Clady LT 90 K. Peterson LG 50 B. Hamilton RT 79 M. Thomas C 62 C. Wiegmann RE 92 E. Dumervil RG 73 C. Kuper WLB 55 D. Williams RT 74 R. Harris MLB 58 N. Webster TE 89 D. Graham SLB 97 B. Bailey WR 19 E. Royal LCB 22 D. Foxworth QB 6 J. Cutler RCB 41 K. Paymah RB 35 S. Young SS 33 M. Manuel FB 37 C. Sapp FS 20 M. McCree BRONCOS SUBSTITUTIONS: P 1 B. Kern, P 2 S. Paulescu, QB 4 D. Hackney, K 5 M. Prater, WR 10 C. Russell, QB 11 P. Ramsey, WR 12 S. Parker, WR 13 K. Colbert, WR 14 B. Stokley, WR 16 M. McDaniel, WR 17 G. Martinez, RB 23 A. Hall, CB 25 C. Morton, CB 26 J. Williams, RB 28 M. Pittman, CB 31 L. Reid, CB 32 D. Bly, S 34 V. Vaughn, S 36 J. Barrett, RB 38 A. Alridge, S 43 R.Rogers, LB 46 S. Larsen, LB 51 J. Winborn, LB 52 L. Green, LB 53 N. Koutouvides, LB 56 M. Padilla, LB 57 J. Beck, LB 59 W. Woodyard, G 61 M. Erickson, T 64 E. Pears, G 65 D. Gandy, C 67 K. Lichtensteiger, DT 68 S. Harris, G 69 P. Alexander, T 76 T. Polumbus, DE 77 L. Birdine, TE 81 N. Jackson, WR 82 D. Jackson, TE/LS 83 M. Leach, TE 84 B. Pierce, WR 87 L. Sam, TE 88 T. Scheffler, 91 E. Ekuban, DT 93 N. Clemons, DE 94 J. Moss, DE 95 P. Carrington, DE 96 T. Crowder, DT 98 J. Mallard, DT 99 A. McKinley. HOUSTON TEXANS OFFENSE DEFENSE WR 11 A. Davis LE 98 A. Weaver LT 76 D. Brown LT 91 A. Okoye LG 69 C. Pitts RT 99 T. Johnson C 55 C. Myers RE 90 M. Williams RG 65 M. Brisiel SLB 54 Z. Diles RT 73 E. Winston MLB 59 D. Ryans TE 81 O. Daniels WLB 56 M. Greenwood WR 83 K. Walter LCB 32 F. Bennett QB 8 M. Schaub SS 35 J. Reeves FB 44 V. Leach FS 47 W. Demps RB 30 A. Green RCB 24 CC. Brown TEXANS SUBSTITUTIONS: P 1 M. Turk, PK 3 K. Brown, QB 7 S. Boyd, WR 12 J. Jones, WR 13 M. Simmons, WR 16 T. Carter, WR 17 L. McCoy, QB 18 S. Rosenfels, RB 20 S. Slaton, CB 21 J. Fletcher, SS 25 N. Ferguson, SS 26 G. Earl, RB 27 C. Taylor, CB 29 D. Roberson, FS 31 B. Harrison, FS 34 D. Barber, RB 37 D. Walker, CB 38 D. Faggins, CB 39 D. Wynn, FB 43 J. Cook, LS 48 B. Pittman, C 50 G. Eslinger, LB 51 C. Thompson, LB 52 X. Adibi, LB 53 K. Coley, LB 57 K. Bentley, DE 58 R. Colvin, LB 60 B. Moffitt, LB 61 M. Richardson, T 62 S. Jackson, C 63 C. White, G 64 K. Studdard, DT 66 D. Robinson, DT 67 G. Long, C/G 68 M. Fenton, G 70 F. Weary, DE 72 J. Nading, T 74 E. Salaam, T 75 B. Frye, T 77 T. Tucker, T 78 R. Butler, WR 80 A. Johnson, TE 85 J. Dreessen, WR 86 H. Williams, TE 87 M. Bruener, TE 88 R. Krause, WR 89 D. Anderson, DT 92 J. Zgonina, DT 93 T. Bulman, DE 94 N. Kalu, DT 95 A. Maddox, DE 96 E. Cochran, DT 97 F. Okam 1 2 3 4 OT TOTAL FIELD GOALS (made ( ) missed) VISITOR Denver Broncos 7 0 3 6 16 M. Prater 30WR (38) (31) (26) HOME Houston Texans 3 10 3 3 19 K. Brown (23) (52) (23) (25) Team Qtr Clock SCORE Time PLAY DESCRIPTION (Extra Point) (Drive Info) Visitor Home TEXANS 1 7:05 K. Brown 23 yd. field goal (11-51, 4:23) 0 3 BRONCOS 1 0:56 J. Cutler 15 yd. run (M. Prater kick) (12-74, 6:09) 7 3 TEXANS 2 11:59 K. Brown 52 yd. field goal (10-37, 3:57) 7 6 TEXANS 2 9:40 D. Anderson 16 yd. pass from S. Rosenfels (K. Brown kick) (2-26, 0:49) 7 13 TEXANS 3 9:39 K. Brown 23 yd. field goal (10-76, 5:21) 7 16 BRONCOS 3 6:10 M. Prater 38 yd field goal (4-4, 0:47) 10 16 BRONCOS 4 14:52 M. Prater 31 yd field goal (8-39,3:02) 13 16 BRONCOS 4 5:50 M. Prater 26 yd field goal (8-72, 4-29) 16 16 TEXANS 4 0:00 K. Brown 25 yd field goal (15-54, 5:50) 16 19 FINAL INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Denver Broncos Houston Texans RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD A. Hall 8 43 5.4 14 0 S. Slaton 11 37 3.4 13 0 A. Alridge 4 20 5.0 19 0 D. Walker 8 29 3.6 7 0 D. Hackney 1 16 16 16 0 S. Boyd 5 28 5.6 16 0 J. Cutler 1 15 15 15 1 C. Taylor 10 19 1.9 10 0 M. Pittman 5 13 2.6 5 0 M. Turk 1 15 15 15 0 T. Scheffler 1 12 12 12 0 A. Davis 1 12 12 12 0 S. Young 4 3 0.8 7 0 D. Jackson 2 1 0.5 2 0 TOTAL 26 123 4.7 19 1 TOTAL 36 140 3.9 16 0 TKD/ TKD/ PASSING ATT CMP YDS YD TD LG IN Rtg. PASSING ATT CMP YDS YD TD LG IN Rtg. P. Ramsey 11 6 32 0 0 14 2 20.5 S. Rosenfels 15 10 137 1/7 1 41 0 117.9 J. Cutler 10 8 59 0 0 15 0 91.2 M. Schaub 5 4 29 0 0 10 0 90.8 D. Hackney 7 4 62 0 0 38 0 86.6 S. Boyd 5 4 25 1/5 0 9 0 87.5 TOTAL 28 18 153 0 0 38 2 48.7 TOTAL 25 18 191 2/12 1 41 0 107.2 PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD T. Scheffler 3 47 15.7 38 0 D. Anderson 6 67 11.2 16 1 A. Alridge 3 20 6.7 12 0 L. McCoy 2 18 9.0 9 0 S. Young 2 20 10.0 15 0 J. Cook 2 5 2.5 5 0 E. Royal 2 13 6.5 8 0 J. Jones 1 41 41.0 41 0 B. Marshall 2 9 4.5 9 0 T. Carter 1 16 16.0 16 0 D. Jackson 1 14 14 14 0 V. Leach 1 13 13.0 13 0 N. Jackson 1 10 10.0 10 0 O. Daniels 1 10 10.0 10 0 S. Parker 1 9 9.0 9 0 A. Davis 1 9 9.0 9 0 D. Graham 1 7 7.0 7 0 A. Green 1 5 5.0 5 0 M. Pittman 1 4 4.0 4 0 K. Walter 1 5 5.0 5 0 A. Hall 1 0 0.0 0 0 S. Slaton 1 2 2.0 2 0 TOTAL 18 153 8.5 38 0 TOTAL 18 191 10.6 41 1 INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD TOTAL 0 0 0.0 0 J. Fletcher 1 34 34.0 34 0 N. Ferguson 1 30 30.0 30 0 TOTAL 2 64 32.0 34 0 PUNTING NO YDS AVG NET TB IN20 LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG NET TB IN20 LG S. Paulescu 1 51 51.0 43.0 0 0 51 M. Turk 1 30 30.0 28.0 0 0 30 B. Kern 1 42 42.0 47.0 0 0 42 TOTAL 2 93 46.5 45.0 0 0 51 TOTAL 1 30 30.0 28.0 0 0 30 PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD G. Martinez 1 2 2.0 0 2 0 J. Jones 2 3 1.5 0 8 0 RETURNS 1 2 2.0 0 2 0 RETURNS 2 3 1.5 0 8 0 KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD E. Royal 2 48 24.0 0 27 0 S. Slaton 4 97 24.3 0 39 0 C. Russell 1 25 25.0 0 25 0 A. Davis 1 24 24.0 0 24 0 A. Alridge 1 23 23.0 0 23 0 A. Hall 1 20 20.0 0 20 0 RETURNS 5 116 23.2 0 27 0 RETURNS 5 121 24.2 0 39 0 Denver Broncos Own Opp. Out Houston Texans Own Opp. Out FUMBLES Fum Lost Rec. Yds TD FF Rec. Yds TD Bnds FUMBLES Fum Lost Rec. Yds TD FF Rec. Yds TD Bnds A. Alridge 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Jones 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Polumbus 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S. Rosenfels 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Morton 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 C. Taylor 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Sapp 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 J. Nading 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 TOTAL 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 TOTAL 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 FINAL TEAM STATISTICS BRONCOS TEXANS BRONCOS TEXANS TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 27 21 FGs PATs Had Blocked 0-0 0-0 By Rushing 8 8 Net punting average 45.0 28.0 By Passing 6 11 TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs) 2 67 By Penalty 3 2 No. and Yards Punt Returns 1-2 2-3 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-11-45% 6-13-46% No. and Yards Kickoff Returns 5-116 5-121 FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 0-0-0% 0-2-0% No. and Yards Interception Returns 0-0 2-64 TOTAL NET YARDS 276 319 PENALTIES Number and Yards 12-80 3-37 Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing) 54 63 FUMBLES Number and Lost 1-0 2-1 Average gain per offensive play 5.1 5.1 TOUCHDOWNS 1 1 NET YARDS RUSHING 123 140 Rushing 1 0 Total Rushing Plays 26 36 Passing 0 1 Average gain per rushing play 4.7 3.9 Punt Returns 0 0 Tackles for a loss number and yards 5-15 3-10 EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts 1-1 1-1 NET YARDS PASSING 153 179 Kicking Made-Attempts 1-1 1-1 Times thrown yards lost attempting to pass 0-0 2-12 Passing Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0 Gross yards passing 153 191 FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts 3-4 4-4 PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 28-18-2 15-18-0 RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 1-4-25% 1-4-15% Average gain per pass play (inc. # thrown passing) 5.5 6.6 GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 0-1-0% 0-2-0% KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 5-3-0 5-2-0 SAFETIES 0 0 PUNTS Number and Average 2-46.5 1-20.0 FINAL SCORE 16 19 Had Blocked 0 0 TIME OF POSSESSION 30:22 29:38 BRONCOS DEFENSIVE STATISTICS (based on coaches film review) PLAYER UT A TT S-YDS I-YDS PD FF FR PLAYER UT A TT S-YDS I-YDS PD FF FR W. Woodyard 8 0 8 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 P. Carrington 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Barrett 4 3 7 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 R. Rogers 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 C. Morton 6 0 6 1-7 0-0 0 1 0 J. Moss 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Beck 4 0 4 1-5 0-0 0 0 0 V. Vaughn 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 L. Reid 4 0 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 M. Thomas 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 E. Ekuban 3 1 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 D. Williams 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 N. Webster 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Engelberger 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 D. Foxworth 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 N. Koutouvides 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 K. Paymah 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 A. McKinley 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 M. McCree 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 L. Birdine 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Winborn 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Williams 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 M. Manuel 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 D. Bly 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 K. Peterson 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 S. Larsen 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 TEAM TOTALS 55 14 69 2-12 0-0 1 1 0
2 WEATHER: Cloudy, 57 F TIME: 2:58 ATTENDANCE: 74,484 Mike Shanahan improved to 11-3 all-time in preseason home openers as head coach of the Broncos on Saturday night, helping the club earn a 23-13 win against the Dallas Cowboys in front of 74,484 fans at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The Broncos starting offense put together touchdown drives on each of its first two possessions. Quarterback Jay Cutler played the entire first half, completing 12 consecutive passes for 142 yards to open the game. The streak was the longest of his NFL career and the longest by a Broncos passer since 2003 (Jake Plummer, 16). Cutler finished the game with 178 passing yards, completing 16-of-20 (80.0%) passes with one touchdown (120.4 rtg.). On the game s opening drive, Cutler found rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal for a 35-yard completion that set up a 1- yard touchdown run by Andre Hall. The score capped off a 9- play, 65-yard drive that gave Denver a 7-0 lead at the 9:43 mark of the first quarter. After three penalties pinned the Broncos back to their 2-yard line on their next drive, Cutler found Royal for a 32-yard gain before completing an 18-yard pass to wide receiver Brandon Marshall. On second-and-goal from the Dallas 3-yard line, Marshall hauled in a Cutler throw in the corner of the end zone that put Denver up 14-0 early in the second quarter. Royal and Marshall combined for six catches for 104 yards during the Broncos first two scoring drives. The Broncos defense held the Cowboys scoreless until less than two minutes were remaining in the first half. Quarterback Brad Johnson s 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Miles Austin sent Dallas into halftime trailing 14-7. Nick Folk s 42-yard field goal early in the third quarter trimmed the Cowboys deficit to 14-10. Broncos kicker Matt Prater answered with field goals of 29 and 19 yards, increasing Denver s lead to 20-10 with 12 minutes left in the game. After another Folk field goal cut the Broncos lead to 20-13, the Cowboys moved into scoring position for a potential game-tying touchdown. The drive was halted when Broncos rookie cornerback Jack WIlliams intercepted Richard Bartel at the Denver 8-yard line. Cornerback Domonique Foxworth led the Broncos with six tackles. Defensive linemen Elvis Dumervil and Kenny Peterson each posted sacks for Denver. OFFICIALS: Referee Ed Hochuli (85); Umpire Chad Brown (31); Head Linesman Mark Hittner (28); Line Judge Tim Podraza (47); Side Judge Mike Weatherford (116); Field Judge Tom Sifferman (118); Back Judge Bill Schmitz (122); Replay Al Jury. Denver 23, Dallas 13 Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008 7:07 p.m. MDT INVESCO Field at Mile High Denver, Colo. DENVER BRONCOS OFFENSE DEFENSE WR 15 B. Marshall LE 60 J. Engelberger LT 78 R. Clady LT 63 D. Robertson LG 50 B. Hamilton RT 79 M. Thomas C 62 C. Wiegmann RE 92 E. Dumervil RG 73 C. Kuper WLB 55 D. Williams RT 74 R. Harris MLB 53 N. Koutouvides TE 89 D. Graham SLB 51 J. Winborn WR 19 E. Royal LCB 22 D. Foxworth QB 6 J. Cutler RCB 32 D. Bly RB 35 S. Young SS 33 M. Manuel TE 81 N. Jackson FS 20 M. McCree BRONCOS SUBSTITUTIONS: P 1 B. Kern, P 2 S. Paulescu, QB 4 D. Hackney, K 5 M. Prater, WR 9 T. Jacobs, WR 10 C. Russell, QB 11 P. Ramsey, WR 12 S. Parker, WR 13 K. Colbert, WR 14 B. Stokley, WR 16 M. McDaniel, WR 17 G. Martinez, S 21 H. Abdullah, RB 23 A. Hall, CB 26 J. Williams, RB 28 M. Pittman, CB 31 W. Dada, S 34 V. Vaughn, S 36 J. Barrett, RB 37 C. Sapp, CB 39 T. Poole, CB 41 K. Paymah, S 43 R. Rogers, LB 46 S. Larsen, FB 48 P. Hillis, LB 57 J.Beck, LB 58 N. Webster, LB 59 W. Woodyard, G 61 M. Erickson, G 65 D. Gandy, C 67 K. Lichtensteiger, DT 68 S. Harris, G 69 P. Alexander, G 70 M. Holland, DT 75 C. Powell, T 76 T. Polumbus, DE 77 L. Birdine, TE/LS 83 M. Leach, TE 84 B. Pierce, WR 87 L. Sam, TE 88 T. Scheffler, DT 90 K. Peterson, DT 93 N. Clemons, DE 94 J. Moss, DE 95 P. Carrington, DE 96 T. Crowder, DT 98 J. Mallard, DT 99 A. McKinley. DALLAS COWBOYS OFFENSE DEFENSE WR 81 T. Owens LE 96 M. Spears LT 76 F. Adams NT 90 J. Ratliff LG 63 K. Kosier RE 99 C. Canty C 65 A. Gurode SLB 98 G. Ellis RG 70 L. Davis MILB 56 B. James RT 75 M. Colombo MOLB 55 Z. Thomas TE 82 J. Witten WLB 94 D. Ware WR 84 P. Crayton LCB 31 M. Jenkins QB 9 T. Romo SS 38 R. Williams FB 45 R. Cruz FS 26 K. Hamlin RB 24 M. Barber RCB 42 A. Henry COWBOYS SUBSTITUTIONS: P 1 M. McBriar, P 2 J. Ottovegio, QB 4 R. Bartel, K 6 N. Folk, WR 13 M. Bradford, QB 14 B. Johnson, WR 15 D. Polk, WR 16 T. Lowber, WR 17 S. Hurd, WR 18 D. Amendola, WR 19 M. Austin, CB 20 A. Ball, CB 21 A. Jones, CB 23 E. Oglesby, S 25 P. Watkins, S 27 C. Brown, RB 28 F. Jones, RB 29 T. Choice, RB 30 A. Coleman, CB 32 O. Scandrick, FB 34 D. Anderson, RB 35 K. Lattimore, FB 39 J. Crosslin, TE 44 R. Hannah, S 47 D. Davis, LB 50 J. Rogers, DE 51 D. Robertson, LB 53 E. Walden, LB 54 B. Carpenter, LB 58 T. Smith, LB 59 T. George, DE 60 M. Smith, G 61 A. Stenavich, T 62 R. Gibbons, NT 64 J. Siavii, NT 66 T. Johnson, G 67 J. Berger, T 68 D. Free, C 71 C. Procter, DE 72 S. Bowen, T 77 P. McQuistan, T 78 J. Marten, T 79 C. Lekkerkerker, TE 80 M. Bennett, WR 85 M. Jefferson, WR 86 I. Stanback, TE 87 A. Atchison, TE 89 T. Curtis, LS 91 L. Ladouceur, NT 92 R. Ayodele, DE 97 J. Hatcher. 1 2 3 4 OT TOTAL FIELD GOALS (made ( ) missed) VISITOR Dallas Cowboys 0 7 3 3 13 M. Prater 49WL (29) (19) (43) HOME Denver Broncos 7 7 3 6 23 N. Folk (42) (29) Team Qtr Clock SCORE Time PLAY DESCRIPTION (Extra Point) (Drive Info) Visitor Home BRONCOS 1 9:43 A. Hall 1 yd. run (M. Prater kick) (9-65, 5:17) 0 7 BRONCOS 2 12:56 B. Marshall 3 yd. pass from J. Cutler (M. Prater kick) (9-90, 5:53) 0 14 COWBOYS 2 1:37 M. Austin 5 yd. pass from B. Johnson (N. Folk kick) (8-65, 2;16) 7 14 COWBOYS 3 10:31 N. Folk 42 yd. Field Goal (9-56, 4:29) 10 14 BRONCOS 3 6:18 M. Prater 29 yd. Field Goal (11-63, 4:13) 10 17 BRONCOS 4 11:57 M. Prater 19 yd. Field Goal (8-41, 3:32) 10 20 COWBOYS 4 7:57 N. Folk 29 yd. Field Goal (8-69, 4:00) 13 20 BRONCOS 4 0:43 M. Prater 43 yd. Field Goal (7-33, 1:35) 13 23 FINAL INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Denver Broncos Dallas Cowboys RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD M. Pittman 16 41 2.6 8 0 K. Lattimore 3 25 8.3 11 0 S. Young 9 36 4.0 9 0 M. Barber 5 22 4.4 11 0 A. Hall 7 24 3.4 7 1 F. Jones 3 17 5.7 11 0 R. Bartel 2 10 5.0 5 0 J. Crosslin 1 4 4.0 4 0 A. Coleman 3-1 -0.3 1 0 M. Austin 1-3 -3.0-3 0 T. Choice 2-4 -2.0-1 0 TOTAL 32 101 3.2 9 1 TOTAL 20 70 3.5 11 0 TKD/ TKD/ PASSING ATT CMP YDS YD TD LG IN Rtg. PASSING ATT CMP YDS YD TD LG IN Rtg. J. Cutler 20 16 178 0/0 1 35 0 120.4 R. Bartel 14 7 107 1/0 0 39 1 45.8 P. Ramsey 13 8 67 0/0 0 28 0 74.8 B, Johnson 12 9 114 1/0 1 37 0 131.9 D. Hackney 1 1 10 1/2 0 10 0 108.3 T. Romo 9 6 33 0/0 0 10 0 72.9 TOTAL 34 25 255 1/2 1 35 0 104.4 TOTAL 35 22 254 2/0 1 39 1 82.3 PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD B. Marshall 6 59 9.8 18 1 R. Hannah 4 52 13.0 20 0 B. Stokley 3 34 11.3 15 0 T. Owens 3 20 6.7 10 0 C. Russell 3 28 9.3 19 0 T. Curtis 3 16 5.3 6 0 E. Royal 2 67 33.5 35 0 M. Austin 2 42 21.0 37 1 K. Colbert 2 30 15.0 28 0 S. Hurd 2 7 3.5 4 0 C. Sapp 2 12 6.0 10 0 T. Lowber 1 39 39.0 39 0 N. Jackson 2 11 5.5 6 0 F. Jones 1 27 27.0 27 0 T. Scheffler 1 8 8.0 8 0 D. Amendola 1 12 12.0 12 0 M. Pittman 1 6 6.0 6 0 M. Bennett 1 11 11.0 11 0 G. Martinez 1 3 3.0 3 0 I. Stanback 1 9 9.0 9 0 P. Hillis 1 0 0.0 0 0 T. Choice 1 9 9.0 9 0 S. Young 1-3 -3.0-3 0 M. Barber 1 6 6.0 6 0 K. Lattimore 1 4 4.0 4 0 TOTAL 22 254 11.5 39 1 TOTAL 25 255 10.2 35 1 INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD TOTAL 0 0 0.0 0 J. Williams 1 32 32.0 32 0 TOTAL 2 64 32.0 34 0 PUNTING NO YDS AVG NET TB IN20 LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG NET TB IN20 LG B. Kern 2 115 57.5 28.7 1 0 63 M. McBriar 3 141 47.0 45.7 0 1 58 S. Paulescu 2 100 50.0 38.0 0 1 57 J. Ottovegio 2 91 45.5 42.5 0 0 53 {BLOCKED} 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 TOTAL 5 215 43.0 32.4 1 1 63 TOTAL 5 232 46.4 44.4 0 1 58 PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD G. Martinez 1 6 6.0 1 6 0 A. Jones 1 24 24.0 0 24 0 E. Royal 1 4 4.0 1 4 0 D. Amendola 1 9 9.0 0 9 0 {OUT OF BOUNDS} 1 0 0.0 0 0 {DOWNED} 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 {TOUCHBACK} 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 RETURNS 2 10 5.0 2 6 0 RETURNS 2 33 16.5 0 24 0 KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD A. Hall 2 52 26.0 0 32 0 O. Scandrick 1 36 36.0 0 36 0 C. Russell 1 24 24.0 0 24 0 I. Stanback 1 35 35.0 0 35 0 {TOUCHBACK} 1 0 0.0 0 0 {TOUCHBACK} 1 0 0.0 0 0 RETURNS 3 76 25.3 0 32 0 RETURNS 2 71 35.5 0 36 0 Denver Broncos Out Dallas Cowboys Opp. Out Own Opp. Own FUMBLES Fum Lost Rec. Yds TD FF Rec. Yds TD Bnds FUMBLES Fum Lost Rec. Yds TD FF Rec. Yds TD Bnds TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FINAL TEAM STATISTICS BRONCOS COWBOYS BRONCOS COWBOYS TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 22 16 FGs PATs Had Blocked 0-0 0-0 By Rushing 5 4 Net punting average 32.4 44.4 By Passing 13 12 TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs) 44 33 By Penalty 4 0 No. and Yards Punt Returns 2-10 2-33 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-16-31% 4-12-33% No. and Yards Kickoff Returns 3-76 2-71 FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 2-2-100% 0-1-0% No. and Yards Interception Returns 1-34 0-0 TOTAL NET YARDS 354 324 PENALTIES Number and Yards 6-36 9-78 Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing) 67 57 FUMBLES Number and Lost 0-0 0-0 Average gain per offensive play 5.3 5.7 TOUCHDOWNS 2 1 NET YARDS RUSHING 101 70 Rushing 1 0 Total Rushing Plays 32 20 Passing 1 1 Average gain per rushing play 3.2 3.5 Punt Returns 0 0 Tackles for a loss number and yards 2-3 4-10 EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts 2-2 1-1 NET YARDS PASSING 253 254 Kicking Made-Attempts 2-2 1-1 Times thrown yards lost attempting to pass 1-2 2-0 Passing Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0 Gross yards passing 255 254 FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts 3-4 2-2 PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 34-35-0 35-22-1 RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 2-4-50% 1-3-33% Average gain per pass play (inc. # thrown passing) 7.2 6.9 GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 2-3-67% 1-1-100%% KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 6-6-4 4-1-1 SAFETIES 0 0 PUNTS Number and Average 5-43.0 5-46.4 FINAL SCORE 23 13 Had Blocked 1 0 TIME OF POSSESSION 33:07 26:53 BRONCOS DEFENSIVE STATISTICS (based on coaches film review) PLAYER UT A TT S-YDS I-YDS PD FF FR PLAYER UT A TT S-YDS I-YDS PD FF FR D. Foxworth 6 0 6 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 N. Webster 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 J. Winborn 4 0 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 P. Carrington 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 W. Woodyard 4 1 5 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 D. Robertson 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 S. Larsen 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 K. Paymah 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 K. Peterson 2 1 3 1-0 0-0 0 0 0 N. Koutouvides 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 E. Dumervil 2 0 2 1-0 0-0 0 0 0 H. Abdullah 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 D. Williams 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 R. Rogers 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Williams 2 0 2 0-0 1-32 1 0 0 J. Moss 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 M. McCree 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 S. Paulescu 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Beck 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Mallard 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 J. Barrett 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 TEAM TOTALS 37 6 43 2-0 1-32 4 0 0 T. Poole 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
National Football League Game Summary NFL Copyright 2008 by The National Football League. All rights reserved. This summary and play-by-play is for the express purpose of assisting media in their coverage of the game; any other use of this material is prohibited without the written permission of the National Football League. Date: Saturday, 8/16/2008 Dallas Cowboys At Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado Start Time: 7:07 PM MDT Game Weather: Cloudy Played Outdoor on Turf: Grass Referee: Hochuli, Ed (85) Line Judge: Podraza, Tim (47) Back Judge: Schmitz, Bill (122) Offense Dallas Cowboys Officials Umpire: Brown, Chad (31) Side Judge: Weatherford, Mike (116) Defense Game Day Weather Replay Official: Al Jury Lineups Temp: 57 F (13.9 C), Humidity: 83%, Wind: SE 8 mph Outdoor Weather: Cloudy Offense Head Linesman: Hittner, Mark (28) Field Judge: Sifferman, Tom (118) Denver Broncos Defense WR 81 T.Owens LE 96 M.Spears WR 15 B.Marshall LE 60 J.Engelberger LT 76 F.Adams NT 90 J.Ratliff LT 78 R.Clady LT 63 D.Robertson LG 63 K.Kosier RE 99 C.Canty LG 50 B.Hamilton RT 79 M.Thomas C 65 A.Gurode SLB 98 G.Ellis C 62 C.Wiegmann RE 92 E.Dumervil RG 70 L.Davis MILB 56 B.James RG 73 C.Kuper WLB 55 D.Williams RT 75 M.Colombo MOLB 55 Z.Thomas RT 74 R.Harris MLB 53 N.Koutouvides TE 82 J.Witten WLB 94 D.Ware TE 89 D.Graham SLB 51 J.Winborn WR 84 P.Crayton LCB 31 M.Jenkins WR 19 E.Royal LCB 22 D.Foxworth QB 9 T.Romo RCB 42 A.Henry QB 6 J.Cutler RCB 32 D.Bly FB 45 R.Cruz FS 26 K.Hamlin RB 35 S.Young SS 33 M.Manuel RB 24 M.Barber SS 38 R.Williams TE 81 N.Jackson FS 20 M.McCree P 1 M.McBriar, P 2 J.Ottovegio, QB 4 R.Bartel, K 6 N.Folk, WR 13 M.Bradford, QB 14 B.Johnson, WR 15 D.Polk, WR 16 T.Lowber, WR 17 S.Hurd, WR 18 D.Amendola, WR 19 M.Austin, CB 20 A.Ball, CB 21 A.Jones, CB 23 E.Oglesby, S 25 P.Watkins, S 27 C.Brown, RB 28 F.Jones, RB 29 T.Choice, RB 30 A.Coleman, CB 32 O.Scandrick, FB 34 D.Anderson, RB 35 K.Lattimore, FB 39 J.Crosslin, TE 44 R.Hannah, S 47 D.Davis, LB 50 J.Rogers, DE 51 D.Robertson, LB 53 E.Walden, LB 54 B.Carpenter, LB 58 T.Smith, LB 59 T.George, DE 60 M.Smith, G 61 A.Stenavich, T 62 R.Gibbons, NT 64 J.Siavii, NT 66 T.Johnson, G 67 J.Berger, T 68 D.Free, C 71 C.Procter, DE 72 S.Bowen, T 77 P.McQuistan, T 78 J.Marten, T 79 C.Lekkerkerker, TE 80 M.Bennett, WR 85 M.Jefferson, WR 86 I.Stanback, TE 87 A.Atchison, TE 89 T.Curtis, LS 91 L.Ladouceur, NT 92 R.Ayodele, DE 97 J.Hatcher QB 10 J.Terrell Substitutions Did Not Play Not Active CB 36 Q.Butler, CB 37 T.Everett, CB 41 T.Newman, LB 57 K.Burnett, LB 93 A.Spencer, DE 95 M.Dixon Substitutions P 1 B.Kern, P 2 S.Paulescu, QB 4 D.Hackney, K 5 M.Prater, WR 9 T.Jacobs, WR 10 C.Russell, QB 11 P.Ramsey, WR 12 S.Parker, WR 13 K.Colbert, WR 14 B.Stokley, WR 16 M.McDaniel, WR 17 G.Martinez, S 21 H.Abdullah, RB 23 A.Hall, CB 26 J.Williams, RB 28 M.Pittman, CB 31 W.Dada, S 34 V.Vaughn, S 36 J.Barrett, RB 37 C.Sapp, CB 39 T.Poole, CB 41 K.Paymah, S 43 R.Rogers, LB 46 S.Larsen, FB 48 P.Hillis, LB 57 J.Beck, LB 58 N.Webster, LB 59 W.Woodyard, G 61 M.Erickson, G 65 D.Gandy, C 67 K.Lichtensteiger, DT 68 S.Harris, G 69 P.Alexander, G 70 M.Holland, DT 75 C.Powell, T 76 T.Polumbus, DE 77 L.Birdine, TE/LS 83 M.Leach, TE 84 B.Pierce, WR 87 L.Sam, TE 88 T.Scheffler, DT 90 K.Peterson, DT 93 N.Clemons, DE 94 J.Moss, DE 95 P.Carrington, DE 96 T.Crowder, DT 98 J.Mallard, DT 99 A.McKinley Did Not Play RB 38 A.Alridge, LB 56 M.Padilla, T 64 E.Pears, TE 85 C.Mustard, DE 91 E.Ekuban Not Active CB 24 C.Bailey, RB 42 R.Torain, LB 52 L.Green, C 66 T.Nalen, WR 82 D.Jackson, LB 97 B.Bailey Field Goals (made ( ) & missed) N.Folk (42) (29) M.Prater 49WL (29) (19) (43) 1 2 3 4 OT Total VISITOR: Dallas Cowboys 0 7 3 3 0 13 HOME: Denver Broncos 7 7 3 6 0 23 Scoring Plays Team Qtr Time Play Description (Extra Point) (Drive Info) Visitor Home Broncos 1 9:43 A.Hall 1 yd. run (M.Prater kick) (9-65, 5:17) 0 7 Broncos 2 12:56 B.Marshall 3 yd. pass from J.Cutler (M.Prater kick) (9-90, 5:53) 0 14 Cowboy 2 1:37 M.Austin 5 yd. pass from B.Johnson (N.Folk kick) (8-65, 2:16) 7 14 Cowboy 3 10:31 N.Folk 42 yd. Field Goal (9-56, 4:29) 10 14 Broncos 3 6:18 M.Prater 29 yd. Field Goal (11-63, 4:13) 10 17 Broncos 4 11:57 M.Prater 19 yd. Field Goal (8-41, 3:32) 10 20 Cowboy 4 7:57 N.Folk 29 yd. Field Goal (8-69, 4:00) 13 20 Broncos 4 0:43 M.Prater 43 yd. Field Goal (7-33, 1:35) 13 23 Paid Attendance: 74,484 Time: 2:58
RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD K.Lattimore 3 25 8.3 11 0 M.Barber 5 22 4.4 11 0 F.Jones 3 17 5.7 11 0 R.Bartel 2 10 5.0 5 0 J.Crosslin 1 4 4.0 4 0 A.Coleman 3-1 -0.3 1 0 M.Austin 1-3 -3.0-3 0 T.Choice 2-4 -2.0-1 0 Total Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos 8/16/2008 at Invesco Field at Mile High Final Individual Statistics Denver Broncos RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD M.Pittman 16 41 2.6 8 0 S.Young 9 36 4.0 9 0 A.Hall 7 24 3.4 7 1 20 70 3.5 11 0 Total 32 101 3.2 9 1 PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT R.Bartel 14 7 107 1/0 0 39 1 45.8 J.Cutler 20 16 178 0/0 1 35 0120.4 B.Johnson 12 9 114 1/0 1 37 0 131.9 T.Romo 9 6 33 0/0 0 10 0 72.9 P.Ramsey 13 8 67 0/0 0 28 0 74.8 D.Hackney 1 1 10 1/2 0 10 0108.3 Total 35 22 254 2/0 1 39 1 82.3 Total 34 25 255 1/2 1 35 0104.4 PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD R.Hannah 4 52 13.0 20 0 T.Owens 3 20 6.7 10 0 T.Curtis 3 16 5.3 6 0 M.Austin 2 42 21.0 37 1 S.Hurd 2 7 3.5 4 0 T.Lowber 1 39 39.0 39 0 F.Jones 1 27 27.0 27 0 D.Amendola 1 12 12.0 12 0 M.Bennett 1 11 11.0 11 0 I.Stanback 1 9 9.0 9 0 T.Choice 1 9 9.0 9 0 M.Barber 1 6 6.0 6 0 K.Lattimore 1 4 4.0 4 0 PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD B.Marshall 6 59 9.8 18 1 B.Stokley 3 34 11.3 15 0 C.Russell 3 28 9.3 19 0 E.Royal 2 67 33.5 35 0 K.Colbert 2 30 15.0 28 0 C.Sapp 2 12 6.0 10 0 N.Jackson 2 11 5.5 6 0 T.Scheffler 1 8 8.0 8 0 M.Pittman 1 6 6.0 6 0 G.Martinez 1 3 3.0 3 0 P.Hillis 1 0 0.0 0 0 S.Young 1-3 -3.0-3 0 Total INTERCEPTIONS 22 254 11.5 39 1 Total 25 255 10.2 35 1 NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD J.Williams 1 34 34.0 34 0 Total PUNTING NO YDS AVG NET TB IN20 LG M.McBriar 3 141 47.0 45.7 0 1 58 J.Ottovegio 2 91 45.5 42.5 0 0 53 0 0 0.0 0 0 Total 1 34 34.0 34 0 Total 5 232 46.4 44.4 0 1 58 Total 5 215 43.0 32.4 1 1 63 PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD A.Jones 1 24 24.0 0 24 0 D.Amendola 1 9 9.0 0 9 0 [DOWNED] 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 [TOUCHBACK] 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 PUNTING NO YDS AVG NET TB IN20 LG B.Kern 2 115 57.5 28.7 1 0 63 S.Paulescu 2 100 50.0 38.0 0 1 57 [BLOCKED] 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD G.Martinez 1 6 6.0 1 6 0 E.Royal 1 4 4.0 1 4 0 [OUT OF BOUNDS] 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 Returns 2 33 16.5 0 24 0 KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD O.Scandrick 1 36 36.0 0 36 0 I.Stanback 1 35 35.0 0 35 0 [TOUCHBACK] 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 Returns 2 10 5.0 2 6 0 KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD A.Hall 2 52 26.0 0 32 0 C.Russell 1 24 24.0 0 24 0 [TOUCHBACK] 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 Returns 2 71 35.5 0 36 0 Returns 3 76 25.3 0 32 0 Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos 8/16/2008 at Invesco Field at Mile High Final Team Statistics Visitor Home Cowboys Broncos TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 16 22 By Rushing 4 5 By Passing 12 13 By Penalty 0 4 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 4-12-33% 5-16-31% FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 0-1-0% 2-2-100% TOTAL NET YARDS 324 354 Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing) 57 67 Average gain per offensive play 5.7 5.3 NET YARDS RUSHING 70 101 Total Rushing Plays 20 32 Average gain per rushing play 3.5 3.2 Tackles for a loss-number and yards 4-10 2-3 NET YARDS PASSING 254 253 Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass 2-0 1-2 Gross yards passing 254 255 PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 35-22-1 34-25-0 Avg gain per pass play (inc.# thrown passing) 6.9 7.2 KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 4-1-1 6-6-4 PUNTS Number and Average 5-46.4 5-43.0 Had Blocked 0 1 FGs - PATs Had Blocked 0-0 0-0 Net Punting Average 44.4 32.4 TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs) 33 44 No. and Yards Punt Returns 2-33 2-10 No. and Yards Kickoff Returns 2-71 3-76 No. and Yards Interception Returns 0-0 1-34 PENALTIES Number and Yards 9-78 6-36 FUMBLES Number and Lost 0-0 0-0 TOUCHDOWNS 1 2 Rushing 0 1 Passing 1 1 EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts 1-1 2-2 Kicking Made-Attempts 1-1 2-2 FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts 2-2 3-4 RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 1-3-33% 2-4-50% GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 2-3-67% SAFETIES 0 0 FINAL SCORE 13 23 TIME OF POSSESSION 26:53 33:07
# Dallas Cowboys Time Time Recd Lost Time How Ball Poss Obtained Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos 8/16/2008 at Invesco Field at Mile High Ball Possession And Drive Chart Drive Began (228) Average DAL 23 # Play Yds Gain Yds Pen Net Yds 1st Down Last Scrm How Given Up 1 9:43 3:49 5:54 Kickoff DAL 34 11 49-25 24 3 DEN 42 Punt 2 12:56 11:28 1:28 Kickoff DAL 20 3 6 0 6 0 DAL 26 Punt 3 7:08 5:36 1:32 Punt DAL 20 3 8-10 -2 0 DAL 18 Punt 4 3:53 1:37 2:16 Punt DAL 35 8 65 0 65 3 * DEN 5 Touchdown 5 15:00 10:31 4:29 Kickoff DAL 20 9 56 0 56 3 DEN 24 Field Goal 6 6:18 5:14 1:04 Kickoff DAL 20 3-1 0-1 0 DAL 19 Punt 7 1:22 0:29 0:53 Punt DAL 3 3 1 0 1 0 DAL 4 Punt 8 11:57 7:57 4:00 Kickoff DAL 20 8 69 0 69 3 * DEN 11 Field Goal 9 6:52 2:18 4:34 Punt DAL 23 9 62 5 67 4 * DEN 10 Interception 10 0:43 0:00 0:43 Kickoff DAL 33 2 9 0 9 0 DAL 38 End of Game # Denver Broncos Time Time Recd Lost * inside opponent's 20 Time How Ball Poss Obtained Drive Began (289) Average DEN 29 # Play Yds Gain Yds Pen Net Yds 1st Down Last Scrm How Given Up 1 15:00 9:43 5:17 Kickoff DEN 35 9 75-10 65 4 * DAL 1 Touchdown 2 3:49 12:56 5:53 Punt DEN 10 9 86 4 90 5 * DAL 3 Touchdown 3 11:28 7:08 4:20 Punt DEN 10 8 35 3 38 3 DEN 48 Punt 4 5:36 3:53 1:43 Punt DEN 32 3-5 0-5 0 DEN 27 Punt 5 1:37 0:00 1:37 Kickoff DEN 22 8 47 0 47 3 DAL 31 Missed FG 6 10:31 6:18 4:13 Kickoff DEN 26 11 58 5 63 3 * DAL 11 Field Goal 7 5:14 1:22 3:52 Punt DEN 34 6 20 0 20 1 DAL 46 Punt 8 0:29 11:57 3:32 Punt DAL 42 8 41 0 41 1 * DAL 1 Field Goal 9 7:57 6:52 1:05 Kickoff DEN 20 3 3 0 3 0 DEN 23 Punt 10 2:18 0:43 1:35 Interception DEN 42 7 18 15 33 2 DAL 25 Field Goal Time of Possession by Quarter Visitor Dallas Cowboys 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Total 5:54 5:16 6:26 9:17 26:53 Home Denver Broncos 9:06 9:44 8:34 5:43 33:07 Kickoff Drive No.-Start Average Cowboys: 6 - DAL 24 Broncos: 4 - DEN 26
Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos 8/16/2008 at Invesco Field at Mile High Final Defensive Statistics Dallas Cowboys Regular Defensive Plays Special Teams Misc TKL AST COMB SK / YDS TFL QH IN PD FF FR TKL AST FF FR BL TKL AST FF FR B.James 6 0 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A.Jones 6 0 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K.Hamlin 5 1 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T.Smith 3 3 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Z.Thomas 4 0 4 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Ratliff 3 1 4 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 E.Oglesby 3 0 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O.Scandrick 3 0 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C.Brown 2 1 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R.Ayodele 1 2 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.Smith 2 0 2 1.0 2.0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.Jenkins 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 G.Ellis 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B.Carpenter 1 1 2 0.0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A.Henry 1 1 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Hatcher 1 1 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D.Ware 1 1 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S.Bowen 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.Spears 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 E.Walden 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P.Watkins 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T.George 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D.Davis 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Siavii 0 1 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A.Ball 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S.Hurd 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.Bennett 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.Austin 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T.Choice 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 R.Bartel 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Total 52 13 65 1.0 2.0 4 2 0 4 0 0 4 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Denver Broncos TKL /TK=Tackle AST /AS=Assist COMB=Combined TFL=Tackles for a Loss QH=Quarterback Hit IN=Interce ption PD=Pass Defense FF =Forced Fumble FR=Fumble Recover Regular Defensive Plays y BL=Blocked Special Teams Misc TKL AST COMB SK / YDS TFL QH IN PD FF FR TKL AST FF FR BL TKL AST FF FR D.Foxworth 6 0 6 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 W.Woodyard 4 1 5 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Winborn 4 0 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S.Larsen 2 2 4 0.0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K.Peterson 2 1 3 1.0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 E.Dumervil 2 0 2 1.0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D.Williams 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Williams 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.McCree 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Beck 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Barrett 1 1 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T.Poole 1 1 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N.Webster 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P.Carrington 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D.Robertson 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K.Paymah 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N.Koutouvides 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 H.Abdullah 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos 8/16/2008 at Invesco Field at Mile High Final Defensive Statistics 2 TKL AST COMB SK / YDS TFL QH IN PD FF FR TKL AST FF FR BL TKL AST FF FR R.Rogers 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Moss 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S.Paulescu 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Mallard 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 37 6 43 2.0 0.0 4 4.0 1 4 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cowboys (Visitor) Broncos (Home) PERIOD SCORES 0 7 = 7 7 7 = 14 Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos 8/16/2008 at Invesco Field at Mile High First Half Summary TIME OF POSSESSION Cowboys 11:10 Broncos 18:50 Scoring Plays Team Qtr Time Scoring Play Score Visitor Home Broncos 1 9:43 A.Hall 1 yd. run (M.Prater kick) (9-65, 5:17) 0 7 Broncos 2 12:56 B.Marshall 3 yd. pass from J.Cutler (M.Prater kick) (9-90, 5:53) 0 14 Cowboy 2 1:37 M.Austin 5 yd. pass from B.Johnson (N.Folk kick) (8-65, 2:16) 7 14 Cowboys Broncos TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 6 15 First Downs Rushing-Passing-by Penalty 1-5 - 0 4-9 - 2 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 4-7-57% 2-6-33% TOTAL NET YARDS 128 238 Total Offensive Plays 25 36 NET YARDS RUSHING 34 60 NET YARDS PASSING 94 178 Gross Yards Passing 94 178 Times thrown-yards lost attempting to pass 1-0 0-0 Pass Attempts-Completions-Had Intercepted 16-11 - 0 20-16 - 0 Punts-Number and Average 3-47 2-54.5 Penalties-Number and Yards 7-58 5-31 Fumbles-Number and Lost 0-0 0-0 Red Zone Efficiency 1-1-100% 2-2-100% Average Drive Start DAL 27 DEN 22 Dallas Cowboys RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD M.Barber 5 22 4.4 11 0 F.Jones 2 15 7.5 11 0 M.Austin 1-3 -3.0-3 0 Denver Broncos RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD S.Young 9 36 4.0 9 0 A.Hall 7 24 3.4 7 1 Total PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT T.Romo 9 6 33 0/0 0 10 0 72.9 B.Johnson 7 5 61 1/0 1 37 0 137.5 Total 8 34 4.3 11 0 Total 16 60 3.8 9 1 PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT J.Cutler 20 16 178 0/0 1 35 0120.4 16 11 94 1/0 1 37 0 104.7 Total 20 16 178 0/0 1 35 0120.4 PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD T.Owens 3 20 6.7 10 0 B.Marshall 6 59 9.8 18 1 M.Austin 2 42 21.0 37 1 B.Stokley 3 34 11.3 15 0 T.Curtis 2 10 5.0 6 0 E.Royal 2 67 33.5 35 0 S.Hurd 2 7 3.5 4 0 N.Jackson 2 11 5.5 6 0 I.Stanback 1 9 9.0 9 0 T.Scheffler 1 8 8.0 8 0 M.Barber 1 6 6.0 6 0 C.Sapp 1 2 2.0 2 0 S.Young 1-3 -3.0-3 0 Total 11 94 8.5 37 1 Total 16 178 11.1 35 1 Dallas Cowboys Regular Defensive Plays Special Teams Misc TKL AST COMB SK / YDS TFL QH IN PD FF FR TKL AST FF FR BL TKL AST FF FR B.James 6 0 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K.Hamlin 5 1 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Z.Thomas 4 0 4 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Ratliff 3 1 4 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Denver Broncos Regular Defensive Plays Special Teams Misc TKL AST COMB SK / YDS TFL QH IN PD FF FR TKL AST FF FR BL TKL AST FF FR D.Foxworth 6 0 6 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J.Winborn 4 0 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.McCree 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D.Williams 2 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High Play By Play 1st Quarter 8/16/2008 Page 1 DAL wins toss, elects to Kick, and DEN elects to defend the Receive goal. N.Folk kicks 67 yards from DAL 30 to DEN 3. A.Hall to DEN 35 for 32 yards (C.Brown; M.Austin). DEN-J.Barrett was injured during the play. Denver Broncos at 15:00, (1st play from scrimmage 14:53) 1-10-DEN 35 (14:53) S.Young right end to DEN 38 for 3 yards (R.Williams). DAL-C.Canty was injured during the play. PENALTY on DEN-R.Clady, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DEN 35 - No Play. 1-20-DEN 25 (14:36) J.Cutler pass short right to B.Marshall to DEN 37 for 12 yards (K.Hamlin). 2-8-DEN 37 (13:58) J.Cutler pass deep right to E.Royal to DAL 28 for 35 yards (K.Hamlin). P1 1-10-DAL 28 (13:32) S.Young up the middle to DAL 20 for 8 yards (K.Hamlin). 2-2-DAL 20 (12:57) J.Cutler pass short right to B.Marshall to DAL 16 for 4 yards (M.Jenkins, K.Hamlin). P2 1-10-DAL 16 (12:15) J.Cutler pass short left to C.Sapp to DAL 14 for 2 yards (Z.Thomas). 2-8-DAL 14 (11:37) A.Hall right tackle to DAL 15 for -1 yards (Z.Thomas). 3-9-DAL 15 (11:00) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short middle to B.Stokley to DAL 7 for 8 yards (E.Oglesby). 4-1-DAL 7 (10:25) A.Hall right tackle to DAL 1 for 6 yards (G.Ellis). R3 1-1-DAL 1 (9:46) A.Hall up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-M.Leach, Holder-S.Paulescu. DAL 0 DEN 7, 9 plays, 65 yards, 5:17 drive, 5:17 elapsed R4 M.Prater kicks 71 yards from DEN 30 to DAL -1. I.Stanback to DAL 34 for 35 yards (P.Carrington). Dallas Cowboys at 9:43, (1st play from scrimmage 9:36) 1-10-DAL 34 (9:36) M.Barber left tackle to DAL 36 for 2 yards (D.Robertson). 2-8-DAL 36 (8:58) T.Romo pass short right to T.Owens to DAL 42 for 6 yards (D.Foxworth). 3-2-DAL 42 (8:18) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass short right to S.Hurd to DAL 45 for 3 yards (D.Foxworth). PENALTY on DAL-M.Colombo, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs. P1 1-10-DAL 30 (8:18) PENALTY on DAL, Offensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 30 - No Play. 1-15-DAL 25 (8:18) M.Barber right end to DAL 26 for 1 yard (D.Williams). 2-14-DAL 26 (7:01) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass short left to T.Owens to DAL 36 for 10 yards (K.Paymah). 3-4-DAL 36 (6:19) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass short right to T.Owens to DAL 40 for 4 yards (D.Foxworth). P2 1-10-DAL 40 (5:39) T.Romo pass short middle to M.Barber to DAL 46 for 6 yards (J.Winborn). 2-4-DAL 46 (5:06) M.Barber right end pushed ob at DEN 43 for 11 yards (M.McCree). R3 1-10-DEN 43 (4:38) T.Romo pass incomplete deep left to T.Owens. 2-10-DEN 43 (4:30) M.Barber right end pushed ob at DEN 37 for 6 yards (J.Winborn). 3-4-DEN 37 (4:00) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass incomplete short left to T.Owens. 4-4-DEN 37 (3:57) (Shotgun) PENALTY on DAL-F.Adams, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 37 - No Play. 4-9-DEN 42 (3:57) M.McBriar punts 32 yards to DEN 10, Center-L.Ladouceur, fair catch by E.Royal. Denver Broncos at 3:49 1-10-DEN 10 (3:49) S.Young left end to DEN 13 for 3 yards (S.Bowen). 2-7-DEN 13 (3:03) PENALTY on DEN-E.Royal, False Start, 6 yards, enforced at DEN 13 - No Play. 2-13-DEN 7 (2:46) PENALTY on DEN-T.Scheffler, False Start, 3 yards, enforced at DEN 7 - No Play. 2-16-DEN 4 (2:26) J.Cutler pass short left to E.Royal to DEN 13 for 9 yards (A.Henry). PENALTY on DEN-C.Kuper, Offensive Holding, 2 yards, enforced at DEN 4 - No Play. 2-18-DEN 2 (2:01) S.Young left tackle to DEN 4 for 2 yards (B.James). 3-16-DEN 4 (1:21) S.Young up the middle to DEN 13 for 9 yards (J.Ratliff). PENALTY on DAL-B.James, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at DEN 13. X5 1-10-DEN 28 (:57) J.Cutler pass short middle to N.Jackson to DEN 34 for 6 yards (Z.Thomas). 2-4-DEN 34 (:15) A.Hall up the middle to DEN 41 for 7 yards (B.James). R6 END OF QUARTER Score Time First Downs Efficiencies ==== Quarter Summary ==== Poss R P X T 3Down 4Down Dallas Cowboys 0 5:54 1 2 0 3 2/3 0/0 Denver Broncos 7 9:06 3 2 1 6 0/2 1/1
Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High Play By Play 2nd Quarter 8/16/2008 Page 1 Denver Broncos continued. 1-10-DEN 41 (15:00) J.Cutler pass deep left to E.Royal to DAL 27 for 32 yards (Z.Thomas). 1-10-DAL 27 (14:22) J.Cutler pass short left to B.Marshall to DAL 9 for 18 yards (K.Hamlin). 1-9-DAL 9 (13:43) A.Hall up the middle to DAL 3 for 6 yards (G.Ellis, A.Henry). 2-3-DAL 3 (13:02) J.Cutler pass short right to B.Marshall for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-M.Leach, Holder-B.Kern. DAL 0 DEN 14, 9 plays, 90 yards, 1 penalty, 5:53 drive, 2:04 elapsed M.Prater kicks 70 yards from DEN 30 to end zone, Touchback. Dallas Cowboys at 12:56 1-10-DAL 20 (12:56) T.Romo pass short right to T.Curtis pushed ob at DAL 24 for 4 yards (K.Peterson). 2-6-DAL 24 (12:31) M.Barber up the middle to DAL 26 for 2 yards (J.Winborn, K.Peterson). 3-4-DAL 26 (11:51) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass incomplete deep middle to S.Hurd. 4-4-DAL 26 (11:37) M.McBriar punts 58 yards to DEN 16, Center-L.Ladouceur. E.Royal to DEN 20 for 4 yards (M.Jenkins). PENALTY on DEN-M.Pittman, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at DEN 20. Denver Broncos at 11:28 1-10-DEN 10 (11:28) J.Cutler pass short left to B.Marshall to DEN 16 for 6 yards (K.Hamlin). 2-4-DEN 16 (11:10) S.Young right end to DEN 18 for 2 yards (B.James, J.Ratliff). 3-2-DEN 18 (10:24) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short left to N.Jackson to DEN 23 for 5 yards (B.James). 1-10-DEN 23 (9:49) S.Young right end to DEN 29 for 6 yards (B.James). 2-4-DEN 29 (9:14) J.Cutler pass short left to B.Stokley to DEN 40 for 11 yards (E.Oglesby). 1-10-DEN 40 (8:36) J.Cutler pass incomplete short left to C.Sapp. PENALTY on DAL-D.Ware, Defensive Pass Interference, 3 yards, enforced at DEN 40 - No Play. 1-10-DEN 43 (8:31) A.Hall left tackle to DEN 47 for 4 yards (J.Hatcher; D.Ware). 2-6-DEN 47 (7:56) A.Hall left tackle to DEN 48 for 1 yard (D.Ware). 3-5-DEN 48 (7:20) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass incomplete short left to A.Hall (B.James). 4-5-DEN 48 (7:20) B.Kern punts 52 yards to end zone, Center-M.Leach, Touchback. Dallas Cowboys at 7:08 1-10-DAL 20 (7:08) M.Austin left end pushed ob at DAL 17 for -3 yards (D.Foxworth). 2-13-DAL 17 (6:45) F.Jones left end pushed ob at DAL 28 for 11 yards (N.Koutouvides). 3-2-DAL 28 (6:16) B.Johnson pass short left to D.Anderson to DAL 40 for 12 yards (K.Paymah). PENALTY on DAL-F.Jones, Tripping, 10 yards, enforced at DAL 28 - No Play. 3-12-DAL 18 (5:49) (Shotgun) B.Johnson pass incomplete deep right to M.Austin [J.Moss]. 4-12-DAL 18 (5:42) M.McBriar punts 51 yards to DEN 31, Center-L.Ladouceur, out of bounds. Denver Broncos at 5:36 1-10-DEN 32 (5:36) Direction Change. J.Cutler pass incomplete short right to B.Stokley. 2-10-DEN 32 (5:31) S.Young right tackle to DEN 30 for -2 yards (M.Spears). 3-12-DEN 30 (4:52) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short right to S.Young to DEN 27 for -3 yards (J.Ratliff). 4-15-DEN 27 (4:07) S.Paulescu punts 57 yards to DAL 16, Center-M.Leach. A.Jones to DAL 40 for 24 yards (S.Paulescu). PENALTY on DAL-A.Jones, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 40. Dallas Cowboys at 3:53 1-10-DAL 35 (3:53) F.Jones left end pushed ob at DAL 39 for 4 yards (J.Winborn). 2-6-DAL 39 (3:32) (Shotgun) B.Johnson pass short right to I.Stanback to DAL 48 for 9 yards (D.Foxworth). 1-10-DAL 48 (3:00) (Shotgun) B.Johnson sacked at DAL 48 for 0 yards (E.Dumervil). 2-10-DAL 48 (2:28) B.Johnson pass short left to T.Curtis to DEN 46 for 6 yards (D.Williams). Two-Minute Warning 3-4-DEN 46 (2:00) (Shotgun) B.Johnson pass deep right to M.Austin pushed ob at DEN 9 for 37 yards (D.Foxworth). 1-9-DEN 9 (1:53) (Shotgun) B.Johnson pass short middle to S.Hurd to DEN 5 for 4 yards (M.McCree). Timeout #1 by DEN at 01:46. 2-5-DEN 5 (1:46) B.Johnson pass incomplete short right to R.Cruz (D.Williams). 3-5-DEN 5 (1:41) (Shotgun) B.Johnson pass short right to M.Austin for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-L.Ladouceur, Holder-B.Johnson. DAL 7 DEN 14, 8 plays, 65 yards, 2:16 drive, 13:23 elapsed N.Folk kicks 68 yards from DAL 30 to DEN 2. A.Hall to DEN 22 for 20 yards (S.Hurd). Timeout #1 by DAL at 01:32. Denver Broncos at 1:37, (1st play from scrimmage 1:32) 1-10-DEN 22 (1:32) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass incomplete short left to S.Young. 2-10-DEN 22 (1:29) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short middle to T.Scheffler to DEN 30 for 8 yards (A.Henry). 3-2-DEN 30 (1:06) (Shotgun) S.Young right guard to DEN 35 for 5 yards (J.Ratliff). 1-10-DEN 35 (:40) (Shotgun) S.Young right end pushed ob at DEN 38 for 3 yards (M.Jenkins). Timeout #2 by DEN at 00:33. 2-7-DEN 38 (:33) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short middle to B.Stokley to DAL 47 for 15 yards (E.Oglesby). Timeout #3 by DEN at 00:26. 1-10-DAL 47 (:26) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short middle to B.Marshall to DAL 31 for 16 yards (B.James). 1-10-DAL 31 (:03) J.Cutler spiked the ball to stop the clock. 2-10-DAL 31 (:02) M.Prater 49 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-M.Leach, Holder-S.Paulescu. END OF QUARTER Score Time First Downs Efficiencies ==== Quarter Summary ==== Poss R P X T 3Down 4Down Dallas Cowboys 7 5:16 0 3 0 3 2/4 0/0 Denver Broncos 14 9:44 1 7 1 9 2/4 0/0 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 X12 P4 P5 P6 R13 P14 P15
Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High Play By Play 3rd Quarter 8/16/2008 Page 1 DAL elects to Receive, and DEN elects to defend the South goal. M.Prater kicks 70 yards from DEN 30 to end zone, Touchback. Dallas Cowboys at 15:00 1-10-DAL 20 (15:00) B.Johnson pass to F.Jones to DAL 47 for 27 yards. 1-10-DAL 47 (14:30) F.Jones to DAL 49 for 2 yards (H.Abdullah). 2-8-DAL 49 (13:41) B.Johnson pass to M.Bennett to DEN 40 for 11 yards. 1-10-DEN 40 (13:10) B.Johnson pass to T.Choice to DEN 31 for 9 yards (W.Woodyard). 2-1-DEN 31 (12:50) J.Crosslin to DEN 27 for 4 yards (E.Dumervil). 1-10-DEN 27 (12:30) B.Johnson pass incomplete. 2-10-DEN 27 (11:57) T.Choice to DEN 30 for -3 yards (W.Woodyard). 3-13-DEN 30 (11:37) B.Johnson pass to T.Curtis to DEN 24 for 6 yards. 4-7-DEN 24 (11:07) N.Folk 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Ladouceur, Holder-B.Johnson. DAL 10 DEN 14, 9 plays, 56 yards, 4:29 drive, 4:29 elapsed N.Folk kicks 68 yards from DAL 30 to DEN 2. C.Russell to DEN 26 for 24 yards (M.Bennett). Denver Broncos at 10:31, (1st play from scrimmage 10:26) 1-10-DEN 26 (10:26) M.Pittman left guard to DEN 31 for 5 yards (E.Walden). 2-5-DEN 31 (9:53) P.Ramsey pass short left to P.Hillis to DEN 31 for no gain (A.Jones). 3-5-DEN 31 (9:18) (Shotgun) P.Ramsey pass incomplete short left to C.Russell (A.Jones). 4-5-DEN 31 (9:18) B.Kern punt is BLOCKED by T.Choice, Center-M.Leach, recovered by DEN-B.Kern at DEN 19. B.Kern ran ob at DAL 45 for 36 yards. 1-10-DAL 45 (8:55) P.Ramsey pass deep right intended for K.Colbert INTERCEPTED by P.Watkins at DAL 25. P.Watkins ran ob at DEN 48 for 27 yards. PENALTY on DAL-A.Ball, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 45 - No Play. 1-10-DAL 40 (8:42) M.Pittman right tackle to DAL 38 for 2 yards (T.Smith). 2-8-DAL 38 (8:22) M.Pittman right tackle to DAL 37 for 1 yard (B.Carpenter; T.Smith). 3-7-DAL 37 (7:44) (Shotgun) P.Ramsey pass deep right to C.Russell pushed ob at DAL 18 for 19 yards (C.Brown). 1-10-DAL 18 (7:29) M.Pittman left tackle to DAL 13 for 5 yards (A.Jones). 2-5-DAL 13 (6:56) M.Pittman up the middle to DAL 11 for 2 yards (J.Hatcher). 3-3-DAL 11 (6:27) P.Ramsey pass incomplete short right to K.Colbert. 4-3-DAL 11 (6:23) M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-M.Leach, Holder-B.Kern. DAL 10 DEN 17, 11 plays, 63 yards, 1 penalty, 4:13 drive, 8:42 elapsed M.Prater kicks 70 yards from DEN 30 to end zone, Touchback. Dallas Cowboys at 6:18 1-10-DAL 20 (6:18) T.Choice left end to DAL 19 for -1 yards (P.Carrington). 2-11-DAL 19 (5:39) R.Bartel pass incomplete short right to J.Crosslin. 3-11-DAL 19 (5:33) (Shotgun) R.Bartel sacked at DAL 19 for 0 yards (K.Peterson). 4-11-DAL 19 (5:26) J.Ottovegio punts 53 yards to DEN 28, Center-L.Ladouceur. G.Martinez to DEN 34 for 6 yards (C.Brown). Denver Broncos at 5:14 1-10-DEN 34 (5:14) M.Pittman up the middle to DEN 36 for 2 yards (B.Carpenter). 2-8-DEN 36 (4:39) P.Ramsey pass short left to C.Russell to DEN 40 for 4 yards (A.Jones). 3-4-DEN 40 (4:03) P.Ramsey pass short left to M.Pittman to DEN 46 for 6 yards (A.Jones). 1-10-DEN 46 (3:28) M.Pittman left end to DEN 47 for 1 yard (M.Smith). 2-9-DEN 47 (3:28) (Shotgun) P.Ramsey pass short left to K.Colbert to DEN 49 for 2 yards (A.Jones). Timeout #1 by DEN at 02:13. 3-7-DEN 49 (2:12) P.Ramsey pass short left to C.Russell to DAL 46 for 5 yards (A.Jones). 4-2-DAL 46 (1:32) S.Paulescu punts 43 yards to DAL 3, Center-M.Leach, downed by DEN-K.Paymah. Dallas Cowboys at 1:22 1-10-DAL 3 (1:22) A.Coleman to DAL 4 for 1 yard (N.Webster). 2-9-DAL 4 (:46) R.Bartel pass incomplete short right to I.Stanback. 3-9-DAL 4 (:42) (Shotgun) R.Bartel pass incomplete short right to D.Amendola (N.Webster). 4-9-DAL 4 (:37) J.Ottovegio punts 38 yards to DAL 42, Center-L.Ladouceur, fair catch by G.Martinez. Denver Broncos at 0:29 1-10-DAL 42 (:29) M.Pittman up the middle to DAL 36 for 6 yards (T.Smith, R.Ayodele). END OF QUARTER Score Time First Downs Efficiencies ==== Quarter Summary ==== Poss R P X T 3Down 4Down Dallas Cowboys 10 6:26 1 2 0 3 0/3 0/0 Denver Broncos 17 8:34 1 2 1 4 2/5 0/0 P7 P8 R9 R16 X17 P18 P19
Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High Play By Play 4th Quarter 8/16/2008 Page 1 Denver Broncos continued. 2-4-DAL 36 (15:00) M.Pittman up the middle to DAL 34 for 2 yards (C.Brown). 3-2-DAL 34 (14:26) M.Pittman right end to DAL 33 for 1 yard (O.Scandrick). Timeout #2 by DEN at 13:45. 4-1-DAL 33 (13:45) P.Ramsey pass deep right to K.Colbert to DAL 5 for 28 yards (P.Watkins). 1-5-DAL 5 (13:04) M.Pittman right end to DAL 4 for 1 yard (C.Brown; T.Smith). 2-4-DAL 4 (12:21) P.Ramsey pass incomplete short right to C.Russell (A.Ball). 3-4-DAL 4 (12:16) (Shotgun) P.Ramsey pass short left to G.Martinez to DAL 1 for 3 yards (O.Scandrick). 4-1-DAL 1 (12:00) M.Prater 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-M.Leach, Holder-S.Paulescu. DAL 10 DEN 20, 8 plays, 41 yards, 3:32 drive, 3:03 elapsed M.Prater kicks 70 yards from DEN 30 to end zone, Touchback. Dallas Cowboys at 11:57 1-10-DAL 20 (11:57) A.Coleman right end pushed ob at DAL 21 for 1 yard (J.Beck). 2-9-DAL 21 (11:35) R.Bartel pass deep left to T.Lowber to DEN 40 for 39 yards (R.Rogers). 1-10-DEN 40 (10:51) R.Bartel pass short middle to R.Hannah to DEN 27 for 13 yards (S.Larsen; W.Woodyard). 1-10-DEN 27 (10:15) R.Bartel pass short left to R.Hannah to DEN 13 for 14 yards (J.Barrett; T.Poole). 1-10-DEN 13 (9:33) A.Coleman right end to DEN 16 for -3 yards (J.Beck). 2-13-DEN 16 (8:53) R.Bartel scrambles right end pushed ob at DEN 11 for 5 yards (J.Barrett). 3-8-DEN 11 (8:05) R.Bartel pass incomplete short left to R.Hannah (W.Woodyard). 4-8-DEN 11 (8:05) N.Folk 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Ladouceur, Holder-M.McBriar. DAL 13 DEN 20, 8 plays, 69 yards, 4:00 drive, 7:03 elapsed N.Folk kicks 70 yards from DAL 30 to end zone, Touchback. Denver Broncos at 7:57 1-10-DEN 20 (7:57) P.Ramsey pass incomplete deep left to C.Russell. 2-10-DEN 20 (7:51) M.Pittman up the middle to DEN 23 for 3 yards (T.George). 3-7-DEN 23 (7:11) (Shotgun) P.Ramsey pass incomplete deep middle to C.Russell (E.Oglesby) [B.Carpenter]. 4-7-DEN 23 (7:04) B.Kern punts 63 yards to DAL 14, Center-M.Leach. D.Amendola to DAL 23 for 9 yards (S.Larsen). Dallas Cowboys at 6:52 1-10-DAL 23 (6:52) R.Bartel pass deep left to R.Hannah ran ob at DAL 43 for 20 yards. 1-10-DAL 43 (6:28) K.Lattimore right end to DAL 43 for no gain (S.Larsen). DEN-J.Beck was injured during the play. PENALTY on DEN-J.Moss, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 43 - No Play. 1-5-DAL 48 (6:03) (Shotgun) K.Lattimore left end to DEN 49 for 3 yards (S.Larsen). 2-2-DEN 49 (5:21) (Shotgun) K.Lattimore left end to DEN 38 for 11 yards (W.Woodyard). 1-10-DEN 38 (4:47) (Shotgun) K.Lattimore left guard to DEN 27 for 11 yards (S.Larsen). 1-10-DEN 27 (4:07) (Shotgun) R.Bartel pass short left to D.Amendola to DEN 15 for 12 yards (T.Poole). 1-10-DEN 15 (3:26) (Shotgun) R.Bartel pass incomplete short right to A.Atchison. 2-10-DEN 15 (3:22) (Shotgun) R.Bartel pass incomplete short left to M.Bradford [S.Larsen]. 3-10-DEN 15 (3:16) (Shotgun) R.Bartel pass short right to R.Hannah to DEN 10 for 5 yards (J.Williams). 4-5-DEN 10 (2:29) (Shotgun) R.Bartel pass short right intended for D.Amendola INTERCEPTED by J.Williams at DEN 8. J.Williams to DEN 42 for 34 yards (R.Bartel). Denver Broncos at 2:18 1-10-DEN 42 (2:18) M.Pittman left tackle to 50 for 8 yards (O.Scandrick, T.Smith). Two-Minute Warning 2-2-50 (2:00) M.Pittman up the middle to 50 for no gain (R.Ayodele). Timeout #1 by DAL at 01:55. 3-2-50 (1:55) D.Hackney pass short right to C.Sapp to DAL 40 for 10 yards (D.Davis). PENALTY on DAL-D.Robertson, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at DAL 40. 1-10-DAL 25 (1:47) M.Pittman up the middle to DAL 23 for 2 yards (J.Siavii; R.Ayodele). Timeout #2 by DAL at 01:41. 2-8-DAL 23 (1:41) D.Hackney sacked at DAL 25 for -2 yards (M.Smith). Timeout #3 by DAL at 01:32. 3-10-DAL 25 (1:32) M.Pittman up the middle to DAL 25 for no gain (T.Smith). Timeout #3 by DEN at 00:47. 4-10-DAL 25 (:47) M.Prater 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-M.Leach, Holder-B.Kern. DAL 13 DEN 23, 7 plays, 33 yards, 1 penalty, 1:35 drive, 14:17 elapsed M.Prater kicks 73 yards from DEN 30 to DAL -3. O.Scandrick to DAL 33 for 36 yards (J.Mallard). Dallas Cowboys at 0:43, (1st play from scrimmage 0:35) 1-10-DAL 33 (:35) (Shotgun) R.Bartel scrambles left tackle to DAL 38 for 5 yards (J.Williams). 2-5-DAL 38 (:10) (Shotgun) R.Bartel pass short middle to K.Lattimore to DAL 42 for 4 yards (W.Woodyard, S.Larsen). END OF QUARTER Score Time First Downs Efficiencies ==== Quarter Summary ==== Poss R P X T 3Down 4Down Dallas Cowboys 13 9:17 2 5 0 7 0/2 0/1 Denver Broncos 23 5:43 0 2 1 3 1/5 1/1 P20 P10 P11 P12 P13 R14 R15 P16 P21 X22
BRONCOS NUMERICAL No. Player....................Pos. 1 Brett Kern........................P 2 Sam Paulescu.....................P 4 Darrell Hackney...................QB 5 Matt Prater........................K 6 Jay Cutler.......................QB 9 Taylor Jacobs....................WR 10 Clifford Russell...................WR 11 Patrick Ramsey...................QB 12 Samie Parker....................WR 13 Keary Colbert....................WR 14 Brandon Stokley..................WR 15 Brandon Marshall.................WR 16 Marquay McDaniel................WR 17 Glenn Martinez...................WR 19 Eddie Royal.....................WR 20 Marlon McCree....................S 21 Hamza Abdullah....................S 22 Domonique Foxworth..............CB 23 Andre Hall.......................RB 24 Champ Bailey.....................CB 26 Jack Williams....................CB 28 Michael Pittman..................RB 31 Wale Dada.......................CB 32 Dré Bly..........................CB 33 Marquand Manuel..................S 34 Vickiel Vaughn.....................S 35 Selvin Young.....................RB 36 Josh Barrett.......................S 37 Cecil Sapp.......................RB 38 Anthony Alridge...................RB 39 Tyrone Poole.....................CB 41 Karl Paymah.....................CB 42 Ryan Torain......................RB 43 Roderick Rogers...................S 46 Spencer Larsen...................FB 48 Peyton Hillis......................FB 50 Ben Hamilton....................G/C 51 Jamie Winborn...................LB 52 Louis Green......................LB 53 Niko Koutouvides..................LB 55 D.J. Williams.....................LB 56 Manuel Padilla....................LB 57 Jordan Beck......................LB 58 Nate Webster.....................LB 59 Wesley Woodyard.................LB 60 John Engelberger.................DE 61 Mitch Erickson.....................G 62 Casey Wiegmann...................C 63 Dewayne Robertson...............DT 64 Erik Pears.........................T 65 Dylan Gandy......................G 66 Tom Nalen........................C 67 Kory Lichtensteiger.................C 68 Steven Harris.....................DT 69 P.J. Alexander.....................G 70 Montrae Holland...................G 73 Chris Kuper.......................G 74 Ryan Harris.......................T 76 Tyler Polumbus....................T 77 Larry Birdine.....................DE 78 Ryan Clady........................T 79 Marcus Thomas...................DT 81 Nate Jackson.....................TE 82 Darrell Jackson..................WR 83 Mike Leach....................TE/LS 84 Brett Pierce......................TE 85 Chad Mustard....................TE 87 Lorne Sam......................WR 88 Tony Scheffler....................TE 89 Daniel Graham....................TE 90 Kenny Peterson...................DT 91 Ebenezer Ekuban..................DE 92 Elvis Dumervil....................DE 93 Nic Clemons.....................DT 94 Jarvis Moss......................DE 95 Paul Carrington...................DE 96 Tim Crowder.....................DE 97 Boss Bailey......................LB 98 Josh Mallard.....................DT 99 Alvin McKinley....................DT DENVER BRONCOS (0-1) vs. DALLAS COWBOYS (0-1) SATURDAY, AUG. 16, 2008 7:00 P.M. INVESCO FIELD AT MILE HIGH DENVER, COLO. BRONCOS OFFENSE WR 15 Brandon Marshall 19 Eddie Royal 17 Glenn Martinez 10 Clifford Russell 16 Marquay McDaniel 9 Taylor Jacobs LT 78 Ryan Clady 64 Erik Pears LG 50 Ben Hamilton 65 Dylan Gandy 67 Kory Lichtensteiger C 66 Tom Nalen 62 Casey Wiegmann 69 P.J. Alexander RG 73 Chris Kuper 70 Montrae Holland 61 Mitch Erickson RT 74 Ryan Harris 76 Tyler Polumbus TE 89 Daniel Graham 88 Tony Scheffler 81 Nate Jackson 84 Brett Pierce 85 Chad Mustard WR 82 Darrell Jackson 14 Brandon Stokley 13 Keary Colbert 12 Samie Parker 87 Lorne Sam QB 6 Jay Cutler 11 Patrick Ramsey 4 Darrell Hackney RB 35 Selvin Young 23 Andre Hall 42 Ryan Torain 38 Anthony Alridge FB 37 Cecil Sapp 48 Peyton Hillis 28 Michael Pittman 46 Spencer Larsen COWBOYS DEFENSE LE 96 Marcus Spears 97 Jason Hatcher 60 Marcus Smith NT 90 Jay Ratliff 66 Tank Johnson 64 Junior Siavii 92 Remi Ayodele RE 99 Chris Canty 72 Stephen Bowen 95 Marcus Dixon SLB 98 Greg Ellis 93 Anthony Spencer 51 Darrell Robertson 50 Justin Rogers MILB 56 Bradie James 54 Bobby Carpenter 50 Justin Rogers 58 Tyson Smith MOLB 55 Zach Thomas 57 Kevin Burnett 54 Bobby Carpenter WLB 94 DeMarcus Ware 59 Tearrius George 53 Erik Walden LCB 41 Terence Newman 31 Mike Jenkins 20 Alan Ball 32 Orlando Scandrick RCB 42 Anthony Henry 21 Adam Jones 23 Evan Oglesby 36 Quincy Butler FS 26 Ken Hamlin 25 Patrick Watkins 37 Tyler Everett SS 38 Roy Williams 27 Courtney Brown 47 Dowayne Davis BRONCOS SPECIALISTS P 2 Sam Paulescu 1 Brett Kern K 5 Matt Prater 2 Sam Paulescu 1 Brett Kern KO 5 Matt Prater 2 Sam Paulescu 1 Brett Kern PR 19 Eddie Royal 17 Glenn Martinez 16 Marquay McDaniel12 Samie Parker KR 19 Eddie Royal 23 Andre Hall 38 Anthony Alridge 10 Clifford Russell 17 Glenn Martinez PC 83 Mike Leach 88 Tony Scheffler 98 Josh Mallard KC 83 Mike Leach 98 Josh Mallard 84 Brett Pierce H 1 Brett Kern 2 Sam Paulescu 11 Patrick Ramsey BRONCOS: Hamza Abdullah (HAHM-zah); Larry Birdine (bir-dine); Keary Colbert (KER-ee); Wale Dada (wah-lee); Elvis Dumervil (doo-mehr-vill); Ebenezer Ekuban (EK-you-BON); Niko Koutouvides (KOO-tah- VEE-dees); Chris Kuper (KOO-pehr); Kory Lichtensteiger (LICK-ten-sty-ger); Josh Mallard (MAL-urd); Marquand Manuel (mar-kwand); Marquay McDaniel (mar-kway); Manuel Padilla (pah-dee-yah); Sam Paulescu (paw-less-cue); Erik Pears (PEERS); Matt Prater (PRAY-ter); Lorne Sam (LORN); Edell Shepherd (eh-dell); Ryan Torain (toh-rain); Vickiel Vaughn (vih-kell); Casey Wiegmann (WIG-mann). [injured player] PRONUNCIATION GUIDE BRONCOS DEFENSE LE 60 John Engelberger 91 Ebenezer Ekuban 96 Tim Crowder LT 63 Dewayne Robertson 99 Alvin McKinley 93 Nic Clemons RT 79 Marcus Thomas 90 Kenny Peterson 98 Josh Mallard 68 Steven Harris RE 92 Elvis Dumervil 94 Jarvis Moss 95 Paul Carrington 77 Larry Birdine WLB 55 D.J. Williams 51 Jamie Winborn 59 Wesley Woodyard MLB 58 Nate Webster 53 Niko Koutouvides 56 Manuel Padilla SLB 97 Boss Bailey 52 Louis Green 57 Jordan Beck LCB 24 Champ Bailey 22 Domonique Foxworth 26 Jack Williams RCB 32 Dré Bly 41 Karl Paymah 39 Tyrone Poole 31 Wale Dada SS 21 Hamza Abdullah 43 Roderick Rogers 36 Josh Barrett FS 20 Marlon McCree 33 Marquand Manuel 34 Vickiel Vaughn COWBOYS OFFENSE WR 81 Terrell Owens 17 Sam Hurd 19 Miles Austin 16 Todd Lowber 85 Mike Jefferson LT 76 Flozell Adams 68 Doug Free LG 63 Kyle Kosier 78 James Marten 61 Adam Stenavich C 65 Andre Gurode 71 Cory Procter 62 Ryan Gibbons RG 70 Leonard Davis 67 Joe Berger RT 75 Marc Colombo 77 Pat McQuistan 79 Cory Lekkerkerker TE 82 Jason Witten 80 Martellus Bennett 89 Tony Curtis 87 Drew Atchison 44 Rodney Hannah WR 84 Patrick Crayton 86 Isaiah Stanback 18 Danny Amendola 15 Daniel Polk 13 Mark Bradford QB 9 Tony Romo 14 Brad Johnson 4 Richard Bartel 10 Jeff Terrell FB 34 Deon Anderson 39 Julius Crosslin 45 Ronnie Cruz RB 24 Marion Barber 28 Felix Jones 29 Tashard Choice 35 Keon Lattimore 30 Alonzo Coleman COWBOYS SPECIALISTS P 1 Mat McBriar 2 Jay Ottovegio K 6 Nick Folk KO 6 Nick Folk PR 84 Patrick Crayton 21 Adam Jones 18 Danny Amendola KOR 19 Miles Austin 28 Felix Jones 31 Mike Jenkins LS 91 L.P. Ladouceur H 14 Brad Johnson 1 Mat McBriar COWBOYS: Danny Amendola (am-in-dola); Remi Ayodele (ay-dell); Joe Berger (BER-jer); Tashard Choice (tuh-shard); Tearrius George (tee-air-us); Andre Gurode (jer-odd); Kyle Kosier (KOZAR); Louis-Philippe Ladouceur (LAH-doo-sahr); Keon Lattimore (KEY-on); Cory Lekkerkerker (lekker-kerker); Pat McQuistan (muh-kwisstin); Jay Ottovegio (ahtto-veg-io); Junior Siavii (SEE-ah-vee); Jeff Terrell (TER-uhl). rookie or first-year player TONIGHT S OFFICIALS Referee Ed Hochuli (85); Umpire Chad Brown (31); Head Linesman Mark Hittner (28); Line Judge Tim Podraza (47); Field Judge Tom Sifferman (118); Side Judge Mike Weatherford (116); Back Judge Bill Schmitz (122); Replay Al Jury; Video Roger Ruth. COWBOYS NUMERICAL No. Player....................Pos. 1 Mat McBriar.......................P 2 Jay Ottovegio......................P 4 Richard Bartel....................QB 6 Nick Folk.........................K 9 Tony Romo......................QB 10 Jeff Terrell.......................QB 13 Mark Bradford...................WR 14 Brad Johnson....................QB 15 Daniel Polk......................WR 16 Todd Lowber....................WR 17 Sam Hurd.......................WR 18 Danny Amendola.................WR 19 Miles Austin.....................WR 20 Alan Ball........................CB 21 Adam Jones......................CB 23 Evan Oglesby.....................CB 24 Marion Barber....................RB 25 Patrick Watkins....................S 26 Ken Hamlin.......................S 27 Courtney Brown....................S 28 Felix Jones......................RB 29 Tashard Choice...................RB 30 Alonzo Coleman..................RB 31 Mike Jenkins.....................CB 32 Orlando Scandrick.................CB 34 Deon Anderson...................FB 35 Keon Lattimore...................RB 36 Quincy Butler.....................CB 37 Tyler Everett......................CB 38 Roy Williams......................S 39 Julius Crosslin....................FB 41 Terence Newman..................CB 42 Anthony Henry...................CB 44 Rodney Hannah...................TE 45 Ronnie Cruz......................FB 47 Dowayne Davis....................S 50 Justin Rogers....................LB 51 Darrell Robertson.................DE 53 Erik Walden......................LB 54 Bobby Carpenter..................LB 55 Zach Thomas.....................LB 56 Bradie James.....................LB 57 Kevin Burnett.....................LB 58 Tyson Smith......................LB 59 Tearrius George...................LB 60 Marcus Smith....................DE 61 Adam Stenavich....................G 62 Ryan Gibbons.....................T 63 Kyle Kosier.......................G 64 Junior Siavii......................NT 65 Andre Gurode.....................C 66 Tank Johnson....................NT 67 Joe Berger........................G 68 Doug Free........................T 70 Leonard Davis.....................G 71 Cory Procter......................C 72 Stephen Bowen...................DE 75 Marc Colombo.....................T 76 Flozell Adams......................T 77 Pat McQuistan.....................T 78 James Marten.....................T 79 Cory Lekkerkerker..................T 80 Martellus Bennett..................TE 81 Terrell Owens....................WR 82 Jason Witten.....................TE 84 Patrick Crayton...................WR 85 Mike Jefferson...................WR 86 Isaiah Stanback..................WR 87 Drew Atchison....................TE 89 Tony Curtis.......................TE 90 Jay Ratliff.......................NT 91 Louis-Philippe Ladouceur...........LS 92 Remi Ayodele....................NT 93 Anthony Spencer..................LB 94 DeMarcus Ware...................LB 95 Marcus Dixon....................DE 96 Marcus Spears...................DE 97 Jason Hatcher....................DE 98 Greg Ellis........................LB 99 Chris Canty......................DE
BRONCOS ALPHABETICAL No. Player...............Pos. 21 Abdullah, Hamza....................S 69 Alexander, P.J.......................G 38 Alridge, Anthony...................RB 97 Bailey, Boss.......................LB 24 Bailey, Champ.....................CB 36 Barrett, Josh........................S 57 Beck, Jordan......................LB 77 Birdine, Larry......................DE 32 Bly, Dré..........................CB 95 Carrington, Paul....................DE 78 Clady, Ryan.........................T 93 Clemons, Nic......................DT 13 Colbert, Keary.....................WR 96 Crowder, Tim......................DE 6 Cutler, Jay........................QB 31 Dada, Wale........................CB 92 Dumervil, Elvis.....................DE 91 Ekuban, Ebenezer...................DE 60 Engelberger, John..................DE 61 Erickson, Mitch.....................G 22 Foxworth, Domonique...............CB 65 Gandy, Dylan.......................G 89 Graham, Daniel.....................TE 52 Green, Louis.......................LB 4 Hackney, Darrell....................QB 23 Hall, Andre........................RB 50 Hamilton, Ben.....................G/C 74 Harris, Ryan........................T 68 Harris, Steven.....................DT 48 Hillis, Peyton......................FB 70 Holland, Montrae....................G 82 Jackson, Darrell...................WR 81 Jackson, Nate......................TE 9 Jacobs, Taylor.....................WR 1 Kern, Brett.........................P 53 Koutouvides, Niko..................LB 73 Kuper, Chris........................G 46 Larsen, Spencer....................FB 83 Leach, Mike.....................TE/LS 67 Lichtensteiger, Kory..................C 98 Mallard, Josh......................DT 33 Manuel, Marquand...................S 15 Marshall, Brandon.................WR 17 Martinez, Glenn....................WR 20 McCree, Marlon.....................S 16 McDaniel, Marquay.................WR 99 McKinley, Alvin.....................DT 94 Moss, Jarvis.......................DE 85 Mustard, Chad.....................TE 66 Nalen, Tom.........................C 56 Padilla, Manuel.....................LB 12 Parker, Samie.....................WR 2 Paulescu, Sam......................P 41 Paymah, Karl......................CB 64 Pears, Erik.........................T 90 Peterson, Kenny....................DT 84 Pierce, Brett.......................TE 28 Pittman, Michael...................RB 76 Polumbus, Tyler.....................T 39 Poole, Tyrone......................CB 5 Prater, Matt........................K 11 Ramsey, Patrick....................QB 63 Robertson, Dewayne................DT 43 Rogers, Roderick....................S 19 Royal, Eddie......................WR 10 Russell, Clifford...................WR 87 Sam, Lorne.......................WR 37 Sapp, Cecil........................RB 88 Scheffler, Tony.....................TE 14 Stokley, Brandon...................WR 79 Thomas, Marcus...................DT 42 Torain, Ryan.......................RB 34 Vaughn, Vickiel......................S 58 Webster, Nate......................LB 62 Wiegmann, Casey....................C 55 Williams, D.J.......................LB 26 Williams, Jack.....................CB 51 Winborn, Jamie....................LB 59 Woodyard, Wesley..................LB 35 Young, Selvin......................RB COWBOYS ALPHABETICAL No. Player................Pos. 76 Adams, Flozell......................T 18 Amendola, Danny..................WR 34 Anderson, Deon....................FB 87 Atchison, Drew.....................TE 19 Austin, Miles......................WR 92 Ayodele, Remi.....................NT 20 Ball, Alan.........................CB 24 Barber, Marion.....................RB 4 Bartel, Richard.....................QB 80 Bennett, Martellus..................TE 67 Berger, Joe.........................G 72 Bowen, Stephen....................DE 13 Bradford, Mark....................WR 27 Brown, Courtney....................S 57 Burnett, Kevin......................LB 36 Butler, Quincy......................CB 99 Canty, Chris.......................DE 54 Carpenter, Bobby...................LB 29 Choice, Tashard....................RB 30 Coleman, Alonzo...................RB 75 Colombo, Marc......................T 84 Crayton, Patrick...................WR 39 Crosslin, Julius.....................FB 45 Cruz, Ronnie.......................FB 89 Curtis, Tony.......................TE 47 Davis, Dowayne.....................S 70 Davis, Leonard......................G 95 Dixon, Marcus.....................DE 98 Ellis, Greg.........................LB 37 Everett, Tyler......................CB 6 Folk, Nick..........................K 68 Free, Doug.........................T 59 George, Tearrius...............LB 62 Gibbons, Ryan......................T 65 Gurode, Andre......................C 26 Hamlin, Ken........................S 44 Hannah, Rodney....................TE 97 Hatcher, Jason.....................DE 42 Henry, Anthony....................CB 17 Hurd, Sam.......................WR 56 James, Bradie......................LB 85 Jefferson, Mike....................WR 31 Jenkins, Mike......................CB 14 Johnson, Brad.....................QB 66 Johnson, Tank.....................NT 21 Jones, Adam......................CB 28 Jones, Felix.......................RB 63 Kosier, Kyle........................G 91 Ladouceur, Louis-Philippe............LS 35 Lattimore, Keon....................RB 79 Lekkerkerker, Cory...................T 16 Lowber, Todd.....................WR 78 Marten, James......................T 1 McBriar, Mat........................P 77 McQuistan, Pat......................T 41 Newman, Terence...................CB 23 Oglesby, Evan......................CB 2 Ottovegio, Jay......................P 81 Owens, Terrell.....................WR 15 Polk, Daniel.......................WR 71 Procter, Cory.......................C 90 Ratliff, Jay........................NT 51 Robertson, Darrell..................DE 50 Rogers, Justin.....................LB 9 Romo, Tony.......................QB 32 Scandrick, Orlando..................CB 64 Siavii, Junior......................NT 60 Smith, Marcus.....................DE 58 Smith, Tyson......................LB 96 Spears, Marcus....................DE 93 Spencer, Anthony...................LB 86 Stanback, Isaiah...................WR 61 Stenavich, Adam....................G 10 Terrell, Jeff........................QB 55 Thomas, Zach......................LB 53 Walden, Erik.......................LB 94 Ware, DeMarcus....................LB 25 Watkins, Patrick.....................S 38 Williams, Roy.......................S 82 Witten, Jason......................TE DENVER BRONCOS NUMERICAL No. Player Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Age NFL Exp. College.....................How Acq. 1 Brett Kern P 6-3 205 22 R Toledo.................................CFA- '08 2 Sam Paulescu P 6-0 195 24 2 Oregon State.............................FA- '07 4 Darrell Hackney QB 6-0 248 24 2 Alabama-Birmingham......................FA- '07 5 Matt Prater K 5-10 188 23 2 Central Florida.......................PS(Mia)- '07 6 Jay Cutler QB 6-3 233 25 3 Vanderbilt...............................D1- '06 9 Taylor Jacobs WR 6-1 205 27 6 Florida..................................FA- '07 10 Clifford Russell WR 5-11 195 29 6 Utah...................................FA- '08 11 Patrick Ramsey QB 6-2 225 29 7 Tulane..................................FA- '07 12 Samie Parker WR 5-11 185 27 5 Oregon............................UFA(KC)- '08 13 Keary Colbert WR 6-1 205 26 5 Southern California..................UFA(Car)- '08 14 Brandon Stokley WR 5-11 192 32 10 Southwestern Louisiana....................FA- '07 15 Brandon Marshall WR 6-4 230 24 3 Central Florida..........................D4a- '06 16 Marquay McDaniel WR 5-10 205 24 1 Hampton...............................CFA- '07 17 Glenn Martinez WR 6-1 190 26 3 Saginaw Valley State......................FA- '07 19 Eddie Royal WR 5-10 182 22 R Virginia Tech............................D2- '08 20 Marlon McCree S 5-11 204 31 8 Kentucky................................FA- '08 21 Hamza Abdullah S 6-2 216 24 4 Washington State.....................PS(TB)- '05 22 Domonique Foxworth CB 5-11 180 25 4 Maryland..............................D3b- '05 23 Andre Hall RB 5-10 212 25 2 South Florida............................FA- '06 24 Champ Bailey CB 6-0 192 30 10 Georgia.............................T(Was)- '04 26 Jack Williams CB 5-9 185 23 R Kent State.............................D4b- '08 28 Michael Pittman RB 6-0 225 32 11 Fresno State........................UFA(TB)- '08 31 Wale Dada CB 5-10 201 25 1 Washington State.........................FA- '08 32 Dré Bly CB 5-10 188 31 10 North Carolina........................T(Det)- '07 33 Marquand Manuel S 6-0 213 29 7 Florida............................UFA(Car)- '08 34 Vickiel Vaughn S 6-0 213 24 2 Arkansas................................FA- '08 35 Selvin Young RB 5-11 215 24 2 Texas.................................CFA- '07 36 Josh Barrett S 6-3 225 23 R Arizona State............................D7- '08 37 Cecil Sapp RB 5-11 236 29 6 Colorado State..........................CFA- '03 38 Anthony Alridge RB 5-9 185 24 R Houston...............................CFA- '08 39 Tyrone Poole CB 5-8 190 36 13 Fort Valley State..........................FA- '08 41 Karl Paymah CB 6-0 195 25 4 Washington State........................D3a- '05 42 Ryan Torain RB 6-1 225 21 R Arizona State...........................D5a- '08 43 Roderick Rogers S 6-2 187 23 2 Wisconsin..............................CFA- '07 46 Spencer Larsen FB 6-2 240 24 R Arizona.................................D6- '08 48 Peyton Hillis FB 6-2 250 22 R Arkansas..............................D7b- '08 50 Ben Hamilton G/C 6-4 290 30 8 Minnesota.............................D4a- '01 51 Jamie Winborn LB 5-11 230 29 8 Vanderbilt...............................FA- '07 52 Louis Green LB 6-3 237 28 5 Alcorn State.............................FA- '03 53 Niko Koutouvides LB 6-2 238 27 5 Purdue............................UFA(Sea)- '08 55 D.J. Williams LB 6-1 240 26 5 Miami..................................D1- '04 56 Manuel Padilla LB 6-3 242 25 1 No College..............................FA- '08 57 Jordan Beck LB 6-2 235 25 4 Cal Poly/SLO.............................FA- '07 58 Nate Webster LB 6-0 232 30 9 Miami.............................UFA(Cin)- '06 59 Wesley Woodyard LB 6-1 230 22 R Kentucky...............................CFA- '08 60 John Engelberger DE 6-4 260 31 9 Virginia Tech..........................T(SF)- '05 61 Mitch Erickson G 6-6 290 23 R South Dakota State.......................CFA- '08 62 Casey Wiegmann C 6-2 285 35 13 Iowa..............................UFA(KC)- '08 63 Dewayne Robertson DT 6-1 308 26 6 Kentucky............................T(NYJ)- '08 64 Erik Pears T 6-8 305 26 3 Colorado State..........................CFA- '05 65 Dylan Gandy G 6-3 290 26 4 Texas Tech..............................FA- '08 66 Tom Nalen C 6-3 286 37 15 Boston College..........................D7c- '94 67 Kory Lichtensteiger C 6-3 295 23 R Bowling Green..........................D4a- '08 68 Steven Harris DT 6-5 305 23 2 Florida................................CFA- '07 69 P.J. Alexander G 6-4 297 29 6 Syracuse................................FA- '07 70 Montrae Holland G 6-2 322 28 6 Florida State........................UFA(NO)- '07 73 Chris Kuper G 6-4 302 25 3 North Dakota............................D5- '06 74 Ryan Harris T 6-5 300 23 2 Notre Dame.............................D3- '07 76 Tyler Polumbus T 6-8 310 23 R Colorado...............................CFA- '08 77 Larry Birdine DE 6-4 270 24 2 Oklahoma...........................PS(Ten)- '07 78 Ryan Clady T 6-6 325 21 R Boise State..............................D1- '08 79 Marcus Thomas DT 6-3 305 22 2 Florida.................................D4- '07 81 Nate Jackson TE 6-3 235 29 6 Menlo College.........................T(SF)- '03 82 Darrell Jackson WR 5-11 210 29 9 Florida..................................FA- '08 83 Mike Leach TE/LS 6-2 240 31 9 William & Mary...........................FA- '02 84 Brett Pierce TE 6-5 260 27 3 Stanford................................FA- '08 85 Chad Mustard TE 6-6 277 30 5 North Dakota............................FA- 07 87 Lorne Sam WR 6-3 220 23 R Texas-El Paso...........................CFA- '08 88 Tony Scheffler TE 6-5 250 25 3 Western Michigan........................D2- '06 89 Daniel Graham TE 6-3 257 29 7 Colorado...........................UFA(NE)- '07 90 Kenny Peterson DT 6-3 300 29 6 Ohio State...............................FA- '06 91 Ebenezer Ekuban DE 6-4 275 32 10 North Carolina.........................T(Cle)- '05 92 Elvis Dumervil DE 5-11 260 24 3 Louisville..............................D4b- '06 93 Nic Clemons DT 6-6 300 28 2 Georgia.................................FA- '08 94 Jarvis Moss DE 6-6 265 24 2 Florida.................................D1- '07 95 Paul Carrington DE 6-7 270 25 3 Central Florida...........................FA- '07 96 Tim Crowder DE 6-4 275 23 2 Texas..................................D2- '07 97 Boss Bailey LB 6-3 232 28 6 Georgia............................UFA(Det)- '08 98 Josh Mallard DT 6-2 265 29 5 Georgia.................................FA- '07 99 Alvin McKinley DT 6-3 294 30 9 Mississippi State....................UFA(Cle)- '07 D - Draft choice; UFA - Unrestricted free agent (from); FA - Veteran free agent; PS - Practice squad signee (from); Supp - Supplemental Draft; CFA - College free agent; T - Trade (from); W - Waivers (from). DALLAS COWBOYS NUMERICAL No. Player Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Age NFL Exp. College.....................How Acq. 1 Mat McBriar P 6-1 222 29 5 Hawaii..................................FA- '04 2 Jay Ottovegio P 5-11 203 23 R Stanford................................FA- '08 4 Richard Bartel QB 6-3 233 25 1 Tarleton State............................FA- '07 6 Nick Folk K 6-1 225 23 2 Arizona................................D6a- '07 9 Tony Romo QB 6-2 224 28 6 Eastern Illinois...........................FA- '03 10 Jeff Terrell QB 6-2 220 23 1 Princeton...............................FA- '08 13 Mark Bradford WR 6-2 205 23 R Stanford................................FA- '08 14 Brad Johnson QB 6-5 235 39 17 Florida State.............................FA- '07 15 Daniel Polk WR 6-1 205 23 R Midwestern St............................FA- '08 16 Todd Lowber WR 6-3 205 26 1 Ramapo................................FA- '08 17 Sam Hurd WR 6-2 205 23 3 Northern Illinois..........................FA- '06 18 Danny Amendola WR 5-11 190 22 R Texas Tech..............................FA- '08 19 Miles Austin WR 6-3 216 24 3 Monmouth..............................FA- '06 20 Alan Ball CB 6-1 186 23 1 Illinois................................D7b- '07 21 Adam Jones CB 5-10 186 24 3 West Virgnina.........................T(Ten)- '08 23 Evan Oglesby CB 5-10 188 26 3 North Alabama........................W(Bal)- '07 24 Marion Barber RB 6-0 225 25 4 Minnesota.............................D4a- '05 25 Patrick Watkins S 6-5 215 25 3 Florida State.............................D5- '06 26 Ken Hamlin S 6-2 208 27 6 Arkansas..........................UFA(Sea)- '07 27 Courtney Brown S 6-1 204 24 2 Cal Poly...............................D7a- '07 28 Felix Jones RB 5-10 212 21 R Arkansas..............................D1a- '08 29 Tashard Choice RB 5-10 208 23 R Georgia Tech............................D4- '08 30 Alonzo Coleman RB 5-9 210 24 1 Hampton................................FA- '07 31 Mike Jenkins CB 5-10 190 23 R South Florida...........................D1b- '08 32 Orlando Scandrick CB 5-10 192 21 R Boise St.................................D5- '08 34 Deon Anderson FB 5-10 245 25 2 Connecticut............................D6b- '07 35 Keon Lattimore RB 5-11 230 24 R Maryland...............................FA- '08 36 Quincy Butler CB 6-1 185 24 1 Texas Christian..........................FA- '06 37 Tyler Everett CB 5-11 200 24 1 Ohio State...............................FA- '07 38 Roy Williams S 6-0 221 28 7 Oklahoma...............................D1- '02 39 Julius Crosslin FB 5-11 245 24 R Oklahoma State..........................FA- '08 41 Terence Newman CB 5-11 190 29 6 Kansas State............................D1- '03 42 Anthony Henry CB 6-1 207 31 8 South Florida.......................UFA(Cle)- '05 44 Rodney Hannah TE 6-6 258 24 1 Houston................................FA- '07 45 Ronnie Cruz FB 6-0 244 27 3 Northern State...........................FA- '08 47 Dowayne Davis S 6-0 201 22 R Syracuse................................FA- '08 50 Justin Rogers LB 6-4 250 24 2 SMU................................W(NE)- '07 51 Darrell Robertson DE 6-4 246 22 R Georgia Tech.............................FA- '08 53 Erik Walden LB 6-2 250 22 R Middle Tenn. St...........................D6- '08 54 Bobby Carpenter LB 6-2 250 25 3 Ohio State..............................D1- '06 55 Zach Thomas LB 5-11 242 34 13 Texas Tech..............................FA- '08 56 Bradie James LB 6-2 245 27 6 Louisiana State..........................D4- '03 57 Kevin Burnett LB 6-3 242 25 4 Tennessee..............................D2- '05 58 Tyson Smith LB 6-2 250 26 1 Iowa State...............................FA- '07 59 Tearrius George LB 6-4 258 25 1 Kansas State.............................FA- '08 60 Marcus Smith DE 6-4 295 24 1 Arizona.................................FA- '07 61 Adam Stenavich G 6-4 300 25 1 Michigan................................FA- '08 62 Ryan Gibbons T 6-4 318 25 1 Northeastern.............................FA- '08 63 Kyle Kosier G 6-5 305 29 7 Arizona State.......................UFA(Det)- '06 64 Junior Siavii NT 6-5 320 29 3 Oregon.................................FA- '08 65 Andre Gurode C 6-4 318 29 7 Colorado...............................D2a- '02 66 Tank Johnson NT 6-3 305 26 5 Washington.............................FA- '07 67 Joe Berger G 6-5 310 26 4 Michigan Tech........................W(Mia)- '06 68 Doug Free T 6-6 311 24 2 Northern Illinois.........................D4b- '07 70 Leonard Davis G 6-6 353 29 8 Texas..............................UFA(Ari)- '07 71 Cory Procter C 6-4 308 25 4 Montana................................FA- '05 72 Stephen Bowen DE 6-5 304 24 3 Hofstra.................................FA- '06 75 Marc Colombo T 6-8 318 29 7 Boston College...........................FA- '05 76 Flozell Adams T 6-7 340 33 11 Michigan State...........................D2- '98 77 Pat McQuistan T 6-6 315 25 3 Weber State............................D7a- '06 78 James Marten T 6-7 315 24 2 Boston College...........................D3- '07 79 Cory Lekkerkerker T 6-7 310 27 4 Cal Davis................................FA- '08 80 Martellus Bennett TE 6-6 265 21 R Texas A&M..............................D2- '08 81 Terrell Owens WR 6-3 218 34 13 Tennessee-Chattanooga....................FA- '06 82 Jason Witten TE 6-5 262 26 6 Tennessee..............................D3- '03 84 Patrick Crayton WR 6-0 203 29 5 Northwestern Okla. St.....................D7b- '04 85 Mike Jefferson WR 6-1 206 25 1 Montana State...........................FA- '07 86 Isaiah Stanback WR 6-2 208 24 2 Washington............................D4a- '07 87 Drew Atchison TE 6-6 257 23 R William & Mary...........................FA- '08 89 Tony Curtis TE 6-5 251 25 3 Portland State............................FA- '06 90 Jay Ratliff NT 6-4 302 26 4 Auburn.................................D7- '05 91 Louis-Philippe Ladouceur LS 6-4 256 27 4 California...............................FA- '05 92 Remi Ayodele NT 6-2 318 25 2 Oklahoma...............................FA- '07 93 Anthony Spencer LB 6-3 255 24 2 Purdue.................................D1- '07 94 DeMarcus Ware LB 6-4 262 26 4 Troy..................................D1a- '05 95 Marcus Dixon DE 6-4 285 23 R Hampton................................FA- '08 96 Marcus Spears DE 6-4 315 25 4 Louisana State..........................D1b- '05 97 Jason Hatcher DE 6-6 304 26 3 Grambling State.........................D3b- '06 98 Greg Ellis LB 6-6 262 33 11 North Carolina...........................D1- '98 99 Chris Canty DE 6-7 304 25 4 Virginia................................D4b- '05 D - Draft choice; UFA - Unrestricted free agent (from); FA - Veteran free agent; PS - Practice squad signee (from); Supp - Supplemental Draft; CFA - College free agent; T - Trade (from); W - Waivers (from). HEAD COACH: Wade Phillips (2nd year). ASSISTANT COACHES: Dave Campo (Secondary), Jason Garrett (Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator), John Garrett (Tight Ends), Todd Grantham (Defensive Line), Reggie Herring (Linebackers), Hudson Houck (Offensive Line), Joe Juraszek (Strength and Conditioning), Brett Maxie (Asst. Secondary), Dat Nguyen (Asst. Linebackers/Defensive Quality Control), Skip Peete (Running Backs), Wes Phillips (Offensive Quality Control/Offensive Asst.), Bruce Read (Special Teams), Ray Sherman (Wide Receivers), Brian Stewart (Defensive Coordinator), Wade Wilson (Quarterbacks). HEAD COACH: Mike Shanahan (14th year). ASSISTANT COACHES: Rick Dennison (Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line), Bob Slowik (Defensive Coordinator), Scott O'Brien (Special Teams Coordinator), Steve Watson (Associate Head Coach), Joe Baker (Offensive Assistant), Jeremy Bates (Quarterbacks), Ronnie Bradford (Defensive Backs), Jacob Burney (Defensive Line), Keith Burns (Special Teams Asst.), Dwayne Chandler (Assistant Strength & Conditioning), Jedd Fisch (Wide Receivers), Charlie Jackson (Defensive Asst.), Bill Johnson (Defensive Line), Pat McPherson (Tight Ends), Jim Ryan (Linebackers), Greg Saporta (Asst. Strength & Conditioning), Ryan Slowik (Asst. Defensive Backs), Bobby Turner (Running Backs), Rich Tuten (Strength & Conditioning).
2008 DENVER BRONCOS FEATURE CLIPS (August 17) Bowlen, Pat President/CEO p. 3 Shanahan, Mike Head Coach p. 5 Bates, Jeremy Quarterbacks p. 10 Slowik, Bob Defensive Coordinator p. 13 Abdullah, Hamza S p. 15 Bailey, Boss LB p. 18 Bailey Brothers p. 20 Bailey, Champ CB p. 25 Bly, Dre CB p. 27 Clady, Ryan T p. 30 Colbert, Keary WR p. 35 Cutler, Jay QB p. 37 Dumervil, Elvis DE p. 44 Graham, Daniel TE p. 46 Hillis, Peyton FB p. 48 Holland, Montrae G p. 49 Jackson, Darrell WR p. 50 Jackson, Nate TE p. 52 Kern, Brett/Paulescu, Sam P p. 54 Koutouvides, Niko LB p. 56 Larsen, Spencer LB p. 58 Marshall, Brandon WR p. 61 McCree, Marlon S p. 66 Moss, Jarvis DE p. 67 Nalen, Tom C p. 68 Parker, Samie WR p. 70 Pittman, Michael RB p. 72 Polumbus, Tyler T p. 74 Prater, Matt K p. 78 Robertson, Dewayne DT p. 80 Royal, Eddie WR p. 82 Scheffler, Tony TE p. 85 Torain, Ryan RB p. 84 Webster, Nate LB p. 87 Wiegmann, Casey C p. 89 Williams, D.J. LB p. 91 Williams, Jack CB p. 94 Winborn, Jamie LB p. 96 Young, Selvin RB p. 98
Bowlen deserves lofty cred - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9796956 Page 1 of 2 7/6/2008 woody paige Bowlen deserves lofty cred By Woody Paige The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 07/06/2008 12:17:37 AM MDT Hercules Louis Dousman and Patrick Dennis Bowlen will be linked forever. Dousman, a fur trader in the 1800s in Prairie du Chien, Wis., became the state's first millionaire. Bowlen was born in Prairie du Chien and later roamed the Broncos sideline in a fur coat, and his football team will be valued this year by Forbes Magazine at a billion dollars. When Broncos training camp begins later this month, Pat Bowlen will be entering his 25th season as the franchise's owner. The Broncos' next victory will be Bowlen's 251st (regular- and postseason) since assuming control on March 23, 1984. How appropriate would a victory be for Bowlen on Monday night, Sept. 8, at Oakland? The Super Bowl will be played in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2009. The same month, Bowlen will turn 65. How appropriate would another Super Bowlen victory be for the AARPatrick Bowlen? This one's for Pat! The other day, in a survey of NFL coaches taken by ESPN.com, Bowlen ranked second among "owners with the best reputation." He's come quite a distance from Prairie du Chien and a fur piece from being the 40-year-old unknown Canadian who showed up one day in Denver. A chance meeting with, and an off-handed comment to, Edgar Kaiser at church a quarter of a century ago led to a $78 million investment in the Broncos, a long-term commitment to professional football, Denver and Colorado and a full-time job for Bowlen. The former Iron Man triathlon competitor has become the ongoing Iron Man of the Broncos. Even though Bowlen has been criticized, chastised and castigated over coaching and player decisions (his loyalty to Mike Shanahan and his spending on free agents who lacked talent or character, or both), the push for construction of a new stadium (with the majority of the funding from public sources), frequent ticket-price increases, occasional poorly chosen remarks, the Broncos are in a far, far better place because of Bowlen, his ownership and his stewardship. Who would you rather have Arizona's Bill Bidwill, for instance, or Detroit's William Clay Ford, New Orleans' Tom Benson, Tennessee's Bud Adams, Washington's Dan Snyder, Oakland's Al Davis? Among the 31 (of 32) coaches who participated in the questionnaire (and weren't permitted to name their owner), five listed the Dan Rooney family in Pittsburgh as No. 1, and four had Jerry Jones third. Only 11 owners were mentioned. Despite the success of the New England Patriots, owner Bob Kraft was not in the top three. Bowlen received 4 1/2 votes. Advertisement
Bowlen deserves lofty cred - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9796956 Page 2 of 2 7/6/2008 The five coaches probably regarded Bowlen so highly because of the Broncos' five Super Bowls (and two championships) during his reign, that loyalty to Shanahan even in weak times (and because he has fired only two coaches), the $18 billion TV package the league secured with Bowlen as the head of the NFL's broadcasting committee, his willingness to spend money on players and his low-key ownership approach (generally staying in the background and rarely attending practice or forcing his will on the coach, although Bowlen does go into the office and conduct team business most days). Truth is, Bowlen has been a great owner for the Broncos, and he has grown into the position over 24 years (and always promises he will never sell the franchise in his lifetime). Would you have preferred Kaiser, or the man who wanted so badly to own the team, the late Marvin Davis? Or the Monforts? The Broncos, under Bowlen, have won 12 or more games 17 once in nine seasons and averaged 10.417 victories over 24 years. Although all of us are grumbling about the 16-16 mark of 2006-07, only one playoff victory (over the Patriots) since John Elway retired and the costly free-agent mistakes, the Broncos are 84-65 in the post-elway period. There have been just four losing seasons (1990, 1994, 1999 and 2007) with Bowlen in charge. Shanahan as a young assistant. Elway, Reeves and Shanahan were lucky and fortunate Bowlen was the owner. Not everyone loves Patrick. The bar has been set a mile high, and nobody here, especially Bowlen, accepts a level, especially low, playing field. Maybe he's gotten tired of wasting money on dregs Travis Henry and Javon Walker and has pulled back, and maybe he's having economic issues. Maybe Bowlen has learned from nearly a decade of mediocrity (with the exception of the 2005 appearance in the AFC championship game), and maybe he's getting ready for No. 25, No. 251, No. 3 and No. 65. But his numbers up to now have been impressive. Bowlen will be considered one day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The old fur trader would be proud of the old fur wearer. Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com Twenty-four teams would beg for the accomplishments of the Broncos in 24 seasons with Mr. B. Two Super Bowl championships, five AFC trophies, 13 playoff seasons, 26 postseason games, eight division titles, first in home attendance for the 24 seasons. Bowlen was lucky Kaiser pulled off a trade for Elway, and the owner is fortunate that he inherited Dan Reeves as coach. Reeves took the Broncos to three Super Bowls and hired future head coach Advertisement
Super career so far - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10016888 Page 1 of 2 7/28/2008 woody paige Super career so far By Woody Paige The Denver Post Article Launched: 07/28/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT In 15 years as an NFL head coach (he was fired by the Raiders four games into the 1989 season), Mike Shanahan has won 146 regular-season and postseason games, including two Super Bowls. If Shanahan, who will be 56 on Aug. 24, coaches until he is 65 and continues to average 9.7 victories a year, he would be No. 5 on the all-time list of career victories behind Don Shula, George Halas, Tom Landry and Curly Lambeau and a cinch firstballot Hall of Fame coach upon retirement. If Shanahan continues the 16-16 pace of the past two seasons, he may not be in the Super Bowl again or the coach in Denver for 10 more years. This is part two of a conversation with Shanahan on the eve of his 20th training camp with the Broncos: Q: You've heard the remarks that you haven't won a Super Bowl without John Elway? Is that an albatross for you? A: When I first came here it was an albatross for John. John never won a playoff game without Shanahan (as an assistant or head coach). We finally did it in the third and fourth year, and everybody was pretty happy. The bottom line is John went 14 years without winning the Super Bowl. In winning the two Super Bowls, it not only took John Elway, but you have a Terrell Davis and a great turnover ratio we were plus-12 in those playoffs and one of the best defenses in the league. I look at it collectively. We went to three Super Bowls when I was an assistant, and without John Elway, we don't get to any. Now, we got embarrassed in those Super Bowls, and everybody blames John, but if he didn't make the amazing plays he did all season, we're never there. Q: Because you had won a Super Bowl with San Francisco before you came back here as the head coach, did that make a significant difference for you? You turned down the opportunity to coach the Broncos two years earlier. A: Best decision I ever made, because that franchise (the 49ers) had won for a number of years, and when I looked at how they did the draft, how they just handled the Super Bowl, the overall organization, it blew me away. It was such a great experience with the 49ers, who won five Super Bowls, and the confidence level that they had in all areas. Between being with the 49ers and what I got from Dan (Reeves), who brought a lot from the great Cowboys teams, I took so much. And even the short time I was with Al (Davis), his mind-set and how he was a maverick and the way he handled personnel and they had won Super Bowls, you take the pluses from that, too. Q: Twice you left Denver and returned. Did you need the time away to be where you are? A: What I needed was to come back here after San Francisco. The 49ers guaranteed me the head coaching job if I would stay. I thought at that time I needed to go win where nobody's won (the Super Bowl), do something that hadn't been done before in Denver. Q: People don't realize you have a wry sense of Advertisement
Super career so far - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10016888 Page 2 of 2 7/28/2008 humor and that you're privately a very different person. Is that by design? A: I keep a lot inside. When they asked Kyle (Shanahan, his son, the Texans' first- year offensive coordinator) if his dad ever laughs, he answered that his friends had more fun with his dad than all the other dads. When that (assessment) comes from my son, it means something.... Nobody expects me to be funny. Q: Do you accept that impression? A: I'm OK with it.... Being head coach can be one of the loneliest jobs in the world. Q: Are you still evolving as a coach? A: No difference as far as the time spent. I'm still an early guy. I want to leave by 10 o'clock every night because I want an hour and a half to relax before I go to bed, and I sleep five hours and get back at it. The one thing that I have done is become more organized every year.... As time goes on, you concentrate more on making sure everybody's on top of their game. Q: When did it come to you last year to call the famous timeout (in overtime against Oakland)? A: It was kind of a gut. I could see that (Sebastian) Janikowski was so wired. He looked so focused, and I said, "Oh, man, I got to do something," and I told the official standing right by me that I was going to call a timeout just when the center stops looking at the kicker and puts his head down. The official did it at just the right time, right before the snap. Then I thought, "What if he (Janikowski) misses (the first one)?" wasn't changed? A: No, I'd done it before. I'd tell my linebacker to wait until the last instant. There was just more emphasis on this one because it was the first time I'd done it since they implemented the rule that coaches can call timeout, and the guy makes the first, then misses the second one. Q: Are you still learning? A: What I do in the offseason is study other teams, especially what other teams are doing new and different that works. If you just sit idly by and do what you've always done, and you don't keep abreast, there's no way you'll survive. Q: Do you have an ipod? What are you listening to? A: My son gave me one with all my favorite songs, and I've used it on vacation. I used it on vacation (in Mexico recently). I've got about 11,000 songs on it. All the oldies, a little bit of everything. I like Shania Twain. Q: Final question. The house? The coach smiled and was off to the camptown races. Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com Q: Many other pro and college coaches began doing the timeout deal. Were you surprised the rule Advertisement
Affable Shanahan still a driven man - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10003210 Page 1 of 3 7/26/2008 woody paige Affable Shanahan still a driven man By Woody Paige The Denver Post Article Launched: 07/26/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT Mike Shanahan is capability within inimitability inside manipulability enclosed by imperturbability, wrapped in an enigma. As Winston Churchill might say. Shanahan, 55, was a 20-year-old quarterback at Eastern Illinois when he suffered a freak injury in the spring game of his junior season. He lost a kidney, lost his playing career and nearly lost his life. Shanahan was thrust into coaching prematurely as a student assistant at his college, while he earned bachelor and master's degrees. He joined the University of Oklahoma staff in 1975. He loved the thrill of coaching and got the first of a hand (and thumb) full of rings. The Sooners won the national championship. Shanahan is beginning his 25th season in the NFL and 35th overall as a coach. As an assistant and a head coach, he has been to the playoffs 15 times, conference championship games 10 times and the Super Bowl six times. He owns three world championship rings. He has coached with the Broncos in 20 seasons. He was on sabbatical for 20 games with the Raiders and, later, three years with the San Francisco 49ers. On the eve of Shanahan's 14th season as the head coach of the Broncos (the longest coaching run in Denver professional sports history), I had a long conversation with the complicated man. Q: Mike, you returned last week from vacation. Did you read a book? A: "No. Well, yeah, I did, and you're going to think this is crazy. I read through both my offensive and defensive playbooks. I spent about an hour every day going through them." Q: Would you give your playbooks a good review? (They're as thick as "War and Peace.") Did you shorten them this offseason? A: "As a coach, you need your plays to be automatic to you, like a quarterback. When you've been away from it for a while, you go over everything, so there's no hesitation in a game. You can't take a month or a vacation off." Q: After apprenticing as a young coordinator at three schools, you were on a fast track to becoming a college head coach. How did you get to Denver? A: "I always knew I was going to coach football, but, starting out, I didn't think about pro football. It was all college, but after four years at Florida, here are a couple of pro coaches that wanted to interview me. I thought it would give me a great opportunity to coach football 24 hours a day and not have to go recruit. I talked to (Philadelphia coach) Marion Campbell, and I spent about 12 hours on the board (diagramming plays). Lide Huggins (a Broncos assistant) told me Dan (Reeves) was looking for a receivers coach, possibly a quarterback coach. The next week I came to Denver to interview with Dan. Advertisement
Affable Shanahan still a driven man - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10003210 Page 2 of 3 7/26/2008 We had breakfast, and it was the complete opposite from Philadelphia. I drew up one play. That was it. I got an offer from Philadelphia, and Dan called me after the Super Bowl and said he wanted to hire me. The reason I came to Denver was because I eventually would have a chance to coach the quarterback (John Elway)." Q: What's your most vivid memory of that first Broncos camp in 1984? A: "The thing that stood out was we didn't talk a lot of football that offseason. I drove to Greeley with Dan, and we discussed some things, but nothing specific about the playbook. We went 10 days early to coach the rookies. That's back when there were 145 guys on the depth chart. For 10 days I coached rookies (receivers), and not one made the team. That's the big difference between then and today because we have 80 players at this camp, and we've already had 17 (offseason) workouts. In 1984, guys came to camp to get into football shape and learn the playbook. Now everybody's already in great condition and has a good idea of what we're going to do." Q: Your most frustrating loss? A: "I was really frustrated that we didn't take advantage of the situation (in 2005) when we beat the Patriots and lost to Pittsburgh (in the AFC title game at home). I thought if we got to the Super Bowl, we would have won it." Q: You didn't take the University of Florida job several years ago. Is there an itch to coach somewhere else, and in college ball? A: "This is where I want to spend the rest of my life. I don't think I could ever go back to the collegiate level. What interests me is once you've accomplished the goal of winning the Super Bowl, there's even more desire to get back there and do it again." Q: Do you ever think, "I'm going to do this for another 10 years and finish my career in Denver"? A: "I want to keep on coaching for a long, long time. I enjoy coaching. I like the competition. I enjoy the grind, the work. I have fun doing it. I have four years left on my contract. And I want Pat (Bowlen) to be totally happy with me. The way he'll be totally happy with me is for us to win Super Bowls." Q: Despite your incredible accomplishments in 24 years, a Super Bowl, on the average, every four years, you still don't seem satisfied. A: "Doesn't matter what you did in the past. I love putting a team together, especially when you have a young group of players you have confidence in, like this year, and you're re-energized. If everything falls together, and you don't have a lot of injuries, you have a chance to get to the big one, and that's why I'm here." Q: You put intense internal pressure on yourself. How does the external pressure affect you? A: "As you get older, the pressure comes from within. I'm accustomed to the criticism. It comes with the job. The coaches who worry about what people say about them are pretty insecure." Q: Have you have been as hard on yourself this offseason as you've ever been? A: "Yes. Sometimes you have to look at yourself objectively and say you've got to make some changes, and maybe you should have done it earlier. If you hire or sign somebody and realize you've made a mistake, you ask yourself why you didn't anticipate it before it happened, why didn't you ask the right questions, what didn't you go Advertisement
Affable Shanahan still a driven man - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10003210 Page 3 of 3 7/26/2008 through thoroughly enough. I ask myself quite a bit why I made the mistakes I did and how can I eliminate them. You can't be afraid of making tough decisions. You're doing a disservice to the organization if you don't correct mistakes. You're judged on your won-loss record." Q: Your most redeeming quality as a coach? A: "My biggest strength is how important it is to me to win and for me to put a quality team on the football field, and have everybody in Denver saying, 'He's doing a heck of a job,' and they're proud of this organization." Q: Does it bother you that a percentage of people want to get rid of you as the coach? A: "When your goal is to win 12-13 games and go to the Super Bowl, and you have a couple of years like we've had, when you win nine and seven games and don't go to the playoffs, I can understand the question marks. You question yourself. I'm tougher on myself, but I know people wonder. That doesn't take away my thought process that we will win big again. A couple of years ago we started off winning five in a row, and we end up 9-7. There's different reasons for it, but the bottom line is to make sure it doesn't happen this season." Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com Advertisement
Being a coach in Bates' bloodline : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/22/being-a-coach-in-jeremy-bates-blo... Page 1 of 3 7/23/2008 Being a coach in Bates' bloodline Son of former coordinator entrusted by Shanahan to help develop Cutler By Jeff Legwold Tuesday, July 22, 2008 As he looks back now, as Jeremy Bates peels away the pages of calendars gone by, it's clear to him the roots of his coaching career stretch deep into his childhood. Deep enough to reach him as a kindergartner in Lubbock, Texas, deep enough that he can only now shake his head, offer a quick chuckle and remember how it all began. Muzzled. And hopeful. But very muzzled. "It was real early, I guess," said Bates, 31, now in his first season as the Broncos' quarterbacks coach. "I was 5, I believe. I used to go to two-a-days with my dad at Texas Tech, and he only had one rule for me. "Only the one rule, and if I broke it, I just couldn't come any more, that would be it. I wasn't allowed to talk. I just had to hand him the ball when he needed it and not say a word. Just watch, listen and hand him the ball. Well, I didn't want to stay home and I didn't want to be anyplace else, so I just shut up, learned the game and did that one job." So here he is, a quarter of a century or so later, forged in the golden silence of a football family - Bates' father, Jim, is a longtime college and NFL assistant coach who left the Broncos earlier this year after one season as defensive coordinator rather than be reassigned on Mike Shanahan's staff - and he is now the one entrusted with the development of quarterback Jay Cutler. The one with the headset on game day, the one whose voice will be in Cutler's ear. The one who will carry messages from above to Cutler, the one who is buffer between this and that in the day-to-day vocational life of a fledgling NFL passer. The one, as Cutler faces a pivotal year on his developmental curve, Shanahan selected for the job. "And we're going to do a lot of stuff," Cutler said. "I'm excited. A lot of people may not know a lot about Jeremy, but he's dealt with the offensive line, been with the Jets, been with Tampa Bay. He's got a lot of knowledge. "He's just very innovative. Talking with Jeremy, I've already gotten a lot better with it, getting the ball to
Being a coach in Bates' bloodline : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/22/being-a-coach-in-jeremy-bates-blo... Page 2 of 3 7/23/2008 the running backs, checking down with it. Take what (the defense) gives you, that's the way you win. I know he's going to give me all the freedom he can... he's just got a lot of good ideas." Ideas wrapped in a package that some in the NFL would say is too young for the job. But among those Bates has worked for in the NFL are Shanahan, Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, all of whom were considered outside-the-box hires as they ascended their own coaching ladders quicker than most. All three were among the youngest to be hired as head coaches in the league's modern era. "And Jeremy's very sharp, ahead of the curve," Shanahan said. "I wouldn't have hired him to do the job if he wasn't ready for it. Age just doesn't figure in if you can do what you need to do. People said I was too young before, too. I don't pay much attention to how old or young somebody is." Said Gruden: "We all have our set of challenges. Jeremy has been around now. He's been a coach, he's coached a long time, he knows what it's about. And if the player knows that you can help him, that's the big thing for a coach. But if a player questions your ability to help him that's when the problems arise whether you're young, old or whatever." For his part, Bates calls his age "just a number." And as a former backup to University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning - Bates later transferred to Rice to play football and baseball - he believes everything has unfolded just the way he has wanted. He's a guy who believed enough in what the future might hold that he took a significant chance in 2000, resigning from the Titans because he wanted to be involved in more on-field coaching, then waited for more than a year for the Buccaneers to hire him in 2002. "With (Gruden), I was with the quarterbacks for three years and I enjoy that position - it's where I played," Bates said. "It's where the game starts as far as getting in the right play. "I think you coach and it's about knowledge. As long as you can feed them information so they can be successful on Sundays, they respect that more than anything... I think the players respect me, and I respect them." Bates also enters the season in the odd situation of having been promoted on the Broncos staff in a year an impending demotion prompted his father to leave the team. Jim Bates directed a struggling Broncos defense last season, and in the shake-up that followed a 7-9 finish, Shahanan was set to take away the coordinator's play-calling duties on defense and offered the elder Bates a move to linebackers coach instead. Jim Bates elected to resign and reached a financial settlement for the final year of his contract. "He just had his hip scoped and hopefully he'll coach next year - he's a football coach, that's what he needs to be doing," Jeremy Bates said. "But you've got to separate your personal feelings from business. This is a business. I grew up in the business. Every two years we were either moving because he got a new job from being hired or fired. It's all just the nature of the business. "If you win, things happen good for you; if you don't, a change has to be made. It happened and we're just moving on. Just life in the league, life in coaching, you know."
Being a coach in Bates' bloodline : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/22/being-a-coach-in-jeremy-bates-blo... Page 3 of 3 7/23/2008 A coaching life that now includes a coveted quarterback, a team in search of more points, more wins, a place in the postseason and a little more pressure than he faced in seasons past. And he wouldn't have it any other way. "It's a great game, and all I can ever remember is that I either wanted to play or coach in it," Bates said. "I have a chance to work with a great quarterback on a great staff in a game I love. "You work hard for six days and on the seventh day you get the results for everybody to see. That's how we're all judged. We all know it so really nothing has to be said." Rocky Mountain News
Slowik eases into Broncos' hot seat http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/jul/28/pro-football-slowik-eases-into-broncos-hot... Page 1 of 2 7/28/2008 Slowik eases into Broncos' hot seat Assistant will serve as Denver's third defensive boss in three years Associated Press Monday, July 28, 2008 ENGLEWOOD -- The hot seat? Sure. His comfort zone? You bet. Bob Slowik is settling in as Denver's third defensive boss in three years under coach Mike Shanahan and he doesn't have the time or the gumption to give his job security a second thought. "It's kind of like players. You don't tell them every day, 'Hey, if you don't start making plays or you're not getting the job done, you're not going to be here.' It's the NFL. They know that. Coaches know the same thing," Slowik said. "But that's the last thing from my mind," he said. "I go to sleep at night and feel good." After all, Slowik wasn't sure if he'd ever have the chance to build a defense again after his last gig didn't go so well in Green Bay in 2004. He left the Packers after one forgettable season in charge of a defense that allowed a franchise record 37 touchdown passes and managed a measly eight interceptions. "I kind of thought, hey, that might have been my last opportunity," Slowik said. "So, I'm very fortunate." Slowik, who also served as defensive coordinator in Cleveland in 1999 and in Chicago from 1993-98, landed in Denver in 2005 coaching the defensive backs and tutoring perennial Pro Bowlers Champ Bailey and John Lynch. Last year, Slowik was promoted to defensive coordinator/secondary coach, but it was Jim Bates who built the defense and called the plays. After a miserable start, though, the Broncos ditched Bates' big linemen scheme, opting for more agile athletes and putting eight men in the box, hallmarks of Slowik's philosophies.the hybrid scheme helped some, but the Broncos, shuffling their lineup and tenets, finished near the bottom of the league in rush defense and yards allowed and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. As Larry Coyer did the year before, Bates paid the price. He refused a demotion to linebackers coach and left the team. He was replaced by Slowik, 54. Cornerback Dre' Bly said Slowik brings a different feel to both the classroom and the football field.
Slowik eases into Broncos' hot seat http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/jul/28/pro-football-slowik-eases-into-broncos-hot... Page 2 of 2 7/28/2008 "Coach is a great teacher. And not to knock Bates or anything, but Slow makes sure everything is understood and everything is in detail," Bly said. "I think the guys respond well to Slowik, there's no laughing and joking in our meetings, it's all business. It's all teaching." Players appreciate Slowik's respectful style, which they say was a big reason the Broncos pass defense allowed the seventh-fewest yards per game last year. "He doesn't really yell at you or curse at you. When he's coaching you it's constructive criticism," cornerback Karl Paymah said. "He goes straight to the point, it's not him trying to put you down or demean you or make you look dumb in front of anyone else or try to prove a point. He brought the best out of the DBs and it's really going to carry on to the rest of the defense." Shanahan thinks so. "I've known Bob well over 20 years. He's a heck of a coach, one of the most knowledgeable people that I've been around and he's doing a heck of a job," Shanahan said. Despite integrating some of his ideas in a futile attempt to save the season last year, Slowik said this scheme doesn't bear any resemblance to last year's. "Zero. New terminology, new techniques," he said. "Basically, he's simplified it," Paymah said. "You don't want to be out there week to week changing the scheme up because guys will get confused. You can't be out there thinking, you've got to be reacting." 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC.
Pro football Abdullah climbs to safety http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/jul/30/pro-football-abdullah-climbs-to-safety/?pri... Page 1 of 2 7/30/2008 Pro football Abdullah climbs to safety 24-year-old leading candidate for starting job Associated Press Wednesday, July 30, 2008 ENGLEWOOD -- Denver Broncos safety Hamza Abdullah jogged out for special teams practice the other day and began stretching, just like he typically does. Then special teams coordinator Scott O'Brien located him, came over and told him to go on home. His services weren't needed. The 24-year-old wasn't in trouble, though. Nope, this was a reward. He's getting his special teams work chopped in half this season as he's currently the leading candidate for the starting strong safety spot. Abdullah's putting his extra time to good use -- studying a compilation compact disc he's made of the elite safeties in the league. He watches the moves of Indy's Bob Sanders, the positioning of Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu. He also analyzes footage of Cleveland's Sean Jones and St. Louis' O.J. Atogwe, even the late Sean Taylor of Washington. "I think he was going to be the best ever," Abdullah said of Taylor, who died of massive blood loss after he was shot at his Miami-area home during a botched robbery last November. "He was that type of guy." Abdullah doesn't need video to view of one of his favorites, though, getting tips every day in practice from nine-time Pro Bowler John Lynch, who's been the starter at free safety so far in training camp. While some might argue the 36-year-old has lost a stepor two, Abdullah certainly hasn't noticed a change. "He's John Lynch. He's so smart," Abdullah said Tuesday. "Nobody said he's going to run a 4.2 (40-yard dash). He's going to be in great position and he's not going to miss tackles." That's the kind of consistency Abdullah is aiming for. "I think of myself as an up-and-coming guy trying to work as hard as I can to be the best I can be," Abdullah said. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Abdullah is usually one of the first on the field every day for practice, a carryover from his days in Tampa Bay when he was trying to make a good impression. The Buccaneers
Pro football Abdullah climbs to safety http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/jul/30/pro-football-abdullah-climbs-to-safety/?pri... Page 2 of 2 7/30/2008 drafted him in the seventh round out of Washington State in 2005, only to place him on their practice squad, where Denver eventually plucked him up. He was a special teams maven in 2006 for Denver, before getting his break last season, taking over for Nick Ferguson. He finished with 48 tackles and seven pass deflections. Abdullah is trying to lock down the starting spot, but he's being pushed by veterans Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel. McCree started every game for San Diego last season. "It's great to get fresh blood in here," Abdullah said. "This league is built on competition and peer pressure. I love those guys. They push me." Not as much as he pushes himself. In addition to studying different safeties around the league, he also glances at film of his own play. Not the highlights, though, but the low moments. He calls them missed opportunities, like when he jumped a route against Minnesota in the season finale last season, only to drop the ball because his hands were turned the wrong way. Or the time he misjudged a pass at Kansas City, the ball hitting his shoulder pad and landing in the arms of teammate Karl Paymah. In that same game, he had another pass tip off his hands and carom right to Dre' Bly for an interception. "Those are two plays that should've been interceptions (for me)," Abdullah said through a smile that features braces. "That's the difference between being a good safety to being a great safety. There's that fine line." He did have some memorable games, such as leading the secondary with eight tackles against Tennessee and forcing a fumble at Chicago. Still, Abdullah prefers not to reflect on those. "The second you start patting yourself on the back, that's when things go downhill," Abdullah said. "You start to feel too comfortable, you feel like you can't be replaced, you feel like you can't be beat. These young guys are hungry, just like the older veterans." 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC.
Older brother should bring out best in Boss - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9934865 Page 1 of 2 7/21/2008 sports Older brother should bring out best in Boss By Mike Klis The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 07/20/2008 01:50:36 AM MDT ORANGE PARK, Fla. If father knows best, the Broncos will be pleased. Roland Bailey Sr. thinks it's best for all concerned that Boss Bailey will be playing alongside his older brother Champ, formally if not formerly known as Roland Bailey Jr., on the Broncos' defense. "I think Boss will play better, play harder," Roland Sr. said about his youngest son. "He won't want to let Champ down." Boss Bailey agrees with his father about the positive influence he will draw by often lining up just a few feet away from his older brother on the left side of the Broncos' defense. Champ plays left cornerback, and Boss, as a strongside linebacker, will often line up off the tight end on the left side. Left on his own, Boss Bailey wasn't bad. He was a four-year starter with the Detroit Lions, playing at a high enough level to draw a five-year, $17.5 million contract from the Broncos on the free-agent market. The Broncos didn't sign Boss to appease Champ, although there is wisdom in a team taking care of its best player. Boss is primarily with the team because the Broncos play in a division the AFC West that features two of the game's premier tight ends in San Diego's Antonio Gates and Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez. "Boss is good in pass coverage," Roland Sr. said. "Looked like that's where they were lacking last year. They were always getting beat by the tight end. Boss has good foot speed." In Champ's younger days, when he was at the University of Georgia and early in his NFL career with the Washington Redskins, he often would deflect praise by telling people his younger brother was a better athlete, would become a better player. For a couple of reasons, it didn't turn out that way. First, Champ was selling himself short. Boss may not be a better player than Champ, but who is? Second, whatever chance Boss had of surpassing his brother, his knees wouldn't let him. He blew out his knee in his senior year in high school, sophomore year in college and second year in the NFL. "Absolutely, I think having Champ as a teammate will elevate my game a lot," Boss said, "because he tries to be great in everything he does. And as the people down there might have told you, we're kind of joined at the hip. So, I plan on raising my game by being around him." Advertisement
Older brother should bring out best in Boss - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9934865 Page 2 of 2 7/21/2008 Post Poll - NFL brother combos Which is the best NFL brother combo? CB Champ Bailey, Broncos, and LB Boss Bailey, Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe, TE, Broncos, and WR Sterling Sharpe, Packers QB Peyton Manning, Colts, and QB Eli Manning, Giants RB Tiki Barber, Giants, and CB Ronde Barber, Buccaneers WR Santana Moss, "That's the thing, when I talk about Boss and give him all that praise, it's because he's been through more than I have," Champ said. "He's been through a lot, but he's always bouncing back. I give him a lot of credit for that. A lot of guys, they'll falter, they can't come back. As long as healthy, he's one of the best out there." Advertisement
Georgia on their minds - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9929399 Page 1 of 6 7/21/2008 broncos - the bailey brothers Georgia on their minds By Mike Klis The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 07/20/2008 09:18:53 AM MDT were five boys, all shirtless, not an ounce of fat anywhere. There were smiles during horseplay, although there were hints the game was but a few minutes shy of serious. Girls were approaching from both sides of the road, oblivious to the boys, intent on conversation. The nearby yards were covered with green grass, toys and bikes, randomly scattered outside tiny houses set on cement blocks, a foundation necessity in the southern Georgia swampland. "This area here is where the boys grew up," said Elaine Bailey, who was serving as a tour guide from the passenger seat in the white rental car with the convertible black top. "This is pretty much where they hung out." The new kids on the block seemed to know how good they had it. It wasn't that long ago, back in the day of Champ and Boss Bailey, this street was dirt, not blacktopped. laine Bailey with footballs that her three sons, on, hamp, and Boss Bailey earned while playing at the niversity of eorgia. (Jake oth pecial to the Post) FOLKSTON, Ga. There wasn't much room for it, and there were the usual signs of neglect. No net. A rusted backboard. Bent rim. Nevertheless, the transportable basketball hoop had become a magnet for neighborhood activities. It was around suppertime, between downpours on a midsummer day, and the air was sweating. Moving within a 10-foot radius of the ironed circle "Any way to get dirty, that's pretty much what we did," Champ Bailey said. "That pretty much was all there was to do." If there is a lesson Folkston kids received from the Bailey brothers, who grew up to become wellcompensated defensive starters for the Broncos, it's that a child doesn't need much to have plenty. Colorado's kids should come here and see the narrow, sandy quagmire that passes for the varsity track at Charlton County High School. "Hey, we won a state championship (practicing) on that track," Champ said. "What I tell people about Folkston is, if you blink you'll miss it," Boss Bailey said. "And that while Folkston is a small town, a real small town, it's Advertisement
Georgia on their minds - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9929399 Page 2 of 6 7/21/2008 foremost a football town." Approximately 2,200 people have settled here near the Okefenokee Swamp, yet like the whatever. She picked Quick Chic, where the golden shine on the fried chicken means more to the Bailey brothers than all those football artifacts in Mom's Georgia Bulldog-red room. "Man, I'm Post Poll - NFL brother combos Which is the best NFL brother combo? CB Champ Bailey, Broncos, and LB Boss Bailey, Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe, TE, Broncos, and WR Sterling Sharpe, Packers QB Peyton Manning, Colts, and QB Eli Manning, Giants RB Tiki Barber, Giants, and CB Ronde Barber, Buccaneers WR Santana Moss, miracle of the loaves and fish near Bethsaida, the powerhouse football program built by Rich McWhorter will draw 3,000 to 4,000 for a Friday night game. Home cooking Folkston is a town of 23 churches and Lord help its visitors no bars. Main Street could also be called Only Street for all the storefronts or eating establishments located elsewhere. A $10 bill goes a long way. Elaine Bailey was told she could pick any restaurant, her guest would treat. Steak, lobster, hamp Bailey at eorgia. (Jack oth pecial to The Denver Post) telling you, every time we come home, we go to that place," Champ said. "You can't get better chicken anywhere else." Folkston could not stop the inevitability of McDonald's, Burger King and Sonic settling on its small strip of U.S. 1, which in turn required a third Advertisement
Georgia on their minds - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9929399 Page 3 of 6 7/21/2008 stoplight to handle it all. But this is still a place that can be toured in 45 minutes, if only the tourists could be pulled away from train-watching at the Folkston Funnel. "I don't know if we're so much growing as we're reshaping a little bit," said McWhorter, who 20 years ago transplanted here from central Illinois. "But still, the joke around here is if you want a hamburger or you want a pizza, you have to go to a gas station to get it. The best pizza in town is at a years. This season, he will be joined by his younger but much bigger brother Boss, a strongside linebacker who received the Broncos' largest offseason contract at $17.5 million over five years. The Baileys will become the Broncos' first brother combination to start on the same side of the ball since Doug and Dave Widell shared the offensive line for eight games from 1990-92. Champ has already been to eight Pro Bowls and has been widely considered the league's most complete defensive back the past three seasons. Nothing has moved him, though, more than the anticipation of playing on the same team with his younger brother and best friend. Boss Bailey (Jake oth Denver Post ) pecial to The "It's a significant part of my career," Champ said. "It's something I didn't think would ever happen until Boss was going into his contract year. I asked Coach (Mike) Shanahan about it and he said, 'Well, let's wait until next year.' He couldn't talk to him. We talked about it in the offseason, and I'm just glad we could get it done because it means a lot to me that he's on my team." Parental influence Roland and Elaine Bailey may have split up 15 years ago, but they are forever united through their children. Schedule-toting Elaine likes her day to go a certain way. Easy-going Roland will take it any old way. Elaine pauses to consider before she speaks. Roland accompanies conversation with an easy laugh. gas station." From these humble roots sprouted a uniquely talented football family. Champ Bailey, the all-world cornerback, has been with the Broncos going on five Elaine paid attention to how her guest took Diet Coke with his chicken one night so when she ordered pizza the next, a two-liter bottle was ready to pour. Later that night, Roland Sr. and his wife, Lawanda, decided rather than give directions from their Orange Park, Fla., home, they would make a Advertisement
Georgia on their minds - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9929399 Page 4 of 6 7/21/2008 45-minute drive to escort their guest to his hotel parking lot. They just don't make people like that. "You lose your parents being together when there's a divorce, but you don't really lose anybody," Champ said. "I think the hardest part was trying to get comfortable with where we were living. But other than them not being together, everything went fine because we had so much support from the rest of our family." Elaine never played sports and, far as she knows, there wasn't much athletic prowess on her side of the family. Then again, Champ has such a strong physical resemblance to Elaine's father, John Atwater, there's reason to suspect there was considerable untapped athleticism in her lineage. Roland Sr. is a large man who played running back and linebacker a cross between Champ and Boss and was a sprinter at Charlton County High, where he graduated in 1972. But he's the first to admit he wasn't near the athlete his boys became. Think of those world-class athletes who had kids and as it turned out, it was Roland Sr. and Elaine Bailey who produced the freakish football talents of Ron, Champ and Boss. "Yeah, I think about that," Roland said. "I think about that all the time. And our daughter (Danielle) controls all of them." Said Elaine: "When I think back to when they were in high school, I could only see my children going to college, getting a degree and just become a businessman, a businesswoman in the working world. But I never told any of my sons that you all are going to the NFL. I just looked at college being the stopping point. But then the next thing I know, there was all this talk about, 'the next level, the next level.' It started with Ron." One that got away The Baileys' story has its parallels to the Mannings'. Besides the famous Manning quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli, older brother Cooper also was a terrific football player whose career was cut short in college by a neck injury. Broncos fans will follow every move of Champ and Boss, but older brother Ron was a two-year starting cornerback at Georgia before his career ended with a foot injury while representing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL Europe. Here in Folkston, it's not just Champ and Boss. The people don't talk about the Baileys' football prowess without also mentioning Ron. "They were all good kids," said Larry Allen, who coached all three Bailey boys when they were 11 and 12 years old and now owns a hardware store located where else? on Main Street. "They were all good students. And they were all super athletes. For a small town like Folkston, you don't run across that type of family. Ron and Boss had to work for everything they got. And Champ, God blessed him in ways he doesn't bless many people. In his two seasons, I think he scored like 92 touchdowns." Bringing it back Champ and Boss don't get back as much as they'd like, but they never miss Easter. This year, the three Bailey brothers and a cousin hosted a three-day party. Good Friday was for friends and relatives who gathered at the two-story brick home Champ bought for his mother. Saturday night was a semi-formal, sit-down dinner at a large tent set up just outside town. It was open to all of Folkston and the Advertisement
Georgia on their minds - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9929399 Page 5 of 6 7/21/2008 surrounding area. More than 300 showed up for the free food, free drink and free live music. Easter Sunday, word got around. Close to a thousand showed up for the all-day party. "I was out there for their Easter party," said Henry Minchey, who was happy to learn he lives in the same upstairs, three-bedroom apartment the four Bailey children once shared with their mother during Champ's high school years. "Seemed like the same old Champ and Boss to me." The Bailey boys say they probably won't ever move back to Folkston, but Mom isn't going anywhere, so they'll always go back. "It was a great town to grow up in," Boss said. "Everybody knew each other and took care of each other. I wouldn't want to move back there, but it will always be home." Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost. com About Champ Born Roland Bailey Jr. in Fort Campbell, Ky. An energetic child, Mom nicknamed him "Champ" when he was about 2. Perhaps the best student among the Baileys, he was placed in the Charlton County gifted program from the time he was in fifth grade. While Ron and Boss redshirted and spent five years at Georgia, Champ was there for only three years, starting as a true freshman and entering the NFL draft after his junior year. A few classes shy of earning his psychology degree. About Boss Born Rodney Bailey in Hopkinsville, Ky. Nicknamed "Boss" because it was nickname of grandfather's favorite uncle. The third of three Bailey quarterbacks at Charlton County High School. He was a sophomore who replaced Champ at QB midseason. Champ moved to running back. Boss was also the team's punter. A few classes short of getting his sociology degree. He and wife, Amber, have three children. His son Khalil, who was born with a heart condition that has required two surgeries, recently hit a home run in a state championship Little League tournament. Meet the rest of the Bailey family It took a family to help Champ and Boss Bailey get to the NFL and the Broncos' defense. A closer look at the Baileys from Folkston, Ga.: Parents Roland Sr. and Elaine Bailey. Both grew up in Folkston and became high school sweethearts. Dad spent nine years in the Army, where he was stationed in California, South Korea, Kentucky and Germany before tiring of moving his family around and deciding to return to Folkston. He spent 13 years working the graveyard shift as a mail handler, making the 45-minute commute each day to a Jacksonville, Fla., post office. Elaine Bailey worked several years as a funeral home attendant and for a local seafood establishment. They have four children Ronald, 33; Danielle, 32; Roland Jr. Advertisement
Georgia on their minds - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9929399 Page 6 of 6 7/21/2008 (Champ), 30; and Rodney (Boss), 28. Ronald Born in Waycross, Ga., near Folkston. Graduated from Georgia with a degree in consumer economics. Currently a graphic artist living with his family in Atlanta. A quarterback, defensive back and kicker in high school, Ron was the first of the Baileys to become a Bulldog defensive player. "I'm a big believer in leading by example, and Ron is who I learned that from," Champ said. "You have a lot of people who talk it. There were a lot of vocal people in high school who were better athletes than Ron but they didn't make it past high school. He was a perfect example of what you should or should not do. He made it to the next level. He has a great job now. He was definitely a positive influence other than my parents." Danielle Born in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Graduated from Valdosta State University with a degree in sociology. She and her family live in Stockbridge, Ga. She organized the Bailey Brothers Football Camp, held July 11-12 in Duluth, Ga. Advertisement
Broncos' Bailey in secondary school : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/11/broncos-bailey-try-to-sort-out-defense/?pr... Page 1 of 2 6/12/2008 Broncos' Bailey in secondary school Cornerback studies lapse last season, plans to improve By Jeff Legwold Wednesday, June 11, 2008 The numbers are a waterfall, a raging, swirling cascade of temple-rubbing badness. Yes, in 2007, the Broncos ranked 30th in the league in rushing defense, 31st defending scoring plays inside their 20-yard line and 28th in points allowed. It's a total that added up to a 7-9 finish, a playoff miss and a smattering of NFL scouts who said the team struggled so much on defense that even cornerback Champ Bailey wasn't the same. "Well, one thing about being on a bad defense, everybody looks bad," Bailey said Tuesday. "No matter how great you are, if we don't cover in the secondary, the front four is not going to get sacks, and if they don't get sacks - get pressure - we're not going to get any picks. "It all goes hand in hand. And we didn't get our hands on enough of any of it." The result: Assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates decided to leave the team instead of being reassigned to coaching linebackers after previously calling the defensive signals, and the Broncos have spent the offseason installing Bob Slowik's defense. And for Bailey, who always is sifting through the details as he studies opponents and himself, that has meant also trying to sort out how it all went so wrong. "I think we were just confused," Bailey said. "We were just so inconsistent. At times, we'd see good stuff, do some good things and all of a sudden, we'd look like the worst team in the NFL. You know you can't win games like that. "We were so successful before last year. We're kind of going back to that.... Things are not as complicated, we know what our responsibilities are and it's really helped us. We can concentrate on execution instead of just thinking about where we're supposed to be." Bailey will cross the double-figure mark on his career timeline as he enters his 10th season in the league. He has been selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls - with one more, he will tie Hall of Famer Mike Haynes for most by a cornerback in league history - and his 24 interceptions during the past four seasons lead all players. "I just always looked up to him and make my game the way his is," Broncos rookie cornerback Jack Williams said. "He studies and he has talent like that. You try to do a lot of the little things he does, but a lot of the stuff is instinct. You can try to see what he sees, but you really can't duplicate what he does."
Broncos' Bailey in secondary school : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/11/broncos-bailey-try-to-sort-out-defense/?pr... Page 2 of 2 6/12/2008 While Bailey always casts a discerning eye on the defense, he saves his harshest critiques for his own play. And this offseason has meant looking at why he went from eight interceptions in 2005 to 10 in 2006 to three last season. His 10 interceptions in 2006 tied for the league lead despite the fact he said he had only 35 passes directed at him. "So, yeah, I know people pick and choose when to challenge me, but that was true in (2006) and I still had 10 picks, and it was true (in 2005)," Bailey said. "So I try to figure out what the problems were. I can't say I have full responsibility for what happened, but at the same time, I don't like to point fingers at anybody and I need to do what I can to make it better. "And I know I can do better. I mean, I had three picks; I have to make a lot more plays than that." Bailey said he likes the vibe after the change in the defensive scheme and that, for the first time since he was at the University of Georgia, he is a teammate with one of his brothers. Boss Bailey, a linebacker and Champ's younger brother, signed with the Broncos during the offseason and is working as the team's starting strong-side linebacker. "It's special to see him every day, to do things together again, all the time, like we've been doing our whole lives until we got to the NFL," Champ Bailey said. "I just feel like it can all be better this year. Last year, we had so much talent - potential - it was definitely frustrating. Nothing we did seemed to pan out for us as far as winning games. "Hopefully, we change that." ETC.: Former Louisiana State punter Patrick Fisher was on the field Wednesday. Fisher hasn't been signed by the Broncos but is in for a two-day tryout. He will practice today as well.... Defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson didn't practice and isn't expected to practice today. Robertson has had knee troubles in the past.... Defensive tackle Nic Clemons left a pass-rushing drill after tweaking his right knee. Rocky Mountain News
Broncos glad to have Bly in their corner : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/03/broncos-glad-to-have-bly-in-their-c... Page 1 of 3 8/4/2008 Broncos glad to have Bly in their corner 'Most competitive guy on this team' ready for encore By Jeff Legwold Sunday, August 3, 2008 He is the surprise answer to a rather basic question. The one that asks: Who, exactly, led the Broncos in interceptions in 2007? Was it Champ Bailey, all-everything cornerback? Uh, no. "You know when you finish the year, there's always some plays you want back, and I had that, too, it's just everybody saw the ones I want back on national TV," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said. "But I thought I had a pretty good year front to back, and I think I can have a better one in this defense." Yes, it was Bly, with five interceptions, who led the Broncos last season. It was his first year with the team after the Broncos had surrendered two starters heading for backup roles -- running back Tatum Bell and tackle George Foster -- as well as a swap of picks in the 2007 draft. Yes, it was Bly who then was awarded a five-year, $33 million contract by the Broncos to be the guy on the toasty seat in the Denver secondary. Because when it comes to throwing the ball against the Broncos secondary, most teams follow but one commandment: Thou shalt not throw against Champ Bailey, unless it is really necessary or you simply have made a mistake. "And anybody who is opposite a Hall of Fame corner is always going to feel pressure," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "Quarterbacks are going to go away from Champ, and Dre's always going to get more shots. That comes with the territory. Some guys embrace it; a guy like Dre, I believe, embraces it, and he has to." "One thing about Dre, he is probably the most competitive guy on this team," Bailey said. "He probably just knew he was going to get some action when he came here, probably more than any other time in his career. We talked about it a lot. But he looks forward to that, he relishes that opportunity." Falling short That he does, Bly agreed, but he also knows in and among the team's defensive struggles in 2007 -- assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates was replaced by Bob Slowik because of them -- were the lofty expectations Bly would give the Broncos a matched set of Pro Bowl lockdown cornerbacks immediately
Broncos glad to have Bly in their corner : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/03/broncos-glad-to-have-bly-in-their-c... Page 2 of 3 8/4/2008 upon his arrival. A pair that simply would reel in the interceptions, interceptions that never really came as predicted, even as the Broncos surrendered a bulky 25 passing touchdowns -- none replayed more than the 82-yard missile launch Brett Favre made to Greg Jennings, over Bly, in a Packers overtime win on Monday Night Football in October. "Overall, there are always going to be some things you do wrong, or you don't do as well," Bly said. "And I know there were some touchdowns I was responsible for that I haven't given up in the past, but being in the system and the scheme that we were using, the play was made. "We just gave up too many passing touchdowns. But people don't see what goes on in the trenches, or what doesn't work, they see what goes on in the back end. And a passing touchdown is an easy way, a fast way to score points and everybody sees it." Bly said he and Bailey were under orders last season to "just play over the top" which basically means drop deep, don't let any receivers behind you and cover inside out, from the middle of the field toward the sideline. All while the defense often struggled to consistently rush the passer and to consistently defend the run. "It was basically give up the outs, and the shorter stuff, just don't get beat deep, but pretty much this year we'll mix in some things," Bly said. "But our first priority is to dominate the run. We were bad in the run last year; that's our main focus, that's what we've been emphasizing and I just think -- we're involved, too, at corner -- that we know if we're going to the playoffs, we have to deal with the run a lot better than we did last year." Bly said he believes the Broncos defense, under Slowik, will rush the passer with more regularity. Getting Dewayne Robertson will help, Bly said. The cornerback also believes Denver has spent much of the offseason and a big part of training camp reasserting a commitment to run defense. "(Slowik) wants everybody involved in that, and that means me and Champ, too," Bly said. "I just think quarterbacks are going to have a harder time settling in back there if the offense can't run the ball every time they want to." Better with age? Having turned 31 in May, Bly also now teams with Bailey to form a rarity in defensive circles. They are entering their 10th season at a position where youthful speed often, and usually, trumps experience. Bly said he believes he has maintained most of the speed that made him a second-round pick in the 1999 draft, but he also saves steps these days. "I can read offenses and I can read plays so much better than I could in my first three, four years in the league," Bly said. "I'm not getting any faster, I'm not getting quicker -- I don't feel like I've lost anything, but I ain't getting anymore to add on, either -- so you have to improve your awareness, because it can give you an extra step."
Broncos glad to have Bly in their corner : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/03/broncos-glad-to-have-bly-in-their-c... Page 3 of 3 8/4/2008 Bly also said he is far more cognizant of his maintaining flexibility now that he has crossed into 30- something territory, bringing in a physical therapist he used in St. Louis a few times a year to work through a stretching routine, as well as running more and lifting weights less in his workouts. "I know routes, I know releases," Bly said. "Having great awareness in a lot of situations can carry you a long way. "People say I guess and this and that, well... I tell people if I guess, I need to go to damn Vegas because I'm a great guesser, because maybe I'm not guessing since I've been intercepting balls my whole life. "It ain't like I've been exposed my whole life back there. I intercepted the ball in high school, and nobody in college intercepted more balls than I did (at North Carolina, where he set the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 20). I intercept it in the NFL. I know I can get the ball, and I'm going to show it again this year." Rocky Mountain News
High bar set for Broncos' Clady : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/07/cladys-own-private-idaho/?printer=1/ Page 1 of 5 8/8/2008 High bar set for Broncos' Clady Boise State rookie's focus on early impact for Broncos By Lee Rasizer Thursday, August 7, 2008 Thanks a lot, Joe Thomas. All you did for the Cleveland Browns last season as their No. 1 pick is start 16 games at left tackle, help transform their offense to eighth overall in yardage, finish second in voting for the NFL's offensive rookie of the year and make the Pro Bowl. So, Ryan Clady, there's your bar. Get in there and try not to disappoint for the Broncos as a rookie firstrounder, OK? "He made it look real easy," Clady said with a laugh recently. "So there are a lot of expectations in the first round coming in to make an immediate impact." It isn't always such a seamless transition, especially protecting the quarterback's blind side. Robert Gallery, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Kenyatta Walker and Kwame Harris all came in with lofty reputations and produced less-than-desired results, especially immediately, as first-round picks. There's so much to learn and so little time. * Memorizing the playbook and quickly distinguishing play calls that might only have slight variations in terminology. * Learning techniques taught by the new offensive line coach. * Combating the knowledge base of veterans while having only a few months of pro experience. * Catching up with the speed of the game and of pro life. Most of all, it's using abundant talent in the best way possible until experience takes hold, while not letting the low moments drag you down. "I think you just have to have the mentality that you're going to make some mistakes and have real tough skin because the coaches are going to be yelling at you and trying to get you on the right path," said Clady, selected 12th overall out of Boise State and one of a record six offensive tackles picked in the first round in April.
High bar set for Broncos' Clady : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/07/cladys-own-private-idaho/?printer=1/ Page 2 of 5 8/8/2008 "You're not going to come in and completely dominate. Joe Thomas did well. But it wasn't lights-out craziness. So you have to come in with the mentality that, every day, you're going to get better." But make no mistake, the most diligent of film study and on-field preparation won't insulate Clady from having his eventual "welcome to the NFL" moment. Like it or not, that's coming. 'In rookie awe' For Joe Staley, that instant came right after 1 o'clock Eastern time on Oct. 21. The 28th overall pick in the 2007 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Staley had reached the bye week relatively unscathed before heading to the Meadowlands to face the New York Giants and a head-tohead meeting with perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan. It was the same Michael Strahan that Staley had put on a pedestal as a youth. At halftime and with 3 1/2 sacks allowed, Staley wasn't liking Strahan quite as much. "I got caught up in, 'Oh, my God, it's Michael Strahan,' " said Staley, who also yielded a sack to Giants lineman Justin Tuck in that game. "In my head, I was kind of in rookie awe and played really passive. He beat me pretty bad in the first half. But I came back saying, 'I don't care who this guy is, I'm going to play my game.' And I went out and shut him out in the second half. "But I feel like I needed that game to raise my level of play," Staley said. "I learned so much from that game. And, from that point on, I gave up one sack the rest of the year." Levi Brown, the No. 5 pick in the 2007 draft by the Arizona Cardinals and the first tackle taken after Thomas, was lulled to sleep in a different fashion. Having already played Seattle earlier in the season, Brown thought he was prepared for his December rematch with Patrick Kearney. "I gave up three sacks," Brown said. "During the game, I was like, 'Man, I can't stop him.' And the first time we played them, I didn't give up any sacks at all, so I was like, 'What happened? Am I coming out of my stance slower or something like that?' "And later, watching film, it was just little things. It was like I was lackadaisical, not punching and things like that. I didn't attack him." Like Staley, Brown learned from his mistakes. The Cardinals revised their thinking, too, giving their rookie tackle more help after that game by aligning a tight end on his side and chipping defensive ends with running backs. "I just had to let it go," Brown said. "After the game, maybe the plane ride back, maybe I dwelled on it. But that was it." The NFL schedule continues to roll along, regardless.
High bar set for Broncos' Clady : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/07/cladys-own-private-idaho/?printer=1/ Page 3 of 5 8/8/2008 "You have to have the mentality that it's not going to affect your confidence level," Staley said. "A lot of players start playing bad or having a bad practice, and they start turning that into two bad practices and then a whole week of them. Then it's a bad game, and the confidence level goes down and has to be built back up." If either player has friendly advice to Clady, it's honing in on the mental aspects of the game to allow the game to slow down. "There's that transition of going from basically knowing 10 plays going into a game in college to knowing a 500-page playbook," Staley said. That process begins in organized training activities, but after the Broncos broke minicamp in June, Clady had only his offseason notes on which to rely because the team collects the playbooks before reissuing them in training camp. Once two-a-days begin, multiple daily meetings serve as more than a refresher course. But it's also the beginning of more complicated defenses, and rookies have to assimilate the information quickly on the field. There's continual teaching of technical aspects, too, where, if you're not sharp with footwork within the first few steps, the results can be disastrous because of the speed of opposing linemen. "The first thing is trusting the technique they've been taught because it's going to be different than college and uncomfortable for them," said veteran offensive line coach George Warhop, who has tutored lines in St. Louis, Arizona, Dallas and now San Francisco during the past 12 years. "What happens is, they won't have as much success early as later on, and the tendency is to want to go back to the way they used to do it. But once they trust the different technique, progress comes a little faster." The daily grind of competition can be overwhelming for rookie tackles. "These guys are used to being the best player on the field. And now they're facing players who know how to take advantage of their mistakes, and it's a source of frustration," Warhop said. "It's up to us, as coaches, to get them through that." Time to learn The Broncos normally have afforded their homegrown, first- year offensive linemen a waiting period to get accustomed to the synchronization skills necessary in their zone blocking system. Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper each went without an offensive snap as rookies. Ryan Harris played sparingly. Even the last No. 1 tackle drafted, the since-departed George Foster, made his lone appearance in Year 1 in the regular-season finale. Clady was unaware of that historical backdrop, which makes his task "a little more challenging." But he also feels as if he was drafted to play immediately. "I think I'm up to it," he said.
High bar set for Broncos' Clady : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/07/cladys-own-private-idaho/?printer=1/ Page 4 of 5 8/8/2008 Matt Lepsis, the Broncos' starting left tackle from 2004 to 2007 until his retirement in January, said Clady will need to get used to firing out quicker on the snap. But the toughest adjustment in Lepsis' view, figures to be cutting off the back side in the running game. The two concepts are intertwined. "A lot of teams have these gigantic guys and just tell them to get to a spot. If there's somebody in that area, block him," Lepsis said. "But the Broncos kind of ask you to be very athletic and run down the line to cut off a defensive tackle." Lepsis predicted the Broncos initially will give help to Clady in the passing game, but he also knows coach Mike Shanahan wants as many receivers downfield as possible without needing to use extra players to block. The terminology also figures to be challenging. "The thing he really has going for him is he's got Tom Nalen at center, who makes all the calls on the lines. He's not going to have to make any calls with Tom there," Lepsis said. "He'll learn it, eventually, but in the beginning, he'll rely on Tom and Ben (Hamilton), who have been doing it forever and know their stuff in their sleep. They'll help him out." And once Clady learns the scheme, he'll have an advantage because the Broncos running game doesn't stray much from its base concepts. Stretch right. Stretch left. Though the Broncos system is more complex, many of the elements Clady ran at Boise State are similar, with outside and inside zone schemes. The rookie got a further jump-start by studying the system on tape in the offseason and watching individual tape of players, ranging from Seattle's Walter Jones to San Diego's Marcus McNeill and Thomas. "Clady's so capable, it's almost unbelievable," Broncos second-year tackle Ryan Harris said. "He's really been on top of his game. I mean, he probably gets the least coaching because I think he needs it the least. He knows what he's doing and always has great effort. That's a great kid. It's like he almost practiced before we came out here because he's always doing the right things and, in meetings, he knows all the answers." So much for the notion that a low Wonderlic score might be a signal Clady wouldn't assimilate well to the pro game. Clady has explained that a pectoral injury during the weight-lifting portion at the combine got him sidetracked come quiz time. "I tell you what, whenever a defensive end asks you a logic question, we'll start worrying about the Wonderlic test," Harris said. Focus on technique
High bar set for Broncos' Clady : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/07/cladys-own-private-idaho/?printer=1/ Page 5 of 5 8/8/2008 Truth be told, Thomas never was as settled as he might have seemed. Cleveland's Pro Bowl rookie had an adjustment period - just like everyone else. "I think, if you ever get in a comfort zone on the offensive line, that's when you are going to get beat," Thomas said. "I think for me, it took a couple games in the regular season - finding out, 'Boy, I can block these guys' - before I felt confident to go out there and play." The best advice Thomas received last season: Don't listen to what others say about you, good or bad. And follow technique tips to the letter. "Every little thing that you do, players are so good and study so much, they know what you are going to do before you do it, based upon presnap alignment, formation and how your stance is," Thomas said. "If you study the game, you are going to be able to help pick up on those things, too." Physically, Clady must get stronger, particularly in the upper body, and guard against the bull rush. He has already demonstrated mobility to contest speed rushers. His long arms, footwork and agility are his chief weapons entering Denver's first preseason game Saturday in Houston. And, like training camp, he's fine if you don't notice him, which is actually a huge compliment. "I just want to get on the field, learn the plays, start all the games and play consistently. That's all I'm trying to do," Clady said of embarking on his first season. "I don't have to be all-rookie team and all that." Rocky Mountain News
Broncos' Colbert eager to make the most of his fresh start : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/12/colbert-gets-fresh-start-with-broncos/?pri... Page 1 of 2 6/13/2008 Broncos' Colbert eager to make the most of his fresh start By Jeff Legwold Thursday, June 12, 2008 An NFL spring is always about fresh starts and changes in the scenery. For Broncos receiver Keary Colbert, it's about a new jersey, a new city, a new team and new possibilities. About replacing disappointment with what he believes will come in the days and months ahead. "That's how life is sometimes," Colbert said Thursday. "You've got to take each lesson in football and apply it to life. Everything is not always going to go the way you plan it to go or want it go, but what do you do? "How do you respond? How do you come back? How do you fight?" And when the Broncos surveyed what free agency had to offer in March, when they made their list and checked it innumerable times, Colbert ended up being the first to get the check mark next to his name. Despite struggling to live up to what the Carolina Panthers had expected for much of his four seasons there, Colbert was the first player from elsewhere the Broncos signed on the dotted line. "Regardless if I was the first guy or the last guy they signed, everybody's responsibility is the same," Colbert said. "You're supposed to come in here and make plays, compete and help the team get better. But I was ready to get to a new place, a new opportunity. I had a good time in Carolina, but my time was up. I was anxious and excited to move on." "I just go by what I see," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "(Colbert) plays hard, I liked him coming out (of the University of Southern California in the 2004 draft), and I think we've shown over the years a guy can be productive in a new place." And when it's pointed out the Broncos raised a few eyebrows around the league when they signed Colbert to a three-year, $7.2 million deal, even though he did not make a touchdown catch the past two seasons, Shanahan usually, and quickly, points out Ed McCaffrey had been released and Rod Smith was an undrafted player before they piled up 1,000-yard seasons in the Broncos offense. "That's what you look at," Shanahan said. "What a guy can do in your offense, what kind of offense he was in.... You look at the whole situation, then you make your decisions." Colbert, who turned 26 on May 21, certainly has age and potential still on his side. The former second-round
Broncos' Colbert eager to make the most of his fresh start : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/12/colbert-gets-fresh-start-with-broncos/?pri... Page 2 of 2 6/13/2008 pick also left USC as the school's all-time receptions leader, and when he caught 47 passes for 754 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, many believed milestone seasons wouldn't be far behind. But Colbert never reached that level again with the Panthers as he dealt with injuries and bounced in and out of the Panthers' starting lineup. In the past three seasons, he totaled only 62 receptions for 670 yards and two touchdowns. "It just didn't happen there, but that doesn't mean it will never happen," Colbert said. "It just means I have to continue to work, to get better, to compete. That stuff will come. "And if it doesn't come, then maybe God has another plan. Sometimes those personal goals, the numbers, can be a little overrated in the big scheme of things because, really, everybody's goal should be to go to a Super Bowl and win. And that's always my goal - that hasn't changed." Because of Brandon Marshall's right forearm injury, Colbert has spent much of his on-field work the past month with Darrell Jackson as the top two receivers in the Broncos' starting offense. Thursday, Colbert caught a touchdown pass in team drills, and he has looked comfortable catching the ball the past two weeks. "It's about winning," Colbert said. "I was careful about where I wanted to sign because you want to go to a good place where you can contribute to something. This is the place for me; I'm excited about what could happen." NEW DT TAKING IT SLOW Defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, who has had knee problems in his career, was held out of the past two days of practice as a precaution, coach Mike Shanahan said Thursday. "He doesn't have an issue; more prevention than anything else," Shanahan said. "Wanted him to get a little work but didn't want to overdo him. He hasn't been able to work out the way we'd like to put him through a whole camp." Shanahan said Robertson is expected to go through conditioning workouts when the team returns after a week off and is expected to be ready for training camp. FIRST PICK IN FOLD The Broncos signed the first of their draft picks, safety Josh Barrett. Barrett, the 220th player drafted overall, will be paid $295,000 in the upcoming season on a three-year deal. LYNCH 'WOBBLY' AFTER FIRST HIT Safety John Lynch briefly left the workout after taking a hit on the bridge of his nose. He later returned. "I thought it was broken, but it isn't. I was just a little wobbly for a little bit," he said. MARSHALL PROGRESSING
1 of 2 terry frei Wilson knows Cutler's battle By Terry Frei The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 08/14/2008 12:31:29 AM MDT Before Wednesday's joint Cowboys-Broncos practice at Dove Valley, the quarterbacks coach huddled with the quarterback. The subject wasn't reading coverage, but rather the disease they both are battling. Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson was diagnosed as having Type 1, insulindependent diabetes at age 25, when he was about to begin his third season with the Minnesota Vikings. Sound familiar? It did to third-year Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, diagnosed last spring. "He dealt with it for a long time," Cutler said of Wilson. "He said it's manageable, just like I've been trying to do the last four or five months. He went through his career with it, and I don't see any reason why I can't." Wilson, now 49, played 19 seasons in the NFL, with Minnesota, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Oakland. He started 69 games in those 19 years and isn't headed for the Hall of Fame, but did get to the Pro Bowl once as the Vikings' No. 1, after leading Minnesota to one playoff victory following the 1988 season. When he retired, his career was the fifth-longest in NFL history. If he had put on a square-toed shoe and done some kicking, he might have been almost Blanda-esque. And all with Type 1 diabetes. "I told Jay it certainly can be done, playing quarterback in the NFL while having diabetes," Wilson said. "I told him that he's a heck of a talent. Of course, I knew of him before now, but now that we know he's diabetic, I'll certainly be rooting for him and the things that he can accomplish. The role model he can be, whether he wants to be or not, certainly has a lot of impact on a lot of people." Cutler's diagnosis came after he lost 35 pounds during last season and both he and the Broncos were trying to figure out why. Wilson's experience was similar. "I lost about 20 pounds, but it was in the offseason," Wilson said. "I had no idea that I was diabetic at all. I was diagnosed, got myself on a plan, controlling my insulin and meals and exercise." Nothing Wilson and Cutler touched on in the Wednesday conversation was revelatory or shocking, but their situations are about as parallel as they come, given their age
2 of 2 at diagnosis and their high-profile, high-pressure position with so many mental and physical responsibilities. In that sense, it was reassuring for Cutler. "It's certainly one more thing for him," Wilson said. "But the discipline it takes to play quarterback, physically, mentally and emotionally, is the same way you have to go about treating your diabetes. You have to be mentally tough and physically strong, and go about managing it the way you manage football." There are other examples of athletes coping with Type 1 diabetes, including former Colorado College and current Dallas Stars center Toby Peter- sen, who learned he had the disease at age 5; and Charlotte Bobcats forward Adam Morrison. It also is a fact of everyday life for many other Americans, including the thousands of boys and girls annually seeking help at the renowned Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes at the University of Colorado-Denver. While the search for a cure continues at the Davis Center and elsewhere, the introduction of the insulin pump has helped both athletes and nonathletes considerably. "They didn't have the pump when I was first diagnosed," Wilson said. "It's just a constant management. I never had to take a shot during a game. I never had to take sugar. I always tested before I went out on the field right before a game. I always tested at halftime. "With the machines they have now, you can find out your level in 10 seconds, so it's no big deal. I still take shots. I still have to exercise quite a bit. I monitor my diet extremely closely. It's still an ongoing process, and it will be until they find a cure." Wilson said he never felt that the NFL was wary of him because of the diabetes, and the length of his career backs that up. But neither is there room in the business for much sympathy. "They're going to judge you on your performance, whether you're diabetic or asthmatic, or you have no health issues at all," Wilson said. "They judge you on whether you go out and play well and win games." It isn't insensitive to concede that Cutler's diabetes is an issue, one of the many in the overall picture that is the tracking and evaluation of a young quarterback's development. At least he has heard it directly from another (ex-)quarterback: It can be done. And for a long time.
Year 3 pivotal for Broncos' Cutler : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/18/year-3-pivotal-broncos-cutler/?prin... Page 1 of 3 7/21/2008 Year 3 pivotal for Broncos' Cutler By Sam Adams Friday, July 18, 2008 STATELINE, Nev. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler doesn't mind being mentioned in conversation about the NFL's stable of "Young Guns." Just don't label Cutler a gunslinger. "I don't feel like I'm a gunslinger," Cutler said, not long after whacking golf balls earlier this month on the driving range at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, where several of the NFL's top young quarterbacks competed in the American Century Championship. "I feel like every throw that I make is anticipated," Cutler said. "I know where I'm going with the ball, I'm not just throwing it anywhere and everywhere for fun. I don't mind it, but I don't think it's completely accurate." What is accurate about Cutler is the level of comfort he seems to have on the football field. The Broncos start training camp Friday, Cutler's third camp as an NFL player and his second as the team's starting quarterback. The opportunity to start five games as a rookie in 2006, coupled with 16 starts in 2007 to learn a complicated offense, has provided Cutler a chance to rise among the top quarterbacks in the league in 2008. "With Jay, he got to play a lot last year," Broncos Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway said. "He's going to start this year where his learning curve is going to be a lot faster. He gets used to everybody around - not only in the system, but everybody around him, knowing the personalities and those type of things to where you feel comfortable. "The leadership qualities kick in. Guys trust him. All of that helps." Pivotal year Coaches, as well as NFL players past and present, eagerly point to the third season as being pivotal to the learning curve for a quarterback's development. "The third year, basically, for most guys, they should be ready to play," Kansas City Chiefs coach Herman Edwards said. "By the third year, I think you know what kind of player he is - is he a guy you can give the ball to 30 times a game and say, 'Go throw it around the yard'? Or is he a guy that you say, 'Know what? We're not going to ask him to do a whole lot.' "The first two years is so much of a blur for young guys coming out of college to play pro football because the speed of the back end shocks them - the linebackers and defensive backs, how they react. It's a whole different deal, and that's what gets them. "I've learned that you try to tell a young quarterback that you don't have to win the game - but you can't lose the game. Don't throw the other team the ball. The guys that buy into that, they're the ones that are successful in the end. They gain in confidence and become pretty good players." Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't need three years to gain comfort. He took over the starter's job as a rookie for an injured Tommy Maddox in 2004, completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,621 yards and 17 touchdowns and helped lead the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game. Then the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in his second season.
Year 3 pivotal for Broncos' Cutler : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/18/year-3-pivotal-broncos-cutler/?prin... Page 2 of 3 7/21/2008 "I didn't know what was going on - I just ran around and threw to open receivers," Roethlisberger said, laughing. "Honestly, I got really lucky. I had a great group of guys around me. I laugh about it, but that was part of the thing - it was not really knowing, dropping back then going, 'Uh, make a play.' "By Year 3, you should be doing better. If you struggled your first two years, by Year 3, you should be making improvements. It's tough the first two years - even the third year can be hard." Former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who retired in 2007 after 21 seasons in the league, points out that Roethlisberger's first-year success isn't the norm for most young NFL quarterbacks. "I think if you rush the quarterback in there too soon, a number of things can happen," Testaverde said. "No. 1, if he doesn't play well, you can ruin his mind-set and, really, destroy his career. He won't have the confidence to be the guy that you hoped he would be. There's a lot more learning for the quarterback than there is at any other position." Film critic Like many quarterbacks have done, Cutler spent the offseason reviewing tons of game film. He's his worst critic. "It's weird, because you remember every single throw and exactly what you were thinking in the situation," Cutler said. "It's really good - especially the bad ones - to look at them. "Did you get fooled by coverage? Was it just a bad throw or were your feet wrong?... You get to see a lot of different things." Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said work ethic, coupled with playing experience, usually accelerate a quarterback's improvement. "The thing that there is no substitute for is taking snaps," Shanahan said. "That's why I think most guys start to feel comfortable in that third year. Jay's been starting actually for about a year and a half, which is good. "I think the third year of a person playing is when they become the most comfortable with the NFL, where they feel like they have the confidence level to compete with anybody. Jay studies. He's a worker, and we've given him a lot of reps through the offseason. He's taken advantage of it." Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer took advantage of a year's apprenticeship. Palmer was the first player selected in the 2003 draft. He didn't play one down during his rookie season. The next season, Palmer started 13 games, throwing for 2,897 yards with 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. In 2005, Palmer's third season, he helped lead the Bengals to an 11-5 record and the AFC North title and was named to the Pro Bowl. "I think if you're in your third year of playing experience, that's when you make your strides as a quarterback and find out what kind of player you're going to be," Palmer said. "It's because you've been in different situations - third down, third and long, red zone, two-minute offense, four- minute offense... all the different situations. You find out what you've got as a quarterback. "I had a great quarterback in front of me to learn from, Jon Kitna. But you also can get thrown into a situation where there isn't somebody in front of you that can give the team a better chance to win." On the same page Like Roethlisberger, New England's Tom Brady enjoyed early success. After leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl win in his second season, Brady did it again in his fourth season. Eli Manning, in his fourth season, helped lead the New York Giants to a Super Bowl win in February. "The guys that are in their fourth year, this is the time that they start to move forward and start to move up the ladder of great quarterbacks in this game," former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said.
Year 3 pivotal for Broncos' Cutler : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/18/year-3-pivotal-broncos-cutler/?prin... Page 3 of 3 7/21/2008 "I think it's the fourth year. I think the first year, you learn to play professional football. The second year, you sort of get comfortable with what you're doing offensively. The third year, you get a feeling for what defenses are doing. "It really is three years, but it's that fourth year that you point at and say, 'Now he's arrived.' " Edwards said there's no better feeling for a coach than knowing that a young quarterback has "figured it out" to the point where they begin to think alike during a game. The coach, Edwards said, can ask his quarterback to do more things. Cutler is trying to develop that type of think-as-one chemistry with Shanahan. "Mike's obviously got a wealth of knowledge and he's so far ahead of me in what he knows on the football field," Cutler said. "I've got a good feel for what he's thinking in certain situations, and more important, where he wants me to go with the ball." The play-caller on the sideline, Elway said, "knows what you do best, what you feel most comfortable in and has experience with you running the offense. As a coach, you have a better idea of what to call in certain situations. "I'm sure that Jay, with whomever is calling the plays, will get more comfortable. You have a sense of what to call and so you can get a head start on the mental concentration, thinking about what's coming next." The Broncos are eager to see what comes next for Cutler. He has started 21 games in the league, showing flashes of brilliance at times, along with signs of being a work in progress. "The first two years, you're learning a new offense, new terminology, new coaches... it's a new speed," Cutler said. "I feel comfortable right now. I feel real comfortable." Rocky Mountain News
Healthy Cutler not letting diabetes divert his plans - USATODAY.com http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=healthy+cutler+not+letting+dia... Page 1 of 2 5/26/2008 Powered by Healthy Cutler not letting diabetes divert his plans By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Advertisement Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler received more than 500 e-mails and letters following his April diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes. Most of the encouragement came from kids between 8 and 15 who play sports with the serious but manageable disease. One young fan's reassurance tempered by experience left Cutler smiling. "One kid wrote an e-mail that said, 'Don't worry, you'll get your courage back,' " Cutler says. "A lot of kids get diagnosed each day who are under 8. I can't imagine their parents having to wake their 3-year-old up three times a night to prick their finger to check their blood sugar level. "When I get things settled, I want to do something to help raise awareness, especially with kids." He's already a role model to teammates. TABLE: Mike Shanahan and third-year quarterbacks The 25-year-old quarterback appears to be unaware of all the eyes on him during last week's four-day quarterback camp. Eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey says Cutler's business-as-usual demeanor in coping with an illness that threatens 21 million Americans is paying unexpected dividends. Wearing a wireless, small ipod-sized insulin pump during practices to regulate his blood sugar, teammates praise Cutler for his mental toughness. They acknowledge that it's hard to sit out while Cutler is monitored before, during and after workouts by a trainer. The Broncos are taking their cue from the third-year gunslinger who appears stronger and more mature despite life-altering news. "Guys look at Jay and the way he's handled things and their problems don't seem half as bad," Bailey says. "I'm amazed at the way he's handled it. I thought he'd be freaking out right now. But he hasn't shown one sign of emotion. "He hasn't missed a workout. Jay's a natural leader. He gets it."
Healthy Cutler not letting diabetes divert his plans - USATODAY.com http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=healthy+cutler+not+letting+dia... Page 2 of 2 5/26/2008 The former Vanderbilt quarterback is encouraged after learning how to control the illness responsible for 35 pounds mysteriously melting off his 6-3, 238-pound frame late last season. Cutler has regained the weight, his energy and fastball. "There's a lot worse things," he says. "It's manageable, something I'll be fine with. "I'm excited just knowing I'm going to be a better quarterback this year. I had a good four days, making all the throws I was making early in my college career. "Last year, I'd watch video the day after a game and say, 'I know I could make that throw.' But some deep balls floated." He threw to former Vanderbilt teammate Earl Bennett during Bennett's March pro day. His zip was lacking. He was always tired. Then on April 16, as part of his physical for the strength and conditioning program, he got the blood test that showed his glucose level was four times the normal level. With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin required to metabolize sugar from food and convert it into glucose the body uses for energy. He has a personal chef prepare low-carbohydrate meals. He also has a key sounding board. His former Vandy quarterback coach Jimmy Kiser, 50, is a Type 1 diabetic since age 29. "One day he was able to splurge and had a Snickers bar and Jay said, 'God, that tasted good,' " Kiser laughs. "The very day he learned his diagnosis, he bought some books and wasn't feeling sorry for himself. He's attacking diabetes head on. "He's going to be a heck of a role model." The third season is typically a growth-spurt year for Mike Shanahan-coached quarterbacks. Cutler has 29 touchdown passes in 21 starts since replacing Jake Plummer the last five games of 2006. Cutler started 16 games last season and had 20 touchdowns with 14 interceptions, throwing for 3,497 yards despite fading to "Skin and bones," as business manager Marty Garafalo says. Cutler won't be the first NFL quarterback to play with the disease. Wade Wilson, the Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach, was diagnosed in his fifth NFL season and went on to play 14 more. The son of a teacher embraces an educator's role. "Diabetes in general is getting out of control," Cutler says. "There's not enough information out there. "It'll be easy for me to spread knowledge to help." Year Position Team QB (Yr.) QBs IN THIRD SEASON UNDER MIKE SHANAHAN Team Rec. Playoffs Notes 1982 Off. Coord. Florida Wayne Peace (3rd) 8-3 Bluebonnet Bowl (L) School-record 70.7 completion percentage 1986 Off. Coord. Denver John Elway (3rd) 11-5 Super Bowl XXI (L) First Pro Bowl selection, ninth in NFL in passing yards (3,485) 1991 Off. Coord. Denver John Elway (3rd) 12-4 AFC Championship Game (L) Pro Bowl, eighth in NFL in passing yards (3,253) 1994 Off. Coord. San Francisco Steve Young (3rd) 13-3 Super Bowl XXIX (W) NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, Pro Bowl, first in NFL in passer rating (112.8) Head John Elway Super Bowl XXXII Pro Bowl, fourth in NFL in TD passes (career-high 27), sixth in NFL in
With 'brick' on shoulder, Dumervil pounds QBs for Broncos - USATODAY.com http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=with+%27brick%27+on... Page 1 of 2 7/30/2008 Powered by With 'brick' on shoulder, Dumervil pounds QBs for Broncos By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Advertisement ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil has heard it before and heard it repeated over and over. At 5-11, not tall enough to play defensive end. At 260 pounds, not big enough to take on offensive linemen. Turns out, player personnel staffs were measuring the wrong part of Dumervil's game. PHOTOS: Broncos training camp "Everybody wants to measure him by his height," Broncos defensive line coach Bill Johnson said. "He has the qualities of what it takes to be a good pass rusher long arms, big hands, quick feet." "And he's strong," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan added. Then, there are immeasurable qualities: will, desire, heart. "I'm a guy who loves the game," Dumervil said. "I don't take anybody lightly. A lot of guys underestimate people. Not me. Any guy from a sixth, seventh rounder, a free agent, first rounder, I approach them the same way that he's a Pro Bowler. But I think I can outwork the guy in front of me. "I actually have a natural knack of wanting to kill quarterbacks. That's what I love to do." If that wasn't apparent at Miami Jackson High when he compiled 60 sacks during his junior and senior seasons and if that wasn't apparent at Louisville after he had 20 sacks and an NCAA-record 10 forced fumbles in his senior season, it is apparent now after two seasons in the NFL. Last season, Dumervil led the Broncos with 12½ sacks, tied for sixth best in the NFL. It was the highest sack total for a Bronco since 1999. In the past two seasons, just five players have accumulated more sacks than Dumervil's 21. "I take pass rushing personally," Dumervil said. "You want to beat that guy in front of you. It's an all-out conscious effort. Sacks don't come easy. When you do get them, you really appreciate them." Dumervil also forced four fumbles, two of which were returned for touchdowns. "There's no better feeling than getting a sack and a forced fumble," he said. Every team passed on Dumervil in the 2006 draft, and the Broncos selected him the fourth round. He uses that as motivation. Dumervil doesn't just play with a chip on his shoulder: "I play with a brick on it," he said. He looked to another undersized pass rusher, former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, for inspiration. Dumervil also wants to learn more about defensive end Fred Dean. Though Dean, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, was 6-3, he was considered small at 230 pounds.
With 'brick' on shoulder, Dumervil pounds QBs for Broncos - USATODAY.com http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=with+%27brick%27+on... Page 2 of 2 7/30/2008 Heading into his third season, Dumervil is poised for another strong year, Johnson and Shanahan said. "When you look at his production, it ain't a flash in the pan," Johnson said. "He's been consistent since the day he started playing. That's tangible evidence that this guy is a quality football player." Said Shanahan: "He'll be one of the top defensive ends this year. I'll be surprised if he's not in that 15-sack range. You can tell he enjoys playing the game. It's one of the reasons why I think he'll have a heck of a year." Another reason the Broncos are excited for Dumervil is the 24-year-old's improvement with the mental part of the game. Pairing his physical gifts with a deeper understanding of X's and O's should increase his effectiveness. "He doesn't start playing the play when the ball snaps. He is playing the play once the huddle breaks," Johnson said. "His professionalism has grown. He's out there leading the pack. He's practicing with a lot of energy." Dumervil displayed that intensity during drills against the offensive line in practice Monday. Dumervil beat his man and started running his mouth. Veteran center Tom Nalen didn't like that and threw a football at Dumervil. "He just said, 'Be quiet, Elvis,' " Dumervil said. i is ar i le a http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/2008-07-29-dumervil_n.htm Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
DenverBroncos.com -- Official Web Site of the Denver Broncos http://www.denverbroncos.com/previewprintable.php?type=top_story&id=334&storyversionid=... Page 1 of 2 6/30/2008 Printed from www.denverbroncos.com Friday, June 27, 2008 Education On Top By Adam Zinser DenverBroncos.com ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- He may not have broken any records or scored any touchdowns Thursday, but for Daniel Graham, it was a special day nonetheless. The Daniel Graham Foundation held its first-ever charity event Thursday evening at Strings restaurant in Denver. Graham, a Denver native and University of Colorado alum, started his foundation after joining the Broncos in 2007, and the charity auction and dinner marked the culmination of all Graham's off-the-field efforts over the past year. "I started the foundation when I came back here to Denver," Graham said. "I want to give back to the community to help kids out. I want to emphasize education and health." Items from all around the world of sports were up for auction at the restaurant, with all of the proceeds going to Graham's foundation. Autographed jerseys, helmets and photos from the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and University of Colorado were just some of the items auctioned off from the football realm. There were also pieces of autographed memorabilia from the NBA and MLB being auctioned off as well. The Daniel Graham Foundation held its first fund-raising event Thursday. PHOTO: ADAM ZINSER / DENVERBRONCOS.COM BRONCOS TV 6/26: Mallard Settling In 6/24: Marshall Working to Change 6/16: NFL Network: Broncos Fantasy Preview 6/13: Jay Cutler Golf Classic But Thursday night was just the beginning. Graham and his foundation will host the 2nd Annual Elite and Fundamental Football Camp on Friday and Saturday. When children from age seven to 18 attend this weekend's free football camp, they will of course gain excellent knowledge about what to do on the field, but the camp is about so much more than teaching kids the skills needed to succeed on the gridiron. More importantly, they will get tips on education, fitness and how to lead healthy lives. One issue particularly close to Graham is asthma, which he has had since his freshman year of high school, and perhaps no one knows more about these issues than Graham's mother Marilyn, who helped elevate Graham to the status he has today. "Daniel suffers from asthma," said the tight end's mother. "His heart's desire is to help children that have asthma. That's what kind of motivated this. 'Motivating youth from challenge to achievement.' That's our motto and that's what we're after with children suffering from asthma." Though Graham enters his seventh year in the NFL, asthma still affects his life today just as much as it did when he was first diagnosed. "I still have it today," said the 6-foot-3, 257-pound Graham. "I'm on medication daily, so I still feel the effects. It's just important to show kids that there is a pro-athlete that has asthma and has worked through all the struggles. It's important for me to help little kids who have asthma so they understand that they can continue on with their dreams, and asthma won't be a big problem." But perhaps the biggest issue close to Graham's heart is education, for without it one can never fully realize one's dreams. That is why his foundation will be distributing information on the SAT and ACT tests to high schoolers this weekend while also preaching the importance of maintaining good grades to all the youth who attend the camps. "Education is really important. I always tell kids, 'Don't let anyone shatter your dreams.' But reality is, not everybody makes it to where I
DenverBroncos.com -- Official Web Site of the Denver Broncos http://www.denverbroncos.com/previewprintable.php?type=top_story&id=334&storyversionid=... Page 2 of 2 6/30/2008 am," Graham said. "Regardless of your goal, you always need education first before anything else happens. That is why I want to give kids more information about the SAT and ACT. That's a big part of education, and you can't go to college without them." With the emphasis on education, it is only fitting that Graham held this event over the University of Colorado's alumni weekend. Several of Graham's former teammates and coaches from his days with Buffaloes were on hand to support the foundation, along with other notable CU alumni. Former Ravens, Bears and Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart even stopped by to show his support. "I would love to continue this every year and beyond the years of my football career," Graham said. "I just love to give back to the community, especially where I grew up. I want this foundation to run as long as I'm living, and I just want to see people help support what I'm doing." RECENT LINKS: Maintaining Momentum A Crowning Achievement Turning It Up Media Guide Released Prepared for the Playbooks
Hillis impressing Broncos Some call fullback the next Mike Alstott Daniel Williams, DDN Staff Writer Tuesday, July 29, 2008 They are already calling him the steal of the 2008 NFL draft and he has never played a down in the league. High praise for Denver Broncos rookie fullback Peyton Hillis, the team s seventh round pick out of Arkansas. I have always had the mentality to just want to hit someone, even in high school, Hillis said at Broncos training camp Sunday. And that is exactly what Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan loves about him. Hillis played five different positions at various times at Arkansas, including wide receiver and return man. Productive He gained more than 2,600 total career yards and had 23 touchdowns in three years at Arkansas, but he was overshadowed by Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, both first round NFL picks in 2008. Hillis paved the way to the end zone with exceptional blocking for both star backs, and he led the team in receptions with 49 last season. I caught over 600 yards my senior year, Hillis said. I can do a lot of things. I am sort of a jack of all trades. Strong work ethic Shanahan said he has yet to see much of Hillis on the field of yet, but he also said that during mini-camps and his time at Dove Valley, he has impressed other coaches with his work ethic. Hillis said he does not quite know where he will fit in yet with the Broncos, but he thinks there will be a place for him on the team. Coach [Shanahan] told me I am going to have to block some people, and catch the ball a little, Hillis said. Hillis is expected to turn into a full time fullback for Denver, similar to the days of Howard Griffin. NFL experts are calling him the next Mike Alstott, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers multiple-time Pro Bowler. He is country, a good-old-boy, Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler said. I just want to do whatever is needed of me, and I am going to work hard, Hillis said. I have a chip on my shoulder from being drafted so late. Hillis right now is battling a hamstring injury and did not practice yesterday.
Shedding pounds, Holland practices http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/aug/12/pro-football-shedding-pounds-holland-pra... Page 1 of 1 8/12/2008 Shedding pounds, Holland practices Lineman cuts his weight down to target of 325 Associated Press Tuesday, August 12, 2008 ENGLEWOOD -- Montrae Holland was winded, rusty and a step slow -- and he couldn't have been happier. He'd much rather be a pulling guard than pushing a sled. The Denver Broncos' incumbent right guard, who spent the first two weeks of camp pushing sleds on an adjacent field after reporting out of shape and overweight, practiced for the first time Monday after getting down to his playing weight of about 325 pounds. "I'll tell you what, I'd rather practice any day than push them sleds all day," Holland said, looking back out onto the field that became his personal exile island, where he sweated off more than 25 pounds. Holland worked with the second team offensive line but fully anticipates he'll regain his starting job by the time the season starts. "Oh yes. Man, I don't care. I'm a starter in my heart and I'm going to do everything I can to get there," said Holland, who started all 16 games at right guard a year ago. "Any time you miss two weeks of camp, you miss development and timing. Right now mine's is a little off. At least now we're practicing, so all I can do is get better." Working off that extra weight was actually harder on Holland mentally than physically, he said, because he knew he was falling behind his teammates and letting them down. "I need to chip off some rust. I felt like today I was not as quick as I want to be because my timing" and technique were off, Holland said. "I mean, first day I've got to start somewhere." And he's not going to stop watching his weight, either. "I'm going to lose a little bit more just because I feel like it will help me move quicker and be able to get out in front of these fast halfbacks we've got," Holland said with a big grin. If Holland can make up for the time he missed, he could win his job back at right guard with Chris Kuper moving to right tackle, replacing second-year pro Ryan Harris, who had four penalties against Houston on Saturday night.left tackle Ryan Clady, the 12th overall pick in the draft, also had some growing pains. "They had seven penalties by rookies and that usually goes hand in hand with young players, but I liked their effort, I liked the way they played and they keep on getting better and better," coach Mike
Happy days here again for Jackson - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9556836 Page 1 of 2 6/12/2008 sports Happy days here again for Jackson Bronco coming off "miserable" season By Lindsay H. Jones The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 06/12/2008 12:29:00 AM MDT Darrell Jackson just couldn't seem to leave the practice field. He hung around for at least 15 more minutes, idly chatting with fellow wide receivers, slapping highfives and tossing a football back and forth with his new teammates. Consider it a promising new start for Jackson, who has joined his third team in three years. The Broncos signed him to a one-year contract in April, shortly after Jackson was released after one season with San Francisco. Now he is competing to be Denver's No. 2 receiver behind Brandon Marshall and eager to prove he can produce as he did in his seven seasons with Seattle. "Sometimes the best thing Denver Broncos Darrell Jackson brings NFL career totals of 487 catches for 6,942 yards and 50 touchdowns to the Broncos. This will be his ninth season. (John Leyba, The Denver Post ) Watch video of Broncos WR Darrell Jackson at mini-camp View slide show of Broncos minicamp June 11 View slide show of Broncos minicamp June 10 View slide show of Broncos minicamp June 2 Read Lindsay Jones' entries on the All Things Broncos blog Ask Mike Klis about the team or NFL in the Broncos Mailbag Post photos of you and loved ones showing team spirit Long after most of the Broncos had retired to the locker room following a recent offseason workout, to do is just move on and be happy," Jackson said. "It's not good to play football when you're Advertisement
Happy days here again for Jackson - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9556836 Page 2 of 2 6/12/2008 miserable." Jackson, 29, said his year in San Francisco was the worst time in his career. As the 49ers' offense struggled their passing game ranked last in the NFL in 2007 so did Jackson's production. He caught only 46 passes for 497 yards and three touchdowns, all career lows for a season in which he played more than 13 games. The previous year in Seattle, Jackson caught a career-high 10 touchdown passes and was only 44 yards shy of his fourth 1,000-yard season. A season before that he played in Super Bowl XL, catching five passes for 50 yards in the first quarter of the Seahawks' loss to Pittsburgh. Broncos coach Mike Shana-han said he looked at Jackson's numbers with Seattle where he left ranked No. 2 in team history in touchdown catches, third in receiving yards and fourth in catches not at what happened in 2007. "I'm going more on what he's done in the past and how he's played in the past, and he hasn't disappointed us so far," Shanahan said. "He's a veteran who has a lot of confidence, and he should, based on the kind of production he's had." Jackson and Shanahan pointed to plenty of reasons for the drop in production with San Francisco: A first-year offensive coordinator, injuries to the starting and backup quarterbacks, the adjustment to a new system. Jackson, too, accepted some of the blame. "I went through a depression stage, having never been in an offense like that and not being able to contribute," Jackson said. "Sometimes I was lackadaisical or something, and would lose focus, drop a few balls and stuff like that on short catches." Advertisement The low point, Jackson said, came Nov. 18 when the 49ers lost their eighth consecutive game. San Francisco won two games in December to finish 5-11, and Jackson caught a touchdown pass in each of the team's final two games, but by then it was too late. When offensive coordinator Jim Hostler was fired the first week in January and replaced by Mike Martz, it signaled the end of Jackson's brief tenure with the 49ers. The team signed veteran Isaac Bruce, who played for Martz in St. Louis, and dumped Jackson, who was slated to make $4 million in San Francisco. Jackson said his deal in Denver is worth about $2 million, including bonuses. "I think this is the perfect opportunity for both parties," said Brian Mooney, Jackson's agent. "Darrell has the chance to go out and erase the memory of San Francisco. And I think Denver can really use Darrell." Denver added veteran Keary Colbert from Carolina and Samie Parker from Kansas City in the offseason for more depth at the position. With Marshall still recovering from a serious injury to his right forearm, Jackson, Colbert and Brandon Stokley have taken most of the repetitions with the first-team offense during mini-camp. "I think we've got good chemistry here," Jackson said. "We've got guys who like to compete, guys who want to see other guys do good. When somebody makes a play, everyone else wants to go make a play." Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com Jackson jottings A look at veteran wide receiver Darrell Jackson, who signed with the Broncos in April: Height, weight: 5-feet-11, 206 pounds. Age: 29.
broncos Jackson's hands also in music Broncos tight end goes by "Jack Nasty" in pursuit of career outside of football By Yvette Lanier The Denver Post Article Launched: 08/04/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT Walking off the Dove Valley fields after a draining practice at training camp, tight end Nate Jackson grabbed a mike well, actually a bottle of sunscreen used as a prop. The beat dropped. Bobbing his head with rhythm, Jackson no longer was a sixth-year player for the Broncos. He was "Jack Nasty." Jackson's alter ego was spitting a freestyle rhyme. The man breathes music. "The first thing I do when I get out of bed in the morning is turn on the music," said Jackson, 29. "Before I go to bed, I turn on the music. It affects the way I view the world. It affects my hopes and aspirations about what I want to do in my life." Jack Nasty, whose sound compares to the lyrically rich Eminem, hopes one day when he is done rocking the "Monday Night Football" stage, he will be rocking MTV's "TRL" stage. Interscope Records isn't calling, and he's not about to quit his day job in the NFL, but his music could become more than a hobby in life after football. Jackson has yet to make an album, but he has produced demo tracks at his home in Greenwood Village. "I think at first appearance people may not take him seriously just because they're thinking that's another athlete that thinks he can rap or sing," said Broncos long snapper Mike Leach, Jackson's best friend. "But when they hear him, they'll take him seriously." Before Jackson uttered the word touchdown, he was singing tunes such as the Noel Coward classic "Chase Me Charlie." Growing up in California, Jackson's home was filled with music. His mother used to sing and play the guitar, and his father was a big jazz fan. Proud Papa Jack was recording little Nate when he was in diapers. "Nate from the beginning had a knack for expressing himself musically. He had a really beautiful voice from the time he could talk," said his brother Tom Jackson, who is a vocalist and guitar player in The Good Night, a rock band. As a high school jock, Jackson said it wasn't hip then to sing. During his senior year he ignored peer pressure and jumped back into music. His friends called him Nasty Nate, but Jackson wasn't satisfied with that. "Jack Nasty came to me, and I know it conjures up strange images in one's head," Jackson said. "It's really nothing dirty or strange. It's a name that rolls off the tongue an alter ego when I get on stage and rock the mike."
Jackson had a brief stint in a hip-hop/rock band called Nasty Breeze, but he went solo three years ago. He said the group still gets together and collaborates. Jackson hopes to bring meaning to his music and tries to differentiate himself from some of what he hears today. "A lot of rappers these days are not really talking about anything socially conscious," he said. "They're talking about image, money and women. That's not what I'm about." Jackson's mother, Marilyn, is supportive of his music. "I don't know where the music will lead him," she said. "He has an outlet for the things he enjoys besides football." Broncos tight end Daniel Graham isn't jamming in his car to Jackson's music, but he appreciates his teammate's efforts. "He doesn't have too much presence over my other choices, but he is talented," Graham said. Perhaps someday Graham and others will have the opportunity to hear an entire CD by Jack Nasty, but that remains an elusive goal. Every offseason, I start to feel it again," Jackson said, adding that working on tracks is interrupted by working on the football field. Football is his focus now. "Training camp comes around. I just kind of start from square one every year," Jackson said. "It really takes for football to be over to go on to the next chapter, to be able to do my best stuff."
1 of 2 sports New pals battle for Broncos' punting job By Lindsay H. Jones The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 08/11/2008 12:06:23 AM MDT When the Broncos opened training camp in 2007, the two punters competing for the starting job had played a combined 181 regular-season games. A year later, that number is down to one. Nowhere is the Broncos' youth movement more pronounced than in the kicking contingent, and especially at punter, where Sam Paulescu, 24, and Brett Kern, 22, are in a close race. Each had one punt in Saturday's preseason opener. Paulescu is the incumbent, signed by Denver days before the 2007 season finale against Minnesota to replace Paul Ernster, who had in turn replaced Todd Sauerbrun. Paulescu averaged 44.2 yards per kick in five punts against the Vikings, a solid enough performance for the Broncos to keep him around for 2008. The team signed Kern as a free agent in April from the University of Toledo, where he averaged 46.1 yards per punt, second best in NCAA Division I-A, and was a thirdteam All-American last fall. The two have become friends, bonding over things such as their similar Christian faith and their recent and upcoming marriages. Kern was married in July; Paulescu's nuptials are in February. However much they like each other off the field, though, each also believes he should win the job. "I can't tell you what's going to happen, but I know I've worked my butt off in the offseason, in training camp, in the (organized team actitivities)," Paulescu said. Said Kern: "I feel like I belong here. I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be. There's pressure, but when you're really focused on what you have to do and the job you have to get done, you don't even think about it." Regardless of who wins the job come September, Paulescu and Kern, along with new kicker Matt Prater, 23, represent a dramatic change from the kicking corps a year ago. Training camp last year featured Sauerbrun, a 13-year veteran, and Ernster, who had started every game for the Broncos in 2006. And kicker Jason Elam was preparing for his 15th year in Denver a year ago. Now, there's the sandy-haired trio who look like they would fit in better at a college fraternity house than in an NFL locker room.
2 of 2 With youth comes new challenges, special-teams coordinator Scott O'Brien said. Never in his 18 years in the NFL has O'Brien led a group with less training-camp and game experience. "When they're young and they don't have anyone to follow, it is hard for them to learn," O'Brien said. "They have to be taught, so a lot of it is by trial and error for them." With limited punting chances in Houston, the battle will continue in coming weeks. Paulescu's punt traveled 51 yards, while Kern's punt went 42. They split duties as Prater's holder on field-goal attempts as well. "We each only had one, so there's not too much evaluation on that," Paulescu said. "But I felt good about it. It's just good to get the first kick out of the way in a game." Paulescu and Kern have both proved to be strong in different aspects of their punting Paulescu with his directional kicking and ball placement, Kern with his distance and hang time and coaches are eager to see how they handle game situations. "It comes down to who performs well in preseason games," Kern said. "It's all mental. Coach O'Brien says it's all mental now, because if we didn't have the physical abilities now, we wouldn't be here."
TimesCall.com - A new man in the middle http://www.timescall.com/print.asp?id=10169 Page 1 of 2 7/27/2008 Print page Close window Longmont, Colorado Sunday, July 27, 2008 Publish Date: 7/26/2008 A new man in the middle Koutouvides ready to tackle leadership role with Broncos By Brian Howell Longmont Times-Call ENGLEWOOD For a middle linebacker, it seems that being an organizational leader would be a valuable quality. So it seems only natural that the Denver Broncos entered training camp with Niko Koutouvides penciled in as the starter. He majored in organizational leadership and supervision at Purdue University. I m a leader. Absolutely, he said. Koutouvides isn t exactly flipping through his college textbooks to brush up on his skills, though. We re going academics now? he joked. Leaders can t really be taught. You re a natural leader. Some lead by example, and some are more vocal leaders. I feel I do a little bit of both. I like to talk and get my point across, and also to make plays and show the guys, Let s get this thing going. I don t know if academics in college turned me into becoming a leader. Maybe not, but after four years in the NFL, Koutouvides is finally getting a chance to prove he can be a leader. The 27- year-old was signed by the Broncos on March 3 after four years with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2004, Seattle selected Koutouvides in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Since then, he has made his mark on special teams. His 60 special teams tackles from 2004 to 2007 rank seventh in the league during that span. He hasn t had a significant amount of playing time on defense, however. He started two games as a rookie and finished that season with 46 tackles and a sack. Since then, his time on defense has been limited: He s had just six tackles in the past three years combined. When I got to Seattle, I didn t really know what to expect in the league, he said. They had me rotating in with another guy every other series during a football game. It s tough to get a feel for the rhythm on the offense. I wasn t really happy about it, but as a rookie, you just do what you re basically told. Koutouvides did well enough in his role with the Seahawks to draw the attention of the Broncos. In the offseason, when the opportunity to play more on defense with Denver arose, it was too good to pass up. It s been a real long road, he said. I ve been waiting for this opportunity for a while now, and it s time to take advantage of it. I wanted to go somewhere I could compete for the starting (middle linebacker) position, and Denver was on my list. It just felt like the right place for me. Now it s time to show what you ve got. The last time Koutouvides had a chance to start full time, he was at Purdue. He was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as a senior and made 222 tackles and picked off five passes in his final two years with the Boilermakers. Koutouvides still has to win his job, however. He and Nate Webster, who started most of last season at strong-side linebacker, are the favorites to start in the middle.
TimesCall.com - A new man in the middle http://www.timescall.com/print.asp?id=10169 Page 2 of 2 7/27/2008 What s healthy for the NFL and healthy for the Broncos is competition, Koutouvides said. You ve got to let the best man win the job, and that s obviously the coaches decision to make that happen. We all respect each other in this league, and we know competition is what makes a guy a starter. Looking at it from a coach s point of a view, especially after the season last year, they re going to pick the best 11 guys to be on that defense. That s what it s supposed to be. If it s me or Nate, that s for the team. It s: Who is the better player for the Denver Broncos? Koutouvides is hoping he s the best man for the job. He s already got the leadership skills. Now, he s got a chance to prove he can get the job done on the field. I know what basically I can do, he said. Now it s just trying to show everybody what I can do on the field by making plays and getting guys lined up. The opportunity, I m so grateful for it. You ve just got to keep working hard and prove to the organization and to your peers that it was the right move on their part. Brian Howell can be reached at bhowell@times-call.com.
Broncos' Larsen enduring emotional ride : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/05/broncos-larsen-enduring-emotional... Page 1 of 3 8/6/2008 Broncos' Larsen enduring emotional ride Niece's death, son's birth come while trying to make team By Lee Rasizer Tuesday, August 5, 2008 It makes for a nice T-shirt slogan. Football is life. But it's untrue. Experiencing death is life. Celebrating birth is life. And playing football while those affirming and devastating extremes are happening simultaneously only demonstrates how trivial the game can be in the broader scheme. This is rookie Spencer Larsen's life. His second son, Gunnar, was born Friday - the same day his 2-year-old niece, Kamber Ann, the victim of an accidental drowning in Mesa, Ariz., was buried. Larsen took two trips home to deal with the spectrum of sorrow and joy in the first week of Broncos training camp. On the field, he has struggled, understandably, to keep the edge necessary to attempt to stick in the NFL as a middle linebacker, given his personal story. "What's really hard is putting so much importance into something when there's people grieving so much," Larsen said of his sporadic on-field work. "Myself included." It began as an ordinary start to summer workouts. Larsen, a sixth-round pick out of the University of Arizona, practiced July 25. He called his wife, Ann, afterward to check in, figuring that, only eight months into her pregnancy, he would be able to concentrate on the task at hand with limited disruption during the coming weeks. But the harrowing news came the next day.
Broncos' Larsen enduring emotional ride : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/05/broncos-larsen-enduring-emotional... Page 2 of 3 8/6/2008 Kamber, the third of his brother Ethan's four young daughters, was alive but in dire straits as she was transported to the hospital. A panicked Larsen prepared to jump on a plane, with the Broncos' blessing, to offer his family support. But a few hours later, Kamber was gone. The baffling circumstances only added to the despair. "She was playing outside with the hose, and my brother went out and told her, 'Hey, don't come out here anymore,' " Larsen said. "But the gate was completely blocked out in the pool area. So it's still a mystery to this day how she got through the gate. No one knows. Speculating only makes it worse." Larsen described Kamber as the "life of the party" at every family get-together he had attended. The child's innate curiosity still resonates in his mind's eye. "She'd go out and get into everything and had no fear of stuff," Larsen said with a smile. "That's just how she was - a lot of fun." It wasn't exactly business as usual as Larsen came back to Dove Valley for practice last week. Focusing proved very difficult in what's heavily a mental exercise, especially for a first-year player. But because it's his chosen livelihood, the linebacker made the difficult decision to skip the funeral and attempt to narrow his focus as best as possible on the field. Then came the second panicked call. This time, Ann had gone into labor, one month before her anticipated due date. And the funeral for Kamber was that very morning. Larsen landed in Phoenix an hour late, missing Gunnar's entry into the world. But just seeing the newborn's face for the first time was salve for the sorrow he had been feeling for several days. "There's things that happen that are mysterious sometimes," he said in assessing recent events. "I'm very religious, and I think that, when there are those times when there's complete difficulty and tribulation, you will be picked up and given a ray of sunlight. "That's kind of how I see Gunnar." It isn't all darkness on the field, either. Despite his travails, Larsen has made an impression on the Broncos coaching staff, which has walked the tightrope between grading the rookie fairly for his on-field performance and being respectful of his family situation. Larsen, 24, has been running with the third team at middle linebacker behind Nate Webster and Niko Koutouvides and playing on special teams.
Broncos' Larsen enduring emotional ride : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/05/broncos-larsen-enduring-emotional... Page 3 of 3 8/6/2008 "It has to take something out of him," linebackers coach Jim Ryan said. "You take that into account when you see what he's going through emotionally. But you still coach him." Ryan called Larsen a "great kid" and a smart player with solid instincts, adding that nothing he has seen this summer has changed the opinions that led the Broncos to draft him in April. But Larsen is different now. As he recounted his story, he spoke about the strangeness of all he and his family experienced Aug. 1 - a burial and a birth. Losing Kamber, he said, "is never going to go away" for his family. But, in a small way, Ann and Spencer Larsen have made sure their niece's memory will live on. Gunnar's middle name is Kamb. It's a nod to a small girl who exuded life and left the world too soon. Rocky Mountain News
Broncos roomies? Marshall plans to ride out suspension at Cutler's house : rockymountai... http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/13/roomies-broncos-marshall-plans-a... Page 1 of 1 8/14/2008 Broncos roomies? Marshall plans to ride out suspension at Cutler's house Film, tosses on tap during suspension By Lee Rasizer Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Brandon Marshall has chosen deluxe accommodations for when he serves his suspension to open the regular season: Chez Jay. The Broncos receiver, facing a two- to three-game, league- mandated absence in September for violation of the NFL's code of conduct, plans on crashing at the home of quarterback Jay Cutler during his downtime. "Me and Jay decided I'm going to stay with him," Marshall said after the first of four joint workouts at Dove Valley with the Dallas Cowboys. "He's got plenty of room," the receiver added with a laugh. "What I'm going to do is take over his basement." Yet Marshall made it clear that this will be a working vacation upon which he'll embark with Cutler at his side. "What we're going to do is, I'm going to stay in the game plan. And at night, we're going to throw," Marshall explained. "And after we throw, we'll watch film and he's going to go over the game plan with me as if I was there." The arrangement is necessary because Marshall is barred from Denver's facilities beginning Aug. 30 through at least Sept. 15, the earliest date that the suspension could end if the receiver follows league guidelines during his downtime. Otherwise, Marshall will be out until Sept. 22. Cutler confirmed the arrangement, but he declined to speak about it after the afternoon practice. "Jay's been great," Marshall said of his fall-back plan. "The whole Denver Broncos organization has been great to me. "All I can do is just show them that I'm here now, and when I get back and be accountable." And with Marshall scheduled to lose more than $52,000 in base salary during his suspension, it doesn't hurt that the price is right at Chez Jay. "He better not charge nothing," Marshall said with a smile. "I might charge him." Rocky Mountain News
1 of 2 woody paige Paige-ing Brandon: Catch on By Woody Paige The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 08/06/2008 12:04:21 AM MDT Yo, Brandon. On Sunday, Sept. 21, in presumably your first regular-season game of 2008 after your suspension (finally and formally announced Tuesday) ends, catch 15 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns (including one on a 99-yard receptionrun) to set personal and Broncos bests, go on to earn an invitation to the Pro Bowl, a 15-year career in Denver, $125 million, eventually, in overall salary and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Then, thank me for the motivation, Brandon. Several days ago, in his retirement speech, consummate pro Rod Smith expressed gratitude to me, of all people. "This guy inspired my career with one article" after the Broncos' first exhibition in 1995. What I wrote then was that after Smith signaled for fair catches twice on punts inside the 10-yard line, "I'm afraid Rod Smith will call for a fair catch on a swing pass." Whatever it takes. My role in life is to help. On Brandon Marshall's 24th birthday this year I wrote that he should "grow up," a suggestion with which many people, including Marshall the next day, agreed. A few nights afterward, when Marshall was having dinner at a restaurant with Jay Cutler, the wide receiver left a voice mail on my cellphone requesting, in a goodnatured way, that I get off his back. All right, kid, I'll do it. And here's what you do: Stay inbounds (off the field). Humbly accept the punishment meted by Roger Goodell for your many transgressions. Seek counseling and continue with it long-term and meet the commissioner's other conditions so that you sit out two games, not three. Man up and settle the DUI court case on or before Sept. 16, five days before your first game. Avoid at all costs (figuratively and literally) contact with your ex-girlfriend. Even though you fell in love in the eighth grade when you were a football star and she was a cheerleader, there comes a time, as you told her this year, that the two of you "have to move on." Don't be hanging out at clubs all night (or ever), drinking and spraying champagne and creating a disturbance, then driving. Nothing good happens at 3 a.m. Don't surround yourself with questionable characters. They're not true friends if they lead or follow you to trouble. Don't play roughhouse with relatives or get into public arguments with them.
2 of 2 Listen to your coaches, your teammates, your attorney, your counselor. Don't lie or alibi anymore about your actions, and take responsibility. Be smart, not stupid. Think: "Is this something my mother would be proud, or ashamed, of?" Become a team leader and a team player. Be more concerned about victories than statistics. Never forget that a two-game suspension costs you about $56,000 in salary, but also could cost you a chance to be in the Pro Bowl and, more important, the Super Bowl. You may hurt your teammates more than yourself by not being able to participate in critical games against division rivals Oakland and San Diego. You will owe them in the later rematches. Train even harder when you can't play, and visit the patients at Children's Hospital to see how fortunate you are. Be the best you can this season. Maybe the Broncos will offer you a five-year contract extension for 25 times more money than your first contract ($2.03 million over four years). Remember that most Coloradans are loving, caring and forgiving, and the adults and the youngsters are devoted, rightly or wrongly, to you, Carmelo and Tulo. Do the right thing in the stadium and in the community, and you'll always be at home here. Leave voice mails for the Broncos' former wide receivers and ask for their counseling, their advice, their support, their reasons for playing here, remaining here. Haven Moses was traded to the Broncos, became the club's most dependable receiver and did a backflip, like a 10-year-old Pee Wee leaguer, on the field after the Broncos won the 1977 AFC Championship. He has never left. Haven gives his time and efforts to charities (he was featured this week in a newspaper photo in conjunction with a fundraising event), and when he had serious health problems, Broncos fans and Denver friends rallied around. Mark Jackson was drafted by the Broncos, became one of "Three Amigos," began a successful business and is a Broncos ambassador. Rick Upchurch had his weak personal moments but overcame them and always will be adored. Steve Watson arrived as an unknown, but "The Blade" developed into a world-class receiver, a sharp executive and an assistant coach, now associate head coach, of the Broncos. Ed McCaffrey revived his football career in Denver, was hailed as "Ed-dee, Ed-dee," bought a home in Castle Pines and is a thriving entrepreneur and TV pitchman. Talk to Larry Brunson and Billy Van Heusen and the others who have done themselves and Denver proud. And be guided wisely by your life coach Rod Smith, the greatest, who said at his retirement: "Don't let the past dictate your future." Yo, Brandon, start anew, and nobody will be on your back. Everybody in Denver will have your back.
Marshall showing maturity - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10048916 Page 1 of 2 7/31/2008 broncos Marshall showing maturity By Mike Klis The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 07/30/2008 11:51:34 PM MDT where the Broncos conduct their twice-daily training camp workouts. Aches and pains aren't keeping Marshall away from practice, as was the case a year ago. He is on time. He has seemed quieter than usual. He still has his charming, boyish, smile. He just hasn't displayed it as often. No doubt, it has been a more subdued Brandon Marshall. About all the Broncos wide receiver has exhibited with greater regularity are flashes of unstoppable dominance. "Very impressive," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said. "His focus has been great. He's not letting any of that stuff affect him. I tell people that Brandon's not a bad guy. He's just been in the right place at the wrong time. Hopefully, the commissioner will give him another chance and not suspend him and he can be a threat for this team." Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall, outracing the defense for a touchdown at training camp, has been "very impressive," cornerback Dre Bly says. "His focus has been great." Marshall could be hit with a suspension related to the NFL's personal conduct policy. (John Leyba, The Denver Post ) Whatever fate awaits Brandon Marshall, there are signs he has grown. Maturation is evident on the Dove Valley fields, Advertisement
Marshall showing maturity - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10048916 Page 2 of 2 7/31/2008 Denver Broncos Watch video of Wednesday's sixth day of training Camp at Dove Valley View slide show of Broncos training camp View slide show of NFL training camps Watch video of interviews with Mike Shanahan and Michael Pittman Watch video of Broncos safety Hamza Abdullah at training camp Watch video of John Elway talking about this year's Broncos team Watch video of Elway paying homage to Rod Smith Read Lindsay Jones' entries on the All Things Broncos blog Ask Mike Klis about the team or NFL in the Broncos Mailbag Read the latest commentaries by Jim Armstrong from training camp Post photos of you and your loved ones showing Broncos spirit violated the league's personal conduct policy. Based on Goodell's past rulings, there would not be shock if Marshall was suspended two to four games. The Broncos make the case that Marshall should not be suspended. By rights, a player can only be fined, not suspended, for his first DUI arrest, which Marshall had last October. As for Marshall's domestic violence arrest March 6 in Atlanta, no formal charges have been filed nearly five months later. Nevertheless, Goodell soon will notify Marshall of his decision. Marshall then will have the right to appeal. The uncertainty regarding Marshall's earlyseason status, however, has seemingly sharpened his resolve at training camp. Almost every day now, Marshall does something spectacular he beat Bly on a deep route before hauling in a Jay Cutler touchdown pass Wednesday. And each time Marshall demonstrates his awe-inspiring athleticism, he reminds the Broncos of what they may lose. "He is a big piece of this puzzle," said cornerback Champ Bailey, the star of the defense. "If he does have to miss some time, it's going to hurt us. Hopefully, people will step up." Can improved on-field professionalism translate into off-field reform? Since leaving the NFL commissioner's office in New York nearly two weeks ago, Marshall has been living with an inescapable sense of impending doom. Marshall was involved in numerous police-related incidents during a 12-month period that included three arrests but zero convictions. The commissioner, Roger Goodell, has proved he doesn't need a conviction to rule a player has Advertisement
Broncos' McCree doesn't hit pause button : Broncos : The Rocky Mountain News http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/06/broncos-mccree-doesnt-hit-pause-b... Page 1 of 1 8/7/2008 Broncos' McCree doesn't hit pause button Safety has to be quick on feet to get defense aligned, in right spots By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News Wednesday, August 6, 2008 ENGLEWOOD He who hesitates is "in trouble," Broncos safety Marlon McCree said. "A lot of trouble. That's just bad, real bad. You have to line up and make a decision." So when things got rearranged at safety for the Broncos - John Lynch was granted his release from the team last week - it was McCree who went from situational player to full time. And it is McCree, one of the Broncos' most sought-after free agents in the offseason, who certainly faces plenty of expectations to do his part to repair a defense that struggled on many levels in 2007. "He's an athlete - instinctive, smart, he knows (pass) routes," Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "Verbal, decisive and makes good open-field tackles. "If you have a confident guy in that position, it kind of is contagious in the whole secondary. If you have a guy that's a little timid, maybe not real confident, that also creates a little doubt in other guys' minds about if we know what we're doing." When the Broncos break the defensive huddle and get themselves aligned before the snap, McCree's voice is easily heard. As the free safety, he is expected to see where the offense lines up and adjust the Broncos' coverage calls accordingly. He is expected to do it quickly, with little wasted time or motion. "If you don't get that done, you're kind of playing hesitant, and that's not good, sound defense," McCree said. "I like to get the call out, get it early, and it helps everybody focus on their responsibility. It helps me, too - I get lined up, make my calls, so then I can analyze the field, see where my guys are at. "You want to have a little more time to see where the threats are. I'm ready for that, I look forward to it. I thrive on that kind of pressure. I like being a guy people depend on." Despite starting for Chargers teams the past two years that won the AFC West title at 14-2 and 11-5, McCree said he entered free agency earlier this year with the Broncos on his mind. And with Slowik taking over play-calling duties on defense and with a reputation for more emphasis on speed in his scheme, the Broncos were shopping for safeties with McCree's kind of resume. McCree fit because he can play - and has started - at both safety spots in his eight-year career. Teams have used him down near the line of scrimmage - he has also started games for Jacksonville, Houston and Carolina - while the Chargers usually used him in deep coverage. But McCree said he wants to be in on the action, which is one of the reasons he asked the Chargers for his release despite their recent success. "I told (the Broncos) I want to be down in the box more, to play in the run game, too," McCree said. "In San Diego, I was just deep, and I didn't really like that. I mean, you get bored, (it's the) fourth quarter and you haven't made a tackle. (Slowik) assured me both safeties were going to be involved in the run game and be interchangeable. "I think I could have stayed in San Diego, but I had some personal mishaps with the new coaching staff. I thought it was best for both sides to just move on before it became anything more than it already was. "I have nothing but respect for the organization. They treated me well, I treated them well, but it was just time to move on." When Lynch, a 16-year veteran who repeatedly has said he was promised a chance to compete for playing time in run and pass situations, was in camp, he lined up alongside Hamza Abdullah at the two safety spots on early downs. McCree then would come in for passing situations, alongside Abdullah, with Lynch getting no snaps in the nickel (five defensive backs) or dime (six defensive backs) packages. That led to Lynch seeking his release - and McCree lining up on every down with the starters since. From the Broncos' perspective, that could mean they are able to use an additional roster spot somewhere else or keep an additional special-teams player. From McCree's perspective, it means he will have the kind of playing time he was seeking in his offseason hunt for a new team. "I realized you want to go somewhere because careers are short, where you're going to have a chance to be in the playoffs," McCree said. "When Denver called, I was more than excited. People may not be talking about us or think too much of us right now, and that's OK. The more we can be under the radar, the better. "But we're working hard. I mean, we know we're going to be good."
Skinny on Moss is he remains slim - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10048912 Page 1 of 1 7/31/2008 jim armstrong Skinny on Moss is he remains slim By Jim Armstrong The Denver Post If you battle the bulge, you might want to skip the rest of this paragraph. All right, are we clear? Here goes: Moss eats three large meals a day, with snacks in between each, not to mention two protein shakes. But still, he can't add any weight. "I've tried," he said. "Maybe it's the metabolism. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I just sweat more than others. I always want to try to put on weight, but this is me. I'm always going to be lean." Article Last Updated: 07/31/2008 12:01:39 AM MDT Sometimes life isn't fair. Take the case of Broncos defensive end Jarvis Moss. He'd love to have those 10 pounds teammate Montrae Holland is trying to lose. Moss is at the other end of the spectrum from Holland: trying to gain weight, but can't. Moss was drafted at 245 pounds last year and, after an offseason of heavy eating and weight lifting, he weighs... 245 pounds. "That's me," Moss said. "I'm naturally a slim dude, especially at this time of year when we're practicing two times a day." Moss, whose target weight is 255, typically loses at least 5 pounds a practice. Yes, having that extra weight would help him fight off blockers in the running game, but he has resigned himself to being lean and mean. "I really don't feel like it hurts me on the field," said Moss, who stands second on the depth chart at right defensive end. "Of course being a little bulkier and heavier could help me, but I just have to give great effort." Advertisement
Nalen is last champion standing : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/25/nalen-is-last-champion-standing/?printer... Page 1 of 2 3/26/2008 Nalen is last champion standing Center final player from title teams still with Broncos By Lee Rasizer Tuesday, March 25, 2008 He survived his recent trip to an Orlando, Fla., resort with his family in tow. Not Brandon Marshall - Tom Nalen. "I avoided McDonald's bags and television sets," Nalen, the Broncos' longtime center, quipped in an interview earlier this week. "I'm very proud of that." Here's something else that also potentially could elicit a sense of gratification from Nalen: With recent moves that have erased Jason Elam, Matt Lepsis and Rod Smith off the Broncos roster, he is the last link to the franchise's two Super Bowl-winning teams. But Nalen isn't exactly doing handstands over that designation. "I don't sit around with my feet up going, 'Yeah, I outlasted everyone,' " he said. But facts are facts. Nalen is the only current Broncos player who predates the Mike Shanahan era. Wade Phillips was at the helm when Nalen was drafted in the seventh round in 1994 with the 218th pick. Nalen, who will be 37 when he enters the season with 194 games under his belt, probably won't catch Elam (236) for most appearances by a Broncos player. At least he'll get an opportunity, considering he's 42 games short. Nalen missed the final 11 games of the 2007 season with a torn right biceps but has been finished with rehabilitation for a couple of months and has resumed full workouts. "There's nothing wrong with my arm anymore," he said. In the meantime, Smith was placed on the reserve/retired list and almost certainly is done playing. Lepsis retired. And Elam signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons. "I thought Rod would play forever," Nalen said. "Jason, you can't outlast kickers, but Atlanta gave him more money. "Matt," Nalen added with a laugh, "I figured I'd outlast him." Nalen, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, chalks up much of his longevity to Shanahan being at the helm for 13 of
Nalen is last champion standing : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/25/nalen-is-last-champion-standing/?printer... Page 2 of 2 3/26/2008 his 14 seasons. During that period, he has seen countless teammates come and go - and not just from the 1997 and 1998 squads that brought home the Lombardi Trophy. "Rosters are constantly in turnover and it's bound to happen," he said of the constant flux. "I am surprised to still be playing here, but a lot of that is Mike's been the head coach here and if guys are producing, he keeps the guys around from those teams as long as he can." Smith's bad hip forced him to step away from the Broncos. He always vowed the team would have to rip the name plate off his locker, and the severity of his injury forced the issue. Lepsis and Elam were much different cases. Lepsis rebounded from two serious knee ailments to become a top-flight NFL offensive tackle but eventually lost his passion for the game and wasn't satisfied with his level of performance. Elam toyed with the idea of retirement when the Broncos didn't budge off essentially a one-year free-agent offer but eventually was wooed away by a $3.3 million signing bonus in a $9 million package from Atlanta. "Jason's still playing and Matt's not. They're both equally happy," Nalen said. "I hope I'm as happy whether I continue playing or I retire." Rocky Mountain News
Speedy Parker hopes to fit in with Broncos : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/13/speedy-parker-hopes-to-fit-in-wit... Page 1 of 2 8/14/2008 Speedy Parker hopes to fit in with Broncos Ex-Chiefs receiver thinks he can help stretch the field By Jeff Legwold Wednesday, August 13, 2008 In the practice-makes-perfect world of the games people play, Samie Parker never practiced to be fast. He just was, just is. Fast enough to have competed against and beaten some who have spent parts of their summers in the past two Olympics. Fast enough to have turned in a wind-aided, 10.18-second effort in the 100 meters with little training, and to be a three-time track All-American at the University of Oregon. "But I'm a football guy, I've always considered myself a football guy, always will consider myself a football guy," Parker said. "Football is where my heart is. I ran track, but I never practiced. I just happen to be one of those lucky guys blessed with some speed." And in a crowded position group that features plenty of offseason acquisitions like himself, Parker now will learn if he's fast enough for a Broncos roster spot. At the top of the depth chart are Brandon Marshall and rookie Eddie Royal, who have been running with the starting offense on the outside now that Darrell Jackson is serving as Marshall's backup as a stopgap for Marshall's impending two- or three-game suspension to start the regular season. There's also Brandon Stokley, whom Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has called the "best slot receiver in the National Football League," and Keary Colbert, who got a $2.5 million signing bonus when the Broncos landed him early in free agency. And that leaves Parker, whom the Broncos also actively pursued, scrapping for an opportunity at a position where the team routinely keeps only five or six players. "It's a great problem to have, but obviously, at the end, when you have to cut your roster down, it's not as fun," Broncos wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch said. "Obviously, in the end, it's tough to make the call." Said Parker: "It doesn't feel crowded in there - I enjoy learning things maybe they learned other places. Guys like Darrell, Keary and Brandon Stokley, they've all picked up things in other offenses that I can put in my bag of tricks." Parker spent four years in the Kansas City Chiefs' offense. He never caught more than 41 passes in any of those seasons, but he averaged at least 13.7 yards per catch in three of the four. Last season, he averaged a career-low 12.4 yards a catch, but the Chiefs were 31st in the league in points per game and 27th in passing yards per play.
Speedy Parker hopes to fit in with Broncos : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/13/speedy-parker-hopes-to-fit-in-wit... Page 2 of 2 8/14/2008 Feeling somewhat claustrophobic in that offense, Parker said he looked forward to checking out his options via free agency before signing in Denver. "(Chiefs coach) Herm (Edwards) was getting his own guys in there, but I just didn't feel like that was the place for me any more," Parker said. "Running the ball is fine, and I'll block, go over the middle - I'll do whatever it takes to win. But I was also looking for the opportunity to have a chance to compete for more in the passing game." But the Broncos' version of the West Coast offense - for the most part, their scheme emphasizes shorter patterns that give receivers an opportunity to make catch-and-run plays - is like nothing Parker experienced with the Chiefs. It also is complicated, precise and demanding. "The learning curve is steep," Fisch said. "It was my first year in it, too, when I got here, so it was steep for me as well. And he's been in a totally different offense for four years, not like some of the other guys we brought in here, who have some experience with it, like Darrell Jackson. "But Samie continues to learn, and as he continues to get better, the opportunities will present themselves for him more and more. You see the leap that guys made between January and July, and what Samie has, in the three preseason games left, is an opportunity to make another leap." For his part, Parker believes he can be a downfield option in the Broncos offense, especially if opposing secondaries, as expected, load up to stop Marshall. Broncos coaches already are trying to prepare Marshall for the kind of attention he's going to get from defensive backs this season, so that likely will leave room for other receivers to snare passes. The Broncos have yet to flash much in the way of downfield looks in the preseason - no Denver wide receiver caught a pass longer than 14 yards against Houston last weekend - but Parker believes it's on the way. "We're going to get to the deep ball," he said. "We're installing things right now. As far as myself, I'm new to the system, working with the new terminology, slowly working it all in. "I would think, basically, they brought me in to stretch the field a little bit, to be somebody to help complement (Marshall). They haven't had that type of threat for a while, the last few years since they had Ashley (Lelie) here. He made a lot of plays down the field. I want to do that, too." Pedal to the metal Broncos wide receiver Samie Parker says he's "a football guy," but his speed has opened some eyes on and off the field. Among Parker's achievements: * Averaged 13.9 yards per catch in his four seasons with the Chiefs. * First 12 touchdowns at the University of Oregon averaged 36.2 yards, and three went for more than 70 yards. * Once ran the 100-meter dash in a wind-aided 10.18 seconds, the second fastest in school history.
Broncos' RB defending his life - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9495437 Page 1 of 2 6/6/2008 broncos Broncos' RB defending his life "I'm 32 years old now. I go around and talk to kids about it. Go to high schools. I speak at seminars. I talk about making right decisions. My Pittman says he's changed; Shanahan and fan back him up By Mike Klis The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 06/06/2008 01:42:36 AM MDT Todd Sauerbrun, the jilted former Broncos punter, had just finished plea-bargaining to a lesser charge in a Denver courtroom last week when he stopped to scoff at his old team's desire to replace bad characters with good. "The guys I've seen them pick up, you're going to tell me those are good character people?" Sauerbrun told reporters. "I think not." These reports were naturally followed by references to the Broncos' recent signing of Michael Pittman, a veteran running back who in 2001 and 2003 was arrested in domestic violence incidents involving his wife. "I don't know if it was temper as (much as) it was (being) new in the marriage," Pittman said this week. "I was used to do everything on my own, not having to share my life, and making bad decisions. I've matured. Pittman: "I've matured." (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press ) wife and I are still together. We're in love. We've moved on from it and we're stronger from it." From Florida, Travis Sullivan read how Pittman's past transgressions were becoming an unfair, blanket description of the man he had come to admire. Sullivan came to know Pittman six years ago during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' training camp. Sullivan had written a letter to Pittman, enclosing a $100 check to cover his request for an autographed jersey for his 6-year-old son, Ryan. Advertisement
Broncos' RB defending his life - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9495437 Page 2 of 2 6/6/2008 Pittman sent back the check with the autographed jersey, then had tickets waiting for Ryan and his family for every home game. After each game, Pittman always handed Ryan his game gloves. To this day, Pittman and Ryan stay in touch. talk it out until we reach some type of decision, and we move on." Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost. com "It's tough for me to put into words what I feel about him as a person for what he's done for my family," Travis Sullivan said. "There's people you read about in the paper and draw your own conclusions about who they are and what they are, but until you really get to know somebody, you probably don't know them." Broncos coach Mike Shanahan compared Pittman's character to that of veteran receiver Rod Smith. Despite a domestic violence charge in 2000, Smith was able to restore his honorable reputation through his strong work ethic, professionalism and selflessness. "There's a lot of similarities between Rod and Michael Pittman," Shanahan said. "I think once people get to know Michael Pittman, they're going to find out this is a guy of strong character." Pittman said he attended court-ordered classes because of his past transgressions, but he became a better person through his will to change. "You have to want to change your ways, the way you think," he said. "At the time, I was younger, I had a me-against- the-world-type attitude. Now, when we get in some type of argument, we Advertisement
Drafting a roster spot - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9175449 Page 1 of 4 5/7/2008 sports Drafting a roster spot Opportunities abound for unselected free agents in this age of salary cap By Jim Armstrong The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 05/07/2008 12:37:51 AM MDT Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, who beat Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher to the punch by a few seconds. "I had Coach Fisher on hold for 10 or 15 minutes while I was talking to Coach Dungy," Polumbus said. "That was a really weird feeling knowing I had another NFL coach on hold. I definitely wasn't prepared for that moment." So whose sales pitch did Polumbus select? Neither. The Broncos had called during the draft and Polumbus, who grew up in Denver and played at Colorado, jumped at the chance to join his favorite team. But first he had to let out a huge sigh of relief. Former CU offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus hits the weights in hopes of making his mark with the Broncos. (Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post ) Tyler Polumbus never knew being overlooked in the NFL draft could be so exciting. Within minutes of the draft's conclusion, Polumbus' phone started ringing... and ringing... and ringing. He wasn't deemed worthy of a draft choice, but suddenly he was being pursued by teams throughout the league. Talk about your surreal moments. The final pick had barely been made and Polumbus, an offensive tackle, found himself talking to The unusual twists and turns didn't start with the phone calls. For Polumbus, they began in the seventh round, when he went from dreaming of being drafted to hoping beyond hope that he wouldn't be. "It's a bizarre situation," Polumbus said. "I was praying I wouldn't get picked up. I didn't want to go to a place where I didn't want to be." For undrafted free agents, it's all about the opportunity, about being in the right place with the right team at the right time. They can honestly say it's not about the money. Polumbus signed for slightly more than $20,000. Former Colorado State quarterback Caleb Hanie, meanwhile, received $5,000 to sign with the Advertisement
Drafting a roster spot - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9175449 Page 2 of 4 5/7/2008 Chicago Bears. They should consider themselves fortunate. The St. Louis Rams don't give signing bonuses to undrafted free agents. They'll give them an advance on offseason workout expenses and camp per diems, but that's it. Ability to pick their teams Like Polumbus, Hanie spent the latter stages of the draft on the edge of his seat. But Hanie was hoping to be selected, especially after hearing draft junkie Mel Kiper Jr. talking up his potential during ESPN's draft coverage. Hanie knew the Bears were interested, having talked to team officials and taken a physical in Chicago in the weeks preceding the draft. And he knew their quarterback situation was unsettled, with embattled starter Rex Grossman and backup Kyle Orton toward the end of their contracts. "It's a good situation," Hanie said. "Obviously they "You just want to hear your name called," Hanie said. "Obviously, if I had been drafted by the Bears, I would have felt better. With that said, I'm happy for the opportunity. In a way, it was better that I went undrafted because I feel confident I'm with a team that has confidence in me." Hanie and Polumbus were like every other undrafted free agent on draft weekend. By the time Sunday afternoon arrived, they and their agents had pored over every team's depth chart in search of the best opportunity. Then it was a matter of waiting for the phone to ring and finding a match. At 6-feet-7, 315 pounds, Polumbus knew he wouldn't be a fit with teams who employed massive tackles. He and his agent, Boulderbased Tom Mills, had targeted the Broncos, what with Mike Shanahan's preference for lean linemen. When the Broncos used their firstrounder on Ryan Clady, but didn't draft another tackle, the opportunity arose. Polumbus (Brian Bahr, Getty Images file photo ) could both do well this year, and they could keep them both. If one of them struggles, they could decide they don't need one of them, and it opens up a roster spot for a guy like me. There are a lot of different scenarios." Salary cap opens doors Advertisement
Drafting a roster spot - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9175449 Page 3 of 4 5/7/2008 Back in the day, Polumbus and Hanie may not have gone undrafted. Instead of being called free agents, they would have been labeled laterounders. "Tyler probably would have been an eighthround pick in the old days," Mills said. "A lot of guys are like that. They're free agents because the draft is only seven rounds." That helps explain why undrafted free agents are making such a major impact in today's NFL. Part of it is pure numbers. The NFL pared the draft to seven rounds from 12 in 1994, meaning dozens of players who would have been selected in earlier years went undrafted. It's more than that, though. The salary cap and the practice squad, both relatively recent phenomenons, have served to create opportunities for developmental-type players that weren't there in previous generations. NFL teams always have given the benefit of the doubt to younger players deemed to be on a par with high-salaried veterans. But that practice is more prevalent now because of the salary cap. With teams spending the bulk of their cap on star-caliber starters, the bottom of NFL rosters typically are filled with young players making at or near the league minimum. "It's a necessary part of doing business," Mills said. "Teams want competition. And even if a young player doesn't make the roster, he forces the other player to play better." Unlike a veteran, not making the roster isn't the end of the road for an undrafted free agent. The practice squad has become a haven for such players. It gives teams extra time to develop prospects who went undrafted for any number of reasons. Some were undersized and others were switching positions. Or they played at a small school or were injured in college. Rod Smith fit all of those descriptions. He played quarterback at Missouri Southern before making the switch to wide receiver. He injured his knee in college and needed to get stronger to have a chance to play in the NFL. The rest is history. Smith is a certain Broncos Ring of Famer, as is Tom Nalen, another member of Denver's practice squad, class of 1994. Talented players make mark Not that Smith is the only undrafted free agent to make it big in the NFL in recent years. Neither of the Pittsburgh Steelers' past two team MVPs, Willie Parker or James Harrison, was drafted. Nor were Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert, two key members of the New York Giants' offensive line. The list goes on and on. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, he of the $66 million contract, was bypassed on draft weekend. So was San Diego's Antonio Gates, a former basketball player at Kent State who has become the standard of the industry among NFL tight ends. Then there's Indianapolis' Jeff Saturday, arguably the best center in the game. Advertisement
Drafting a roster spot - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9175449 Page 4 of 4 5/7/2008 According to NFL.com, the 12 playoff teams in 2007 had 167 undrafted free agents on their rosters. Some, like Polumbus, received $20,000- plus to sign, not bad considering last year's final draft pick, Alabama cornerback Ramzee Robinson, got $24,900 from Detroit. Others got little more than a plane ticket and a T-shirt. Such is life for undrafted free agents. "Anytime you get into five figures, there's some competition involved," Mills said. "If there's one team on the line, you've got your hand out. It's better than not getting a contract. At least you've got a chance. That's all you can ask for." Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com Best in Broncos history Denver Post staff writer Jim Armstrong picks the best free agents to don a Denver uniform: 1. Rod Smith, WR 1995-2006: Owns every receiving record in NFL history for undrafted free agents. 2. Rich Jackson, DE 1967-72: Became one of NFL's most feared pass rushers in Denver. 3. Bob Swenson, LB 1975-83: Randy Gradishar wasn't the only star of the Orange Crush LB corps. 4. Goose Gonsoulin, S 1960-66: Ring of Famer had 43 INTs in seven seasons. 5. Joe Rizzo, LB 1974-80: A diamond in the rough. He played at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Let freedom ring Denver Post staff writer Jim Armstrong picks the five best undrafted free agents in NFL history and the five best from state colleges: BEST IN NFL HISTORY 1. Kurt Warner, QB, Rams: OK, so his career has leveled off, but give him his due. He won two MVP awards. 2. Willie Wood, CB, Packers: Anchored Packers' secondary in the 1960s with fellow Hall of Famer Herb Adderley. 3. Warren Moon, QB, Oilers: Had to take his act to the CFL before the NFL establishment would accept him as a quarterback. 4. John Randle, DT, Vikings: Likely future Hall of Famer played in seven Pro Bowls, ranks fifth all time with 137 1/2 sacks. 5. Joe Jacoby, OT, Redskins: At 6-feet-7, 300 Advertisement
sports Jason who? Prater impresses Without Elam, the Broncos' kicking game is looking good with the second-year pro. By Terry Frei The Denver Post Article Launched: 08/03/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT Matt Prater's kicks at Broncos training camp Saturday didn't follow "Toro!" rushes to get the field-goal unit on the field in the final seconds of a real game. Rather than thousands jammed into a stadium and passing beers down the row, the spectators numbered in the hundreds at Dove Valley, and they lounged on the grassy knoll and passed around No. 30 sunblock. So it's not as if these were supreme tests, or the sort that kickers must pass to remain gainfully employed in the NFL. Yet Prater continued his impressive work in the relatively low-pressure, dog days of summer. On Saturday, he went 11-for-11 in field goals in scrimmage-type conditions, successfully hitting a 68-yarder and then drilling the pressure's-on, simulated last-second kick from 54 yards out that allowed coach Mike Shanahan to immediately call an end to the day's single practice. The 68-yarder cleared the crossbar with plenty of room to spare, and if the practice had been televised, the guys in the booth could have said it would have been good from Castle Rock. "I didn't even know we were going to go back that far today," said Prater, the second-year pro from Central Florida. "It was a surprise to me. It wasn't on the script." For camp, Prater is 32-for-35 in the live work. The situation can change quickly when the lights come on, so to speak, but at this point, the Broncos' decision to have him as the only place-kicker in camp and all but handed the job as Jason Elam's successor seems justified. "What impressed you the most? Not missing or the 68-yarder?" Shanahan playfully asked during his post-practice media session. "I kind of liked the last one, to be honest with you, with all the pressure on him, game-winning field goal, three seconds left. He's been doing that pretty consistently since he's been here, so it doesn't really surprise anybody. But it's sure nice to see him do that." Prater said that kicking the simulated game-winner "felt good, just to show the team that I can do it, to give them some confidence in me. So in the game, when I do have the chance to have the game-winner, they expect me to make it and not be thinking, 'Flip a coin.'... Until I do it in the game, there's still going to be questions. But hopefully, I'll get the opportunity and do well in the games."
After he finished up at Central Florida, where he was a teammate of Brandon Marshall, Prater was in Detroit's camp in 2006 but was cut near the end of the preseason. Last year, he was waived at Miami and Atlanta before joining the Dolphins' practice squad in mid-november, then ultimately signing on with the Broncos to kick off for the final two games. Prater said his stint with the Broncos at the end of the season "helps me out a lot. Seeing Jason Elam hit the game-winner (in overtime) against Minnesota, seeing his approach to it, what he was doing from the sidelines, I kind of learned from him. I think of what he did and try to bring it into my game." Prater said Elam "just seemed to calm. One thing I learned is that when you're coming out for a field goal, instead of just going right where the spot of the ball is, stay around the 50, and you can visualize kicking a field goal and you can see the uprights better."
Broncos' Robertson feels ready for season - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10036593 Page 1 of 2 7/30/2008 sports Broncos' Robertson feels ready for season By Lindsay H. Jones The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 07/30/2008 01:36:16 AM MDT Dewayne Robertson, left, says his knee trouble "got blown out of proportion" in the offseason, when Denver acquired him. (John Leyba, The Denver Post ) Dewayne Robertson wants to clear something up. His left knee is just fine, thanks for asking, and he doesn't understand why everyone seems to care so much. because my whole career, I only missed two games, and that wasn't because of my knee, it was because of a high thigh bruise," said Robertson, the veteran defensive tackle the Broncos acquired in a trade with the New York Jets in April. "This offseason, it just got blown out of proportion. Everyone is making a big deal about the knee, but I've been fine." The fuss may have come from the fact that Broncos coach Mike Shanahan told reporters shortly after the trade that Robertson's knee didn't pass the physical performed by team Denver Broncos View slide show of Broncos training camp View slide show of NFL training camps Watch video of interviews with Mike Shanahan and Michael Pittman Watch video of Montrae Holland at training camp Watch video of Broncos safety Hamza Abdullah at training camp Watch video of John Elway talking about this year's Broncos team Watch video of Elway paying homage to Rod Smith Read Lindsay Jones' entries on the All Things Broncos blog Ask Mike Klis about the team or NFL in the Broncos Mailbag Read the latest commentaries by Jim Armstrong from training camp Post photos of you and your loved ones showing Broncos spirit "It really kind of blew me away this offseason, Advertisement
Broncos' Robertson feels ready for season - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10036593 Page 2 of 2 7/30/2008 doctors. Or that Robertson was held out from several days of a passing camp in May and a minicamp in June and has been restricted to one practice a day during training camp. Robertson bristles at questions about the knee, though those questions will go away if he transitions into Denver's defense as well as coaches are hoping. The knee pain, a chronic problem since he was in college at Kentucky, didn't keep him off the field with the Jets. He started all but five games and played in all but three since the Jets drafted him No. 4 overall in 2003. Still, Robertson never met the lofty expectations set for him in New York, especially not after he was converted into a nose tackle in Eric Mangini's 3-4 defense for the past two seasons. At 6-feet-1 and 308 pounds, Robertson wasn't bulky enough to fill the middle of the line, and he wasn't surprised when the Jets looked to trade him. Figuring he would no longer be a Jet, he looked for a team running a 4-3 defense, as Denver does. "When I took the visit here to Denver, they told me the scheme, how they do things and how they run the defense, and they made it clear I would fit perfectly in that scheme," Robertson said. Robertson is a projected starter for the Broncos, though they likely will rotate other tackles in as well, including Kenny Peterson, Marcus Thomas and Alvin McKinley. That rotation could keep the Broncos from owing the Jets anything in the trade. Only if Robertson plays more than 65 percent of the time will Denver have to give the Jets an undisclosed draft pick next year. 2007. Here Robertson will be a "one-gap" tackle his natural position, defensive line coach Bill Johnson said, because of his combination of speed and strength. He was clocked at 4.8 seconds in the 40- yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in 2003, despite weighing about 16 more pounds than he does now. "This is much better for him, because I can go back to when he was in college and I studied him," Johnson said. "When you play him in a head-up position, you negate some of that quickness and power." Safety Marlon McCree, also in his first year with the Broncos, played with Robertson for two years at Kentucky and said it isn't just Robertson's physical abilities that should help the Denver defense. McCree said Robertson, normally mild-mannered and polite, has a nasty side that emerges only on the field. McCree noticed that attitude as soon as Robertson arrived in Lexington, Ky., as a heralded freshman out of Memphis, Tenn., in 2000. "He was man amongst boys," McCree said. "He was a gentle giant, because he could be so respectful off the field, but man, when he got on the field, he rag-dolled people, just tore people to pieces." For now Denver coaches aren't concerned with how many snaps Robertson plays, but how he can help fix a run defense that ranked 30th in the NFL in Advertisement
1 of 2 Broncos rookie WR Royal will start again August 15, 2008-9:44PM BY FRANK SCHWAB THE GAZETTE ENGLEWOOD Pearl Royal was sifting through some of her son Eddie s belongings, preparing to send some things to him in Denver when she came across a box of notes he wrote as an introspective and quiet child. One note by Eddie Royal, a rookie receiver with the Broncos, said his mother was his best friend. To even things out, Pearl Royal laughed when she found another note complaining that she took Eddie s brother Chris to football practice and didn t take him. Eddie Royal was always religious, and Pearl Royal found some notes to God. One pleaded, Make me tall. Make me strong. Royal never became exceptionally tall or big. At 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, he is considered small for a NFL receiver. But his small stature didn t matter in high school or in college at Virginia Tech, and it didn t stop him from moving up the depth chart in Denver. Last week he became the first rookie receiver in Broncos history to start a preseason opener. He should start again today against Dallas. I found a picture he had of this cat looking in a mirror, and he sees a lion, Pearl Royal said. That s what he sees himself as, the strong one. Royal overcompensated for any physical shortcomings. He worked hard and was always mature for his age, back to when he was writing the notes to himself. He got guidance from his six siblings, all older than him, and his mother. I kept to myself a lot when I was younger, and I paid attention to a lot of things, Royal said. I picked up on things, the way to come off on people, and that was big. As a younger kid, I really paid attention to the little things. He was always a favorite of his coaches. He picked up the nickname Eddie Beamer because he was close to Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. People from the church in his hometown of Chantilly, Va., looked out after him. Brian Kelley has been Royal s mentor from the time he was Royal s fourth-grade teacher. Hundreds of people touched our lives, Pearl Royal said. Our family has been blessed by that. The reason Royal picked up so many guiding forces in his life is his infectious personality.
2 of 2 It s pretty hard not to like him, Kelley said. There s so many people he probably has no idea that are behind him. A lot of people are proud because he did everything the right way. Teammates called him Mr. Perfect in college. Pearl Royal said she never had a problem with her son not listening to her. She said he treated everyone who came across his path with respect. If Royal had a not-so-perfect time, it was at the end of high school. He almost didn t qualify academically for college. He admits he focused too much on football and didn t apply himself in the classroom. He worked, made the grades and got into Virginia Tech. Then, to the surprise of nobody who knew him, he kept that focus and earned his college degree from Virginia Tech in 3½ years. He said when he struggled in school, he knew it bothered his mother. I made an extra effort to say school s not going to hold me back, Royal said. I m going to show everybody I m not just a jock there to play football and that s all I can do. Royal is also proving that he can play football at the highest level. He said even when he was young, he envisioned making it in the NFL. I always saw the big picture and knew what I wanted to do, Royal said. No matter who believed in me or not, I had the confidence in myself that I would find a way to make it. That if I did everything perfect, I should make it.
Rookie becoming a Royal pain for DBs - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10045798 Page 1 of 1 7/31/2008 the jimmy page - on demand Rookie becoming a Royal pain for DBs By Jim Armstrong The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 07/30/2008 02:58:31 PM MDT Royal, the Broncos' second-rounder from Virginia Tech. As much as the coaches like this rookie class from top to bottom, Royal easily has generated the most buzz. Royal was drafted first and foremost to upgrade the Broncos' return game. But he's showing with each passing day that he's capable of contributing as a receiver, too. "He's fast and he's quick," said Broncos cornerback Dre Bly. "I've been telling guys, having had a chance to be with Az Hakim in Detroit and St. Louis, he's another version of him, with more speed.... With the kind of player he is, he's a gadget guy, he's a reverse guy, a guy who can go deep, a guy who can catch screens." A slot receiver, in other words. At 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds, Royal profiles as a classic slot receiver, much like veteran Brandon Stokley. Then again, Mike Shanahan said on draft day that Royal was the best receiver in the draft at beating man-toman bump coverage. Whether he eventually gets some snaps at wide receiver or not, Royal has made a huge impression during his first NFL camp. He looks the part of a player who's going to help the Broncos for years to come. Eddie Royal, left, heads down the sideline after catching a pass with Jack Williams in pursuit during training camp. (AP David Zalubowski) Happens every year. Some rookies show up bigger than advertised at training camp. This year's biggest surprise? That would be Eddie Some rookies struggle to make the transition from college to the pro game. Not Royal. He was asked Wednesday if he had had a moment in camp when he felt overwhelmed. "You can't think like that," said Royal. "You never can think like that. You always come out and put your best foot forward, and that's what I'm trying to do." Follow Jim Armstrong's daily sports commentaries Advertisement
1 of 2 Tony Scheffler attempts to work way up depth chart at tight end. By ARNIE STAPLETON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS August 06, 2008 02:59 am ENGLEWOOD - For the second straight spring, Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler ran a routine route at minicamp, planted wrong and felt a searing jolt in his right foot. Last year, he recovered from the fracture to catch 49 passes for 549 yards and four touchdowns, but he didn t catch a single pass the first month of the season and spent all year playing catch-up. Not wanting to wait so long for him to return to form this year, Scheffler and the Broncos embarked on an aggressive treatment plan that included a walking boot, new orthotics and a bone stimulator to speed healing. It seems to have worked. Running full-speed without any discernible aftereffects, Scheffler has shined at training camp. On Tuesday, he sneaked behind the secondary and hauled in a 50-yard bulls-eye from quarterback Jay Cutler. Now, his goal is to supplant Nate Jackson, who s been lining up with Daniel Graham in two tight-end sets. Scheffler acknowledges that he s bothered by being Jackson s backup but also realizes he still has work to do. You ve just got to keep playing better and hopefully play yourself back into that huddle and until then, you ve just got to keep making plays, Scheffler said. Yeah, I mean, that s the goal is to get back out there with Jay. Scheffler, a fourth-round draft pick out of Central Michigan, had a slow start to his rookie season, when he struggled to make the adjustment to the NFL. But he caught four touchdown passes in the last month after Cutler supplanted Jake Plummer as the starter with
2 of 2 five games to go. The Broncos are counting on the Cutler-Scheffler combination working early on as they brace for the NFL s punishment of wide receiver Brandon Marshall, whose repeated arrests over the last year resulted in a three-game suspension to start the season. Brandon, he makes five or six (great) plays every practice. So, he s definitely our go-to guy and we re going to miss him those first couple of games, Scheffler said. But we ve got guys who are going to step up. We ve got veterans in Keary Colbert and Darrell Jackson and we ve got a young Eddie Royal, who s having a great camp. So, we ve got guys who are going to step up and once Brandon gets back, it s full steam ahead. Scheffler, who has posted 607 of his 835 career yards (73 percent) and all nine of his career TDs in the second half of the season, trusts he and Cutler can get things going from the start this time. If you take a look at what I ve done toward the second half of each season, you would hope that I could start off that way and kind of carry that throughout the whole season, Scheffler said. That s something I ve wanted to do, trust me, and something I m planning on doing, just staying healthy, staying ahead of the game and just kind of naturally let everything take place. And I think that s a reasonable goal for me to be up there among the top tight ends in the league. Unlike a year ago, Scheffler said he s pain-free at this training camp and not thinking about his foot. I think it s definitely behind us, he said. And he can t wait for the Broncos first preseason game at Houston on Saturday night. I ve got to play well this season to prove I want to get a part of this, he said.
1 of 2 sports Work ethic speaks loudly for Webster Broncos middle linebacker redoubles his efforts after his father suffers heart attack By Lindsay H. Jones The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 08/13/2008 01:23:40 AM MDT There is certainly no one on the Broncos' defense louder than Nate Webster, but all it took was one late-night phone call in early January for everything to go silent. His mother, Linda, was on the other end of the line. She was crying. "Your daddy's not breathing," Webster remembered her saying. Nate Webster Sr. had suffered a major heart attack at his home in Tampa, Fla. "At one point, he was dead," Webster said. "The paramedics brought him back." Webster flew to Florida the next day and spent about three months there while his father recuperated. During that time, Webster lost 15 pounds from the stress. But the ordeal gave him a new perspective once he returned to Denver for offseason conditioning in March, about the time he learned he would be switching from strong side to middle linebacker, the same position he played at the University of Miami and earlier in his career with Tampa Bay. "My dad's been so strong and worked so hard for so many years to be a provider for us. I have never seen him at a weak point, never ever, so to see him down and unconscious, that hit me hard," Webster said. "Right then and there, I just wanted to dedicate and put a lot of focus into getting into the best shape of my life." Coaches noticed. Mike Shanahan commented on the day before training camp started last month that Webster had never been in better condition. After almost three weeks of camp, Webster is listed first on the depth chart at middle linebacker, ahead of Niko Koutouvides, who was signed away from Seattle in the offseason with the intention he would be the starter. Webster, who was credited with 100 tackles by the Broncos in 2007, started the preseason opener against the Houston Texans, though the battle is far from over. Koutouvides led the first-team defense Monday and Tuesday. "It's going to go down to the wire, and that's the way it should be," Koutouvides said. "Give both players every opportunity to show what they've got." What makes the battle more interesting is that Webster and Koutouvides are so different. Koutouvides, a Connecticut native who went to Purdue, isn't flashy or loud. Webster, though, is impossible to ignore, from his overly baggy mesh shorts that hang nearly to his ankles to his tendency to lose his helmet in piles of tacklers.
2 of 2 And, of course, there is that voice. Almost every day, he issues a guttural yell as he walks toward the practice field, and hardly a play goes by without him making some sort of comment to the offense. "He's a live-wire kind of guy, always talking," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "He always has to be talking, has to be moving." That kind of behavior has endeared him to teammates, though he knows he has to learn to better curb his emotions at times during games. It wasn't something he always knew how to do when he was younger. "Back in the day, I used to be a bit dirty under the piles," Webster said. "But the cameras see everything, plus it's just part of growing up and being smarter, and not wanting to put your team in a bad situation, get a penalty, do anything that will hurt your chances of winning the game." Webster's father has recovered enough from the heart attack to travel, and he and Linda are staying with Webster in Denver during training camp. Linda cooks, and the three spend as much time as possible talking about when Webster and his siblings were young. "I want to get him out here to participate, to see as much of me as he can, whether it's coming to games or practices, or just being around me, period," Webster said, "because I'm a daddy's boy." These names come Nat-urally Article Last Updated: 08/13/2008 12:09:18 AM MDT Broncos linebacker Nate Webster takes pride in his family and his name, so much so that he's passed his name on to his children in George Foreman fashion. Webster, who is named after his father, has six children, and all but one have some version of Nate in their names: sons Nate III, Nate IV, Natron, Natwan and daughter Natalia. The oddball is daughter Nia. "All of them have got a little Nate in them," Webster said with a laugh. Luckily, they all go by nicknames. Lindsay H. Jones
TimesCall.com - Wiegmann feels welcome http://www.timescall.com/print.asp?id=10333 Page 1 of 2 8/3/2008 Print page Close window Longmont, Colorado Sunday, August 03, 2008 Publish Date: 8/3/2008 Wiegmann feels welcome By Brian Howell Longmont Times-Call ENGLEWOOD With a plan designed on getting younger, the Kansas City Chiefs had no need for a 35-year-old center who took every snap for seven years. The Denver Broncos were more than happy to bring him aboard. After 12 years in the NFL, including seven in Kansas City, Casey Wiegmann finds himself playing for a team he once considered a bitter rival. The Chiefs didn t want me back, so I had to find a home and Denver wanted me, Wiegmann said. It s not difficult to see why the Broncos wanted him. Since Week 2 of the 2001 season, Wiegmann hasn t missed a snap, let alone a game. His 111 consecutive starts is the longest current streak for any center in the NFL, and it s the thirdlongest active streak by any offensive lineman (Jon Runyan has made 176 consecutive starts, and Jeff Backus has made 112 straight). Not only was he a veteran player, (but) we thought he was kind of the nuts and bolts of the offensive line at Kansas City all these years, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan said. He was a guy that held that offensive line together a lot of years. Despite his dependability and steady play for so many seasons, the rebuilding Chiefs unceremoniously let Wiegmann go. After the 2007 season, Wiegmann met with Chiefs president Carl Peterson, who told Wiegmann the team was looking into bringing him back. But, I could just tell by the tone of his voice that it wasn t going to work, Wiegmann said. He ended up calling me and leaving a message on my cell phone saying that they were going to go in a different direction. It was kind of a weird way of doing it, but I guess that s the way he wants to do it. Center Casey Wiegmann has played 12 years in the NFL, including the last seven with the Kansas City Chiefs. Wiegmann signed with Broncos during the offseason to back up veteran center Tom Nalen. Photo by Hank Young Age: 35 Casey Wiegmann File Experience: 13th year (has played with Indianapolis, the New York Jets, Chicago and Kansas City) No rest: Wiegmann has taken every snap, including the regular season and postseason, since early in the 2001 season. In all, he s been involved in 7,062 consecutive plays on offense. Famous better half: Wiegmann is married to Danni Boatwright, who won $1 million on Survivor: Guatemala. Boatwright was also second runner-up in the 1992 Miss Teen USA pageant, and first runnerup in the 1996 Miss USA pageant. She was Miss Kansas Teen in 1992 and Miss Kansas in 1996. In March, the Broncos gave Wiegmann a two-year contract. Although they have a potential Hall of Fame center on board with Tom Nalen, the Broncos knew they needed insurance. Nalen is 37 years old and missed the final 11 games last season with a torn right biceps. Eight days into training camp, Wiegmann s presence has already been a benefit. Nalen, who had surgery on his left knee in June, has not practiced with the Broncos since Monday, giving Wiegmann a chance to practice with the firstteam offense. That s the reason we signed him, Shanahan said.
TimesCall.com - Wiegmann feels welcome http://www.timescall.com/print.asp?id=10333 Page 2 of 2 8/3/2008 Nalen s injury has opened up an opportunity for Wiegmann, who is getting more comfortable every day with his new linemates. An MRI this week on Nalen s knee came back negative, and he s expected to return soon. Until then, Wiegmann is playing with the first unit. It s helping me a ton, just to get a feel for the rest of the guys up front, he said. I had been running with the (the No. 2 offense) when Tom was in there. Just to get in there with the starters, it s a whole different feel. There s a lot to learn, just the nuances of different calls. Here is different with all the zone blocking. Wiegmann is confident he can be a valuable member of the Broncos offensive line. His streak, however, will come to a close if Nalen is healthy. I take great pride in what I do, and I want to be out there to help my teammates, he said. Yes, I want to keep the streak going, but I know Tom s there in front of me. I ve just got to do what I can do. It s a tough job to be a backup, but you ve just got to be ready. At this point, shifting to guard is not an option for Wiegmann, who said he s played center since fourth grade. He played guard for one game in 2000 when he was with the Chicago Bears. It s just not comfortable to me, he said. I ve got to have the ball in my hand. I definitely want to play center if I can play, but you ve got to do whatever they ask you to do. This season, the Broncos are asking Wiegmann to be a veteran leader on the line, no matter how much he plays on the field. Yeah, it sucks that I had to leave (Kansas City); I wanted to finish my career there, but so be it, he said. It s pretty neat to be here and stay in the (AFC West) division, and hopefully go back there and beat them a couple times.
Broncos' Williams may finally have found a home on weak side : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/14/broncos-williams-may-finally-hav... Page 1 of 3 8/15/2008 Broncos' Williams may finally have found a home on weak side By Lee Rasizer Thursday, August 14, 2008 This is why D.J. Williams is back at weak-side linebacker. It's Thursday morning, and the Broncos defense is involved in a 7- on-7 red-zone drill with the Cowboys offense. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo drops back and delivers a swing pass to rookie running back Felix Jones, a 4.4-second burner and the nation's leader in yards per carry in 2007. Jones heads for the sideline, his sights set on the left pylon, when Williams suddenly comes flying at Jones to cut off his angle and send him scurrying out of bounds about the 5-yard line. "I just feel the position is suited for him," Denver linebackers coach Jim Ryan said of Williams' move away from the middle last year to the relatively wide-open spaces of his new spot. "That 'Will' linebacker is in space a little more and gives him the freedom to run." At middle linebacker, the angles were completely different. And, perhaps worse yet for someone as athletically gifted as Williams, it was constricting in the sense he had to free himself from traffic before his speed and change-of-direction skills could be used fully. Nonetheless, Williams finished with an AFC-leading 141 stops, but there was an overriding sense the position wasn't natural. So, in the offseason, Denver dumped Ian Gold, added Niko Koutouvides in free agency, shifted Nate Webster inside and cleared room for Williams to return to the weak side, where he had earned a thirdplace finish in the 2004 Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. In between, Williams also played strong-side linebacker, so his overall count stands at four positions in four years. "Around Week 6 or 7 last season," he said, "I started enjoying the middle and I started picking it up, and that's why I was kind of a little upset about this switch, because right when I started getting good at it, I moved to another position." Williams, though, hasn't completely abandoned the middle. In nickel looks, he still plays there. And if the tight end shifts on those passing downs, he might play strong side, too. 'Stressful' but beneficial So, from a big-picture perspective, his vagabond life in Denver has served as a positive.
Broncos' Williams may finally have found a home on weak side : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/14/broncos-williams-may-finally-hav... Page 2 of 3 8/15/2008 "I don't think people realize how difficult it is," Williams said, "but the upside to it is that, when I'm out there, I kind of know what everybody has to do now, just from playing 'Mike,' 'Sam' and 'Will.'... So I can kind of help other people." He admitted all his switching has been "stressful," though, on the surface, one wouldn't know. "I think that's because, one, I'm a team player and I want the team to win," he said. "But there are times where I felt, 'Are they moving me because I'm versatile and I can do this?' Or, 'Are they moving me because they think someone can play the position better than me?' "Some of those things go through your head. But as long as every position I play I'm successful at, I don't mind." Perhaps one drawback to his movement is that it has made it difficult to pin an exact value on Williams, which is important, considering he'll be the team's highest-profile free agent after this season. The Broncos plan to reach out to Williams' representatives in the next couple of weeks to begin a dialogue on a new contract. But unlike Lance Briggs, Lofa Tatupu and other linebackers who recently have secured high-end contracts, Williams has yet to go to the Pro Bowl. On the other hand, it's a chicken-and-egg scenario: Has all the moving denied Williams that opportunity? Further, shouldn't he be rewarded for his willingness to sacrifice without any public groaning? "I give a lot of praise to him," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said, "because not a lot of guys can move around and still lead the team in tackles, play at a high level and make a lot of plays. D.J.'s done that. And he hasn't complained one bit. "For myself, it's taken me years to learn my position, learn routes - and D.J., once he learns one position, he's switching to the next. He's done a tremendous job." Bly envisions Williams at weak- side linebacker having the same type of impact, from a leadership and on-field perspective, as London Fletcher did when Bly won a Super Bowl with St. Louis in 1999. "I heard what kind of guy Al Wilson was when he was here. We came out together, and I played with him at the Pro Bowl. And I know what kind of loss it was to the team when he left," Bly said. "I really feel like D.J.'s doing a great job filling his shoes and becoming the leader he needs to be for this football team to take off." Happy in the Mile High City Williams isn't ready to take off completely. His positional musical chairs notwithstanding, he admitted he has settled in Denver as a career locale. "If the numbers are right and things are good, I would love to stay here," he said. And even if contract talks filter into the season, Williams appears unconcerned that they might be a distraction.
Broncos' Williams may finally have found a home on weak side : rockymountainnews.com http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/14/broncos-williams-may-finally-hav... Page 3 of 3 8/15/2008 "You know what? It's business and it's my life, so I have to talk about it eventually," he said. "I can't go throughout the day and not think about it, because it's there, it's going to happen." Denver likely would have the salary-cap room necessary to consummate a deal this fall but would be creative in contract structure to be able to absorb the hit in guaranteed money. Williams, meanwhile, would have to be receptive to receiving split payments. But so far, flexibility, at least on the field,- has been the linebacker's calling card. It's clear the Broncos, in part, are building their defense around Williams' skill set. "He's a guy we can utilize on some blitzes, No. 1," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "We're not afraid to have him either in zone or man coverage, because of his athleticism. So we're not worried about him on running backs, even the really good ones who can catch the ball out of the backfield. And then it's just him being able to fly from sideline to sideline and make plays in pursuit, where teams don't account for pursuit from the outside linebacker." Felix Jones can attest to that. Rocky Mountain News
Rookie CB eager to contribute now - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9964499 Page 1 of 2 7/23/2008 sports - broncos briefs Rookie CB eager to contribute now By Mike Klis The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 07/22/2008 11:45:36 PM MDT Jack illiams made his mark at ent tate with interceptions, seven forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries in his career. (David alubowski, The Associated Press ) It's not a depth chart so much as a warning. At cornerback, the Broncos have 10 combined Pro Bowls from starters Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. Their experienced backups are former third-round picks Domonique Foxworth and Karl Paymah. This stacked position seems to be putting rookie Jack Williams on notice: Wait till next year, kid. And next year may open nicely for Williams with Foxworth and Paymah eligible for unrestricted free agency and Bly turning 32. Advertisement Problem is, Williams is so eager about starting his
Rookie CB eager to contribute now - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_9964499 Page 2 of 2 7/23/2008 NFL career, he hardly wants his first lesson to be about patience. When the Broncos and Williams reached an agreement Tuesday on a four-year contract that included a guaranteed signing bonus of $450,000, not everyone considered it a future investment. "I'm not worried about next year," Williams said. "That's what a lot of people have been saying, but I'm trying to make it this year and contribute. Not only contribute on special teams, of course, but out on the field on defense. That's where I want to make my mark. If things don't happen that way, I'll have to do what I can to show them I'll be ready next year." The second of the Broncos' fourth-round picks, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Williams was a three-year starter at Kent State, registering 13 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. What does Williams need to work on if he is to earn some playing time as a rookie? "Definitely my man-to-man technique," he said. "And we've got a thing called division technique. I need to work on that." With the Broncos scheduled to report Thursday evening for the start of training camp, only left tackle Ryan Clady, who was selected in the first round with the No. 12 overall pick, and secondround returner/receiver Eddie Royal remain unsigned. The Broncos and Clady are negotiating a six-year contract that would allow the player the right to void after five years providing he reaches playing-time incentives. Royal is negotiating a four-year contract. Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost. com Advertisement
DenverBroncos.com -- Official Web Site of the Denver Broncos http://www.denverbroncos.com/previewprintable.php?type=top_story&id=334&storyvers... Page 1 of 2 7/11/2008 Printed from www.denverbroncos.com Thursday, July 10, 2008 Added Stability By Jake Grilley DenverBroncos.com ENGLEWOOD, Colo.-- Jamie Winborn was signed to Broncos roster during Week 2 of the 2007 NFL season to provide added depth and to fill in where and when he was needed. In 14 games with the club, Winborn showed just how valuable that depth can be leading the team with 11 special teams tackles while tallying 24 defensive tackles (21 solo) and a half-sack starting the final two games of 2007 at weak-side linebacker. Denver rewarded Winborn's three months of hard work with a twoyear contract extension on Decemebr 12. After suiting up for four different teams in a span of three years, he play earned him some stability in the Rocky Mountains. And as he enters his first training camp as a Bronco Winborn is excited about the future. "(The defense) is coming together; obviously we still have some work to do," He said. "We've been having a lot of fun and that is the important part of the game." Winborn has learned from his time in the NFL that in the end it is all about continuing to have fun. That is likely why the 29-year-old out of Vanderbilt can't keep an infectious smile off his face. He said his leadership role on the team is to insure everyone on the team is sharing in his excitement about playing football. Jamie Winborn believes in order for a team to be special it has to be having fun. PHOTO: GRAY CALDWELL / DENVERBRONCOS.COM BRONCOS TV 7/9: An All-Around Fullback 7/9: NFL Network: Jay Cutler Checks In 7/3: Barrett Hopes to Contribute 7/1: Standing Tall "Anytime you are playing a game like this you want to have fun," he said. "If you can get everybody, first-team, second-team, third and fourth string, involved and having fun people want to be a part of it. I think that is how you begin to make something and build something special." Even though Winborn proved his value to the team last season on both defense and special teams he knows that with a retooled defense in 2008, he will have to earn a spot wherever he can. "I'm not too certain right now," He said regarding where he thinks he will be utilized in 2008. "I can pretty much play any (position) they want me to play. However they see fit for me to be used I am willing to do that." Having bounced from team to team in the past few years Winborn has learned all too well the importance of job security, however, he fully embraces the talent the Broncos have brought in on the defense and among the linebackers. "They brought in guys that work hard, guys that have a lot of talent," he said. "The guys that they brought in will definitely help the team have a better chance at getting to the Super Bowl." Winborn is willing to put his ego aside and play whatever position helps the team win.