Archive for August, 2008

Four Signed to Practice Squad

August 31st, 2008 - 3:34pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by Gray Caldwell

On Sunday, the Broncos signed Josh Barrett, Mitch Erickson, Darrell Hackney and Steven Harris to their practice squad.

Barrett is a rookie from Arizona State University, a seventh-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He played in all four Denver preseason games in 2008, ranking fourth on the club in defensive tackles and tying for third in special-teams stops.

Erickson is an undrafted rookie out of South Dakota State University. He appeared in all four preseason games for Denver in 2008 following a collegiate career in which he received first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press as a senior at SDSU.

Hackney is a second-year quarterback out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He spent the final eight games of the 2007 season on the team’s active roster, and played in all four preseason games in 2008. He completed 24-of-38 passes for 285 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, good for a 94.7 quarterback rating.

Harris is another second-year player who attended the University of Florida. Harris, who saw time in all four preseason contests for Denver in 2008, played four games for the Broncos in 2007 and totaled six tackles.

The Broncos may have up to eight players on their practice squad.

The Roster Takes Shape

August 31st, 2008 - 2:01pm by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

The pre-season has come to an end and it’s time to play games that count. I’m thrilled.

The cuts came over the weekend and I can only imagine how tough of a time that is for the coaches. Can you imagine working with a group of players for several months, teaching them, watching them work their hardest and getting to know them and them having to tell one-third of them they can’t work here any more? I know, it comes with the territory but that has to be difficult, to say the least.

Click to continue reading “The Roster Takes Shape”

Final Cuts Made

August 30th, 2008 - 4:46pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

The league mandated deadline for final roster cuts was 2:00 PM MDT Saturday, and the Broncos have made all their roster moves to get to the 53-man limit.

The following players were waived:

Quarterback Darrell Hackney
Wide receivers Glenn Martinez, Marquay McDaniel and Clifford Russell
Tight end Chad Mustard
Offensive linemen P.J. Alexander, Dylan Gandy and Mitch Erickson
Defensive ends Larry Birdine and Paul Carrington
Defensive tackle Steven Harris
Linebacker Jordan Beck
Cornerbacks Wale Dada and Tyrone Poole
Safeties Josh Barrett and Vickiel Vaughn
Punter Sam Paulescu

On the waived/injured list:

Tight end Brett Pierce

On the reserve/injured list:

Fullback Cecil Sapp, with a left quad injury
Running back Anthony Alridge, with a left foot injury

– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com

Broncos at Cardinals: Fourth Quarter Notes

August 29th, 2008 - 10:24pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

15:00: A shout-out to our own Margot Kelly, a PR intern experiencing her last game as a Bronco. Best of luck in all your future endeavors!

First play of the fourth quarter is a Hackney pass to Brett Pierce for a big gain and a first down, setting up the Broncos at the Arizona 23.

13:00: On a third-and-three, Pittman is taken down in the backfield for a loss of two. Prater comes out to try and narrow the lead with a 33-yarder, but a false start penalty backs the Broncos up. Prater goes for a 38-yarder, and it’s good. 14-13, Arizona up by one.

12:06: Prater kicks off, and it is yet another touchback. The Cardinals starting field position has almost always been at their own 20 or worse, courtesy of the Denver specialists.

Click to continue reading “Broncos at Cardinals: Fourth Quarter Notes”

Broncos at Cardinals: Third Quarter Notes

August 29th, 2008 - 9:46pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

15:00: Prater is set to kickoff to Morey and Urban.

Urban takes it five-yards deep in the endzone and kneels for a touchback. Cardinals will start at their 20, and Brian St. Pierre is now in at quarterback.

14:07: After two incomplete passes and a short run, the Cardinals are forced to punt after gaining just three yards. Marquay McDaniel is back deep to receive the punt. McDaniel takes it at the 29 and advances it five yards before being taken down. Hackney leads the Broncos back onto the field, starting at their own 34.

13:24: Alridge is still carrying the load, taking another rush up the middle for nine yards before being taken down.

12:20: Alridge had another solid gain around the left end, but a holding penalty wiped it out, giving the Broncos a 2nd-and-20 from their own 36.

11:46: Alridge got another touch, this one a screen from Hackney that goes for eight yards. After a false start penalty on Chad Mustard, the Broncos faced a third-and-long but couldn’t complete a pass. Kern comes back out for another punt. Kern kicks 39 yards, and the ball is fair-caught at the Arizona 22.

Click to continue reading “Broncos at Cardinals: Third Quarter Notes”

Broncos at Cardinals: Second Quarter Notes

August 29th, 2008 - 8:45pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

15:00: First play of the second quarter is a handoff from Leinart to J.J. Arrington for a one-yard gain. The Cardinals face a third-and-long from deep in their own territory. He could have been sacked in the endzone, but Leinart steps up and connects with Jerheme Urban for a 23-yard gain and a first down.

12:30: Leinart completes a deep ball down the right hash to Urban for 35 yards, who beat Foxworth on the route, moving the Cardinals into the redzone.

11:30: Leinart hits Leonard Pope on a high pass in the middle of the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown. Cardinals take the lead, 7-3.

11:20: Alridge continues to get the majority of the carries, taking the first carry of this series six yards. He follows it up with a one-yard run, setting up third-and-three. Hackney scrambles for the first down to keep the Denver offense in business.

11:25: Rackers kicks off to Alridge and Russell, and Alridge takes it a few yards deep in the endzone. He hesitates at first, but then charges out, getting to the 26-yard line before being taken down.

Click to continue reading “Broncos at Cardinals: Second Quarter Notes”

Broncos at Cardinals: First Quarter Notes

August 29th, 2008 - 7:49pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

15:00: Clifford Russell and Anthony Alridge are back deep for the Broncos. Russell fields the ball six yards deep in the endzone and kneels down for the touchback. Darrell Hackney comes out to start the game at quarterback.

13:30: The first three plays go to Alridge, two rushes, one went for 17 yards, and a short dumpoff pass from Hackney in the middle. The offensive starters are Chad Mustard, Tyler Polumbus, Erik Pears, Dylan Gandy, P.J. Alexander, Kory Lichtensteiger, Peyton Hillis, Anthony Alridge, Keary Colbert and Clifford Russell.

12:00: On a third-and-two, Michael Pittman was stuffed for a loss of a yard. Sam Paulescu gets the first shot at punter. He boots it out of bounds inside the 10.

11:57: The starters on defense are Tim Crowder, Alvin McKinley, Nic Clemons, Jarvis Moss, Niko Koutouvides, Wesley Woodyard, Louis Green, Karl Paymah, Hamza Abdullah, Roderick Rogers and Domonique Foxworth.

Click to continue reading “Broncos at Cardinals: First Quarter Notes”

Broncos at Cardinals: Pregame Notes

August 29th, 2008 - 6:19pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

5:20 MST: Less than two hours to kickoff for the Broncos final preseason contest of 2008. Players are starting to migrate out onto the field.

The Denver starters are expected to sit this one out, letting their backups get their most significant action. Arizona, on the other hand, is expected to play their starters for at least a portion of the game.

I’ll keep y’all updated as more and more guys make their way onto the field to warm up. But first, there was already a little bit of interesting action as several Broncos who will not play had a field goal kicking competition. Jay Cutler and Casey Wiegmann both nailed 40-yarders, while Ryan Clady missed. Jay then backed it up to 45, and he boomed it nice and straight, but it fell just a few feet short.

Click to continue reading “Broncos at Cardinals: Pregame Notes”

NFL Statement Regarding Marshall

August 28th, 2008 - 5:53pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

The NFL announced today that Brandon Marshall’s suspension will be reduced to one game following Marshall’s appeal.

Marshall’s suspension for the Broncos’ first regular-season game will begin on Saturday, August 30. He is eligible to return to the Broncos’ active roster on Tuesday, September 9 following the team’s September 8 opener against the Oakland Raiders.

– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com

Holland Traded

August 28th, 2008 - 12:36pm by Adam ZinserOther posts by Adam Zinser

The Broncos have traded guard Montrae Holland to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round draft selection in 2010, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Holland joined the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent in March 2007 after spending the first four years of his career with the New Orleans Saints. He started all 16 games at right guard last year for the Broncos.

– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com