Wasting little time, the Broncos signed 16 players to reserve-future contracts on Monday afternoon, including six members of their practice squad and one other player who was on the 53-man roster for two weeks earlier this month.
Returning to the team will be safety Marviel Underwood, who was inactive for games in Weeks 14 and 15 and was subsequently waived.
Underwood first broke into the league as a 2005 fourth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers and was in the starting lineup for their preseason opener a year later, but tore two ligaments in his right knee early in that contest and spent the year on injured reserve. The Packers waived him in preseason in 2007 and re-signed him for a week before waiving him again this season.
The six practice-squad players to sign reserve-future deals include defensive tackles Michael Bozeman and Antwon Burton, wide receivers Carlton Brewster and Marquay McDaniel, center Mark Fenton and tight end Chad Upshaw.
Practice-squad offensive lineman Cliff Washburn was not signed to a reserve-future contract Monday.
The nine players who have not previously played with the Broncos are:
FB Steven Jackson, Clemson
DE Nic Clemons, Georgia
DE Julian Jenkins, Stanford
C Norm Katnik, USC
CB Christian Morton, Illinois
TE Brett Pierce, Stanford
WR Clifford Russell, Utah
S Vickiel Vaughn, Arkansas
RB Marquis Weeks, Virginia
All of Monday’s signees will officially become part of the Broncos’ roster when the postseason concludes after Super Bowl XLII.
Last year, the Broncos signed 19 players to reserve-future contracts. Five were on the team at various points in the regular season: Darrell Hackney, Glenn Martinez, Andre Hall, Jeff Shoate and Amon Gordon.
Tags: Marviel Underwood
LE – Crowder
DT – Thomas
DT – Veteren FA/ 1st Rnd Pick
RE – Dumervil
WLB – Moss (off the edge- killer)
MLB – Williams
SLB – Briggs/ Gold
CB – Bailey
CB – Foxworth/ Bly
SS – Lynch
FS – 1st Rnd Pick/ 2nd Rnd Pick/ Abdullah
All you idiots calling for Bates head are the same idiots who called for Larry Coyers head last year! JHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHH, get a grip!
Come on people, give Javon a chance. He was injured last year and two years ago we weren’t doing to hot passing. All you people with the 3-4 minds are crazy. We need size up the middle. That Ellis kid from USC would be a great draft choice. We have plenty of good DEs. Dumervil was tied for 6th in the NFL this year with 12 sacks. We just need more guys to get more sacks then stop the run with a big guy in the middle.
Ekuban/Moss Thomas (1st rd pick) Dumervil
Gold Williams (FA)
Bailey (2nd rd pick/FA) Lynch Bly
I need to change my last comment a bit.
LE- Ekuban
DT- Thomas
DT- (1st rd pick)
RE- Dumervil
WLB- Gold/Moss
MLB- Williams
SLB- FA
LCB- Bailey
SS- Lynch
FS- (2nd rd pick/FA)
RCB- Bly
Let me add one little kink. I see no problem in trying Moss at an OLB spot playing Terrell Suggs type football (pass rush or TE/RB coverage) and I am excited to see Crowder play next year, but what if we were to cut a deal and try Jason Taylor at the DE spot opposite Elvis? Don’t see how opposing defenses could possibly double team both of those guys and that would surely free up our tackles and LBs to fly to be ball and stop any running game, and most surely wreak havoc on any passing attack.. Can’t wait to go to New England next year with the prospect of one or both of those guys picking Brady’s pocket..
Opposing offenses that is..
I know we’re all talking abou the defense needing to step-up but we need a little help from the offense too. QB, WR, and most of the O-Line are fine. In the backfield we need to find out what kinda a guy we want. Selvin Young, Travis Henry, Mike Bell, or even Cecil Sapp? Are we 1 back or 2? Don’t forget about the FB position. We need anothe guy to push the defense back. Some of the O-Line need to be upgraded for the rushing attack and a good replacement for Lepsis wouldn’t hurt. Come on O-Line we need your help, STAY HEALTHY!!!!!
Fire Travis Henry is a trouble for Broncos
and fire Javon Walker is not fine.
I like the idea of getting Jason Taylor. I’ve heard he is going slightly downhill but I disagree, even if he weaker he is still fast. I just have this to say now, what about DT, the other OLB, the other safety, and FB?
Broncocane I like you’re thinking. Jason Taylor would be a GREAT aquisition. But what about our offense? Who will be on our line and at FB? And back on defense who will be the DT next to Thomas, the othe LB, and the safety next to John Lynch?
BRONCOCANE, you certainly are a good thinker. But what about the WLB, safety next to Lynch and the DT? on offense who will fill in on the line and who will lead?
DJ is the man at middle he saw how it is suppose to be done by al wilson!! just imagine if we had somebody faster on the outside to complement his speed in the middle…that would be outstanding!!
Al wilsons stats in 2006 102 79 23 1.0 6 10 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 4
Dj williams stats in 2007 141 108 33 1.0 9 13 2 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 5
for those who say Williams is trash in the middle…he blew away AL wilsons pro bowl season stats of 06′ just look at the tackles…..108 solo to 79,,, damn, just about the same in sacks and pics!!
my source was espn.com!! check it out DJ”S stats are great….get him some other line backers that love to tackle and they will be battleing each other for who gets the tackle…..Gold was always great but usually as a pass rusher…i mean he made the pro bowl one year based of special teams and a few sacks…..lets get one new guy and prep for the future with somebody after gold leaves…..
harvey is coming out at florida i know we got elvis and crowder but damn get harvey and moss on the edges both 6’5 plus and great upside
While wer’e getting rid of henry & walker, both truly didn’t show up to play. let us not forget our sorry corner Bly, who everyone had two steps on. All high $$$$. Trade em and get some offensive lineman,Cutler needs some protection!!!
BroncoBoy2012 I appreciate the compliment. The reason I chose Broncocane is because i am a Miami Hurricanes fan as well so DJ is very dear to me and helped bring a national title to Miami. I also nearly threw my chair at my TV in 2002 when we selected Ashley Lelie instead of Ed Reed in the draft but that is another story. There are three names I will throw out that interest me, not sure about everyone else.
One is free safety Kenny Phillips. Remember Ed Reed and Sean Taylor (RIP). Phillips played on a Miami team that did not have the dominant DL and LBs that Reed and Taylor played with and still flourished. He has tremendous ball hawking skills and has the speed to be in on every play that the ball happens to go. Would be a great compliment to Abdulla, but we would have to make him our first pick, assuming he is available at #12.
Another option, although a middle linebacker, is Jonathan Vilma who is currently on IR with the Jets. He is a natural middle linebacker currently playing in a 3-4 defense and is not happy. He would be, in my opinion and in addition to Taylor, one of the best free agent aquisitions we could make. He and DJ spent about 4 years together anchoring a Cane defense that did not just shut down, but dominated opposing offenses. The two know each other quite well and would instantly improve our unit. Put Vilma in the middle where he belongs and put DJ back outside where he belongs and you have quite a force, not to mention once again the fastest linebacking corps in the NFL.
Another one I just heard about today is Calias Campbell. He has chosen to enter the draft and plays DE. He is 6-8, 280 and speed and quickness is not an issue. He constantly faced double and sometimes triple teams and still managed to get to opposing QBs without the compliment of another dominant defensive lineman. Unfortunately he will ge in the first 15 picks and should we aquire Taylor would create quite a bottleneck at DE on our team. I dont want Crowder spending too much time on the sidelines either.
OL and DT will be a tough fill but the draft this year is stocked with quality DTs and I would look to fill that void through the draft. I know Lepsis is gone and quite honestly I dont expect Nalen back either, although anything is possible. Therefore we have two anchors to fill on OL. I do believe Chris Myers filled in for nalen quite nicely this year and worked well with Cutler and leading the line. I would like to see how Harris does at tackle, but I do feel a good veteran FA tackle would be a nice addition. Just not sure where to look.
I must be blind, but I never had a problem with Kyle Johnson at FB, unless I was missing something.
As for offensive leadership, I believe it is on the way with our young guys. I can’t help but get excited about the future knowing that we have Cutler, Marshall, Sheffler, Selvin Young, Chris Myers and even Andre Hall. I dont know what Walker is going to do, I love the prospect of having him healthy playing alongside Marshall, but I just dont know. I also dont know if Stokley will enjoy and flourish playing split wide as opposed to in the slot. So I know we need to add another receiving threat and one that I would like, but would hinge on Stokely’s position would be Danny Amendola from Texas Tech. He is 5-11 and about 180, but is terrific in the slot and is of the same mold as Wes Welker. He is always getting open and would be a heck of a go-to guy for Cutler, just as Stokley has been. Will just have to wait and see.
has everyone been partyin with Travis Henry? Billeck (sp) as DC and moving DL to LB slots?
oi vey, why not make John Lynch a FB
I just heard that Calias Campbell declared for the draft. He would be a good draft choice. He is is huge DE we could move to DT to put next to Marcus Thomas!!! Oh and he is a local kid From Aurora,CO!!!!
First I wanna point something out. Broncocane in your name it has the word COCANE in it, which to me is hilarious, but i like your reasononing.
Now to me I think you have the defense right expect for your draft prospect. The Broncos need a force in the middle, their DEs are pretty good.
On the OL I agree with you. The Broncos need a vet somewhere there.
The reason I don’t like Kyle Johnson so much is because he isn’t a real force. Look at Lorenzo Neil in San Diego or Tony Richardson in Minnesota. Now regardless that Minnesota has a good OL too, Tony Richardson sacrificed himself sometimes. And Lorenzo has gone to the Pro Bowl like 4 years in a row.
I too am excited about the future of the Broncos. Don’t forget the D.J. Williams and Elvis Dumervil are young too.
GnarlyBroncos I like your idea of moving Calias Campbell to DT.
Broncocane think of this. Brandon Stokely played slot behind Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison and in a way with Dallas Clark.
I just have one thing to say for the Broncos draft picking people. Do get rid of picks unless it is a trade for really good players. Late in the draft you can get good players. Recent examples: Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil. Old examples: Rod Smith, Terrell Davis