For the second consecutive Tuesday, the Broncos shuffled the deck on their defensive line, although the changes were not nearly as numerous as they were a week ago.
In is defensive end Kenny Peterson, who was released last month after serving a four-game suspension for violation of the league’s steroid and related substances policy, and out is defensive tackle Antwon Burton, who saw action in seven of the Broncos’ first nine games this season, logging five solo tackles and three assists.
Peterson first joined the Broncos last Oct. 11 and played in three 2006 games, logging a tackle and an assist.
With the addition of Peterson, the Broncos now have seven defensive ends on the 53-man roster, as he joins Elvis Dumervil, John Engleberger, Tim Crowder, Larry Birdine, Paul Carrington and Josh Mallard. Mallard is listed as a defensive tackle on the depth chart, but lined up at both tackle and end in Sunday’s 27-11 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Denver also filled the practice-squad vacancy created by the Saturday promotion of Darrell Hackney to the 53-man roster by signing tight end Chad Upshaw, most recently of the Carolina Panthers.
Upshaw, who becomes the first product of the University at Buffalo to join the Broncos in the regular season, was with the Panthers on their practice squad for the first week of the regular season after joining them as a college free agent on May 4. The 6-foot-4, 246-pounder had 35 catches for 419 yards as a senior last fall and is the son of San Francisco Giants first-base coach Willie Upshaw, who is best known for his 10 years as an outfielder, first baseman and designated hitter with the Toronto Blue Jays. He also spent a year with the Cleveland Indians. Chad Upshaw also has a fairly notable football cousin — Hall of Famer and NFLPA majordomo Gene Upshaw.
Tags: Antwon Burton, Chad Upshaw, Kenny Peterson
Thanks for the update!
[...] admin created a sweet baseball article today.Here’s a mini excerpt.… catches for 419 yards as a senior last fall and is the son of San Francisco Giants first-base coach Willie Upshaw, who is best known for his 10 years as an outfielder, first baseman and designated hitter with the Toronto Blue Jays. … [...]
Peterson is a good player,I hope he has chosen to straighten up and fly right.
A.Burton out?five solo tackles,three assists so far,what the hell is going on?Peterson’s bumper sticker say’s “Gain weight now ask me how,Dianabole”.Bad move by the Broncos,are they searching or just grasping for answers to their defensive problem?Mason we,all Bronco fans need to know.What do you think?You are there,you see whats going on,you hear a lot , what is your true feeling about what is happening?and be honest.
I know we need some help with our defensive line with the injuries, lack of run defense, but why are we signing this guy? I mean there is a reason he got released…………uh, got suspended for steriods. Come on now! If he was such a good player then maybe he wouldn’t have been released. I hope he learned his lesson the behaves from now on.
I know we need some help with our defensive line with the injuries, lack of run defense, but why are we signing this guy? I mean there is a reason he got released…………uh, got suspended for steriods. Come on now! If he was such a good player then maybe he wouldn’t have been released. I hope he learned his lesson behaves from now on.
I like that move he will help our d get on a roll 10\4
Dont want too play poker with Mikie. Some of us want too think we can.
I am very surprised at this move, too. I thought Burton had a solid game on Sunday – mixing it up with the Chiefs O-Line and making some plays, even if he wasn’t credited with a tackle….
Mason – What do the coaches see in Peterson now that they didn’t when they cut him? And that means so much so that they will cut ties with a guy who seems straight out of the Bates mold – 325 and decently athletic – and has been pretty effective? Is this just shakeup for shakeup’s sake?
How do the broncs end this season , if I was some one who will bet, hate too make Charger Bill have A sleepless night,but our boys now believe,allso Mr. Bates has the players in place. Also simplified the call on defence. Witch as you known may let my people play. Sorry about the pund. But 11 and 5 and deep into the playoffs if not dare I say the super ward.
Oh God, it hurts to see all the spelling errors……As far as the move is concerned……I don’t feel anything for or against it. We know who is in the base defense, and we know who’s in the nickel defence….what else matters?
It seems like we’ve been having the same conversation for 3 years now … Please can we get some consistency on the D-Line .. For Peet’s sake this is Ridiculous .. I mean the future with Moss, Crowder, Dumerville and Thomas looks good, however, the present looks bleak …. Here’s hopin…..
Moss will play linebacker next year. Dumerville and Crowder will start at the end posistions. Thomas at DT and we’ll either pick up a big name free agent or use our 1st or 2nd round pick to pair up with him.
You heard it here first
Mr. Mason please help us out here understand. From what I can see Denver is signing guys to play with a faster, more athletic line as in years past. Jim Bates system and his hand chosen few have been scrapped so why is he even still around? It’s more than obvious this team has done a 180 on the scheme since week one. Why is no one in the building admitting that Bates was a mistake?
It looks to me that Cutter wears his helmet to low over is eyes if lifted it up a little he could see the wider range of the field…what do you think?
I hope Upshaw is as good has his cousin..time will tell.(Gene)
hi
These are not the only changes to the roster. Still waiting for the announcement of another player who has been released. Looks like MS is definitely in the rebuilding (certainly not reloading!) mode but this time with has beens and rejects! Good luck with that! Denver will have another high first round draft pick in 2008. I thought Oakland was the only black hole for giving these types of players a last chance.
cutler throws the ball to B.marshall were only he can get it…up over his head so the defenders can’t touch it….i think i forgets stokely and martinez can’t get the high….so it looks like hes floating it over his reciever…but in reality Brandon can catch those any day.
Last week was the worst I’ve seen Cutler throw all season, but I think you can contribute a gimpy ankle to quite a bit of that. If you can’t plant your foot, it’s hard to throw.
[...] wrote an interesting post today on Peterson Back; Burton WaivedHere’s a quick [...]
Seems like a technical move , the coaches know what they’re doing ….from the outside all we can ask is : why so much DE ????( it seems like half the team is a DE !! ) . At the begining i thought Dumervil could play LB but it’s not going this way , our LB corps is weak so maybe a little help is needed so why not fill the roster hole whith one (i know there’s not a bunch of good LB available but these DE doesnt look that mich good ) .Anyway , we have a tough game waiting for us whith the Titans coming from a divisional loss , they’re far better than KC but so were the Steelers a
Seems like a technical move , the coaches know what they’re doing ….from the outside all we can ask is : why so much DE ????( it seems like half the team is a DE !! ) . At the begining i thought Dumervil could play LB but it’s not going this way , our LB corps is weak so maybe a little help is needed so why not fill the roster hole whith one (i know there’s not a bunch of good LB available but these DE doesnt look that mich good ) .Anyway , we have a tough game waiting for us whith the Titans coming from a divisional loss , they’re far better than KC but so were the Steelers and the packers and we matched em . Time to show we’re contenders , we’ll see monday .
In other news, the Browns have signed center Greg Eslinger from the Broncos practice squad. Eslinger is in his second NFL season out of Minnesota. He was signed to fill the roster spot vacated last week when Seth McKinney (shoulder) was moved to injured-reserve.
I LKE PETERSON AND THE TEAM MUST SEE SOMETING IN HIM FOR THIM TO BRING HIM BACK. SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO JUST BACK OFF AND INJOY!
Curome Cox signed with the texans.
Why let Eslinger go? What a mistake.
wow makes the head spin trying to keep track, a different team each week, this could be an advantage since the teams we face have no idea who they will be lining up against, on the other hand its a new team each week with little experience working together. Last week the D looked good (been a while guys) and it’s change time again so who knows??? let’s hope for some consistency at some point so we can win some games. GO BRONCOS
it appears that MS had no intention of playing Eslinger this year. He replaced Nalen with Myers and then added Alexander as the back up center to myers. I dont know if it is so much as “trading” him and Eslinger being proactive and getting the hell out of a losing situation and away from questionable management!
The broncos appeared to certainly wanted to keep Eslinger because he was put on the IR last year (2006) after playing all four preseason games…every play….as the #2 center. Was he really hurt? In a league where you play hurt? After playing every offensive down for four years in the Big 10? Doubt it serously!
The bronco brain trust kept him on the practice squad with the same expectation they had for him in the 2006 draft. The only possible explanation is that they didnt think any other team wanted him, and the broncos certainly needed a replacement nalen who only has one year left on his contract. Once the management decision was made to put myers in at center and a Div II player in at guard, and let the NCAA best interior lineman and center (2005) sit on the bench, not only was this very very puzzling but in the NFL world of no guarantees, it was clear that the game to play was “where can I get playing time” (to get his three years of playing credit), not sunday afternoon action…especially when he was not activated when he was desperately needed. Check this years rushing yards!
Greg was the future for the center position…and the future arrived the day nalen got hurt. Eslinger was the U of MN legacy following the other great U of Mn contributors to the Denver Broncos success…from Upchurch, to Mecklenberg, to Hamilton! M.S. gambled and lost! This is beginning to be quite the trend.
I am wondering why the broncos are so quiet about Eslinger’s leaving.
From the StarTribune in MN:
After spending the 2006 season on injured reserve, former Gophers center Greg Eslinger was being paid $79,000 a year as a member of the Broncos practice squad. The Browns on Wednesday claimed Eslinger on waivers. Denver offered Eslinger $285,000 to stay on the practice squad, but he chose the opportunity to be on Cleveland’s 53-man roster.