For the Broncos, the weekend proved to offer no time to rest.
A busy week opening week of free agency carried over into Saturday as the team fortified its secondary by adding a pair of safeties — Marquand Manuel, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, and Marlon McCree, late of the San Diego Chargers.
Terms on the contracts for both were not disclosed.
McCree, a street free agent, started all 16 games for the San Diego Chargers in 2007. He logged 65 total tackles — 48 solo — three interceptions and six passes defensed as part of a Chargers defense that held opposing passers to a 70.0 rating last year, the best for any NFL defense in 2007.
He has been a starter on winners in recent years, spending 2005 with the Carolina Panthers and the last two seasons in San Diego. During those three seasons, his teams were 34-12 during games in which he played, a statistic skillfully researched by Patrick Smyth of the media-relations department.
McCree’s best statistical season came in 2005, when he notched 87 total tackles. three interceptions and 10 passes defensed.
The eighth-year veteran celebrates his 31st birthday this St. Patrick’s Day.
Manuel, an unrestricted free agent, started all 16 regular-season games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2005, then started throughout their run to Super Bowl XL. He moved on to Green Bay in 2006, where he again started the full season, before joining the Panthers in 2007, for whom he started twice while playing in all 16 games.
Manuel has 38 starts in 91 career games played, with 215 total tackles, 10 passes defensed, a pair of interceptions and 33 stops on special teams.
The University of Florida product enters his seventh year in the league, with the Broncos being the fifth team for which he has played.
Discuss below, and vaya con Dios.
Tags: Marlon McCree, Marquand Manuel
We WILL take Leodis McKelvin to bolster our return game, and trade Paymah and Foxworth to get him if he is still available. You also get a corner out of the deal to take over for Champ when he retires. That is why D. Will was drafted ..you member?! McFadden will want tooo much money and Shanny won’t pay that much for an UNPROVEN RB unless he signs cheap after the Broncos draft him. Then if he doesn’t win the starting job, HE can be a return man or be cut. People forget you don’t always get handed a starting job! TD started out covering kicks on.. you guessed it! SPECIAL TEAMS! Shanny can find good talent in the later rounds to keep us set.
Andrew,
Any truth to the rumor on Roy Williams?
I say wide receiver if Harris steps up at right tackle, and if Pears can switch to the left side. If neither can step up then I guess OT becomes a lot more important.
I don’t see Colbert and Sheppard being solid no. 2 wideouts, so the broncos will have to address that somerwhere down the line.
Moss is the type of player that could be a “tweener” playing both end and LB. The broncos need to find interesting and fun ways of utilizing Moss and getting him at the QB.
In the 5th round the Broncos could pick up Steve Johnson, WR from Kentucky. He seems to have good hands and at 6’1″ 210 he seems to be a great compliment to Brandon and Brandon.
Ryan Harris and Erik Pears are only back-ups in the NFL so I don’t see them stepping up anytime soon.
Too true BroncoBoy2012, too true.
With your draft I wouldn’t mind seeing Kenny Phillips, Limas Sweed Malcolm Kelly or of course jah boy Keith Rivers. We need a game-breaker with that 12th pick.
Keep in mind that Rivers may very well be gone by the time we pick. Both the Pats and Saints would jump at the chance to add a franchise ‘backer if Gholston has already been picked. The linebackers for both teams will be in walkers soon. There could still be Connor though. The record setting LB from “Linebacker U” would look good in orange and blue.
I like Dan Connor if D.J. is moved outside more than if he stays inside but he is quality talent. But Dan Connor is from Penn State.
And Vinci don’t Marquand and Marlon add some depth AND youth to our safety position? That’s kinda why they were brought in. Since Ellis and Dorsey will be gone maybe we should look to receiver if Ryan Clady or Keith Rivers is there. I’d like to see DeSean Jackson (5’9″ 170) on the other side as a speed guy to compliment the big Brandon and the agile Brandon. Or we could take the OT in the first and grab Devin Thomas (6’1″ 215), Eddie Royal (5’9″ 185) or Andre Caldwell (6′ 205) in the second round. I still think we could draft an OLB or MLB in the second 5th round pick or in the 7th.
Connor may not be a #12 guy. After the movement in free-agency, OL is now the priority. At least two quality prospects are needed to rebuild the O-Line. Another position which is nonexistent at the moment is FB. If Connor is the objective, a careful trade-down is needed. Such a move might produce additional draft pick(s); handy if some are traded for D. Robertson. Connor seems to be the best MLB in the draft, and he has played outside, too. In the OL department, this is a rich and deep draft for O-Linemen. I’m kind of hoping that a good RB will be drafted, and that Henry will become expendable. Those positions plus a receiver and a safety would round out a nice draft, IF they all make the team.
WAbronc, my bad I didn’t get what you meant by “Linebacker U”. I get it know. Great linebackers have come from Penn State and Miami or The U has produced good players. Funny, kinda.
samparnell I think you are right. the broncos could trade down and I say they should trade with the Vikings and get one of their 3rd round picks. or maybe trade farther down than 17 and maybe go to 22 that the Cowboys have then get their 61st pick in the 2nd round. or maybe a pick between them. the eagles have 19 and they have the 47 in the second. get connor at 19, Pat Sims or Trevor Laws at 42 and get Devin Thomas, Andre Caldwell or Eddie Royal at 47. after that we can grab 2 OTs in the fourth like Duane Brown and Jeremy Zuttah, both good zoners and decent speed allowing them to move like cheetahs (or rhinos in their cases).
I like Zuttah, too. The commentators are saying he could play any OL spot. Also, I think he was an academic All-American at Rutgers. Point being, even though the OL really needs two good players, because of the great number of good ones, another position could be addressed in the 1st. The fact that Zuttah is routinely being projected in the 4th tells you just how deep the OL is in this draft. Dan Connor would be a great pick, but maybe not at #12 as we have said. If the Broncos stay w/#12, they would be ill-advised to pass up the best player(s) still left…But, yeah, Connor! Wow, the LB Corps would be good and deep for awhile. If something like that actually happened, a good DT might still be there in the 2nd. It’s going to be fun to watch.
I would almost be willing to bet that if Clady is not there Shanny will try to move down in the draft. If by some fluke we could squirrel one of the Cowboys 1st rd picks and pick up their third, I would hope the trigger is pulled. That would give us the flexablitily to pick up not only quality linemen (on both sides), but also a FB (hopefully), RB (probably), LB (for depth), and WR/return guy. There may even be room for more depth at safety. It is probably just me pipe dreaming at this point. And by trading down we would avoid paying the high premium that our pick could entail.
WAbronc I am pretty sure we could pick up a fullback in CFA and ditto with RB. Just saying I think we’d have a good duo in Selvin and Andre. But yeah adding a FB may encourage either Kyle Johnson or Cecil Sapp to play better or we could give the new kid the job.
I’d like to see Carl Stewart from Auburn in the blue and orange. I can hear it now…
“Selvin Young plunges into the pile, OH DID YOU SEE THAT BLOCK FROM #44?! Who is that kid?”
I believe it was Carl Stewart with the block.”"
“Well Shawne Merriman was leveled on that play!”
Yes he would be number 44. Just kidding I don’t know. He was number 32 in college but that doesn’t mean anything I guess. I like 44 as a fullback number.
Just laying this out there but I think the Broncos should trade with the Falcons. Give them our 1st and 2 4th rounds and get their 1st round and a 5th and/or 6th. The Broncos have a good streak with late drafted players. For example…
Ben Hamilton – 4th round selection
Terrel Davis – 6th round
Rod Smith – college free agency
Brandon Marshall – 4th round selection
Elvis Dumervil – 4th round selection
Selvin Young – CFA
Marcus Thomas – 4th round selection
What about the firing of Ted Sundquist ???The broncos are very quiet about it …..
What about the Texan’s interest in Chris Myers? That could be a problem. Outside of Nalen and Hamilton only Pears, Holland, Myers and Kuper have experience. If Nalen and Hamilton can’t play this year and if Myers leaves, then Harris, Alexander, Fenton, Katnik, Snell and rookies better be able to. The transition of the Broncos’ OL is starting to look like a two-year rebuilding project requiring two draft picks per.
We will never know the reality of what led to Ted’s departure for no other reason than that everyone has their own perception. The same can be said for Coyer’s firing. Some questions are: Is Shanahan devolving into a siege/bunker mentality that will affect his judgement in management (i.e., the draft & negotiations) as well as his coaching? Can he do both by himself or does he need more help either on the management side or the coaching? Was this something coming for awhile or sudden? There are NFL caliber coaches available who could be brought in to help. Brian Billick comes to mind. The Broncos will be in real trouble if Shanahan has become paranoid and tries to micromanage everything. Or, maybe this was just his periodic volcanic personality clearing the deck and trying to restore a semblance of order that suits him. One move that looks promising is appointing Jim Ryan to coach the backers. I’m sure Shanahan experienced things in the past year that made him feel his message wasn’t getting through to everyone. Defensive players interviewed recently expressed confidence in Coach Slowik. Now let’s see what happens on ST whose performance was embarrassing at times last season. Shanahan still has time to reorganize the front office so that when the season begins, he can concentrate on coaching. He might need an experienced offensive assistant. I agree with others who bemoan the departure of Kubiak. Having seen Heimerdinger speak at a coaching clinic, I was skeptical about his worth to the team. Perhaps retired players like Rod Smith and Matt Lepsis should be considered as assistant coaches if the are interested. Football at any level depends on having a good coaching staff loyal to the head coach and experienced and intelligent enough to implement his plan. Having great players helps, too. They always make the coach(es) look great.
I think that the Broncos should move keep Slowik at D Coordinator and bring in Brian Billick for D-Line and LB coach. Brian has had great success with defensive players and could really help boost our front 7. And since DeAngelo Hall might go to Oakland I think we might need some more itimidation coming from our team.
Just heard that the Broncos have traded Chris Myers to Houston for a 6th.
Well, the experienced OL left are Nalen, Hamilton (both of whom are returning from injury), Pears, Holland and Kuper. That’s five guys-no depth; unless you count Harris, Alexander, Snell and Katnik. Not very comforting. Broncos need to add two quality OL; the draft is full of them, but now higher choices need to be used; a 1st and a 4th?