After completing training camp with the Broncos, rookie punter Britton Colquitt is returning to the club for the stretch run.
Denver announced the signing of Colquitt to its active roster on Wednesday from Miami’s practice squad. Colquitt entered the league with the Broncos as a college free agent on April 27, but was waived on Sept. 1, just before final roster cutdowns.
The rookie was out of football until Dec. 22, when the Dolphins came calling. Colquitt spent the holidays in the Florida sun, but admitted that it was difficult to remember that they were coming.
“I almost forgot about Christmas when I was down there because it is 80 degrees and there are no Christmas trees,” Colquitt said. “It is just palm trees with lights on them but being a Jimmy Buffett fan I kind of liked that — it was kind of cool.”
Colquitt’s surprise regarding the warm weather sights quickly shifted to surprise regarding his move to Denver. He made the 1,720-mile trip from Miami to the Mile High City, reuniting with a coaching staff that molded him out of the collegiate gate.
“(Special teams coordinator Mike) Priefer and I, we had a good thing going when I was here — working with him, he improved me a lot and everything like that,” Colquitt said. “Just kind of how the league is, I guess I’m learning you just never know what is going to happen and always have to stay ready.”
The Broncos were ready to bring Colquitt back after seeing strong signs in the preseason. The rookie appeared in three contests, booting six punts for 246 yards, with four of those kicks landing inside the 20-yard line. Colquitt also showed his versatility against the Seahawks on Aug. 22, converting a 39-yard field goal at Qwest Field.
As for what his role will be during the rest of 2009, Colquitt said he’s not necessarily sure, but plans to contribute in as many ways as possible. Head Coach Josh McDaniels said Mitch Berger will still handle the punting duties, but that Colquitt adds depth to improve the roster.
“He was a guy that we’re familiar with, so we felt like it was a good time to do that with the roster spot open,” McDaniels said. “We didn’t really have another guy who we felt like, at this point in time, we were going to bring in and send to the game. We felt like we improved our team there.”
A product of the University of Tennessee, Colquitt appeared in 43 games for the Volunteers, punting 209 times for 8,897 yards. Of those kicks, 73 landed inside the 20-yard line and only one was blocked. Colquitt also handled kickoff duties during his time in the SEC.
While he has yet to appear in an NFL game, Colquitt envisions Wednesday’s signing as paving a path toward a future in Denver.
“For right now it is more of a future thing,” Colquitt said. “To be here in the offseason program and not just come in where I was at the end of the summer, but at the beginning of the summer with everybody else.”
That future could include some games against another talented punter in the Colquitt family. Britton’s older brother, Dustin, is averaging 40.5 net yards on 93 punts for the rival Kansas City Chiefs this season. He is also tied for the NFL lead with 39 punts inside the 20-yard line.
During much of his free time before signing with the Dolphins, Britton said he was in Kansas City helping Dustin care for his two children, with a third on the way. Come Sunday, the brothers expect to meet and greet before their teams’ Week 17 battle.
As for squaring off in the same contest, that might be a little ways away.
“I’ll at least get to say hi to him because I’m probably not dressing,” Britton said. “But it would be a cool thing and of course my dad would like it. But I think there is a future where maybe, and hopefully that could happen.”
More news from Dove Valley, including reaction from the five Broncos who made the 2010 Pro Bowl and the Week 17 Injury Report, will be posted later this afternoon.
After a walkthrough on Christmas Day, the Broncos were back outside at Dove Valley on Wednesday for a full practice. Below are some photos from the session.
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Britton Colquitt, Kansas City Chiefs, Roster Moves, Week 17
All that doesn’t matter Sunday if we cannot run the ball and cannot stop the run! LOL.
Question for you guys, who has the best shot to get to 1000 yards on Sunday:
Knowshon Moreno (needs 103 yards), or Jamaal Charles (needs 139 yards). Honest answers only please. No cheerleading allowed, LOL.
baylinorcrush says:
December 31, 2009 at 8:43 am
Orton rushed for 55 yards this year and has a grand total of 147 yards in five seasons.
This stat makes me want to puke! We will never win with this guy! I’m sorry to keep banging the bum-drum but it is what it is.
Yeah. he definitely needs to play some tennis this off season to loosen up, LOL.
No disrespect to Orton, his body build is what it is, but he has this robotic physical attribute, moves like one, looks like one, it’s like you want to reach through the screen and push him along just so he can get away from the pressure in the pocket, you just know he’s not going to do it on his own, just like a robot, he would tip over. LOL.
Bay, I don’t think either Charles or Moreno will get to 1,000 yards this year. Didn’t KM have a lot more carries?
I would give KM the nod if I knew McD would run him around the edges and use his speed but I’m sure we’ll see the usual single back runs up the gut for little gains.
Charles 165 rushes, 5.2 yd average
Moreno 233 for 3.8 avg.
Moreno has the best shot in my opinion, here is why I think it, with any luck KC will fall behind early and forced to pass more. In the same respect, we will control the T.O.P. with Moreno running the ball more often (sounds easy anyway). With that said, he will need at least 31 carries to get there. He has been dancing around the line searching and second guessing where the lanes are. In my honest opinion, he won’t reach 1,000. He is still not there yet………..In ‘my’ opinion.
Broncos 28 – KC 10
GO BRONCOS !!!
I’d say that’s the safe bet, probably neither will make it.
BoltRaiderHater, funny guy, 31 carries, the poor kid is dead after 20, LOL.
Man, you guys are a tough crowd, I thought the robot tip over tid bit was hilarious, guess not…
I just keep seeing that 3-2 play in the 4th qtr when he could have easily just stepped forward for the first down, but he just stood there and then tried to force a pass into close coverage.
He probably could have just fallen forward for the first down! He does not have that killer instinct or inner desire to get the first down even if it means taking a big hit. He appears very sheepish and afraid of the tackle if you ask me.
Shoot man, McNabb was at 3-25 and he scrambled for 27! There’s a real athlete playing the QB position. Nobody needs the wildhorse if the QB is also a running threat. Orton can play tennis, take pilades, do yoga or whatever else we can think up but it aint gonna make his “ability” all of the sudden appear. That kind of ability/tallent/athletisism is something you are born with and then it is groomed through your youth, By the time you get to the pros you either have it or NOT. Orton will NEVER have it. HE is a DUD!
Back in the super bowl years, Elway said McNabb was the best QB prospect out there.
let’s be honest, we were all cursing orton when he was brought down by the finger of a tied-up defensive lineman on sunday….this guy is not even a big QB so he should at least be able to run a bit….i hope we pull a draft surprise again and take a rising start , as i dont believe tom brandstater is the future
broncos blew it….but lets all hope the raiders and the bengals win
Like I have said plenty here lately, without a good running game , Orton can’t succeed, that’s why we lost 7 of 9.
WEEBSY, IMO every QB in the draft this upcoming year is a hit or miss kind of thing, not worth it to me, Brandstater is a hit or miss kind of guy and we have him, let’s spend our top pick on less of a gamble thing.
That was no scramble. There was simply nobody in his way. Plain and simple no one assigned to spy on McNabb in that situation was a huge mistake that cost us the game.
broncofanlvnm, I thought the same thing at first, why didn’t we have a darn spy on him, but then I started to think, until then McNabb had not run a single time in the entire game and having had a spy on him the whole time would of hurt us considerably in other areas such, so I can see why we didn’t have one, instead of a spy type of thing, I believe if everyone up front respected their gaps we would of nullified that run. Just my opinion. Agreed it was the dagger in this game.
delete “such” LOL.
Yeah. I guess you’re right. I mean who would have ever guessed he would have been able to run for the first down on 3rd and 25 anyway! If we had a bigger, stronger DL he probably would have been sacked on that play even with only 3 rushing. Hope we realize this in the draft this time!
Neither running back breaks that mark. KM hasn’t cracked the 100 yard mark all season. Don’t see it happening this week. For the same reason that was mentioned about the “same single back runs up the gut”. And Charels might break a hundred, but 139? I think thats steep.
Orange Crusher… I think youre mistaken when you say Orton has no abilty. He is a pro QB afterall. And has set career highs in yard, TD’s and completions I believe. I think pocket pressence can be taught. How many of you have played Madden? For some, yes it comes natural with ability. For others it can be worked on. I believe significant iprovement in Ortons future in that area…so says my magic 8 ball.
Lets give him another year to show his worth. Remember, he played in QB Siberia and now he is controlling a complex system.
We don’t need to take a gamble on a QB in the draft. IMO, take the best player available at that pick. Maybe trade up or Suh!?! A power runner would be nice. And anywhere on the DL is a smart move.
So Broncos win, Miami wins, Houston wins, Oakland wins and Cicny plays for the 3 seed!!!! Thats my prediction….then i woke up.
Without a good QB, a running game can’t succeed. It works both ways bro. If the defense knows that the QB can’t throw long, can’t scramble, can’t think fast. They just key on the run because there is no respect for the pass.
But then again we do have a power runner on our team and wasting a pick on him would be redundant! BTW, you all know Jack Williams was picked up by the lions. Broke his arm the following week and susequently placed on IR.
grrr.i dislike typos. this darn computer. keys are all sticky. kids…ha
we could have had an amazing running game this year. flashes of it at times. McD refused to play Hillis. He knows everbody in Bronco Country was calling for it. Bucky was too injury prone. And KM is a middle of the pack back. Sure he is a rookie. But he is no TD. freakin Jordan against oakland….are you effin kidding me? c’mon. look we didnt have a running game last year, same results. So would you rather have Cutler with no running game (see 09 stats) or Orton with no running game…
With no running game, I’d take Cutler
With a running game, I’d take Orton.
I agree with you sndvl (is that for Sun Devil? You in AZ?) I believe I heard somewhere that it takes most QBs up to three years to learn this offense, so I believe we will see much improvement in Orton next year and fans need to not call for his head just yet. As for not respecting the QB and just stacking against the run, it seems to me that it all starts up front with the OL and if Orton doesn’t get time to throw it, there will be little success in the passing game. Is it just me or does it seem like he couldn’t have had over 3,000 yards passing? Wow, it seems like he didn’t really have that bad a season after all right? 89.3 QB rating, only 9 ints (Cutler leads the league with 26) for the season and ranked 15th. Not great but not bad either.
Problem is we have no running game and we have Orton. LOL.
broncofan…i wish i was in Arizona! I’m from the Chicagoland area. Its actually my last name- Sandoval, without the vowels. But I chose it during Jake the snakes tenure in mile high. So, sorta! lol Thanks for asking!
Cool a fellow Hispanic. I’m Gonzales.
What we don’t have is Cutlers INT problem. Seems to me we are in quite a dilemma baylin!
pleased to make your acquaintance Gonzales! I’m hoping to relocate back to Colorado within the year. Although, Arizona would be nice. Especially this time of year!!!!
I know what you mean about this time of year. The snow is only good for skiers and water run off. I love to go skiing but only make it about two times per year due to the expense.
I can’t wait to see what moves McD makes this off season. Hope he concentrates on DL and OL 1st.
I find it hilarious how Broncos fans like to compare Cutler and Orton. Hello, Orton was just thrown in the trade because there were a ton of Bears fans who were loyal to Orton which always would have led to a QB controversy in Chicago. You take Cutler’s arm strength and physical ability, take out his 1 cent boozed out head and replace it with Orton’s football sense and accuracy and you have an elite franchise QB. Need I remind everyone NO QB has thrown more redzone INT’s, than Cutler. As far as Brandstater goes, I watched him single handedly demolish CSU last year in the New Mexico Bowl, with a torn oblique muscle. He can make all the throws and has a football head. Patriots fans in 2000 were saying that Brady wasn’t the future and they should trade up in the draft. Imagine if the Patriots staff would have listened to the fans……
bronccrushfan, Bronco fans do not all think alike as you make it sound. I think Orton is Better than Cutler, I was one of the first happy camper when we traded him, and I think Brandstater has the potential to be better than Orton. You need to be on more often and you would notice that us Bronco fans think for ourselves and not as a group.
bylinorcrush,
I guess I should have said most Broncos fans, because I fully understand that there are certain Broncos fans, like you and myself, that wanted to help Cutler pack. The point I was making was that to compare the two QB’s is comparing apples and oranges. Most fans want to make it out that McDaniels traded Cutler for Orton, which was not the case. Football has been full of trades, where a starter was traded for draft picks. Who can forget the Cowboys trading Herschel Walker to the Vikings for multiple draft picks. Jimmy Johnson had a horrible first year after that trade, and Cowboys fans wanted to run him out of town for that trade. However, those picks became the nucleus for a very dominate Cowboys teams for many years afterwards. I look at the potential of KM, Robert Ayers, and Brandstater for the future of this organization. The reasons why Brandstater went as low as he did was A) He played at Fresno State, which is in the WAC. B) He had a high TD to INT ratio, because of Fresno State’s pass happy offense. C) He didn’t have a great combine because of the torn oblique muscle on his throwing side (Which also contributed to a higher TD/INT ratio), and D) His senior year Fresno State was in the top 10 in dropped passes (Which lead him to have a lowered completion percentage from his junior to senior year). There are many reasons why the Broncos have lost 7 of their last 9, but to single out Orton as the reason why is just silly. I apologize if I made you feel as if I was including you in the amalgam of Broncos fans who want to compare the two QB’s, like the trade was just between the two.
baylinorcrush: Actually, Elway was the starting QB his rookie year, but he was so bad that DeBerg came in and pulled a few out. Elway was then pulled as a starter. DeBerg later went down and Elway was starter from that point on.
bronccrushfan, thanks for the clarification, don’t feel bad I used to do the same thing a lot, but a long time ago I realized saying most, the majority, a lot of, etc… went a long way in keeping the peace. Good post.
Oldsouthstander, yes, I remember that now that you mention it, thanks for the clarification. Much appreciated.
Oldsouthstander,
I remember Elway’s rookie year all too well. From him telling Baltimore that he would play baseball if they drafted him, the bucket of ice water incident, the lining up under the guard against San Diego, to the “How Dare He wear number 7, that was Craig Morton’s number,” that was going around in the local media at the time (Now most Bronco fans don’t know that Morton wore number 7). Dan Reeves pulled the whole “Throw you in the water, and either you’ll sink or swim” number on him. He was horrible his rookie year, to the point where Broncos fans thought it was a horrible trade, and when DeBerg went down, actually chanted for Kubiak to come in instead. 5 Super Bowl appearances later, 2 of them being victories, and those fans who were calling for his head, are thankful that he stuck around.
I find it really funny, that most Broncos fans have forgotten that Dan Reeves tried to trade Elway to Washington (I believe it was in 1985), and yet John didn’t have a temper tantrum, didn’t bash the organization or the fans, call Dan Reeves a liar or that “his trust had been violated” to the media. He just prepared for training camp, and let the whole scenario play out. That is the difference between a professional and a cry baby.
Well duh………..it’s about time. I was tired of watching Berger kick the opposing team into great field position. We would need a 45 yard+ kick and he’d give us 30 yards. Not a smart move getting rid of Kern. Welcome back Colquitt!
Uh oh. I just read an article on Fox Sports saying that Marshall isn’t coming back. That would be a major problem. It said he wanted too much money. I think that he’s worked for a big contract. Sure, $10 million per year may be ridiculous, but he would totally deserve 5-8 million.
All you can & need to do guys is win Sunday! Offense, lets play like we need 1st downs first, the rest will take care of itself. Defense, please don’t get lulled into thinking that the Chefs can’t or won’t try to run the ball on you. (Remember the Waders, remember the Redskins). This is our season as well as yours. Good luck guys, heres to overcoming the naggin injuries & playin up to your abilities.