Two players who joined the Broncos in trades before the season are headed to the injured reserve.
After sustaining an ankle and knee injury, respectively, in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Dan Gronkowski and Joe Mays are out for the remainder of the season.
Gronkowski, who had eight catches for 65 yards this season, suffered his injury in the second quarter but toughed it out to return to the game.
“He’s just a tough (player),” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “He (injured) it and then he went back in and taped it again at halftime. I love his toughness and we have a great deal of respect for what he tried to do yesterday, because he did not want to come out of the game. As a coach, you appreciate that a lot.”
While Gronkowski did not reinjure the ankle, the initial injury was severe enough to end his season.
McDaniels also discussed the loss of Mays, who has stepped in as a starter at middle linebacker in five of the previous six games, accumulating 40 tackles and a pass defensed this season.
“He’s definitely been a very valuable addition to our team — not only on defense, but his impact has been there all year in the kicking game,” the head coach said. “He’s a very unselfish guy who took his role and did the most with it. I think our team has a great deal of respect for his toughness and effort. He plays extremely hard and we’ll miss his impact here the last month of the season. (We’re) very grateful that we have him and that will continue to move forward with him.”
The team hasn’t made any decisions as for the roster moves to replace the injured veterans, but “there are some balls up in the air right now.”
Meanwhile, the team is hopeful that Andre’ Goodman and Darcel McBath will return for this Sunday’s game at Arizona. The status of Brian Dawkins and Demaryius Thomas is still uncertain.
Goodman’s return comes with Perrish Cox fresh off what McDaniels called “probably (his) best game of the season” against the Chiefs. Goodman, who started all 16 games in 2009 and four games this season, might be eased back into the cornerback position where Cox has started eight games in his stead.
“Any time a player is coming back from an injury and hasn’t practiced in a while, I think there is always a period there where you are going to see how quickly they work back in, what they can handle right away,” McDaniels said. “We will see as we go throughout the week and evaluate (Goodman) and see where he is at.”
‘GOOD EXPERIENCE’
Despite the Broncos being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the focus around Dove Valley is still on winning games — “one game at a time, four times.”
With that in mind, McDaniels addressed the idea of giving younger players more playing time simply to give them experience for next season.
“I think that good experience is always better than just experience,” McDaniels said. “I don’t think that just forcing experience on younger players because your record dictates that you can’t make the playoffs is necessarily a great formula to use.”
“I certainly don’t want to use these last four games to put players in there that aren’t ready to go.”
The head coach used Eric Decker as an example of a young player who has gotten better every week, worked hard to create a role for himself and has earned more playing time, hauling in three passes for 76 yards in the past two weeks. Rather than forcing the rookie into the lineup, Decker earned “good experience” on his own.
When asked more specifically about playing Tim Tebow, McDaniels cited Kyle Orton’s season — he ranks fourth in the league in passing yardage — and indicated that the transition from a little playing time to all of it could be even more difficult at the quarterback position.
“I think it’s a big discrepancy when you’re talking about any player that really hasn’t had a lot of reps during the course of the year,” McDaniels said, “then, all of a sudden you’re going to say, ‘Now you’re going to get all of them.’ That’s a tough transition for anybody to take.”
The head coach said the team will make decisions based on what is best for the team as it looks to win games to close the season.
“We’ll consider all things and if those things we think can help our football team be better down the stretch, then we’re going to do them — no matter what position it is, no matter who it is,” McDaniels said. “If we don’t think that, then we’ll make a different decision.”
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Andre' Goodman, Brian Dawkins, Dan Gronkowski, Darcel McBath, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Joe Mays, Perrish Cox, Tim Tebow
something more had to come out in the scandal for this to happen. Your not going to see any coaching decisions until the league fully decides that they are going to play next year. We don’t want to pay 3 head coaches and have no players to coach.. lol
Yeah, no coach in their right mind takes a job with a team in the middle of the season, it will be an in house interim coach and I could care less who it is to tell you the truth.
I may be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that the spygate 2 situation serves as just cause for getting out of the rest of his contract. I’ll try and find out where I had read that a couple of weeks ago
BOOOOOOOOOOOO……….
Man why do I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my back?!
Why do I feel like I can breathe again?!
Why do I feel real real real good right now?
Man people are hitting me up on Facebook asking me how I feel and what’s next. I feel like whoever said it earlier….. Christmas came real early and all I need is some egg nog now.
Thank you Mr. B. for coming to the realization that all of us in Broncos Country felt. We can now move forward with an interim coach to finish the season. I never liked McDaniels since the day he took over our organization. He hurt this organization with too many bad personnel decisions and the inability to be an effective leader. Thank you Mr. Bowlen for putting a stop to the bleeding….
It was time to cut our losses and move on!!
rbf1
I would love to see a defensive minded coach. Too bad we didn’t originally hire Spagnuolo. I don’t think, or at least I hope, Bowlen won’t make the same bad decision again.
Monodono, man where have you been?!?!
monodono, yesterday TOP us 22 min, them 38 or just about, isn’t that your motto, TOP? Let it go man, haha.
Coach McD was just let go per Denver Broncos on Facebook
I’m popping some good beers tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well……uh…..yeah kinda sort of saw that coming. Look, make no mistake about it, I have supported JMac. However, there comes a time when change is apparent. This was getting way, way out of control and the young coach that I wanted to have success was letting personal attributes come into the way of what could of been good coaching.
I’m not going to kick a man while he’s down, it’s not my character. I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life and he’s no different.
I’m glad that Mr. Bowlen has what appears to be a look at the HUGE, big picture. That’s the organization. Paying 3 head coaches? doesn’t matter. He did what was right for the Broncos. The Broncos of the past, the present and the future. In one placed phone call or personal visit, Mr. Bowlen showed that he is and will always be in control.
I personally think that this doesn’t have anything to do with the record. I think it has 150% of the scandal and handlings of such incident. It’s an integrity thing and there is no room AT ALL for the lack there of in Bronco Football. Mr. Bowlen showed that today.
From one man to another, I wish Josh and his family well. This is sports! There’s no room for hate. He tried, it didn’t work!
On a side note: To all of the supporters that liked Josh relax! Going after other bloggers on this site is a non-topic. Heck, I was what I think was one of his biggest supporters and even I knew it was time to move on.
Didn’t like it, but certainly understand it! It’s passion in all of us that want our football team to have success.
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
These tough time have revealed the character of so many. Best wishes for you and your family Josh.
WOW!! A new chapter in the life of the Denver Broncos. Hey bay, maybe they can hire you as the new HC. Rock On!!
Wow I’m a little shocked but at least it shows that pat bowlen is serious about turning this thing around. Do you think they will try going after urban meyer?
Ya, hire a D minded coach, but not until the season is over though.
Just a thought. I wonder if it was the right circumstance that Tony Dungy would come out of retirement and coach our DENVER BRONCOS??!!!! That would be sweet. Just a thought.
This is too good, I truly feel like a young pup again.
And to the ones who feel so bad for Josh, for josh sake he makes 3 mil a year while 10 percent of Americans are unemployed, get a grip, this is a man’s sport, he played by his rules he lost by his rules, not one single once of compassion on this end, this I can assure you, he is the one who should feel bad about us fans for living us in such shambles!!!
Shaver I surely hope not! Get Gruden!!
Are you guys for real??? Feeling bad for McD who never gave a hoot nanny about anyone but himself, geeeezz, too weird how skewed peoples mind can get over stuff like this.
And Bay, when I went to the game the week before, everybody in the stands wanted him to get the axe. Everyone was talking and saying Josh has to go. Crazy!
Not Me. I`m tired of losing.
This is Klis’ take on the interim coach:
The most likely candidates on the team’s current staff to be interim coach include secondary coach Ed Donatell, who has a history here and longest NFL resume; and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who is a player favorite.
Yea I hope not too I want gruden
It really doesn`t matter who the interum is. At the end of the season we`ll have a real coach. I`d like Gruden.
Either one is fine with me.
I definitely wasn’t talking about you, I was talking to Holley and nice guy Broncfalls, always a great heart, but to a fault at times, McD is a very blessed man, wife family, millions of dollars, so what if he has to get a new job, big deal, just saying.
I know just putting in my two cents.
Yeah interim is irrelevant, but what’s relevant at this point is not who we’ll get but that McD is out of Dove Valley forever. There is plenty of time for Bowlen and Ellis to formulate a plan, it’s way better than if we waited to fire him at season end, just fantastic set up, couldn’t be better, not worried at all here folks, Bowlen will not repeat the same mistake again and will hire a legitimate GM first. BTW, let Xanders go asap also.
Look I don’t like to see anyone loose their job, but he is well taken care of!! You get paid to do a job. If I’m not doing my job…… I’d get fired!
I am extremely excited on Mr. B pulling the trigger. Xman and some other Ohio/New England and High School buddies should pack up and go with him. Thanks you Santa for the early gift.
Now lets build a Denver Bronco Football Team!!
FTR
Yay! just what I wanted, to whom ever comes in as the intirm head coach, START TEBOW!!!
Fire McD!…..
Oh wait! What? Haha. I knew that.
Now we can get back to BRONCOS football!
As long as I see some zone blocking, I don’t care who the replacement is!
At least we as fans can get back behind this team. Not having to take sides. Whether it’s player or coach.
Sign Champ, GO BRONCOS!!!
why start Tebow what has orton done so wrong
On 850 KOA, they just announced that the video taping incident played a big roll in the firing. Go figure!!
SIGN CHAMP!! START TEBOW!!
RB Coach Eric STUDESVILLE annouced as interim coach
now that McD is gone Champ will be signed
And the Bronco Blinders came out and said McD came out of that incident squeaky clean, hahaha.
NICE!
Ok, studesville, RB coach, whatever, it’s just interim in an already lost season…
Im just glad it wasn’t Winky-dinky-dink
now if we could just get Hillis back….. weres that time machine at
Well the MCD reign is over. Ellis found out that the videotaping scandel was and is a fireable offense. If that’s a word. lol Pat won’t have to pay Josh. After the press conference Broncos brass wanted to see Tebow on the field. McD didn’t think he was ready and was unwilling to put him out there fulltime. So they cut bait now. Now the Broncos are looking for someone to groom Tebow to be the man under center. Like I told ya’ll before You can look at Gruden and whoever else is on your wish list. Don’t be surprised if Urban Meyer comes to the NFL!!!!!!!!
P.S. Merry Christmas Bay you got your wish!!! lol I didn’t think Scrooge get gifts.
Sup Carmelloo
Prospective coaches welcome to the snake pit. Just do as they say and they’ll support you 100%, until they decide to hang.you. Then they’ll dance on your grave.
Bay, I was one of them. But after a few days the light came on and I change my mind. I made a mistake. Life goes on.
In the scheme of things its not biggy as the season was long gone before last weeks lost to the Rams. I suppose its about getting through the last four games and rebuilding the team. At least the off season will not be a boring one in Bronco Country
Greatness, LMAO!!!!
whew!!!! I thought they would give him the rest of his contract…….guess not gotta thank Mr. B for not holding on to bad mistake im just mad he got rid of ALLLLLLL of the talent in 28 games lol no need to mention the names …..we all know them and brought in some questionable talent…Moreno…Tebow….GEEEEEEZZZ still cant belive we used a first rd draft pick on him …. I gotta say it….naw im not…. So whats next??? Need a coach hmmmm just want one thing…a defensive minded coach……… Id even keep Josh….to run the O thats it…NAAAA never mind. No college coach plz…..give me a proven NFL head coach….I GOTTA SAY IT…….nope im not……..Eric studesville the RB coach is the interim coach…Anyway give me Gruden or Cowher of course or maybe Billick….OK gotta say it…….told ya soooo!!!!! U get rid of ur talent…ur owner gets rid of u!!!!! And thats for all u “character” guys
GO BRONCOS 2011!!!!
Inturim for 4 games. Now that would be fun.