After trading Keary Colbert to the Seahawks yesterday, the Broncos brought back another receiver to take his place. The team on Wednesday signed free-agent wide receiver Clifford Russell, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.
The 5-foot-11 Russell is a sixth-year player who originally joined the Broncos as a future-contract signee on Dec. 31 and competed with the club in training camp before he was waived on Aug. 30. He tied for the Broncos’ lead in receptions with 10 for 86 yards and returned two kickoffs for 49 yards in the preseason.
In stints with Miami, Cincinnati and Washington, Russell has appeared in 21 career games with one start. He has totaled five career receptions for 45 yards and 39 kickoff returns for 872 yards.
After finishing his collegiate career ranked sixth in University of Utah history in both career receptions and receiving yards, with 124 and 1,862 respectively, Russell was selected by Washington in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
Russell attended Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, was born on Feb. 8, 1979.
He will wear No. 10 for the Broncos, and practice squad member Travis Wilson will switch his jersey to No. 12.
– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Adam Zinser, Clifford Russell, Transactions
this was a great move trading colbert. i think shanny and pat jumped the gun on colbert and paid him way to much and realized it as soon as they sign d jackson for half the amount. and colbert was never going to play for us anyway. i thought russel was better in preseason, showed more hussle and determination than coldbert. he needs to be more consistant but should be a good back up if needed for league minimun wich will allow us to free up more money for a position that we need. niko will be next to go he was the other player we jumped at to early and paid to much to be a back up. if we can continue to stock up on draft picks and use them a bargining chips in draft next year to move up and get a stud on the d line or at middle lb we will be set.
ya i like russell he could stretch the field!!!!!!
we dont need a stud on the D Line.. Moss is playing this week and i am confident he will be that other pass rusher we have been looking for.. for MLB thats definately number 1 priority.. Niko will be gone by the end of the year.. And i hope Shanny packages some picks and moves to get Mauluga.. if not save em and get Spikes from Florida if he comes out
resign D Rob after this yr to pait with Thomas.. if Moss turns out good we wont need another DE.. kinda mad about the Crowder pick.. wish we would of got a LB or Safety… hopefully Crowder turns out good as well.. or moved up and got David Harris
i hope that shany is trading these guys and getting picks so we can get some elite guys in next years draft perferably defenders so affense deffense
i hope that shany is trading these guys and getting picks so we can get some elite guys in next years draft perferably defenders no affense deffense
I said Niko wouldn’t last way back in the spring and got jumped for it and now everyone seems to agree. Go Figure.
Oh yeah. We NEED d-line and a real MLB desperately. Nate is average at best even if he is better than Niko. And a pro-bowl back if you please Santa. Unless Torain turns out like Mikey thinks he will.
Nice move. Russell was consistently solid throughout the preseason.
Great trade here. We get a fifth rounder and Colbert gets a chance to play. Still, we got a fifth rounder for a guy who had not even seen the field. Go Shanny!
Mark my words, Niko will be starting midway through the season and the defense will improve. He is way more intelligent than Webster and doesn’t miss tackles. Webster seems to be lost on 90% of the plays. Did anyone notice that it looks like DJ tells him what to do before every play?? DJ is basically playing MLB from the WILL posistion. Can anyone tell me why Webster was 40 yards down field on Spoiles td catch last week?? He’s a middle lineback and he was behind the safeties, something isn’t right there. Yes Webster is faster than Niko, but that seems to be the only thing he’s got on him. Niko looked hesitant in preseason but lets remember that he hasn’t really played in a game since college. I still think this kid can play and he will get a chance to show it soon.
niko has played in plenty on special teams since being in the league and he’s not making plays on special teams so what makes you think he will make plays on defense. i say put williams back at mlb and let winborn play outside or even the rookie woodward. i know this would make dj mad but who cares he already signed and extension “sorry dj but your the best we got” waiting till next year isnt cutting it with the start that we have had we need to play for this year.
Playing special teams has nothing to do with playing defense. You obviously have no clue after making that statement so this will be my final reply.
What do you guys think of the Broncos trying to go after Albert Haynesworth after this season is over if he does end up hitting the free agengy market? I think he could be that spark that the D-line desperately needs. I mean, he can only get slapped with the franchise tag if he doesn’t meet certain requirements, but he should be a likely option!