On Saturday, the Broncos moved wide receiver Matthew Willis from their practice squad to the club’s 53-man active roster. To make room for Willis on the active roster, the team waived tackle Herb Taylor.
A second-year receiver out of UCLA, Willis joined the Broncos as a practice-squad signee on Dec. 24, 2008. He spent the final week of the 2008 season on Denver’s practice squad after a brief stint on Baltimore’s practice squad early in the year.
As a rookie in 2007, the 6-foot, 190-pound wideout saw time in five of the Ravens’ final seven games, totaling one tackle on special teams along with an 11-yard reception. Willis played two seasons of football at UCLA after competing on its track team and finished his Bruins career with 24 receptions for 248 yards with three touchdowns in 21 games.
– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Herb Taylor, Matthew Willis, Week 17
I’m really tired of all the drama. McD, get your head out of your A$$!!! Same goes for all of the wanny, “I-want-it-my-way-or-else”, spoiled-brat-attitude” players. Man up and do what you were hired to do; YOUR JOBs. Including, and especially YOU McDaniels. Let’s see some real play calling.
Baylinorcrush:
Is it too late to get my pic in? If not I’ll take the Broncos by two, 17-15.
Gonna be a lot of field goals in this game; mostly by KC (two TDs for Denver, on offensive and one either special teams or one by the defense). All the rest will be FGs. I say that because Matt Castle & Co. will be able to move the ball for a while (like most of the game), but won’t be able to get it into the end zone. That’s because our defense ROCKS, and will be in the backfield all day long. Our offense is gonna stink it up again, mainly because there won’t be any passing game without Marshall, Scheffler (really dumb move, McD), and Royal. However, I do see Brandon Lloyd having another good game, that is if the O-line will block, and if Orton will at least move around in the pocket a little.
McD,
Your job is to put the best players on the field that give us a chance to win. In my opinion you are not doing that this week. Granted I’m not there to really know what was said or happened, but it better have been something fierce to have this type of punishment. This man is the best player on your team! He should’ve been signed last year and he would’ve been cheaper! He’s changed his demeanor compared to before. His job is to play football, and no receiver, NO RECEIVER on this team has done more than him on the field. He deserves credit and respect. He is truly a top 3 receiver in this league. His numbers would be greater with a stronger arm throwing to him. Even if Brandon Marshall is wrong, he should be punished after this game. If we win and get in the playoffs, you deal with it the following week, or if the season is over, he deliver your decisions and punishments based on recent events. You have distracted the entire team with negative energy prior to a division rival thirsting for a spoiler!! This is bad coaching. Principle is understood, but there is a time and place. After week 17 in a must win situation. I want Shanahan back. Maybe Bowlen can get him if he doesn’t sign with anyone.
Its now time to talk about the Draft
hopefully everything works out for the team and fans that we win regardless of the contreversy and we go to the playoffs go broncos that mcd will listen to his coaches and players and make ajustments in his game plans where needed to fit the team that we have at this time and not what he foresees in the future
denwu, there seems to be a lot of confusion about this Marshall/McD thing, everyone one needs to be clear on it:
Marshall decided that he couldn’t go on Sunday. That was of his own doing even so the medical staff saw nothing to that effect.
In response to Marshall not wanting to go Sunday, McD deactivated him so he could have a replacement for him out there, which, put into that situation, any coach would do.
That being said, McD handled the whole thing horribly when addressing the press, so all this irritation about the coach is totally understandable as far as how he handled the matter, totally uncalled for as far as just saying he benched our best player.
Talking like some of you guys do about the matter does not make you any better than the media you really hate to start with. It is just sensationalism to get everyone riled up so they get viewership and I for one will not partake. As Bronco fans you are expected to know better than falling into these media traps, we shall know better and think for ourselves. No disrespect intended to anyone.
Anyway, D DAY, all picks are in. Are we going to have a winning season or end up 500 again, big difference, that is the question of the day. Whether we make the playoffs or not is just an end result of what other teams do, so even so I would be incredibly excited if we make it in, I’m not going to lose any sleep if we don’t. I have been waiting for weeks to eat crow with my 8-8 prediction, please let it be the week, it’s my final shot at it, I’m getting hungry….
G-O-O-O-O-O-O………. BRONCOS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a copy of part of Marshall’s transcript of what he said on Friday about not being able to play Sunday (to reinforce my point above):
“It’s tough when you don’t get a chance to go through the week of preparation and practicing to be able to think you’re going to go out there and participate (in the game). It’s not fair to our team, it’s not fair to our players, but it’s just a freak accident. I ran a slant-I was cramping in the (Philadelphia) game Sunday, and my hamstrings were pretty tight from that. I had to get an IV. My muscles were pretty tight. I came out here on Wednesday and it just pulled or something, I’m not sure.”
The question surrounding the BM/Sheff upheaval is are they team players? Are they willing to put the team first? I say the answer to that question will be told on the sideline of todays game. If BM and/or Sheff are on the sideline at todays game, their willingness to put the team first will be answered.
PS Many references to Shanny have been made. Think back to the two Super Bowl wins. Not ONE player missed any voluntary or mandantory practice either season; Elway took a big pay cut to free up cap room to be able to get ther free agents they wanted; not ONE player ever said anything negative; not ONE player ever talked about himself fiirst. Can you say that about BM?
I would agree that everything is being blown out of proporition until I heard the way McDaniels handled his interview and his direct quotes. If he had just been deactivated and McDaniels said “Marshall is hurt and we need to sign a 4th reciever” then all would have been fine. But instead he goes on questioning committment and suggesting players have worse injuries than Marshall that are playing… I don’t like the image it portrays about our organization and I think we will be hurt in retaining good players and picking up studs in free agency. Hopefully I’m wrong…
Week 17, Raiders/Dolphins/Texans/and Bengals fans this week…. hah isn’t that odd.
oldsouthlander… I do agree that team was a true team with guys like Eddy M, Atwater, Braxton, Neil Smith, Elway, Smith…. (I miss that team so much) and I agree Bmarsh hasn’t shown those qualities as of late but I did see an improvement from last year and this offseason to the season this year and I felt and still feel he can settle down and be a good teammate (he is only 25, alot of years left)
Marshall and Scheffler are not allowed to be on the sidelines for the game today according to ESPN… I would have liked to see them supporting the team but it appears they won’t have that chance
Whether the team goes all out today or not, to me has more to do with finding out whether Marsh and Scheff are true teammates or not rather than whether they are on the sideline or not, IMO, and as it seems they are not allowed on the sidelines, which I find weird by the way, it’s not going to matter. A full out effort would show me that the players have McD’s back all the way, a less than stellar effort would show me they are siding with Marsh and Scheff. Can’t wait to see which is it, I already mentioned in another post that I don’t believe they are too upset about it and will give it their all, we’ll see.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4792471
Disapointing article on Scheffler’s behalf. Also bring attention that maybe Dawkins, Bailey, Orton, DJ, and Graham were having issues with Marshall and Scheffler. If that is the case then I will side with Dawkins and Bailey and agree that Scheffler shouldn’t be on the field/team. Marshall… more information will need to be released from the medical staff
Atwater, man you are pulling a 180 on us, glad to see you are coming back down to earth on this one. LOL.
I wouldn’t say a 180… haha but with more information I do have a change in views. I still am upset with how McDaniels handeled the interview about Marshall, I just now see that Scheffler is at fault. I’ll admit when I’m wrong
Good enough for me. Let’s GO BRONCOS.
Now this still doesn’t change the fact that we suck in the red zone and our offensive play-calling has been atrocious of late. In addition to misuse of personnel (Royal, Hillis, Bucky, Stokely).
Anyone remember if Texans win and Steelers loss (paired with a denver win) is a scenario for us?
Heinz Ward (smiley) is playing with 2 pulled hammis. I still think Marshall would be playing @ 100% if McD would not have got all bunched up. Bad call coach, hope he dont leave.
Sparky anderson used to say that there are rules for the team, and there are rules for Rose,Morgan,bench and perez. Dont get them confused. (all U old folks may remember that)
Go Broncos
Wouldn’t it be nice if a few hours or so before the game, we Bronco fans could all come together and say nice things about them for maybe the last time this year? We will very soon have 8 months to re-hash on all the bad stuff they did. No, that’s probably too much to expect. Whatever… GO BRONCOS.
No, it’s only Texan win and Baltimore or Jets loss that gets us in.
I was only stating I wasn’t pulling a 180… hah just relax. Right now I am gearing up to root on the Dolphins and Texans in the 1 oclock games.
Tough to say positive things going 2-8 down the stretch, but the 6-0 start was definitely a wonderful glimpse at what this team is capable of
2-7.
Ah my bad, wasn’t trying to say we are losing today, regardless 2-7 down the stretch has been rough as a fan
Gut wrenching for me. One year of a total collapse was enough for me, didn’t need a repeat. With a little help today we can take a lot of the sting away, let’s stay positive another 10 hours or so.
Agreed
Atwater4HOF – thanks for the link on Scheffler & Marshall. Not good to display this attitude with detrimental comments, which affect morale. This article sheds more light on situation. If the other players encouraged Coach to take a hard stand, then obviously, they’re not going to put up with it in the locker room.
Ironic Marshalls’ conduct comes immediately after being named to the Pro Bowl squad. Don’t get me wrong, I like Marshall as a player but wouldn’t put it his lastest antics, past him. Obviously Coach had his reasons and has taken the right action based on this latest article.
baylinor – ESPN reporting that Texans need us to lose today to have a shot at wildcard. Have to go back and look at bracket and see how this unfolds. Jets and Ravens loss affect us directly if we win, that I know for sure. What they’re saying now doesn’t sound right.
texans up 7-0
HOU – 7
NE – 7
Welker out with questionable return.
PIT – 14
MIA – 10
Thought NE wasn’t going to start their starters today? Oh well Welker out of the game with a knee injury and HOU playing fairly well with NE starters in.
Remember we can still get knocked out of the play offs before the Jets Bengals game even if we win our own.
So what do we need to exactly happen to get in, assuming we win our game today?
Here are ALL the scenarios that will get the Denver Broncos into the playoffs this season. There are a lot of them – Denver clinches a playoff spot with:
1) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR
2) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR
3) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + HOU win OR
4) DEN win + BAL loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR
5) DEN win + BAL loss or tie + HOU win OR
6) PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss OR
7) PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss OR
9) PIT loss + HOU loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss OR
10) MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss or tie
From http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/12/28/1222091/officially-official-2009-denver
But here’s the clincher if Steelers, Texans(we DO need to win), and Ravens win were out of the play offs even if we win so the Jets losing wouldn’t matter.
CLINCHING SCENARIO: Broncos clinch playoff berth with DEN win + 1) NYJ loss + losses by BAL or PIT, OR 2) NYJ loss + HOU win, OR 3) BAL loss + PIT loss or HOU win. Broncos can clinch berth with DEN loss any combination of losses by 1) PIT + BAL + HOU + JAC, OR 2) PIT + BAL + HOU + NYJ, OR 3) PIT + BAL + JAC + NYJ, OR 4) PIT + HOU + JAC + NYJ, OR 5) MIA + NYJ + BAL + HOU + JAC.
either way we did better then we should have lol
i hear ya steveatwater but it is still unacceptable….just like last year…on top of the world then fell off
2009 with McDaniels, was the most mediocre LAST 10 YEARS
It’s funn with all the bloggers on here that say this was a good season or a better than expected season… What are you guys thinking? We had one of the most prolific offenses last season which would have won 12 or 13 games with even a hint of a defense to back them up.. Now all you guys are saying how McIdiot’s dismantleing of the offense and playing only the players who want to win is to his credit a good thing.. Scheff got benched because he had a bad attitude after last weeks game, yeah he should have defended that pick a little better but Orton throug an inexcusable pass to the inside when Scheff had outside postition and the defender beat easly (WTF) why didnt Orton get beched? Maybe because he just put his head inbetween his legs. Daniel Graham is a great tight end but he is no Scheff and that was made clear today with his 3 dropped passes that hit him in the chest. Marshall gets beched because he is trying to rest a strain and not further injur it before a game? Bottom line is the coach did not field the best team whe had today and I dont believe the players in the locker room would rather the coach bench the two best offensive players we have regardless of the situation when they are trying to make the playoffs. Coach says he is doing what is best for the team but I guarantee everyone in that locker room knows that he did it because he thought they would beat the Chiefs handidly and wanted to be seen pounding his chest. Way to go Coach! I can only imagine how bad things will be next season after u have one more year to dismantle the team and trade 1st round picks for 3rd rounders.
bummer, I was right, 8-8.