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
lets hope he can step up and fill the void.
GO BRONCOS!!!
I like seeing young guys get a chance to step up, but it’s still too bad Marshall won’t be suited up!
All i can say is….Make it count willis….Can’t replace the big pressence in Marshall tho. All we gonna have on the field is quick guys Royal, Gaff, Stokely and Willis….Graham can be the big pressence and maybe Quinn will get a shot because Sheff isnt playing anymore
Either way….you playing for a future willis and every broncos for that matter lol….I say we win this and everything else falls into place
GO BRONCOS
So we have:
Royal…maybe
Stokely
Gaffney
Lloyd
Willis
Quinn
Graham…maybe
Plus Moreno, Hillis, Jordan, Buckhalter out of the backfield…seems like a pretty decent bunch of receivers in my book
I just watched the Mcd press conf. on nfl.com. and that ticks me off even more the way he projected Marshall. If he continues to pull sh** like this nobody in the NFL is going to want to play for him.
exactly peytonoverthehillis
When people were talking about how he mouth off to the charger player…i was behind him cuz the charger player started talking smack first
But in the long run…does u no good in free agency…talking to outside players like that and beefing with your players because people won’t wanna come into that drama…and like i said…he is the head coach so he is technically the other coaches and training staffs bosses and he is young and arrogant and prolly talks down to them as well…and they are probably way older than him. Young boss…OK….young boss that talks down to you and acts pompous…not ok.
Wouldnt be surprised if some of them (players, coaches, staff) hop on the redskin train with shanahan…cuz he has been putting together a list of who he wants to work with and I can see him picking up Hillis and anyone else that doesnt meet McDs approval….in hindsight it may look like shanny was all that….but he had his flaws too but not this bad…like i always said…woulda been happy with everything staying the same with the addition of Nolan and maybe xanders because shanny had too much power and responsibilities….
Mcd was hired to coach probably a minimum of three seasons. I believe he is trying to build a winning TEAM and not win a popularity contest. He has 8 wins for sure and maybe 9 and maybe playoffs. At the beginning of season many of you and most of the media were predicting 3 or 4 wins maybe. He made massive changes and I believe he will continue until he has a TEAM that can and will win. I wrote on my schedule we would go 9-7 this year and 13-3 next. I still believe my numbers. I predict Broncos win 37-23 and pray we get a shot at the playoffs. We have to trust the ownership and the coaching staff!
But when the coaching staff throws our best player under the buss like the way he did, and totally disrespected Marshall. how can you trust that? He could have handled it very differently and it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but since he didn’t it is a big deal. And if I were a player/coach in the NFL I wouldn’t want to play for a guy who disrespects people like that. but thats just my opinion
well at least marshall took the high road and made no comments that would put him into trouble
McD is definitely here to stay whether we like it or not. at least two seasons…at least.
man back in the days…our offense was really all that when we had Gary Kubiak…always thought he would take over for Shanny bu the got the head coaching gig
Yea im not sure if i like the comments made by marshall..He kind of called marshall out with this injury…THis isnt a good sign, specialy for the end of the year and marshall and contract issues.
I just hope this little debacle doesn’t prevent us from signing Marshall to a contract extension. I have always said that I hope Brandon Marshall is a Bronco for life, the next Rod Smith, if you will.
AMEN Peytonoverthehillis…You and me both…a Lifetime Bronco…
He and rod seem to be close again…rod is always on the sidelines talking to him during games….Brandon has the ability to be the best Bronco WR ever (with all do respect to rod smith who was amazing…AND undrafted)…and not to sound blasphemous or like i am over stating his ability/potential but i think he could go down as one of the best to ever play the game at that position…IMO
TRB –
The other day I was bored and started comparing Marshalls numbers to people like Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Smith, etc.
His numbers in relation to the best of the best are better than some and about average with the rest. I would love to see Marshall back as a Bronco for a few more years if not for life.
Hamstrings are no fun to come back from. Marshalls mri came back all good. Playoffs are on the line, I dont think he would be playing games. I think he was wanting to rest the leg in practice and McD got his undies in a bunch.
Young coach mistake !!!! Hope it don’t cost him a great player. (Drama)
Go Broncos
For those of you bemoaning the fact that McD benched BM because of his attitude, I haver a scenario and a simple question.
Three seconds left on the clock in the 4th quarter. Broncos are behind by 4 points and have the ball on KCs 5 yard line. Which would you rather have an playeer with exceptional skills who decides when to give 100% or an average palyer who always give at least 100%? My answer is the same as McDs, the average player who ALWAYS, I repeat ALWAYS, gives 100%!
Neither BM or Sheffler are in the first category. The Patriots dominated the NFL because every single player on the Patriots ALWAYS, ALWAYS gave 100%. McD is rightly demanding the same of EVERY Bronco player.
I’m sure that there isn’t a single one of you who works who has a fellow employee comparable to BM. Glad to have him as a fellow employee? I rest my case.
There must be more to the story-young coach or not you wouldn’t throw your star receiver under the bus for no reason. I just gotta believe there is more to it than we know right now.
Great, just great. Let’s lay down and get trampled by the Chiefs. I forsee the Chiefs blowing us out of the water tomorrow.
oldsouthstander…..what makes you think Marshall doesn’t give it a 100% come game time? He is always doing what it takes to be a good reciever in the league. Just because he was taking a few days off for an INJURY, to let it HEAL, which is by the way what everybody else in the league does, you call that not 100%?
And its not the fact that Mcd benched Marshall, I get that part. It’s the way he did it, he totally disrespected him for no reason at all.
TRB…
I too believe that Marshall could be the best WR ever to play the game. The guy just dominates. As long as he can avoid any MAJOR injuries through out his career, he definately has the skill set to leave the game the greatest ever to play.
MCD Has been outcoached and called some idiot plays the last 4 games. He doesnt know HOW to motivate the team during the game. HE HAS TO GO PERIOD>HE HAS A GIANT EGO BIGGER THAN CUTLER> TOO BAD GO BRONCOS
cant let distractions ruin our preparations…Marshall needs to heal up…just win this game,,get into the playoffs and he’ll be back for a playoff run….hopefuly..
you know what.. denver is a really good team..
mc dont know what the f im doing is a really dumb coach like on the realzz.. orton sucks.. the only way we have gotten catches from him is cause we got good recievers and now they’re benching our pro bowl reciever.. ugh so who ever is dizzin our team.. its all thanks to mc daniels.. our defense in the other hand is amazing an they have keep us alive.. without them we would be worse than the browns which they have been doing good at the end… well thats all i need to say. our coach sucks and we better get a good coach next year!!!
I say let’s all go easy and see what happens tomorrow. Looks like the town is split down the middle on this. I think we’ll be 9-7 tomorrow night and probably be getting ready to head out of town for the 1st round of the playoffs. I do think the head coach needs a lesson in “tact” and our star reciever needs to remember who called all of those formations so he could win games, who made the passes, who blocked, what defenders allowed the offense to get the ball back so HE could go win the game……………..in other words he needs to learn it’s a team sport.
Yea I don’t understand where people keep coming off with Marshall and Scheffler not giving 100%… I’ve seen nothing to suggest that. McD saying Scheff has a bad attitude may be true, I would be too if my coach drafted a TE in the 2nd round when I have proven to be one of the top 10 TE’s in the league…
Marshall has been nothing but a great asset to this team, 21 catches in a loss? Now how can some of our fellow fans say he hasn’t been giving 100%… ridiculous…
In response to Grant from the previous blog….
What is he being punished for? Being hurt? I don’t understand what point you are trying to make…
I said Marshall deserved what he got in the offseason, but this? At this point in the season… it is really a stretch to say a guy is faking an injury and call him out on his toughness when he’d been our ENTIRE offense this year. Without Marshall we are a 5 win team.
Football knowledge and McD don’t go hand in hand. Loyalty to his NE players is all he’s been good for. Just look at our red zone inefficiency and overall horrid use of personnel (i.e. Moreno consistantly over Buckhalter and Hillis on the bench in goal line and short yardage situations)
My point was McD is causing unecessary drama in the most important week of the season, the immaturity is shining through this week and I hate watching this unfold
You know growing up I was always told pick a team and stick with it. My dad was from Colorado and grew up a Broncos fan so I grew up a Broncos fan…have been for decades and always will be. The thing I hate most is when the same people sit on a fence….oh we fired Shanahan so thats now a losing season, then we are 6-0 and those same people are woohoo 6-0 this is the best team since our last Super Bowl win and now we have some losses and McDaniels did what he thinks he needed to do and they are back to I hate McDaniels. Pick a side and stick with it, either you like him or you dont. Personally, I know a lot about football but I know full well that I cannot coach in the NFL and I would bet my father’s life back that neither could any of you. We only hear what the media wants us to here. We do not know the whole Marshall situation. Besides I would rather win without Marshall than lose Marshall for all of next year because of further injury. I have had sports injuries and they are not fun. And I would rather be a Broncos fan than any of the following: (numbers are win loss total for the last 6 seasons)
Bills 41-55
Browns 33-63
Texans 36-60
Raiders 24-72
Chiefs 44-52
Lions 26-70
49ers 32-64
Rams 39-57
Only 3 of these teams have made the post season in the last 6 seasons.
Okay I am done venting for the night. Got to go wash my Broncos jersey so I can wear it proudly tomorrow.
By the way Atwater…Moreno isnt from NE but Jordan is and I do not see him getting the call on 3rd and 4th and short or goalline. Gaffney is from NE but I did not see him get 21 catches against Indy. I think your logic is a little flawed. Besides as of my count, there are only 3 starters from NE, Graham, Hochstein (who is now injured and I think was better than Hamilton), and Gaffney as WR3 (albeit he is most likely WR2 now). That is almost as many as the number of starters we have from Miami (2) which is a rival of NE. I do not think he is a NE fiend.
Despite what you think, I’m aware Moreno is not from New England but he’s one of McD’s “guys” that he had control in bringing in. Jordan has gotten the call more than Hillis has but my original complaint was the Buckhalter is used less than Moreno… I wouldn’t say he is a NE fiend, and I never did say that, but I do think he plays favorites and it hurts our team. Scheffler and Marshall were tight with Cutler, Cutler goes and McD has this instant dislike for each of those guys.
I do not sit on both sides of the fence or whatever you were preaching. Shanahan was great for the franchise but a new voice sometimes needs to be heard. I like how McDaniels took control of the team and everything during the offseason but the week to week adjustments and use of player personnel bothers me. I’m really hoping that this year of coaching experience will make him realize the mistakes he’s made and I’m willing to give him another year to prove that.
Gaffeny didn’t get 21 catches because he is incapable of that, Marshall getting those 21 catches proves that he overcame whatever rift him and McDaniels had and was still able to be productive and giving 100% to the team. Gaffeny however has seen more balls thrown his way than Royal (91 catches last year compared to like 30 this year).
On an offense that was as dominant as ours last year there were no need for changes and McD decided to go with Graham and Quinn over Scheffler, Moreno and Jordan over Hillis and Bucky, and Gaffeny over Stokely and Royal. I disagree that Hochstein played better than Hamilton as well but the difference between the 2 isn’t significant other than a loss of chemistry along a great O-line last year
Sorry one more thing, the thing that kills me is we went with an offensive minded coach over defensive (Leslie Frazier was my choice for HC) and our offense is the thing that is killing us this year. The system of swing passes and screens and not throwing the ball more than 15 yards downfield is ineffective. So when you bring a coach in to help the offense and it gets worse, do you keep that coach? It makes me wonder what some of the other fans have been watching this year…
Lonnie Paxton over Mike Leach, subtle but still
atwater…i was not referring to you about fence jumping…that was just to all the bloggers in general…they know who they are…and Lonie Paxton is better than Mike Leach and Prater has even attributed his kicking improvement to both new holder and snapper
Paxton is a very good tackler and he can snap the ball with the laces down every time, the placeholder can just set the ball down without having to look for the laces and rotate the ball. It is a monumental advantage in fieldgoal timing.
my dads been a fan since 77 and he said he”s never been more duscustid by the head coach. mcd will be uninployed soon just like all the other billicheck dasiples
Idk, I think McD will still be here for a while. Bowlen has shown that he likes him very much by hiring him and believing in him since he came from NE. I will admit, whenever he fired Shanahan I was pretty upset considering how long we’ve had him and what he did for us, but then I heard that we hired McD and was absolutely breathless with knowing what all he’s accomplished in NE. But then Cutler got ran out basically, and you have to admit, even though he really didnt know how to throw the ball away or think smart in that aspect, he does have an arm and pretty accurate one at that. Don’t get me wrong, I love Orton, he has showed some pretty good class doing what hes done this season. But this is McD’s first year and has gotten rid of Cutler, had Marshall wanting to leave, dogged Hillis and Sheffler the whole year, got back in it with Marshall again and probably has him wanting to leave Denver again. I am just saying, I for one definitely did not see Cutler leaving this past season even when they were argueing and not getting along after the whole Cassel thing, and then boom, hes gone. I just have a VERY bad feeling that next years roster will not have Sheffler, Marshall, or Hillis on it and that my friends will cause this team to suffer for several years!!! I just hope we can squeak out a win tomorrow against KC and make the playoffs so hopefully Marshall and McD can get it back together, but that looks pretty slim from here, but I have my faith!!
This is a big problem our coach just started another fight with our best offensive weapon and we don’t have him under contract after this year. So if Marshall leaves we have an OK QB, No #1 WR, Royal who I like had a good rookie year but doesn’t seem to be working well in Mcdaniels system, Moreno let’s face it he hasn’t done any better then RB’s we have had, so bascially we will have to develop a bunch of players or sign a bunch of high priced free agents. On the defensive side of the ball the DB’s are getting old and so are the safety’s (even though they are good), and we are not that great up front other than DJ and Doom. We need to try to build our D in the draft not search for a new #1 WR. Mcdaniels better the playoffs this year and next year if he wants to keep his job because Mcd has done whatever he has wanted and if it doesn’t work it’s his fault.
were ganna win, texans r ganna win. then all were need is either the ravens or jets to lose. ITS GOING TO HAPPEN. we will be in the playoffs!!!!
Time to beat the deadline and place my pick: Broncos win 23-16. Hopefully the players are talking a lot less about the Marshall/McD saga than we are and a lot more about what’s important right now, the Kansas City Chiefs. Can’t wait, this could be the last dance… maybe not… stay tuned.
I have a word of advice for the organization, after Scheffler is no longer with us, which will probably be soon, let’s have a new rule as far as player hiring: No player shall ever play for the Denver Broncos, under any circustances, if they have Cook as their agent. LOL.
That guy single handedly ruined our O chemistry.
For those who forgot, Bus Cook is the agent for Cutler and Scheffler and had major influence in last spring Cutler debacle and added fuel to the fire to Scheffler’s discontent, that agent is a major you know what.
Last thing, I love how Willis looks the ball into his hands on the above pic, picture perfect, just how you are supposed to do it.
Well… I have to admit that this is the first week I’ve considered, even briefly, the idea that McDaniels could be a one-and-done coach. His handling of the players this week – coupled with other questionable calls, on top of what could possibly be a 2-8 end to the season – has just seemed that bad.
Now, I’m not calling for his dismissal, and ultimately don’t think it will happen. This team has accomplished quite a bit this year, considering all the rebuilding. A quite-possibly winning record and chance at the playoffs, a much improved defense, an offense which figures to become much more proficient in its second year – even coverage teams, despite an occasional lapse, have been consistently far more relible than I remember them being for years. As long as McD does have the ability to review this season, admit where he needs to improve, and impliment changes, I can still see him being a very good head coach for our team.
I really do hope Marshall can be re-signed; hopefully, Mr. Bowlen will nudge the issue if he needs to. Dumervil is another must, and I’m pretty confident that that will be accomplished. I don’t see Schefler returning at this point, which is a pity; but out of these three players – or Hillis, or Orton – I guess I’d find that easiest to live with.
Hopefully Eddie can go; this especially seems to be a bad time to be antagonizing our receivers. I’m glad that Willis has been with our squad all season; he should be well-versed in what he needs to do. (Pity for Herb Taylor, in and out again.)
The injuries are worrisome, as is our o-fer in div at home. But, my confidence is bolstered by the excellent day our running game had vs. the Chiefs in Arrowhead. Even banged-up, this is a game, at home, against this team, we really should be able to win. Broncos 30, Chiefs 19, with our dfense setting up good position for at least one TD?
Oops 1) – hopefully Eddie can go as in play, not as in go away; also, a couple of typos – “reliable” coverage – and return, really – teams…
Oops 2) – didn’t see your last copule of posts, baylin; I agree on the dislike of Cook. As glad as I’ve become to not have Cutler around anymore, despite that arm, Cook was a negative force in that whole situation.
“McDaniels’ decision to bench Marshall and Scheffler 48 hours before the most pivotal game of the season didn’t sit well in Denver’s locker room, where teammates were irked by the timing of the move. Anyone who chose to speak on the record, however, was diplomatic, deciding not to publicly take sides.”
For those who think we are mad that “he benched marshall”…we are a bit but we are MORE mad that he did it out of spite because he thinks marshall is being a wimp (because marshall wasnt ruled out by medical staff YET) and because he came out and called marshall a wimp and incited drama…i think thats the bases for the irritation,
Looks like Royal will be out…I still think we can win…just got a to get a solid ground game…I feel bad for herb taylor tho…he was put on the roster like 4 days ago and now he has been dropped again to make space for Willis. I know we can beat the cheifs even with an incomplete team….
GODSPEED BRONCOS! GODSPEED!!!!
am i the only one that thinks this “injury” comes at a weird time? (right after being named to a pro-bowl). hmmmm…could marshall believe he has secured himself a big payday? more than likely.
However, i think that marshall may be beginning to get a big head…again, and you cannot fault Mcd. for tryin to deflate that big head. Bottom line, Marshall plays hurt and we have a better shot at makin the playoffs. Doesn’t play, and our chances are fewer. but hell, if he doesn’t WANT to play because of an injury, whats the harm in benching him? he was gonna halfass it anyway. it’d be like playin with 10 guys on offense.
gdingle….”and Moreno let’s face it he hasn’t done any better than RB’s we’ve had”…..HE’S A ROOKIE!!!!!!!! And, yes I know its week 17 and he’s had all season, and yada, yada, yada, but just give him time to develope and learn the game a while longer. For some people it just takes a little longer, but Moreno will be a good back in this league, trust me.
how can anyone say Moreno hasn’t done anything? close to 1k as a rookie is good by anyones standards…if im correct, thats what most backs set their sights on, and he has a good chance to achieve it in his first year. not to mention he wasn’t even a full time starter.
NoShow, now is the time,buddy, we definately need you to put your head down & hit the holes! If we can’t run on this Kansas City team on third & 2 or 3 then we need to watch & learn from those who are capable of getting the AFC where we need to be. Team! please, give us what you are capable of. And thank you all for the execution we have recieved in this season change & renewal.
im kinda disgusted with all of the haters here, who really gives a darn about the moves our coach makes, i dont. I just enjoy cheering my head off every sunday hoping and praying to see the home town team win here. All this drama is for the birds, the only thing i care about is seen the orange and blue fight it out on sunday, and do what they can to get the W. everything else… i dont care….. but what do i know, im just a real bronco fan.
Go Broncos!
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4746538
Nice vid. Watch all of it…first part is only about Marshall breaking the record but later u see he has grown. Even after what McD said, he didnt disrepect McD and said he would be proffesional.
Anyway, I think Moreno has done fine. He isnt a powerback but he is running in a powerback system. And since his early fumbles he has learned to hold on to the ball minus the fluke one against the chargers. He has done well in my book for a young back…give him time to devolop and give our team time to be more consistent in all phases of the game.
Just to point out…Bucky had a bigger game that Moreno last week. He was one of the reasons we did so well on the ground. The switch up between Bucky and Moreno….If Bucky cant go or has a setback…we need to play Hillis or Jordan as Morenos breath catchers cuz running games run better when theres a 1,2 punch…anyway, goodnight all
GO BRONCOS