Rice Takes

I know, I know, there is still Thursday night’s preseason finale to tend to. But I’m ready to get the regular season going. Since the starters won’t play against the Cardinals, it won’t feel like a real game.

It’s still an important game for the players who have one final opportunity to make a positive impression. But realistically, how many roster spots are open? I can’t believe it’s a large number at all.

Of the reserve players, there are a few who have me at least intrigued, if not excited.

One of those guys is wide receiver Brian Clark. He has shown the ability to make plays, he doesn’t seem to be afraid to go over the middle, he has shown improvement, and — while this may not count for a whole lot — he seems like a really neat guy. Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokely, Domenik Hixon and maybe Clark, maybe Quincy Morgan, maybe both are on the roster for the season opener against Buffalo.

(more…)

They call it preseason for a reason. The games don’t count and in the big picture, it really doesn’t matter what the final score is.

I realize the Broncos have not played particularly well in the first two preseason games against San Francisco and Dallas.

And I realize there are issues on defense. I know the Broncos have more than their share of injuries, especially on offense.

But it isn’t September 9th yet. It’s the PREseason. This is what the preseason is for: To be able to evaluate players and make adjustments in games that don’t count.

(more…)

New Broncos running back Travis Henry doesn’t look all that imposing. He’s 5’ 9” tall and weighs 230 pounds. But he rules the roost of Denver rushers.

Henry has had a great start to training camp and the initial reports are more than positive. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler loves having Henry in his backfield.

“I’m probably more excited about him than anybody else,” Cutler said after Monday morning’s practice.

“The way he’s hitting holes and how he’s reading blocks and getting downhill…we’re throwing some new protections at him and he’s able to pick up all that stuff and get out and catch the ball.”

Cutler makes it sound like Superman just changed the color of his tights to orange and blue.

(more…)

It’s one of those moments everyone dreads: Seeing a player motionless on the field. One of those moments came Thursday morning when Broncos’ linebacker Warrick Holdman collided with a teammate and didn’t get up.

As of Thursday night, Holdman was at Sky Ridge Medical Center with a spinal cord concussion. Needless to say, he and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.

It is amazing how quickly sports can become secondary to life’s more important things, such as health. While fans root for teams and players, and members of the media report on their endeavors, players are still people. They are people with lives, hopes, dreams, ambitions, likes and dislikes.

(more…)