Earlier this month, we learned that Travis Henry had successfully pried No. 20 away from fellow running back Mike Bell, moving the second-year back to No. 30, a jersey last donned for a regular-season game by Terrell Davis.
The rest of the numbers game is coming into focus, as well, with many new Broncos grabbing their digits for the upcoming season. Grab your scorecards, and let’s go:
Darrell Hackney, QB: He’ll wear No. 4, which he donned at at UAB.
Brandon Stokley, WR: The Broncos issued him No. 14. He has never worn a number outside of the 80s in his NFL career until now, but wore this number to great acclaim back at Louisiana-Lafayette. It was retired from UL-L annals after he completed his four years there with 241 receptions for 3,702 yards and 25 touchdowns while becoming the first player in Division I-A annals to average 100 receiving yards per game for his career.
Glenn Martinez, WR: Will wear No. 17. He wore No. 87 for the Rhein Fire in 2005 and Nos. 12 and 84 for the Detroit Lions in recent years.
Paul Smith, FB: Will wear No. 26. He’s been all over the map, donning jersey No. 27 in San Francisco, 40 in Detroit and 31 in St. Louis.
Troy Fleming, FB: Jersey number 35. He donned 44 with the Tennessee Titans and had No. 27 at the University of Tennessee.
Eric Hill, CB: Jersey number 36. He had Nos. 14 and 37 for the Colts earlier in his career, but that belongs to fellow Colorado State alumnus Cecil Sapp. Hill wore No. 38 for the Carolina Panthers on their practice squad last year and donned No. 26 for the Hamburg Sea Devils in 2006. Back at CSU, he played wide receiver and wore No. 7.
Eddie Moore, LB: Will wear No. 51, donned by Keith Burns the last two years. Moore wore No. 58 in his four years with the Miami Dolphins — three of which were under Broncos assistant head coach Jim Bates — and was No. 37 in your program at the University of Tennessee.
Montrae Holland, OL: Will wear No. 70 after donning No. 61 for his entire New Orleans Saints career. He also wore No. 61 at Florida State.
Carlos Hall, DE: Will wear No. 98 in Denver; he had No. 92 in Kansas City and No. 97 in Tennessee.
Alvin McKinley, DT: Issued No. 99. He had No. 97 for most of his years in Cleveland, although he started there with No. 70. He also wore No. 97 at Mississippi State.
Some players have not yet been issued numbers: tight end Daniel Graham, punter Eddie Johnson, quarterback Patrick Ramsey, offensive tackle Jacob Rogers and three NFL Europa allocations: tight end Teyo Johnson, guard Kevin McAlmont and cornerback Lamont Reid. On Graham, it’s worth noting that there is only one number in the 80s currently open (81).
What’s in a number? If you’re Mike Bell and you’re about to take on the jersey of one of your childhood football heroes, it means asking for permission before you don it — even if that request ends up being via proxy.
The lamentable underrepresentation of the Broncos in the sport’s shrine could be somewhat alleviated later this year.
