tnedator
07-31-2006, 01:32 PM
Another longshot
Broncos may have unearthed an unheralded RB
By Bill Wilson
The Daily Times-Call
ENGLEWOOD — By the time the late rounds arrived last spring, Mike Bell no longer wanted to be drafted.
After surviving the disappointment of two days without hearing his name called on television, the Arizona running back decided his best chance at
an NFL career was with the Denver Broncos. And that couldn’t
happen if another team took him.
“I’m in the best situation I can be in,” said Bell, who signed with Denver as a free agent shortly after the draft ended. “I’m with one of the best teams in the NFL with one of the best running offenses in the NFL. You can’t ask for much more.”
For how quiet Bell kept on draft day, he’s making a lot of noise so far in training camp. He’s not only roused the crowds at Dove Valley with his quick feet and shifty style, he’s worked his way into the good graces of head coach Mike Shanahan.
“Mike’s having a heck of a camp. He really has stepped up and has been very impressive,” Shanahan said. “A lot of players see him making plays that they haven’t seen for awhile.
“He’s right in the mix.”
Bell still has plenty of players to overcome before he can make the roster, let alone play on Sundays, but the tailback position in Denver is far from impenetrable.
Running back Ron Dayne, all but forgotten by the New York Giants two seasons ago, is the current frontrunner with the flashy but unproven Tatum Bell at No. 2.
The depth thins from there, with Mike Bell, fellow rookie Cedric Cobbs and fullback Cecil Sapp battling for the No. 3 spot.
“With running backs, you really can’t tell until you put the players in live situations and get them a lot of reps,” Shanahan said. “Everybody’s getting some work.”
And for Bell, who learned on draft day that fit trumps glory, work is all he’s asking for.
Chain mover: Jay Cutler’s third day of practice with the Broncos was perhaps his best with the team so far.
The rookie quarterback’s biggest moment came during 11-on-11 drills in the morning session Sunday. Cutler led the third-team offense on a scoring drive, culminating with a 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brian Clark.
The drive’s highlight came when Cutler was flushed from the pocket, scrambled to his right, then stepped up and fired a rocket to receiver Todd Devoe.
“He made a couple of plays in that situation, which is good to see,” Shanahan said. “It’s always nice to put quarterbacks in situations where you see how they’re going to react during a game, and I thought he did a pretty good job for the first time.”
After spending most of his time trying to digest the team’s offense, Cutler said the drill was a nice break.
“I was able to just drop back, have some fun and play football,” he said. “A lot of it was just reacting.”
Meadows in the mix: The Broncos signing of veteran offensive lineman Tim Meadows on Saturday could have an immediate impact on the team.
Shanahan said Meadows, expected to join the team after today’s practices, will be expected to push starter George Foster at right tackle.
“He has starting ability,” Shanahan said. “If he’s healthy, he’s been a difference maker.”
Meadows has been out of the NFL since 2004, but hasn’t played since the 2003 season due to a shoulder injury. A second-round draft pick, he started every game for the Indianapolis Colts during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
The Broncos added Meadows without cutting anyone from their roster. Because receiver Ashley Lelie is holding out in the attempt to force a trade, Denver put him on the did-not-report list, freeing up a roster spot.
Training room: Safety Sam Brandon, who felt tightness in his hamstring during Saturday’s evening practice, did not participate in either session Sunday.
Shanahan estimated Brandon, who rebounded quickly from a hamstring injury last season, would be out two or three days.
Linebacker Nate Webster (knee) was limited to one practice Sunday as a precaution, offensive lineman Erik Pears (hand) missed Sundays’ afternoon session and receiver Domenik Hixon (foot) is expected to miss extensive action.
Bill Wilson can be reached at wwilson@times-call.com.
http://www.broncos07.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Broncos may have unearthed an unheralded RB
By Bill Wilson
The Daily Times-Call
ENGLEWOOD — By the time the late rounds arrived last spring, Mike Bell no longer wanted to be drafted.
After surviving the disappointment of two days without hearing his name called on television, the Arizona running back decided his best chance at
an NFL career was with the Denver Broncos. And that couldn’t
happen if another team took him.
“I’m in the best situation I can be in,” said Bell, who signed with Denver as a free agent shortly after the draft ended. “I’m with one of the best teams in the NFL with one of the best running offenses in the NFL. You can’t ask for much more.”
For how quiet Bell kept on draft day, he’s making a lot of noise so far in training camp. He’s not only roused the crowds at Dove Valley with his quick feet and shifty style, he’s worked his way into the good graces of head coach Mike Shanahan.
“Mike’s having a heck of a camp. He really has stepped up and has been very impressive,” Shanahan said. “A lot of players see him making plays that they haven’t seen for awhile.
“He’s right in the mix.”
Bell still has plenty of players to overcome before he can make the roster, let alone play on Sundays, but the tailback position in Denver is far from impenetrable.
Running back Ron Dayne, all but forgotten by the New York Giants two seasons ago, is the current frontrunner with the flashy but unproven Tatum Bell at No. 2.
The depth thins from there, with Mike Bell, fellow rookie Cedric Cobbs and fullback Cecil Sapp battling for the No. 3 spot.
“With running backs, you really can’t tell until you put the players in live situations and get them a lot of reps,” Shanahan said. “Everybody’s getting some work.”
And for Bell, who learned on draft day that fit trumps glory, work is all he’s asking for.
Chain mover: Jay Cutler’s third day of practice with the Broncos was perhaps his best with the team so far.
The rookie quarterback’s biggest moment came during 11-on-11 drills in the morning session Sunday. Cutler led the third-team offense on a scoring drive, culminating with a 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brian Clark.
The drive’s highlight came when Cutler was flushed from the pocket, scrambled to his right, then stepped up and fired a rocket to receiver Todd Devoe.
“He made a couple of plays in that situation, which is good to see,” Shanahan said. “It’s always nice to put quarterbacks in situations where you see how they’re going to react during a game, and I thought he did a pretty good job for the first time.”
After spending most of his time trying to digest the team’s offense, Cutler said the drill was a nice break.
“I was able to just drop back, have some fun and play football,” he said. “A lot of it was just reacting.”
Meadows in the mix: The Broncos signing of veteran offensive lineman Tim Meadows on Saturday could have an immediate impact on the team.
Shanahan said Meadows, expected to join the team after today’s practices, will be expected to push starter George Foster at right tackle.
“He has starting ability,” Shanahan said. “If he’s healthy, he’s been a difference maker.”
Meadows has been out of the NFL since 2004, but hasn’t played since the 2003 season due to a shoulder injury. A second-round draft pick, he started every game for the Indianapolis Colts during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
The Broncos added Meadows without cutting anyone from their roster. Because receiver Ashley Lelie is holding out in the attempt to force a trade, Denver put him on the did-not-report list, freeing up a roster spot.
Training room: Safety Sam Brandon, who felt tightness in his hamstring during Saturday’s evening practice, did not participate in either session Sunday.
Shanahan estimated Brandon, who rebounded quickly from a hamstring injury last season, would be out two or three days.
Linebacker Nate Webster (knee) was limited to one practice Sunday as a precaution, offensive lineman Erik Pears (hand) missed Sundays’ afternoon session and receiver Domenik Hixon (foot) is expected to miss extensive action.
Bill Wilson can be reached at wwilson@times-call.com.
http://www.broncos07.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1