When the Denver Broncos cut their roster Saturday down to the 53-player mandate there was some speculation that WR Chad Jackson and RB Lamont Jordan would both be on the roster. It wasn't because they necessarily deserved to be there, but because of their ties to head coach Josh McDaniels and the New England Patriots.
Well, they were half right.
Both players did make the roster, initially, but Jackson has since been cut after malcontent WR Brandon Marshall was placed back on the roster after having his team-imposed suspension lifted Sunday. Jackson couldn't hold onto the spot despite knowing the offense. Then again, the injury-proned WR couldn't keep his job in New England, either.
Meanwhile, Jordan, one of a handful of running backs brought in by the Broncos this offseason to help a RB core that went through seven backs a year ago, made the roster even if his play during the preseason said otherwise.
Running back Darius Walker more than outplayed Jordan, but the elder RBs experience paid off in the end. The fact that Denver was able to get Walker back on the practice squad might also speak volumes of what other teams thought of his talent. But one things for certain, McDaniels isn't letting loyalty weigh in on his decisions.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
A first ... win, that is, for McDaniels
Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has received his share of criticism this offseason. A great deal of it he may have brought on himself after the 33-year-old's hiring back in January.
First, his falling out with the team's Pro Bowl QB led to Jay Cutler's trade to the Chicago Bears five months ago. Now he's dealing with an underpaid, but crybaby-like WR in Brandon Marshall, who the team suspended last week for conduct detrimental to the team.
In all of this, his Broncos started 0-3 and the first-team offense looked shaky, at best, in losses to San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago.
So when sixth-round QB Tom Brandstater led five scoring drives, including a first-quarter TD, and Matt Prater booted four field goals Thursday night for a 19-0 win over the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals at Invesco Field a little of that heat was taken off McDaniels.
The win, primarily since starters like Kyle Orton, Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper didn't play, in the final preseason game is not noteworthy. The Broncos avoided the first winless preseason since the team's first season in 1960.
As for McDaniels, at least for one night, he can rest easy knowing the locals won't call for his head today.
First, his falling out with the team's Pro Bowl QB led to Jay Cutler's trade to the Chicago Bears five months ago. Now he's dealing with an underpaid, but crybaby-like WR in Brandon Marshall, who the team suspended last week for conduct detrimental to the team.
In all of this, his Broncos started 0-3 and the first-team offense looked shaky, at best, in losses to San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago.
So when sixth-round QB Tom Brandstater led five scoring drives, including a first-quarter TD, and Matt Prater booted four field goals Thursday night for a 19-0 win over the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals at Invesco Field a little of that heat was taken off McDaniels.
The win, primarily since starters like Kyle Orton, Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper didn't play, in the final preseason game is not noteworthy. The Broncos avoided the first winless preseason since the team's first season in 1960.
As for McDaniels, at least for one night, he can rest easy knowing the locals won't call for his head today.
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