Undrafted Clark hopes he'll be able to catch on

Rookie lacks college statistics but has plenty of size, speed

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 5, 2006 at midnight

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ENGLEWOOD - Talk about camouflage.

For Broncos rookie wide receiver Brian Clark, the draft had a whole different look. He watched three of his former North Carolina State teammates get selected in the first round in April, all from the 7-5 team's defense (defensive end Mario Williams, defensive end Manny Lawson and defensive tackle John McCargo).

And when the Tennessee Titans took former Wolfpack linebacker Stephen Tulloch in the fourth round and the 49ers selected defensive back Marcus Hudson in the sixth round, that meant five players off the N.C. State defense were drafted.

"I guess that means we had some struggles on the other side of the ball, we couldn't pull it together . . . " Clark said. "But I had no concerns in the draft, I knew going into it that it was going to be an uphill battle. It's a game of performance, guys who have performed in college.

"The fact I didn't have enough catches or maybe I didn't have enough productivity in college hurt me a little. But I'm here now."

Clark is, and he is doing his best to get noticed at a crowded spot on the Broncos roster. Even without veteran Ashley Lelie in camp, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he has as much depth as the team has had in his tenure.

Clark had 25 receptions for 537 yards for a Wolfpack offense that finished 11th in the 12-team Atlantic Coast Conference in yards per game (314.6). His 78 career receptions for 1,311 yards were about what Broncos' fourth- round pick Domenik Hixon had in his senior year at Akron alone (75 catches for 1,210 yards).

Still, when Clark went undrafted, he had plenty of suitors because of his size (6-2, 204 pounds) and speed - he had the sixth-fastest 60-meter dash time in school history on the indoor track team.

But he wanted to try to make his way with the Broncos. Earlier this week, he made a one-handed catch in one-on-one drills that has been one of the best plays in training camp.

"I had a lot of choices, I had about 18 teams call me, that's a blessing," Clark said. "They've had guys who maybe weren't all that hyped or something, maybe they struggled a little, but they went on to do great things and help the team win. I felt like it was an opportunity for me to give it my best effort, and that's all I'm out here to do, say, 'Hey, this is Brian Clark, if I can help, I'll be glad to help you in any way. If not, I appreciate the opportunity.' "

HONORED GUESTS: Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, as part of his work with his foundation, invited members of the Air Force's 21st and 50th Space Wings, based at Peterson Air Force base and Schriever Air Force base, to morning practice Friday.

The airmen stayed after practice, collecting autographs and snapshots with some of the Broncos players and coaches, including Shanahan.

"To be able to bring them back up here and show them some appreciation for what they're doing," Plummer said. "It's tough on their families, tough on them. They're out there working hard. It's great they can come up and see us."

Plummer and other Broncos have visited the bases during the past two years.

BIG PLANS: A look at rookie quarterback Jay Cutler's six- year contract shows the Broncos certainly will reward him for any future success.

The deal includes about 45 percent performance incentives, and if Cutler hits them all, it will be worth $47.86 million.

Among the performance bonuses are $1.95 million for any year in the first five years of the deal that he finishes in the top five in any of the league's major passing categories, as well as a $4 million bonus for taking 60 percent of the offensive snaps in any three years or 70 percent of the snaps in 2009.

There also is a potential $500,000 bonus in each of the first five years for taking 70 percent of the snaps and either taking 70 percent of the snaps in a Super Bowl or winning a Super Bowl.

ETC.: Rookie center Greg Eslinger (shoulder) and linebacker T.J. Hollowell (left calf) did not participate in either practice Friday. As training camp grinds on, there have been more players facing some aches. The Broncos held four players out of practices Monday because of injuries, but by Friday, there were nine players held out of both practices because of injuries . . . Safety Curome Cox was in uniform but limited to only a few snaps in the morning workout because of a sore shoulder . . . The morning practice today will include a 10-minute goal-line period. Players will be in full gear for the workout . . . There were 1,776 people at the team's morning practice, according to Broncos officials.

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