Morgan returns with a welcomed flourish

Kickoff runbacks give Broncos some neded field position

Lee Rasizer And Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 18, 2006 at midnight

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GLENDALE, Ariz. - A switch was made on kickoff returns Sunday.

Some of it even had to do with inserting Quincy Morgan deep after a seven-week absence.

The biggest change was that the Broncos returned a kickoff across midfield, with Morgan making a team season-best 64-yarder to set up running back Mike Bell's fourth- quarter touchdown run that helped produce a 17-point cushion.

"We had some pretty good field position," coach Mike Shanahan said. "That's something we're not used to."

The Broncos have only two kickoff runbacks past midfield since Adrian Madise scored an 83-yard touchdown in a game at Green Bay on Dec. 28, 2003.

The first came on a 53-yard return by Cecil Sapp in a Nov. 19 game against San Diego. The second came when Morgan headed up the middle, found a small crack, then bounded outside to the left sideline, avoiding kicker Neil Rackers before being forced out of bounds by cornerback Matt Ware.

He had another kickoff return of 38 yards in the fourth quarter after Arizona cut the deficit to 30-20.

"The (blockers) up front have worked very hard," Morgan said. "And it's like I told them, 'Do your job, give me a little bit of a crease and I can make some plays.'

"You don't need a big hole a lot of times. All you need is a crease. And I appreciate those guys continuing to work hard for me."

Brian Clark had handled the return role since Oct. 29. He averaged only 22.3 yards per runback for a Denver club that was ranked last in the league in return yards and average drive start entering the weekend.

Morgan had signed with Denver after Week 2 and only attempted five returns during a four-week span before his long-term period of inactivity that was by the coaches' decision.

"I've been going through that the past few years," said Morgan, who was told Wednesday he was going to dress for the game Sunday. "You've got to have faith, man, and just being around this football team has held me together. It's been fun just being here."

The deactivation of usual punt returner Darrent Williams because of a left toe problem necessitated another switch to David Kircus, who had a 16-yard runback among his three returns.

Overall, it was perhaps the best day this season for Denver's special teams, with Jason Elam kicking first-half field goals of 30, 22 and 30 yards off stalled red-zone drives despite a sore left hamstring.

Paul Ernster stuck his only punt inside the 20 and added two more touchbacks to his kickoff totals.

HOMECOMING KING: Mike Bell played in front of 15 to 20 family members who made the trip from down the street.

Bell played his high school ball at Tolleson High in suburban Phoenix and his college career about a two- hour drive down Interstate 10, at the University of Arizona. Well-wishers took pictures with the rookie in the players' area near the Broncos bus after the game, and he signed autographs.

His two rushing touchdowns Sunday made the experience all the more special.

"It was nice, man," he said. "It reminds me of old times being here."

CHIPPY, CHIPPY: There were some extracurricular activities in the game. Domonique Foxworth got into a scrap with a Cardinals player believed to be Hanik Milligan after a punt return in the first quarter. Foxworth, who's charged with jamming the gunners on the outside, rolled around and appeared to push Milligan into the ground.

Cardinals center Nick Leckey taunted fallen Broncos defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban by straddling and staring him down well behind a pass play.

But Arizona end Antonio Smith figures to draw a fine for his involvement on top of the pile during a loose-ball scramble on a Jay Cutler fumble that Denver tackle George Foster recovered at the Cardinals 48-yard line in the fourth quarter.

Denver center Tom Nalen tried to pull Smith off the heap of bodies, and Smith retaliated by throwing a punch Nalen's way. A couple of Denver linemen said Smith struck not only Nalen, but an official, who promptly ejected Smith.

REMEMBER WHEN?: Cutler was the quarterback in an option offense his first two seasons at Vanderbilt, so he knows how to run the ball, carrying it three times for 10 yards Sunday.

And while those are not double- take totals, the Broncos showed their future intentions with him with a second-and-8 call at the Cardinals 4 in the fourth quarter.

On a called run, Cutler took off out of the shotgun formation for 7 yards, even hurdling an Arizona defender.

"I was an option quarterback for two years," Cutler said. "I've still got a few runs left in me."

HEY, THAT'S MINE: Champ Bailey's two interceptions gave him eight this season - the total he finished with in 2005, when he was named to his fifth Pro Bowl - and the second one came at the expense of safety John Lynch.

"The second one, he stole my pick," Lynch said with a laugh. "I wasn't just sitting back, I was attacking the ball, I was right there. Boom, here comes a flash out of nowhere. That's what he does. I have so much respect for him."

Lynch said he also let Bailey in on something Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart had said last week.

"I didn't tell him until after the first pick that I saw an interview last week where Leinart said, 'We're not going to not go at (Bailey), we're going to go at him.' (Leinart) learned early on it's probably not the wisest decision to go his way."

INJURY REPORT: Tight end Stephen Alexander, who was playing with heavy padding on his injured ribs, was limited and didn't play much in the second half.

"I could have finished, but I guess they didn't want to make it any worse," he said.

Linebacker Keith Burns briefly left the field in the fourth quarter after being shaken up on a kickoff return, but he later said he felt fine.

Wide receiver Javon Walker had treatment on his shoulder and will be evaluated further today.

ETC.: The Broncos had only one penalty - a 5-yard encroachment call seven plays before the game ended. Denver went without a flag Sept. 17 against Kansas City in its only better performance in that area . . . Clark, running back Damien Nash, running back Cedric Cobbs, linebacker Nate Webster, tackle Adam Meadows, defensive end Kenny Peterson and defensive tackle Antwon Burton were the Broncos' game-day inactives. Foster started at right tackle and had the aforementioned well- timed fumble recovery.

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