Wednesday at Broncos' camp

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Just in case

The Broncos have, indeed, put their name on a grievance the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have filed against former quarterback Jake Plummer, but it was largely a move to guard against some of the potential outcomes in the proceeding.

The Buccaneers, who put Plummer on their reserve/did not report list, now are trying to recover more than $7 million, a part of the signing bonus on the deal Plummer signed in Denver.

The Broncos made the possibility for the Buccaneers to try to recover the money part of the March trade that sent Plummer's rights to Tampa Bay. Plummer retired after the two teams had worked out an earlier deal, so both teams constructed the second trade that allowed the Buccaneers to chase the money - an incentive, it was thought, to get Plummer to report - and brought the Broncos a draft pick for a player who already had said he didn't want to remain with the team.

The pick is a seventh-rounder in the 2008 draft now, but it would improve to a fourth-rounder if Plummer reports to Tampa Bay or to any other team in the league before draft day in '08.

Plummer steadfastly promised earlier this year that "there will not be a jersey that has an NFL patch . . . on my body."

The Broncos are believed to have joined the grievance with the Buccaneers simply in case an arbitrator eventually rules that the trade is void because Plummer retired - not an expected outcome, but a possibility - then the Broncos could try to recover the $7 million.

That's because his contract would return to Denver, and the Broncos then could say he was in violation of his contract because he did not report.

Family matters

Broncos rookie running back Andre Hall has been one of the most energetic players on the field in training camp.

Hall, a Broncos practice squad player during the final seven weeks of the 2006 season, is trying to wrestle a roster spot away from more established players while keeping his thoughts with his parents in Florida.

Monday, his mother, Carol, who is diabetic, was moved out of intensive care in a St. Petersburg, Fla., hospital after becoming disoriented because her blood sugar was dangerously high.

"She didn't really know where she was or anything — it was a little scary," Hall said. "But I talked to her (Wednesday) morning and she keeps telling me not to worry. But my dad has diabetes, too, so sometimes it's been tough to study, tough trying to focus on everything here.

"But I just want to make this team."

On the field, Hall has shown good quickness into the hole and consistently has caught the ball out of the backfield. Scouts always have liked his skills — he had a dozen 100-yard efforts (three of those 200-yard games) in 23 career games at South Florida — but some other numbers got in the way.

Namely his height — the 5-foot-8 1/2 he was measured at the scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Asked if people talked more to him about the 2,731 yards he gained in two seasons at South Florida or his height before that draft, Hall said, "My height. It's always about my height. They think I'll be a little weaker. But it's about your heart, why you're doing what you're doing. I'm going to do all I can to make this team."

Confidence game

Few players rebound from a mistake more quickly than Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey.

But Bailey credits two notable veterans he played with early in his career. Bailey, a Washington Redskins first-round pick in 1999, played in a Redskins secondary in 2000 that included Darrell Green and Deion Sanders.

"So I've been lucky to play with guys like that - Darrell Green and Deion (Sanders), they didn't care about bad plays," Bailey said. "You would never know they had bad plays, they would wash them out. I learned that from the second I stepped onto the field with them watching those guys, how they handled themselves - it rubbed off on me.

"A bad play, I guarantee, I'm going to move on and make up for it."

Think again

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley said he briefly considered retirement after rupturing his right Achilles' tendon in December.

"After being here a little while, I'm glad I didn't," Stokley said. "But right after the injury, I didn't know if I wanted to give it another run. And then you think about it and that's not how I wanted to go, not like that."

Stokley has been bothered some by a left thigh strain so far in camp, but he said he expects to contribute to the Broncos offense this season.

"I've still got a ways to go to get where I want to be, get my game where I want it to be," Stokley said. "But I like this offense."

Daily highlights

Kicker Jason Elam caught a pass from holder Todd Sauerbrun in field goal drills.

Tight end Teyo Johnson made a leaping catch between linebackers Ian Gold and D.J. Williams in a goal-line period.

Linebacker T.J. Hollowell, and cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth and Dré Bly had interceptions in team drills in the morning practice.

Linebacker Nate Webster was excused from the morning practice for personal reasons. He practiced in the afternoon.

Cornerback Jeff Shoate had an interception in the afternoon practice.

Roster moves

None on Wednesday.

Injury report

Defensive end Jarvis Moss, who twisted his left knee in practice Monday morning, returned to practice Wednesday morning.

Safety Quentin Harris (right knee) did not practice Wednesday. Guard Ben Hamilton (concussion) and tackle Matt Lepsis (groin) also were held out.

Lepsis underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam, but Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said the report was good and that Lepsis should be able to return to practice quickly.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who has not practiced in training camp because of a left thigh injury, said he hoped to be back on the field for the combined practices next week in Dallas.

Rest up

Many of the team's starters were given Wednesday afternoon practice off, especially on defense, where defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, defensive tackle Sam Adams, defensive tackle Gerard Warren, linebacker Ian Gold, cornerback Champ Bailey, cornerback Dré Bly, safety John Lynch and safety Nick Ferguson were held out.

He said it, Part I

"I beat them up all the time. Ian Gold, Dré Bly, D.J. Williams, Champ (Bailey) even plays a little now. But it's relaxing. (Tackle) Chris Washburn beat me once, but I've got on him ever since."

Andre Hall, Broncos running back, on the afternoon chess matches at the Broncos' Dove Valley complex.

He said it, Part II

"No, not really. It looks good on TV, though. That's his philosophy."

John Lynch, Broncos safety, on whether punter Todd Sauerbrun needs to work on his biceps so much in the weight room.

Numbers game

1,672 regular- season points Jason Elam, above, has scored for the Broncos, the most of any player for one team in league history.

If you go

Today: The Broncos will conduct two practices. Morning practice starts at 8:30; gates open at 7:30. Afternoon practice starts at 3:40 (a special teams-only workout, so it will not include the full roster). Gates open at 2:40.

Friday: The Broncos will conduct two full-team workouts. Morning practice starts at 8:30; gates open at 7:30. The afternoon practice is scheduled to start at 3:50; gates open at 2:50.

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359