Backups post win, await verdict on making team
Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
Friday, August 31, 2007
With plenty of shoulder pads stacked in the locker room and Broncos frontline players not wearing them on the sideline, the preseason was sent into the books Thursday night at Invesco Field at Mile High.
And when it was over, the Broncos backups had acquitted themselves quite nicely with a 21-3 victory against the Arizona Cardinals and, as a result, finished their August work at 2-2.
"We got a chance to evaluate a few of our young players, and as you can see, some of them stepped up," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "(They have) opportunities to make this football team."
The Cardinals, who finished the preseason 0-4, played their starters for about two series. But the Broncos chose to rest their starters as they already had begun preparing for their Sept. 9 regular- season opener in Buffalo against the Bills.
As a result, the Broncos lineup held a few mild surprises in the game, the first being rookie quarterback Darrell Hackney making the start instead of veteran Preston Parsons.
Hackney, who completed 2-of-6 passes for 27 yards in the first half, played deep into the third quarter and finished 6-of-13 for 84 yards.
"In some form, practice squad or the 53-man roster, I'm hoping I have a job here," Hackney said. "Hopefully, I don't get that call telling me I'm cut."
And at a crowded running back spot, rookie Selvin Young started both halves and fellow first-year player Andre Hall followed him into the game.
Cecil Sapp and Mike Bell, who have played at tailback throughout the preseason, lined up at fullback as the Broncos tried to sort out things at some of the reserve spots.
Young finished with 49 rushing yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown and Hall had 52 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns.
"It felt good to play so much," Hall said. "Now you just hope for the best."
Rosters leaguewide have to be at 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday. But the Broncos personnel hierarchy and the coaches will meet today, and Shanahan told players after the game the team would inform those who had been released Saturday morning.
The Broncos entered the game with 75 players.
The Cardinals starters, with Matt Leinart at quarterback and Edgerrin James in the backfield, took the first possession of the game 79 yards before they stalled at the Broncos 1-yard line.
Leinart threw incomplete on second and third down before Neil Rackers finished the drive with a 19-yard field goal that gave Arizona its only points.
The Broncos' first touchdown came on a possession they started at their 25-yard line with 2:30 to play in the first quarter. Hackney completed passes of 16 and 11 yards on the drive, receiver Domenik Hixon took an end-around 43 yards and Hall finished it with a 2-yard run for a score with 14:20 left in the second quarter.
Hall added another 2-yard run for a score with 5:50 left in the third quarter, helping push the lead to 14-3.
Young scored on a 12-yard run early in the fourth quarter to help the Broncos to a 21-3 lead.
As always, the biggest fear of any team closing out the preseason is injuries.
And Broncos cornerback Karl Paymah was taken off the field on a backboard with 7:07 to play in the first half after suffering a concussion.
Paymah was knocked unconscious after being kneed on the crown of the helmet by Cardinals running back Steve Baylark. Paymah went low to make the tackle and Baylark's knee struck him as he flipped over Paymah after the hit.
Paymah was taken to Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree as a precaution and was to spend the night there.
Shanahan said X-rays and a CT scan were negative and Paymah also would have a magnetic resonance imaging exam but was "feeling very good."
Paymah had feeling and movement in all his limbs.
Also, tight end Stephen Alexander left the game in the first quarter because of a bruised lower leg leg.
Guard Ben Hamilton, who has missed much of the preseason after suffering a concussion, was at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on Thursday for more tests and was expected to have more tests today.
Shanahan said he didn't know when Hamilton would be able to return to practice.
legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359
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