Wednesday's Broncos' report: Waiting is the hardest part for Hamilton

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Broncos guard Ben Hamilton has played through pain before, he's worked his way past assorted aches and sprains that come with working in the offensive line.

But his recent battle with post-concussion symptoms is another thing entirely.

"It's something that I've learned you can't just push through like a sprained ankle,'' Hamilton said. "Your ankle, if you're 60 percent you can go out there and practice, but this you have to wait until you're 100 percent.

"(If) you fight against it, you're going to lose every time.''

Hamilton spent part of last week undergoing tests by a specialist with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's sports medicine concussion program. One of the center's doctors, Dr. Mark Lovell, is director of neurocognitive testing for both the NFL and NHL.

Hamilton will miss Sunday's opener in Buffalo, snapping his streak of 80 consecutive starts and Chris Myers will start at left guard.

Doctors, after Hamilton underwent the tests, told the Broncos he should not take part in practice or even conditioning work for two weeks, when he will be evaluated again.

"It's not something I'm too scared about because the doctors say I'll feel better,'' Hamilton said.

Hamilton suffered his concussion when he collided with a teammate during an Aug. 3 practice. He attempted to practice again, five days after the hit, but left the workout after just a few plays and hasn't practiced since.

When Hamilton is cleared for practice, he will then likely need some additional time to get his conditioning back to game readiness.

"I don't really have a prediction right now,'' Hamilton said. "I'd rather it be sooner than later, though.''

Linebacker lite

When the Broncos added Simeon Rice to the roster, they released linebacker Wesley Mallard.

Which means the Broncos have just five linebackers on the roster -- none on the practice squad. Ian Gold, D.J. Williams and Nate Webster are the starters to go with backups D.D. Lewis and Louis Green.

It also means that when the Broncos offense is working against a scout team defense showing what the Buffalo Bills are expected to do, one of the Broncos starters isn't getting a break, instead having to fill in on the scout team as well.

"We know when you add somebody new, things happen sometimes,'' Broncos assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates said. "You work with the guys you have out there and you get done what needs to be done.

"That's our approach. We just make up for it.''

First glance

While Bates' defenses have traditionally not been known for a variety of exotic things over the years, the general feeling around the league is the Broncos didn't show much beyond what was necessary of their new defensive scheme in the preseason.

So, the Bills have turned back the clock, looking at defenses Bates has coached in previous stops as a coordinator in Green Bay and Miami.

"You never know how teams are going to go, what they think about their players,'' Bills quarterback J.P. Losman said. "You can go back and study these guys, you just don't know how they're going to play their safeties, who they feel their best rushers are, how they're going to play our receivers.

You don't know those things and we won't find out until (Sunday's game).''

ETC.

• Defensive tackle Sam Adams, who will be held out of practice regularly this season, was held out of Wednesday's workout. Shanahan said Adams worked out in the team's weight room and will likely practice today.

• Cornerback Karl Paymah (concussion) was held out of practice.

• Tight end Stephen Alexander, who has a calf injury, was limited in practice.

• The Bills listed no players as having been limited in practice.

• The Broncos worked out four offensive linemen Wednesday: Former Brigham Young tackle Ben Archibald, who was cut by the Saints this past weekend; former LSU guard Brian Johnson, who started games at both guard spots as well as right tackle in his career with the Tigers and had gone to training camp with the Arizona Cardinals; former USC guard/center Norm Katnik, who was cut by the Vikings; and tackle Brandon Torrey, who spent the '06 season on the Steelers practice squad.

• Former Broncos fullback Kyle Johnson had a workout with the Patriots Wednesday.

He said it

"It's like I've said, I'm here to get back on the Mount Rushmore of football.''

Broncos defensive end Simeon Rice on coming to Denver.

"Hopefully we'll be a lot better offensively than we were a year ago. That was one of the poorest years we've had in a long time, point production, running offense, passing offense.''

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on the team's '06 offense.

Grand slam

In Mike Shanahan's tenure as coach, the Broncos have not lost to the Bills.

Date Location Result

Sept. 3, 1995 Denver Broncos 22-7*

Oct. 26, 1997 Buffalo Broncos 23-20 (OT)

Sept. 22, 2002 Denver Broncos 28-23

Dec. 17, 2005 Buffalo Broncos 28-17

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359