Despite injury, Smith a Broncos' team captain

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Broncos captains — safety John Lynch, cornerback Champ Bailey, center Tom Nalen and quarterback Jay Cutler — went to Mike Shanahan to correct what they thought was a mistake.

The four requested that wide receiver Rod Smith, who is currently on the physically unable to perform list as he returns from offseason hip surgery, be made a captain as well.

So Smith will be a team captain as well this season.

"I had the captains come to me and say they did not feel right not having Rod Smith as a captain,'' Shanahan said. "They know if he would have been healthy he definitely would have been one of our captain. To want Rod Smith as part of the group. I thought it was a heck of an idea.''

Welcome

Linebacker Jamie Winborn went through his first day on the job Wednesday.

With the Broncos carrying just five linebackers on the roster into the season opener in Buffalo and Louis Green having suffered a pinched nerve in his neck during the game, Winborn was signed Tuesday.

A seventh-year veteran, Winborn was among the Buccaneers final roster cuts when teams went to 53 players earlier this month and has played for the 49ers and Jaguars as well in his career. He had worked at middle linebacker and weak side linebacker -- away from the tight end -- in training camp this year.

"I'm hoping I can pick the defense up,'' Winborn said. "Defense is pretty much the same all around, it's just a matter of terminology . . . I think I can contribute on special teams as soon as the coach is ready for me to.''

Winborn was a regular on Tampa's special teams last season finishing with 14 tackles. He practiced with the Broncos for the first time Wednesday.

"They haven't had a chance to see what I really can do,'' Winborn said. "It's just a matter now of coming in so late, I have a lot of catching up to do and I'll put in the effort and we see how it falls out.''

A former second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2001 draft, his best season came in '04 for the '49ers when he started 10 games and finished with 104 tackles and 4.5 sacks.



On the mend

Guard Ben Hamilton was advised by doctors to remain at home this week as he continues to recover from a concussion he suffered in the preseason.

Shanahan said Hamilton will not participate in meetings or practice this week and will be evaluated again next week.

"They thought maybe if he stayed away this week it would help some,'' Shanahan said.

Hamilton missed nearly all of the preseason after suffering a concussion Aug. 3 in practice. He tried to return the following week, but lasted just a few plays and has continued to suffer dizziness when he works out.

Hamilton has also visited specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's sports medicine concussion program.

Injuries

Cornerback Domonique Foxworth (right ankle) and tight end Stephen Alexander (calf) did not practice Wednesday.

ETC.

• Rookie tackle Ryan Harris, who has been out since having a bulging disc repaired in his back last month, said he could return to practice this week.

• Raiders quarterback Josh McCown was to be held out of Wednesday's practice because of an injury to the index finger on his right (throwing) hand. Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said he hoped McCown would practice Thursday.

If McCown couldn't play Sunday against the Broncos, Daunte Culpepper would start.



He said it

"I think Sonny had a remarkable ability to relate to the players and tell them exactly how it was. That's a great trait to have . . . He was real honest with the players and knowing then that it's not what they want to hear sometimes, but they do respect that.''

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin on what he took away from a season (1999) of working with Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick.

Numbers game

19-5 record against the Raiders for Broncos coach Mike Shanahan since the start of the 1995 season, his first as Denver's head coach. Washington's Joe Gibbs is the only other active coach with at least 20 wins against one team -- Gibbs has 21 against the Cardinals.

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359