Broncos Peterson looking for redemption

Peterson eager to restore playing status, reputation

Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 3, 2007 at midnight

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ENGLEWOOD - Kenny Peterson wants his old job back. And his good name, too.

Suspended four games by the NFL for violating the policy on steroids and related substances, the defensive lineman has returned this week to the Broncos.

And while he awaits the Broncos' decision on whether to shift him to the active roster - they have until Monday - the status of his reputation weighs heavy.

"For a guy like myself who has never drank, never smoked, ever my entire life, to be suspended for an illegal substance, it kind of hurt me because I try to be a role model to everybody back at home and all the kids and stuff like that," said Peterson, who makes his home in Columbus, Ohio, and has a young daughter.

"And with the position God put me in, it's very disheartening because I don't want anybody to think - and more so the kids - that I'm a hypocrite, which I'm not whatsoever."

Peterson previously hasn't discussed his misstep publicly, but he offered details Monday after a Broncos conditioning session.

He insisted no injectable drugs were involved.

"I'm not fond of needles," Peterson said, laughing. "And furthermore, anybody who knows Kenny Peterson knows I'm not that type of guy."

He said a pill to boost metabolism containing a banned substance was the culprit that led to the suspension.

"It was a situation where I wasn't careful about what I was putting into my body. And what was done wasn't done maliciously," Peterson said. "I wasn't cognizant of what was actually in there and I should have paid attention rather than being so nonchalant about it."

Peterson recounted the lonely feeling sitting apart from teammates and thinking about what he could have done to prevent the situation.

"But I'm opening a new chapter and it's behind me," he said. "And I really don't want to go back to it."

And no wonder. Peterson lost $140,000 in wages during his four-week forced absence. He still is on the reserve/suspended list.

Though he hasn't played since the Broncos' preseason finale Aug. 30 against the Arizona Cardinals, he had built a solid base after participating in team drills all summer.

And the Broncos' assistant head coach/defense, Jim Bates, spoke highly at the time of the Peterson's chances of entering the front-four rotation.

"I'm not saying I'm the next coming or whatever, but I'd like to contribute," said Peterson, who has worked out daily during the suspension. "Right now, I've got to go out and show what I can bring to the table and go from there."

During the first month of the season, the defensive front has been in flux and has struggled, particularly against the run.

Peterson can play inside and out, providing needed versatility.

"I've got a history with coach Bates and this scheme and it's fantastic," said Peterson, a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2003 who played under Bates in his third pro season. "It's a scheme that can shut down the run and, obviously, shut down the pass, as you can see. We've just got to play the scheme like we know how and it'll be all right."

Peterson is used to joining the Broncos midstream. He played in three games for the Broncos last season after joining the team in October after Courtney Brown suffered a season-ending left knee injury.

"From a personal standpoint, I thought I had a pretty good camp," he said of his chances of sticking for another year. "But the league's 'What have you done for me lately.' "

HIXON OUT, CLARK IN: The Broncos waived receiver/kick returner Domenik Hixon on Tuesday and re-signed receiver Brian Clark, who had been released last week.

Coach Mike Shanahan was openly critical of the team's special-teams play in the wake of the 38-20 loss against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Broncos are last in the league in average drive start after kickoffs - the 21.5-yard line. Shanahan had promised changes if the coaches believed it would improve the situation.

Hixon, a fourth-round pick by the Broncos in 2006, had averaged 4.6 yards per punt return in seven chances.

He averaged 22.8 yards per return on kickoffs in 12 chances.

ETC: The Broncos worked out five tight ends and two guards, including former Cleveland Browns guard Fred Matua and Chad Upshaw, a former University of Buffalo tight end and nephew of NFL Players Association executive director and Hall of Famer Gene Upshaw. The Broncos also worked out tight ends Richard Angulo, Kendrick Ballantyne, Brett Pierce and Stephen Spach and guard Dan Stevenson. . . . Former Broncos defensive end Kenard Lang has been suspended for six games by the NFL. Lang, who is unsigned, began the suspension Sept. 18. He had been released by the Broncos in training camp.