Broncos report, October 19

Friday, October 19, 2007

Second thoughts

Frustrated by his inability to convince the Broncos he's healthy, and seemingly destined to take another weekend off, defensive end Simeon Rice said Thursday he currently is regretting joining the team as a free agent.

"At this point I am," he said. "My energy and purpose is to play and be the best. I'm not suiting up week to week and I don't have any plain, concise answers."

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan contended after Rice was deactivated for the Oct. 7 game against the San Diego Chargers that the NFL's No. 2 active sacks leader's surgically repaired left shoulder was only "about 80 percent" and "it was in our best interest to go in a different direction."

Yet while Rice admitted he was still on the mend when he arrived in Denver - he signed a $3 million contract Sept. 4 after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released him - he turned the corner physically during the Sept. 30 loss at Indianapolis.

Rice insists he's now 100 percent and labels the discrepancy between his version and the team's regarding his health as "a difference of opinion."

"I'm really just trying to lock myself in and just make it through the year because I have no idea why I've been brought here - at all," he said. "Things have been said. Things have been promised. Things have been told. And I'm at the point where I'm ready to perform and help this team out. They don't have anything like me on this defense. But it is what it is."

Rice maintained he already has been informed he'll be a game-day inactive Sunday against Pittsburgh.

"I've been brought here to rehab," he lamented.

And there are no plans to seek out Shanahan to clear the air because Rice stated he already has spoken his peace and told the club he's ready to contribute.

"I ain't going to nobody. I've already conversated," he said.

The nagging sense about not being in peak physical shape when Rice arrived has morphed into something different.

He described himself as walking the halls of Dove Valley aimlessly, searching for his purpose for being on the roster.

"My frustration is everything wound up. It's like a thread and you can't pick them all apart at this point. I'm a knotted cluster," he said. "Before, it was frustrating, but now the fact I'm ready and capable of being who I am and not allowed to, it's brain strain."

Roster move

Tight end Stephen Alexander was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

Alexander injured his lower left leg in the final preseason game and since has been able to practice only sporadically. He was kicked in the same leg during Monday's practice, which would have sidelined him several weeks.

The Broncos added tackle/tight end Chad Mustard to take the vacated roster spot. Mustard, a frequent addition to the roster during the past two seasons, not only will help fill Alexander's void but the one created by Nate Jackson's season-ending groin injury before the bye.

"We didn't think we could go into the game with only two tight ends," Shanahan said, referring to Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler.

Before this season, Alexander had started 29 of 32 games since joining the Broncos as a free agent in 2005. He had 39 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns with the Broncos.

Biding his time

The list reads like a who's who of journeymen quarterbacks: Vinny Testaverde, Tim Rattay, Gus Frerotte, Kerry Collins.

The group of backups forced, or hand-picked, into action reached a whopping nine players because of injuries or ineffectiveness Sunday.

Broncos second-string quarterback Patrick Ramsey has seen the carnage from afar and is incredulous at the recent circumstances.

"It's insane, really," he said. "Defenses are stacking up to knock the quarterback out and have been successful for the most part this year. And there's just guys who were home last week who played. . . . I'm happy for those guys. But it's crazy they're out there playing."

Ramsey, on the other hand, hasn't taken a snap. Jay Cutler is one of 11 quarterbacks to play full time this season.

Ramsey behind the scenes is preparing as if he'll be pressed into action and not getting worked up about his inactivity or the fact his contract should keep him with the Broncos through next season with Cutler entrenched.

"I think if I wasn't so happy here, I'd look at it enviously, but I'm content," he said. "I like the coaches, the organization and the way we do things. I'm envious because I'd like to play but not in a way where I envy their position."

Hall pass?

The Broncos' ongoing search for productivity on kickoff returns could mean an opportunity for running back Andre Hall.

Hall ran back 16 kicks for a 20.8-yard average at South Florida but doesn't have a pro return.

"Returning is what I do, running the ball," Hall said. "And I really want to get a good one this week and see if I can pop one off. It's going to be a challenge."

The Broncos previously tried Domenik Hixon and Brian Clark in the role. The two combined for a 22.9-yard average. The Broncos' starting field position after kickoffs (21.4) is last in the league.

Hall likely will be aligned deep with Selvin Young or Glenn Martinez.

Injury report

• Cornerback Champ Bailey missed his third of three practices this week with a strained left quadriceps. He told reporters he didn't know about his availability Sunday. Shanahan said Bailey "hopefully" can practice today.

• Steelers defensive tackle Casey Hampton (hamstring) was listed as a full participant in practice after missing Wednesday.

He said it

"I'm really surprised because they've come out and smashed the run the previous games we played them the last few years. They've really stepped up and challenged us."

Willie Parker, Steelers running back, on the Broncos' 32nd-ranked run defense.Good bye

The Broncos have the third- best record in the NFL since the inception of the bye week in 1990 when playing after the break.

Minnesota 15-4 .789

Philadelphia 15-4 .789

Broncos 14-4 .778

Dallas 13-5 .722

Kansas City 12-6 .667