Chances good Broncos can re-sign Engelberger

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Photo by Barry Gutierrez

John Engelberger puts pressure on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle in the fourth quarter at Invesco Field on Dec. 9.

Count John Engelberger among the list of potential Broncos free agents.

Engelberger's contract for the 2008 season has been voided because he hit 25 percent playing- time thresholds the past two seasons.

A 15-game starter at left defensive end in 2007, Engelberger participated in 55 percent of the defensive snaps and led the team's linemen with 59 tackles despite playing much of the season with a painful shoulder separation. He logged 37 percent play time in '06.

Preliminary discussions already have taken place between Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist and Engelberger's agent, Bob Lattinville, in hopes of keeping the player off the open market. "John loves it out there, so I would imagine there's a pretty strong chance of him being a Bronco moving forward," Lattinville said.

Kicker Jason Elam, defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, fullback Cecil Sapp, safety Nick Ferguson and tight ends Nate Jackson and Stephen Alexander comprise the other half-dozen possible unrestricted free agents on the current roster. Alexander is expected to retire.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: Al Wilson's bid to return to the NFL after a year off will begin, at least temporarily, in Detroit.

The former Broncos captain will undergo a physical exam with the Lions to determine whether there are any lingering effects from the neck issue that abruptly ended his Broncos tenure last April.

Detroit is the first team with which the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker has met this offseason.

SHOP TALK: Denver has been shopping weak-side linebacker Ian Gold, which would open a spot for Jamie Winborn if talks turn into action.

Gold also could be released, given his $4.9 million salary-cap figure and a $500,000 roster bonus due in early March.

COMINGS, GOINGS: The Broncos released linebacker Warrick Holdman, who was a strong candidate for a starting job last summer before a neck injury ended his season. . . . Denver signed third-year receiver Derrick Hamilton, who has spent time with San Francisco, Houston and Tampa Bay since he was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2004 draft.

Staff writer Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.

• February 11, 2008

  4:23 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  Bring back Al Wilson! He'll pass a medical test this year. He was the heart of our D!!!!!

• February 11, 2008

  7:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Broncos4Life writes:

  Is this Derrick Hamilton going to be the depth we'll need after dumping Javon "its all about me" Walker?

• February 12, 2008

  6:11 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  weemoose writes:

  I want Al!!!!!!!

• February 12, 2008

  6:24 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Brent writes:

  Glad to see that there is team recognition that Gold's play wasn't up to standard last year. Maybe it was just a fluke, but the play of Jamie Winborn was noticeably superior to Gold's in the last couple of games....

• February 12, 2008

  7:37 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  crushon77 writes:

  al wilson will not be back in denver because he doesn't want to be back.

  don't know who derrick hamilton is but the broncos were too rash in letting brian clark and domenik hixon go last year.

  walker went thru a frustrating year. i'm not holding his tirade against him if he talks to shanahan and gets his attitude together. a healthy walker and marshall would be a dangerous combination.

• February 12, 2008

  8:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Pigskin writes:

  If we can get a ham sandwich for Gold, we come out ahead. The quicker he's gone, the better.
  Engelberger wouldn't see playing time on many teams, let alone start 15 games. He meets a big criteria of Shanahan and Sundquist, though, in that he won't cost much.
  Elam's the only free agent on our list who means anything.

• February 12, 2008

  8:26 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  KSbroncofan writes:

  When we get Al back we will win Superbowls like we did when he was the only defensive player the team put on the field. I cannot wait! We won't even need a defensive coordinator/coach. Let Al do it! Hey maybe he will agree to play both ways and then we can eliminate the offense and staff also.

• February 12, 2008

  9:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  xbfan writes:

  It would be better if they could un-sign Shannahan.

• February 12, 2008

  9:42 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  bwall19 writes:

  They gotta sign Elam! He is a face of the Broncos! Gold needs to go - bring back Wilson - get rid of Walker - he's expensive and not reliable due to the injury.

• February 12, 2008

  10:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  GovermentCheese writes:

  Please don't bring Al Wilson back...honestly I love AL like most Bronco fans...but the truth is...we was loosing a step before his injury...he may have been the heart of the team, but it's time to move one. That how football works...DJ will be fine in the middle. Once we get rid of Gold and the sasquatch (nate webster)and replace Lynch...love him too...but his pass coverage is terrible, we'll be fine...I still don't know how that dude made the PRO BOWL! I'm sure we'll draft a linebacker and safty. Our defense will improve...It can't get any worse than last year.

• February 12, 2008

  11:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  spock writes:

  Agree about Al but think Lynch is good for at least one more season. I read an eye-opening analysis of Lynch and the safety position on Mile High Report and what was said there is that he reads so quickly and accurately and thus reacts so fast that it makes up for what he lacks in pure speed. The point is, he's going to get to the receiver/ballcarier more quickly than the guy who's still reading the play or who's heading in the wrong direction.

• February 12, 2008

  12:37 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  dadinlittleton writes:

  bring back Al also Lynch. yes older and not as fast as they were but were not talking speed is everything. Heart means more.

  Ken

• February 12, 2008

  12:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Groots writes:

  Hey KSbroncofan, you might want to check how good of a Broncos fan you really are. Al Wilson was not drafted until 1999, one year after we won our last Super Bowl. He was not a part of the Super Bowl teams. Check your facts first....

• February 12, 2008

  4:42 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Brain writes:

  Get rid of Gold? Then we would have nothing at linebacker except MAYBE DJ Williams who obviously could not play inside; Winborn? more lousy decisions by the Broncos,we will have NO DEFENSE FOR A WHILE TO COME.

• February 12, 2008

  4:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dan2 writes:

  It's nice to see so many Bronco's players on the message board. All this "we" and us"

  PEOPLE, YOU ARE NOT ON THE TEAM. STOP REFERRING TO THE TEAM IN THE FIRST PERSON.

  Although what should I expect from the typical Bronco fan?

• February 12, 2008

  5:12 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  bloomdog writes:

  Dan2,
  your an idiot. most people refer to the team in 1st person, because they have been lifelong fans of the Broncos. unlike most people out there, who are very good at jumping on a bandwagon of the 'hot' team and playing it up like they've been a fan all along.
  Denver went from a small market, AFL, whipping post team to a perennial contender.. now go and watch your favorite team of the day and quit bludgeoning people for standing up and supporting something they have passion for.
  cheers...

• February 12, 2008

  7:25 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  R8R_H8R writes:

  WE.........US. It is the FANS TEAM. NOT THE PLAYERS. "WE" the fans were here long before this group of players, and WE the fans will be here long after. Players come and go each and every year. WE is the way to refer to OUR Denver Broncos. WE need to improve on Defense. WE need to improve on Special Teams. WE want a Superbowl Championship.

• February 13, 2008

  9:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  millertime3852 writes:

  Dan2, that is out of line. Not the fact that you have an issue with people using 'we' and 'us' when referring to Pat Bowlen's team, but to say 'typical bronco fan' is way off. Look at every single city's newspaper around the country and it's the exact same way. It's not like in Denver they say it, but in San Diego they only say 'they' need this or that. If you have an issue with it, fine. But don't for a second think that it's only Bronco fans that do it. That's ignorance on your part.

• February 13, 2008

  9:31 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  millertime3852 writes:

  And it is at least a little puzzling why Denver would bring in two relatively no name LB's to fill a couple roster spots, but not at least invite Big Al in for a workout. It seems more and more evident that more went on there than meets the eye.

• February 13, 2008

  11:53 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  RustyWon writes:

  Al Wilson would at least be worth US looking at. I would be encouraged if WE did give him a chance anyway. Also, I'm glad to hear WE are shopping Ian Gold. His prime has past him by, like all those running backs he couldn't tackle this past year.
  At any rate, as weak as the AFC West is right now, WE could make a comeback if we sign a defensive star (Suggs?)and draft some keepers.

  Yeah, I'm a homer and an optimist. What of it?

• February 13, 2008

  12:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  pegasus99_aka_DR writes:

  MillerTime -

  It's because Al has "lost a step" (remember how many plays ran by him in 2006?? - it was a bunch) - and, Shanahan told him through tears when he told Al he was done, that he might play football again, but it wouldn't be with the Broncos because he (Shanny) wasn't going to watch Al be taken off the field on a gurney again, perhaps to never walk again.