With clear head, Broncos' Hamilton is back at work

Guard claims his post-concussion problems are over

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 23, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.

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Brian Bahr / Getty Images/2006

Ben Hamilton is returning to the Broncos after being cleared by a team of specialists.

It's time for the Broncos to get back to work, with the opening of the strength and conditioning program today.

But a huge weight has been lifted for at least one player.

Guard Ben Hamilton, who missed last season because of post-concussion symptoms, has been given full clearance to participate.

Hamilton vigorously has been working out at Dove Valley with the blessing of University of Pittsburgh specialists, whom he has visited on a couple of occasions in recent months with his wife, Jeanne.

"I've passed every test they've given me," Hamilton said Sunday. "And just to talk to the specialists and be cleared by them, I know I'm good to go."

Hamilton has had no post-concussion symptoms in more than five months.

At his worst, dating to August and September, Hamilton experienced severe mood swings and general haziness. His cognitive function essentially was fine, but the emotional component was what became problematic.

Hamilton knows there are skeptics who believe he's one blow to the helmet from another potential problem.

Such thoughts aren't part of his current mind-set, though.

"I know that's the perception around me, but I know that's not the case talking to the doctors," Hamilton said. "I don't have any hesitation or reservations playing this year. And I know that I'll gain people's trust as I go through practices and games. I can't wait to prove myself."

Hamilton started 84 straight games, mostly at left guard, dating to 2002 before he was placed on injured reserve Sept. 29.

WINDOW DRESSING: McDonald's is bringing back the grimace.

At least the restaurant chain did in the case of Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall.

Marshall will miss the start of the team's offseason drills after apparently slipping on a bag from the fast-food restaurant, then putting his right arm through a glass entertainment center as he tried to catch himself.

It isn't expected to affect him long term.

Marshall said Sunday he was on a vacation with his mother, father and siblings at an Orlando, Fla., resort when the incident occurred and there's nothing more to read into it than the actual facts, even though he "definitely" can see why there would be skeptics.

"I woke up (Saturday) morning to get some water and I tripped over the damn garbage bag and I fell into the entertainment system," he said. "I tried to brace my fall and put my arm right through the TV."

Marshall isn't sure how many stitches he needed, saying it was "a little cut on my arm" but added he's "doing good" and expected to have the arm re-examined in about a week.

He was flying back to Denver on Sunday.

REPLACING ELAM: The Broncos will meet this week to address the hole left by Jason Elam signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

Many of the notable free agents already have signed, including Josh Brown (St. Louis) and Dave Rayner (Miami).

Longtime Miami Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare appears to be the player in whom the team is most interested.

The Broncos were finalizing a visit this week with Mare, who also is being pursued by the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, with whom he finished last season.

The Saints released Mare in February after the 12-year veteran flunked a physical and failed to agree on a contract restructure.

Mare, 34, is recovering from a season-ending hip injury suffered Dec. 10. He made 10-of-17 field-goal attempts in 13 games before that.

Mare is strong on kickoffs, with a league-high 24 touchbacks in 2006. He has 159 in his career.

Of Mare's 17 field-goal misses during the past two seasons, nine have come from 50-plus yards. He's 23-for-27 from inside 40 yards during that span.

• March 23, 2008

  4:45 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  r8rh8r writes:

  Olindo Mare stinks. Prater had 5 touchbacks in 11 attempts last year and he's 23.

• March 23, 2008

  5:18 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Broncos4Life writes:

  How about Shanahan doing the kicking job? He apparently thinks he can do everything for the team.

• March 23, 2008

  6:02 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Pigskin writes:

  “I’ve passed every test they’ve given me,” (Hamilton) said Sunday. “And just to talk to the specialists and be cleared by them, I know I’m good to go.”
  I hope those specialists have given Ben Hamilton the ability to drive block in the run game and not be walked back by blitzing linebackers in pass protection.
  He missed this year, but this wasn't the first year we settled for field goal attempts instead of touchdowns in the red zone (even from the goal line). Or the first year we've been unable to create a pocket to pass from.
  Hamilton is too underpowered and undersized to be a starting guard.

• March 23, 2008

  6:20 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  waterwalker writes:

  At least there was'nt a D.U.I involved huh Brandon. If vanderjagt can work through his head problems the man has a damn fine leg. Isnt he available? Give the guy a try.

• March 23, 2008

  6:41 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  princess writes:

  Wait you mean to tell me there are players who actually spend quality time with family? And they drink water and aren't getting drunk? Now that's news. Damn that McDonalds bag

• March 24, 2008

  8:53 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  UncleBuck writes:

  Anyone who thinks a coach should kick or that Hamilton was not missed last year may want to have their head examined. What did the team need a pocket for before last year anyway? I am pretty sure Plummer was not a pocket passer...lol. Isn't any player just one blow away from a career ending injury? Hamilton does a great job at gaurd when healthy and was most definitely missed last year.

• March 24, 2008

  9:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  AWM writes:

  Lets go Nuggets!!!

• March 24, 2008

  10 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  pegasus99_aka_DR writes:

  "Lets go Nuggets!!!"

  Who?

• March 24, 2008

  2:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  HBBeough writes:

  The reason why this team didn’t win last year is because they had an over 80% turnover in personnel on both O and D lines. Can Shanny have one rebuilding year? Seven wins would dwarf any Charger record for the six or so years they built their current roster drafting in the top 10 every year. It is great the city has high expectations but I’d rather see a coach stick with it than “Parcells” to another job when things start to go downhill.

• March 24, 2008

  3:27 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SFBronco writes:

  Hamilton and Nalen coming back are the biggest and best moves in the offseason. One proven pro bowl interior OL and another one that was close. You guys missed all the good news in this article.

• March 24, 2008

  6:23 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  DEMON writes:

  Blah Blah Blah...B/S and more B/S WHERE ARE MY 97' & 98' Broncos??? This new team does not convince me at all, I mean i understand the circumstances. And iam not an NFL coach, or General Manager or Scout. But it does not take a genius to figure out the Broncos have made some STUPID drafts. LOL Where the hell have all our first round draft picks gone? You cant trust shannahan in the draft and you cant trust him in free agency. All i know is that there was alot of fine LB's that we could have gone after. Because that where we need the most work, And we did'nt. And theres Takeo Spikes just sitting there and i know we arent even gonna reach out. I mean who cares if we use the guy at least for 2 years, I mean we didnt even think we would have lynch for two years, And look at how well hes been for us, Its like his been in denver his whole career. I Still say that letting Walker go was a big mistake. Brandon Marshall and Javon Walker was a great tandem if used properly, All he wanted was the damn ball, And hes right. IAM SICK AND TIRED of shannahans obsession with the run....LET IT GO PAL! We have NO Terrel Davis for that anymore, But we do fall back in many games and get spanked by teams like INDY and San Diego because of our inability to score quick, WE suck at quick strike score capability, Why? Because we got a short yardage, sorry ass aerial attack, We could definetly have still used Walker for those long BOMBS. but o well, Thats why iam not the coach of the Denver Broncos. But seriously show some PRIDE!!!!!

• March 24, 2008

  7:58 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Gonzo writes:

  For ya'll's sake, i hope you don't go with Mare. As a Saints fan, we just suffered a frustrating season with him. He's THE WORST. His kickoffs are weak and he's INCREDIBLY inconsistent. God i hope ya'll don't take him... This guy shouldn't be kicking anymore.

• March 25, 2008

  8:20 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  UncleBuck writes:

  Gonzon your beloved Saints are also attempting to sign him so if he is that terrible you may want to use all your prayers on your own team but we will certainly use them if he is that bad.

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