Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Broncos report: Rookie season wild ride for Bell

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 16, 2008 at 5:14 p.m.

Text size  
Broncos cornerback Josh Bell chases Falcons receiver Michael Jenkins during the third quarter Sunday in Atlanta. The rookie Bell had five tackles, most among defensive backs, in the win.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Broncos cornerback Josh Bell chases Falcons receiver Michael Jenkins during the third quarter Sunday in Atlanta. The rookie Bell had five tackles, most among defensive backs, in the win.

Poll

How will the Broncos' season end?


  • See the results »

Broncos quick links

Drew on the NFL
Drew Litton
Scores and statistics
Broncos inbox

Related Links

Related Stories

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

There are whirlwind journeys and then Josh Bell's recent ascension.

Bell was out of football after getting cut Aug. 30 by San Diego. He went back home and for three weeks worked out on his own, waiting for another team to call.

He then joined the Broncos practice squad for four weeks before being signed to the active roster Oct. 27.

Bell immediately was named the team's nickel cornerback.

And Sunday, he replaced Karl Paymah in the starting lineup. At this rate, he might become a Broncos executive by December.

"Not knowing if I would have an opportunity to play, it humbles you," Bell said. "I was all over the United States and home with my mama in Dallas, Texas. And I was sick every day. But I'd get up early in the morning and when everybody went to work and school, I'd work out. Then I'd come home and eat and work out again.

"But the Lord blesses you to come through something like this. And I'm just working, trying to make it to the stars."

Bell's gig might not last long. Champ Bailey missed his third straight game because of a groin injury but was warming up hours before the game on his own. Bailey could be back this week for the Oakland game Sunday.

That doesn't deter Bell, who admitted to some "rookie mistakes" but still led all defensive backs with five solo tackles in Sunday's game.

He's the first rookie cornerback to start since Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth in 2005. Foxworth started with the Falcons on Sunday after the Broncos traded him to start the season - right around the time Bell latched on with Denver.

"I'm just happy to be a piece of the puzzle right now," he said.

Shaw's redemption

His name didn't appear on the stat sheet.

But Josh Shaw frequently was in the middle of the Broncos defensive line at tackle, preventing Falcons blockers from getting to Denver's linebackers and also helping in the nickel package.

It was Shaw's first appearance since Week 2, when he suffered a major gash against San Diego that required 40 stitches.

Since then, he has missed three games because of a groin problem, then was suspended for a meeting- room incident in which he punched teammate Kenny Peterson.

Shaw was supposed to be suspended four games by the team, but a vote of players reduced the penalty to just the Oct. 20 contest at New England. He had been declared inactive the past two games before Sunday.

"This last month's been a little hectic," Shaw said. "I've just had to stay focused."

Shaw puts himself at about 90 percent healed physically. As for the suspension, "I overreacted a little bit," he said. "You live and learn."

He added he was glad his teammates were behind him and had put his suspension on the back burner.

"We're a team here. And sometimes guys make mistakes," defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. "But he should be given a chance. He's a great player, a great guy. He's had distractions. But since he's been back, it's been good. We've got depth. And he provides a nice little push on rush downs. It's good to have him back."

No rest for weary

The Broncos continue to use Eddie Royal on kickoff returns to go along with his seasonlong punt-return duties since Andre Hall's season-ending hand injury.

Royal had five returns Sunday, including a 58-yarder and a 41-yarder. He's averaging 31.2 yards on 13 attempts this season.

"The guys are opening up holes and making it fun back there. I'm enjoying doing it," he said.

Deep thinking

Brandon Marshall saved his best for last.

Trailing 20-17 and facing third-and-7, the Georgia Dome crowd was in full throat when quarterback Jay Cutler went up top to Marshall racing down the left hash with cornerback Chris Houston draped on him.

It was a similar scenario as in the Miami game, when Marshall was held down for most of the day. Only this time, there was no pass-interference call to wipe out the big gainer. This one went for 47 yards, and Cutler said Marshall was neither the first nor second read on the play.

Daniel Graham scored the winning touchdown seven plays later.

"Like I've said before, if they want to take me and Eddie out of the game, we've got to do some other things and go to other people," said Marshall, who finished with six catches for 89 yards. "But when the opportunity comes, we've got to do a good job of making that play."

Family affair

Dre Bly capped his third-quarter interception of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan off a Broncos blitz with a "Dirty Bird" dance in front of Atlanta's bench. The Broncos cornerback maintained he used to watch Jamal Anderson do the celebratory dance when he was playing in the same division in the late 1990s.

"It was just having fun," he said.

Bly then sprinted up to the stands, where he spotted brother-in-law Daryl Shorter. He threw the ball to Shorter to give to Bly's ill son, Trey, who had a 102-degree temperature - and a granted wish.

"My son's been on me about intercepting the ball for the longest time. . . . 'Dad, when are you going to get an interception?' " Bly said. "The fact I got one made me feel proud and I knew my son would be happy and excited."

Crank it up

It's one of the oldest ones in the book, old enough that sometimes folks roll their eyes when it's said.

But the Broncos say they played their past two games like they practiced in the weeks leading to them, even donning the shoulder pads to go at it a couple of times.

"The last couple weeks, we kind of took it more seriously, we've been in pads, fitting out gaps in the run game, getting it back to square one," Bly said. "It's paying off."

Rookie cornerback Bell, who started his first NFL game, said a run period during Wednesday's practice set the tone for the week.

"On Wednesday, those guys up front were throwing it down," Bell said. "They were on it, that's the intensity that we practiced with, it just carried over."

Break of the game

The Falcons had a comeback win on the tips of receiver Roddy White's fingers, but he didn't come up with what would have been a 45-yard touchdown pass with just more than a minute left in the game.

The play came on a third-and-18 from the Broncos 45-yard line with 1:16 left in the game.

"I feel responsible for the loss," White said.

"I had an opportunity and I didn't take advantage of it. . . . We should be celebrating right now."

"That was a break for us," Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen said.

Ryan then threw incomplete on fourth-and-18.

Injury report

The Broncos could ill afford any more injuries and are hoping they escaped the Georgia Dome without anything serious.

Defensive tackle Peterson left the game because of a bruised shoulder and safety Marquand Manuel left because of a bruised left knee.

Both will be evaluated today, but the Broncos didn't initially think either looked serious. Manuel returned to the game.

Running back P.J. Pope also had sore ribs that were X-rayed, while running back Peyton Hillis was taken for X-rays on his right shoulder and he was sporting plenty of ice after the game.

"Nothing, just routine . . . ," Hillis said. "Just want to ice it down."

Etc.

* The Broncos, with Falcons' defensive end John Abraham playing on both sides of the formation to work against both Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris at times, held Abraham without a sack. Abraham had come in to the game with 11 of Atlanta's 17 sacks for the season. Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux had the team's only sack.

* Hillis became the second rookie to start a game at running back for the Broncos this season - both have come in the past two games. Ryan Torain started in Cleveland and Hillis started against the Falcons.

* Broncos tight end Daniel Graham, who has finished with four touchdown catches or fewer in five of his six previous seasons in the league, has four touchdown catches in his past five games, including the 9-yard go-ahead score Sunday.

He said it

"We came out there and rushed him, did all kinds of things, and he made big plays. He's mobile in the pocket. He doesn't take sacks. He's way beyond his years. In years to come, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with."

Dumervil, Broncos defensive end, on Falcons rookie quarterback Ryan.

Numbers game

3-0 record for the Broncos against NFC South teams this season with wins against New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. They will play at Carolina on Dec. 14.

Comments

  • November 17, 2008

    8:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    myerda00 writes:

    Josh Bell, could he possible take Bly's corner?
    And for the GFE fans, Foxworth just played average at best BUT Matt Prater is getting this bad habit of missing his first field goal attempt of each game, UGH!@#

  • November 17, 2008

    10:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dunc1067 writes:

    Broncos win!!
    http://www.examiner.com/x-1618-Denver...
    "John who? This is Cutler town."

  • November 17, 2008

    11:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ilovefootball writes:

    Go Broncos!

    If you enjoy fantasy football, you might like this free online game.

    http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup....

  • November 17, 2008

    5:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    R8R_H8R writes:

    Let Bailey rest the sore groin another week. Playing only aggravates it. The choke:Land raiders have no ability to throw the ball. Let Josh Bell play v. the raiders and get more playing time, and more rest for Bailey.

  • November 17, 2008

    11:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    R8R_H8R, agreed. We can beat the Raiders without Champ. We need him healthy down the stretch.

  • November 18, 2008

    4:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ColoradoSportsFaninTexas writes:

    Agreed....Let Josh Bell play...Perhaps he could take over for Bly when Bailey comes back....Bailey and Bell at the corners could make it very tough for offenses to run or pass.....