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End of Nalen's season difficult for Broncos teammates

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 24, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.

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Like most mornings on most days of his career, center Tom Nalen attended the Broncos' team meeting Wednesday, but his teammates and coaches know they're going to see a lot less of him in the coming weeks and months.

"It's weird," quarterback Jay Cutler said.

Nalen, in his 15th season and the Broncos' most-tenured player, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, officially ending his season. Nalen had struggled with pain in his left knee since arthroscopic surgeries in June and August.

"What can I say? A great player," said Broncos offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, who coaches the team's offensive line. "It's hard to see him go through that. It's just one of those situations you didn't want it to happen. I think he absolutely did everything he could to get back. He was the same as always - tough, hard-nosed."

Nalen is the last player on the current roster to have played on the Broncos' Super Bowl champions to close the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Receiver Rod Smith officially retired this summer after missing last season because of hip surgery.

"Playing with Rod, that's always been something special," Cutler said. "Tommy and Rod, they are two class acts. They did it the right way. They're pros in every sense of the word."

Many of Nalen's teammates said it was too soon to know if the five-time Pro Bowl selection would try to return to the field next season.

After missing virtually all of training camp and all four preseason games, Nalen had been out of the lineup for the Broncos' first three games of the regular season.

He had returned to practice on a limited basis during the past two weeks before being held out Sept. 18 and Friday.

"It's always hard to lose a great player and a great man," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "If there is anybody that can play with pain, it's him. When he can't play, you know it's serious."

In recent weeks, some teammates and multiple team officials privately have described the condition of Nalen's knee as "bone on bone," which leads to chronic pain because the cartilage in the knee is damaged or has been removed throughout the years.

"He's got to do what he needs to do right now," Dennison said.

"Just tough to see him go through that this year."

Comments

  • September 24, 2008

    7:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    cmcray1 writes:

    The countdown to canton begins at the end of the season. A true no brainer.

  • September 25, 2008

    9:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Champion writes:

    Man, you get caught up in thinking or wishing guys play for forever. Then they're gone, like Rod, Terrell Davis, John Elway, Mobley, Atwater, etc. Agree with Canton nod. What a fixture on the offensive line. Sad day

  • September 25, 2008

    9:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DesertBroncoFan writes:

    Nails should be a no-brainer for the hof, but you would think that Little, Gradishar, Tombstone and TD would be no-brainers as well.

    Here's hoping that Nails can be number 3 for the NFL's most successful team since moving to the 16 game schedule.

  • September 25, 2008

    11:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    cableboy764 writes:

    Tom, If you can come back and play again, that would be great. But if not, start enjoying the post football part of your life.You have nothing else to prove to this fan. Your great career speaks for itself. I hope you'll be sticking around Denver long after football. Thank you.