Smilin Assassin
04-01-2005, 02:06 PM
Friday, April 1, 2005
Notebook: Broncos Bring Back Pair
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Bringing in a quartet of Browns didn't represent the extent of the Broncos' free-agent activity on the defensive line.
Friday, the team re-signed defensive tackle Luther Elliss, bringing the 11-season veteran back for 2005 after he endured a first year with the Broncos that saw flashes of brilliance mixed with injuries that kept him out of action for eight of 16 games.
Elliss' season officially ended in December when he was placed on injured reserve due to a herniated disc in his lower back. That was the third injury to befall Elliss last year; he missed four games with a strained calf muscle suffered while running windsprints at the first practice after the bye in November and sat out the season opener with a slight tear of the pectoral muscle.
Up until a frustrating run of injuries the past two years, Elliss had been durable, playing in at least 14 of 16 games every year from 1995-2002. But when he played, he was effective, posting two sacks in a reserve role in 2004.
HAPE RETURNS
Tight end Patrick Hape joined Elliss in re-signing with the Broncos, returning to the team after establishing a career high for touchdown receptions with four last fall.
All of Hape's touchdowns came from 5 yards or less, with the 5-yarder taking place during the Broncos' 16-13 win at Tampa Bay in a game that represented Hape's successful return to the place where he spent the first four seasons of his professional career.
The quartet of touchdowns last year represented half of Hape's entire reception total for the year.
Hape started six games last season -- three at tight end and three more at fullback following Kyle Johnson's season-ending ankle injury. One of Hape's starts at fullback came in the playoff loss at Indianapolis.
Those starts were Hape's first since 2001, when he opened seven games at fullback and another at tight end. The start at tight end that year came on Dec. 16 at Kansas City and was his last start until this past Sept. 19 at Jacksonville.
Notebook: Broncos Bring Back Pair
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Bringing in a quartet of Browns didn't represent the extent of the Broncos' free-agent activity on the defensive line.
Friday, the team re-signed defensive tackle Luther Elliss, bringing the 11-season veteran back for 2005 after he endured a first year with the Broncos that saw flashes of brilliance mixed with injuries that kept him out of action for eight of 16 games.
Elliss' season officially ended in December when he was placed on injured reserve due to a herniated disc in his lower back. That was the third injury to befall Elliss last year; he missed four games with a strained calf muscle suffered while running windsprints at the first practice after the bye in November and sat out the season opener with a slight tear of the pectoral muscle.
Up until a frustrating run of injuries the past two years, Elliss had been durable, playing in at least 14 of 16 games every year from 1995-2002. But when he played, he was effective, posting two sacks in a reserve role in 2004.
HAPE RETURNS
Tight end Patrick Hape joined Elliss in re-signing with the Broncos, returning to the team after establishing a career high for touchdown receptions with four last fall.
All of Hape's touchdowns came from 5 yards or less, with the 5-yarder taking place during the Broncos' 16-13 win at Tampa Bay in a game that represented Hape's successful return to the place where he spent the first four seasons of his professional career.
The quartet of touchdowns last year represented half of Hape's entire reception total for the year.
Hape started six games last season -- three at tight end and three more at fullback following Kyle Johnson's season-ending ankle injury. One of Hape's starts at fullback came in the playoff loss at Indianapolis.
Those starts were Hape's first since 2001, when he opened seven games at fullback and another at tight end. The start at tight end that year came on Dec. 16 at Kansas City and was his last start until this past Sept. 19 at Jacksonville.