Sewell quit confirmed; LeSueur at safety stuff; Rice with a slight hammy

[SoCalBronco]

broncos notes
Center Sewell leaves camp
By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer



Two days after Jerry Rice, the most accomplished receiver in NFL history, considered retirement, a much less familiar name ended up leaving Broncos camp.

The team put second-year center Josh Sewell on the exempt list Saturday after being informed by Sewell's agent, Jack Mills, that Sewell was headed toward retirement. Sewell then left coach Mike Shanahan a voice mail stating his intentions.

Sewell, a sixth-round pick from Nebraska, was at both practices Friday.

Sewell, who was married recently, intends to attend dental school. He spent last season on the practice squad and most recently was the team's backup center.

There's a strong chance the Broncos will consider Ben Nowland, released by Washington on Saturday.

"Josh's heart just wasn't in it anymore," agent Tom Mills said. "He thought it was time to move on with his life."

[SoCalBronco]

With Sewell out, sixth-round pick Chris Myers from Miami looks to step in as a backup at center. If starter Tom Nalen is injured, guard Ben Hamilton - who is slated to move to center when Nalen retires - would switch to center. Hamilton practiced at center with the first team in the afternoon while Nalen got a rest.

LeSueur a safety net
Jeremy LeSueur is clearly taking to this safety business. The team had planned since last fall to move LeSueur, a third-round pick in 2004 who was injured all of last season - from cornerback to safety. He performed well in the developmental camps and has carried his encouraging play into training camp.

The team's nickel defensive back position is open and LeSueur has done well in the role in the first two days of camp.

The coaching staff likes LeSueur's combination of speed, size and playmaking ability. His experience at cornerback gives him a natural edge as the nickel. He will be competing with Roc Alexander, Jeff Shoate and top draft picks Darrent Williams, Karl Paymah and Domonique Foxworth.

"Jeremy has a long way to go, but he's showing good signs," defensive backs




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coach Bob Slowik said.
LeSueur isn't the only player making a move. Defensive tackle Michael Myers, acquired in the Reuben Droughns trade with Cleveland, is running with the first team in front of Mario Fatafehi and Monsanto Pope. At tight end, Jeb Putzier and newly signed Stephen Alexander have been working with the first team.

Injury report

Rice was back at afternoon practice after sitting out the morning practice Saturday and the afternoon session Friday. Rice has a tight hamstring but is expected to practice one session a day.

Several other veterans or players coming off injuries also will be on that schedule. Players who practiced just once Saturday included safety John Lynch, Nalen, receiver Rod Smith, running back Quentin Griffin and defensive linemen Courtney Brown, Marco Coleman, Luther Elliss, Ebenezer Ekuban and Trevor Pryce.

Footnotes

Running back Maurice Clarett is expected to purchase an insurance policy to help protect him in case of injury the next couple of seasons. Because of an unusual contract heavy on escalators that can earn him up to $7 million, Clarett did not get a signing bonus. He can make up to $410,000 in workout money, spread over three years. ... Fans trying to purchase half-price Broncos tickets through Ticketmaster online experienced several problems Friday. The snafu was resolved.

[watermock]

MoC needs to start concentrating less on lawyers and insurance and worry about being a legitimate back. So far, it sounds like he's sucked. This tweaking of contracts, the insurance, the bravado....I wasn't against the signing, but when is it really going to end and he decides to play ball instead of talking to his agent...insurance company if he gets a chipped tooth ect...

He looks more and more like a drama queen every day.

[Bronco LB 59]

The best part of this story was learning that LeSueur is in competition for the nickel back spot. Some fans on this site went a little overboard with all the "bust" comments and the idiotic "LeSewer" remarks. Can we get the kid a chance before throwing him under the bus?

[Bronco LB 59]

MoC needs to start concentrating less on lawyers and insurance and worry about being a legitimate back. So far, it sounds like he's sucked. This tweaking of contracts, the insurance, the bravado....I wasn't against the signing, but when is it really going to end and he decides to play ball instead of talking to his agent...insurance company if he gets a chipped tooth ect...

He looks more and more like a drama queen every day.


He's sucked? Did you watch the Broncos TV Day 2 video? He's a rookie learning a new offense after not playing for two seasons.

It's common practice for players to get insurance policies, especially returning college seniors that have high NFL prospects.

How is Clarett being a "drama queen"? The media has been hounding Clarett and his agent about his new deal because everybody thinks he's out of his mind for taking on the risk of no guaranteed money. Either Clarett or his agent told the media about the insurance policy so everybody stops worrying about his financial future. I can assure you that Clarett's undivided attention is on his playbook and his agents are taking care of his business matters. That's why players hire agents.

[broncogary]

Hopefully, Sewell won't find out his arms are too short to be a dentist.

[Drek]

MoC needs to start concentrating less on lawyers and insurance and worry about being a legitimate back. So far, it sounds like he's sucked Yeah, sure, why not judge the guy now after two days of practice when he hasn't played football in two years and is now jumping straight to NFL level competition, running at one of the best LB corps in the league.

[BroncoInferno]

MoC needs to start concentrating less on lawyers and insurance and worry about being a legitimate back. So far, it sounds like he's sucked. This tweaking of contracts, the insurance, the bravado....I wasn't against the signing, but when is it really going to end and he decides to play ball instead of talking to his agent...insurance company if he gets a chipped tooth ect...

He looks more and more like a drama queen every day.

Yep...looking out for his future, real drama queen stuff there. ::)

And I don't think a guy struggling for two days after being out of football for TWO YEARS is anything other than expected. It's probably going to take him a year of seasoning before he is ready to contribute, which is OK by me. Of course, people like you will be calling him a bust before the first regular season game.

[BroncoInferno]

The best part of this story was learning that LeSueur is in competition for the nickel back spot. Some fans on this site went a little overboard with all the "bust" comments and the idiotic "LeSewer" remarks. Can we get the kid a chance before throwing him under the bus?

This is what I've been trying to tell people. I think he's going to supplant Ferguson in the starting lineup by game 10 because of his potential as a playmaker.

[Florida_Bronco]

Well sucks about Sewell, but he don't get any pity from me just because he's a Cornhusker. See ya Josh, we'll just be moving on now.

[Broncoman13]

The best part of this story was learning that LeSueur is in competition for the nickel back spot. Some fans on this site went a little overboard with all the "bust" comments and the idiotic "LeSewer" remarks. Can we get the kid a chance before throwing him under the bus?



You can put me in that category! I was very disappointed in him last year. He was supposed to be a top notch return man as well as a solid, agressive/physical corner. We needed a CB to step up last year and the only one to turn the trick was FA ACQ Roc Alexander. To be fair though I realize that Lesueur was injured last year and really didn't have the opportunity to show what he was made of.

[Jason in LA]

I wouldn't say Clarett is worried about his contract. His agent is handling all that. I could see Mock's point of Clarett was out there on his cell phone making deals as the rest of the team practiced. The media is reporting everything the guy does.

[Florida_Bronco]

I wouldn't say Clarett is worried about his contract. His agent is handling all that. I could see Mock's point of Clarett was out there on his cell phone making deals as the rest of the team practiced. The media is reporting everything the guy does.

The media definetly is out to get him, I think. To be fair though, he brought it on himself.

[Hogan11]

This is what I've been trying to tell people. I think he's going to supplant Ferguson in the starting lineup by game 10 because of his potential as a playmaker.

This wouldn't surprise me, I never thought Ferguson was very much to begin with.

He is poised to be the man to take the blame for Bailey's & Lynch's gaffs in coverage this year though, because, you know, they're infallible back there.. (OK I just said that to get to Tredici :poke::poke: Ha!)

[BroncoInferno]

This wouldn't surprise me, I never thought Ferguson was very much to begin with.

I don't mind him. He's pretty steady and won't kill you back there; he just doesn't make enough plays. I think LeSeuer will be the kind of coverage safety we've lacked since Braxton departed, and will contribute a solid 3-5 picks once he breaks the starting lineup (again, I think that will be by game 10).

[Atlas]

Well sucks about Sewell, but he don't get any pity from me just because he's a Cornhusker. See ya Josh, we'll just be moving on now.

If you think about it maybe Sewell doesn't like football or maybe he doesn't think he has much of a future. All I knbow is that if he played Oline a couple more years his fingers would be so badly damaged he would never be able to become a dentist. Best of luck to him. I know he really won't be missed around here.

[TheReverend]

Does anyone really give a **** that Sewell walked? It's like crying over having to put Chris Young on the IR or something...

[Crushaholic]

I don't mind at all that Clarett bought an insurance policy. He skipped the guaranteed money for incentives. I like that in the guy. Obviously, he won't get that incentive money if he's hurt. This makes all the sense in the world to me.

[-Slap-]

The media definetly is out to get him, I think. To be fair though, he brought it on himself.
Exactly. He must be used to the media circus by now and obviously we knew that was part of the package going into the deal.

[Tredici]

This wouldn't surprise me, I never thought Ferguson was very much to begin with.

He is poised to be the man to take the blame for Bailey's & Lynch's gaffs in coverage this year though, because, you know, they're infallible back there.. (OK I just said that to get to Tredici :poke::poke: Ha!)


If you are comparing Ferguson's abilities to Kenoy Kennedy's that decision has already been made just as predicted.

[Hogan11]

If you are comparing Ferguson's abilities to Kenoy Kennedy's that decision has already been made just as predicted.

No, I'm talking about Fergy assuming the role of the Bailey/Lynch bailout guy for "not providing safety help" because those two are just incapable of blowing a coverage or a play. Isn't that right? ;D

[BroncoInferno]

If you are comparing Ferguson's abilities to Kenoy Kennedy's that decision has already been made just as predicted.

C'mon...you know the decesion to go with Ferguson over Kennedy was an economic one. All things being equal, the staff takes Kennedy over Fergy 10 times out of 10. Still, Fergy is steady enough to hold the fort till a true coverage safety (hopefully LaSeuer or Browner) is ready to step in.

[Tredici]

No, I'm talking about Fergy assuming the role of the Bailey/Lynch bailout guy for "not providing safety help" because those two are just incapable of blowing a coverage or a play. Isn't that right? ;D

Neither one of them are incapable of blowing a coverage or a play. Kenoy was just better at it.

[Tredici]

C'mon...you know the decesion to go with Ferguson over Kennedy was an economic one. All things being equal, the staff takes Kennedy over Fergy 10 times out of 10. Still, Fergy is steady enough to hold the fort till a true coverage safety (hopefully LaSeuer or Browner) is ready to step in.

No, I don't know that at all. If the staff takes Kennedy 10 times over Fergy they would've found the money. Plain and simple.

[BroncoInferno]

No, I don't know that at all. If the staff takes Kennedy 10 times over Fergy they would've found the money. Plain and simple.

Depends on how they want to use the available resources. We were pushed tight against the cap this offseason; the staff clearly decided that the down grade from Ferguson to Kennedy was an acceptable consequence of spending our limited resources elsewhere. By your logic, resigning Marco Coleman rather than Reggie Heyward proves that they think Coleman is the better player. Not the case; Coleman was simply the more economically feasable choice. And besides, if they thought Ferguson was better, why wasn't he starting?