dragondawg
04-22-2007, 02:25 AM
Would-be starters left wondering
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENGLEWOOD - Mike Bell was the Denver Broncos’ top tailback, if only for a few days.
Cornerback Domonique Foxworth and tight end Stephen Alexander were penciled in as starters this offseason. Then the Broncos started making moves, those players were demoted and hopes were dashed before a game was played.
Bell was replaced by Travis Henry. Dre Bly pushed Foxworth down the chart. Daniel Graham’s signing had Alexander wondering if he had gone from a starter the past two years to out of the Broncos’ plans.
“I understand this is a business and they have to make tough decisions on who’s going to be here and who’s not,” Alexander said.
All three players dealt with their demotions differently. Alexander took a mellow, realistic approach. Alexander and Graham are similar players, good blockers who can contribute in the passing game. But Graham is an upgrade, and he got a $30 million contract.
“It’s a great move for this team, this organization,” Alexander said. “Daniel is a great player.”
Bell and Foxworth also praised the teammates who displaced them. Denver signed Henry four days after trading Tatum Bell, the former starter at tailback, to Detroit.
Mike Bell said he knew Denver would sign someone after Tatum Bell was traded. But after they invested $12 million in guaranteed money in Henry, who has three 1,000-yard seasons, Mike Bell didn’t want to concede the job.
“I don’t know what everybody else thinks, but I know I’m not going into it with an attitude like that,” Bell said. “I’m going in and working like I’m the No. 1 every day. That’s how I prepared last year and it helped me a lot.”
Foxworth doesn’t want to lose his edge either. He remembered his rookie season, when he was the third cornerback drafted but had seven starts.
“Crazy things happen,” Foxworth said. “I’ll be ready when my opportunity comes.”
The Broncos planned on Foxworth replacing Darrent Williams, who was shot and killed Jan. 1. That changed when Bly, a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, was available in a trade.
“I don’t think we went into the offseason knowing we could acquire a guy like Dre Bly,” safety John Lynch said.
Foxworth said he was ready to compete in training camp and let the coaches decide how much he plays.
“I definitely feel I’ve proven I’m a quality player and I’m still getting better and I feel that I’ll be one of the better players at my position in this league when I fully reach my potential,” Foxworth said.
Foxworth and Bell are young players, but Alexander knows he’s near the end of his career. He asked Broncos coach Mike Shanahan after Graham was signed if he was in the team’s plans. Shanahan assured him he was. But Alexander said if adding Graham means he doesn’t make the team, he can accept that. He said he might retire if the Broncos cut him.
“If there’s a spot here for me, great, and if not, that’s totally cool,” Alexander said. “I’ve had a great career. To say I’ve played nine years in the pros means a lot to me.”
http://www2.gazette.com/broncos/display.php?id=1330799
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENGLEWOOD - Mike Bell was the Denver Broncos’ top tailback, if only for a few days.
Cornerback Domonique Foxworth and tight end Stephen Alexander were penciled in as starters this offseason. Then the Broncos started making moves, those players were demoted and hopes were dashed before a game was played.
Bell was replaced by Travis Henry. Dre Bly pushed Foxworth down the chart. Daniel Graham’s signing had Alexander wondering if he had gone from a starter the past two years to out of the Broncos’ plans.
“I understand this is a business and they have to make tough decisions on who’s going to be here and who’s not,” Alexander said.
All three players dealt with their demotions differently. Alexander took a mellow, realistic approach. Alexander and Graham are similar players, good blockers who can contribute in the passing game. But Graham is an upgrade, and he got a $30 million contract.
“It’s a great move for this team, this organization,” Alexander said. “Daniel is a great player.”
Bell and Foxworth also praised the teammates who displaced them. Denver signed Henry four days after trading Tatum Bell, the former starter at tailback, to Detroit.
Mike Bell said he knew Denver would sign someone after Tatum Bell was traded. But after they invested $12 million in guaranteed money in Henry, who has three 1,000-yard seasons, Mike Bell didn’t want to concede the job.
“I don’t know what everybody else thinks, but I know I’m not going into it with an attitude like that,” Bell said. “I’m going in and working like I’m the No. 1 every day. That’s how I prepared last year and it helped me a lot.”
Foxworth doesn’t want to lose his edge either. He remembered his rookie season, when he was the third cornerback drafted but had seven starts.
“Crazy things happen,” Foxworth said. “I’ll be ready when my opportunity comes.”
The Broncos planned on Foxworth replacing Darrent Williams, who was shot and killed Jan. 1. That changed when Bly, a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, was available in a trade.
“I don’t think we went into the offseason knowing we could acquire a guy like Dre Bly,” safety John Lynch said.
Foxworth said he was ready to compete in training camp and let the coaches decide how much he plays.
“I definitely feel I’ve proven I’m a quality player and I’m still getting better and I feel that I’ll be one of the better players at my position in this league when I fully reach my potential,” Foxworth said.
Foxworth and Bell are young players, but Alexander knows he’s near the end of his career. He asked Broncos coach Mike Shanahan after Graham was signed if he was in the team’s plans. Shanahan assured him he was. But Alexander said if adding Graham means he doesn’t make the team, he can accept that. He said he might retire if the Broncos cut him.
“If there’s a spot here for me, great, and if not, that’s totally cool,” Alexander said. “I’ve had a great career. To say I’ve played nine years in the pros means a lot to me.”
http://www2.gazette.com/broncos/display.php?id=1330799