The media assembled Monday at the Broncos’ headquarters hoping to quiz rookie running back Maurice Clarett about his first NFL practice.
But when Clarett declined to talk after the first day of quarterback camp, veteran back Mike Anderson put his spin on Denver’s running back situation.
Contrary to the popular notion competition for the starting tailback position is a two-man race featuring Clarett and second-year player Tatum Bell, Anderson insists he’s the man for the job.
“Of course I feel that way, I always feel that way,” Anderson said. “I feel that way today, and I’ll feel that way tomorrow when I wake up.”
But Anderson has a tough fight ahead of him. He turns 32 in September and is the oldest running back on the roster. He also is coming back from a groin injury suffered during a preseason game last summer.
Anderson said he’s in great shape and his groin was healed by Christmas. Plus, he insists he’s got plenty of magic left in his body. During his rookie season in 2000, when injuries sidelined Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary, Anderson rushed for 1,487 yards and was named the NFL offensive rookie of the year.
“I’ve still got that in me,” Anderson said. “For me to have a season like that, I have to go out and compete my tail off.”
In addition to Bell and Clarett, Anderson also faces competition from former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne and Quentin Griffin, who is coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
As for Clarett, coach Mike Shanahan said he was impressed with the rookie.
“He looked pretty good out there,” Shanahan said. “I watched him today and it looked like things came pretty natural to him. He’s got great hands, and it was a good first day for him.”
“House” moving again
Dwayne Carswell was wearing No. 77, an indication the Broncos are going to move him from tight end to tackle again.
The team experimented with that during training camp last summer before Carswell moved back to tight end, where he has played since entering the league as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1994.
Carswell said he anticipates he’ll be a tackle on opening day.
When asked if he’s at his tight end weight (about 260 pounds) or his tackle weight (about 300), he said, “Oh, definitely tackle weight. I still have to lose some weight, but I’ll stay in shape and I’ll be all right.”
Injury update
Shanahan said former Browns defensive ends Courtney Brown and Ebenezer Ekuban, as well as second-year defensive back Jeff Shoate, won’t participate during the two-week quarterback camp.
Brown finished each of the past four seasons on injured reserve and is being treated for an injured left foot.
Ekuban is rehabilitating a shoulder injury that plagued him during much of the 2004 season.
Shoate is coming back from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
