In recent seasons, Ashley Lelie has been a No. 2 receiver wishing he was a No. 1.
For the 2006 season, even if Lelie ended his unofficial holdout and rejoined the Broncos, he probably would be listed somewhere behind No. 3 on the depth chart. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan sent the message Thursday that he is ready to move on without Lelie, the team’s former first-round draft pick who missed the team’s 14 offseason practices in hopes of forcing a trade.
Asked to name one player who has surprised him most during the voluntary workout camps, Shanahan had an interesting response: Darius Watts.
“He really stood out,” Shanahan said of the enigmatic receiver. “He showed a lot more confidence. Very consistent catching the ball.”
A bit later in his camp-ending news conference, Shanahan delivered a qualifier for Watts: “Hopefully, he can keep it going when the lights turn on.”
Selected in the second round of the 2004 draft, Watts had a promising rookie season with 31 catches, only to virtually disappear to the inactive roster last year when he failed to demonstrate he had cured a disturbing bout of the drops.
With Rod Smith entrenched as the No. 1 receiver, newly acquired Javon Walker expected to make a full recovery from knee surgery for the No. 2 spot and Watts apparently a serious threat to veterans David Terrell, Charlie Adams, Todd Devoe and rookie Brandon Marshall for the No. 3 slot, the Broncos think they have enough depth to overcome the apparent loss of Lelie.
So what becomes of Lelie, who slipped from 54 receptions, 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in 2004 to 42, 770 and one last year? Similar protests by Broncos veterans did not work out well for the player. The Broncos remain leery that trading Lelie might send the wrong message to other players who may one day consider airing similar gripes to try to force a move.
However, also under consideration is whether the Lelie situation has reached a point of no return.
As the veteran nucleus of Tom Nalen, Smith, Al Wilson, Keith Burns and Jake Plummer participated in all of the offseason workouts, the concept of team before self was reinforced.
Would Lelie be welcomed back to the Dove Valley environment?
If so, how far down the depth chart would his forefinger drop before he found his name?
The Broncos entertained trade offers for Lelie during the April draft, but Houston wouldn’t give up its fourth-round draft choice, and Denver declined the Atlanta Falcons’ proposed swap of backup running back T.J. Duckett.
Shanahan denied reports a three-team swap involving Lelie was in the works.
As the Broncos break for summer vacation before reconvening for mandatory minicamp July 6-8, about all that seems certain is Smith and Walker aren’t the only receivers who have jumped ahead of Lelie.
“Let’s talk about the people that are here,” Shanahan said.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
