Bradlee Van Pelt awakened Saturday and felt at peace. He didn’t expect that feeling, hours after being cut by the Broncos.
“It was almost a relief, a weight lifted from me,” Van Pelt said Saturday. “I think, deep down, I knew I wasn’t going to be successful here and it’s time to go. I appreciate everything Denver and the Broncos have given me, but it’s time to go.”
Van Pelt may get the opportunity to work again soon. It’s expected that the Houston Texans will consider claiming him today. The Texans are coached by former Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
“I think Houston could be interested, but if they aren’t, I’ll be somewhere,” Van Pelt said. “I know I’ll be a successful quarterback somewhere.”
Van Pelt was Jake Plummer’s backup last season after being on the practice squad in 2004. The former seventh-round pick, though, saw his Denver future cloud when the Broncos took Jay Cutler in the April draft. Cutler overtook Van Pelt as the No. 2 quarterback on Aug. 7 and got much of the preseason snaps.
Van Pelt said he believes the second time will be the charm in the NFL as it was in college. He flourished at Colorado State after transferring from Michigan State.
“I’m excited to move on and know that there will be more opportunities,” Van Pelt said. “I went to two colleges and why not in the NFL? I blossomed at my second school and I think I will blossom at my second NFL team.”
Van Pelt said he, in some ways, is saddened to leave Colorado, where he became popular for his fearless playing style.
“My Colorado days are now behind me,” he said. “But I promise I will be playing quarterback (at Invesco Field at Mile High) again. It’ll just be in a different uniform.”
With Van Pelt gone, the Broncos are expected to put quarterback Preston Parsons on the practice squad today. Parsons was cut Saturday, but unlike Van Pelt, he has practice squad eligibility remaining.
Texans looking for help
In addition to Van Pelt, expect Kubiak and Houston general manager Rick Smith – who joined the Texans in June after being the Broncos’ assistant general manager – to scour the Broncos’ cut list. The Texans are looking for outside linebackers, cornerbacks, running backs and receivers.
Can’t catch a break
Having streaked into the great wide open down the middle of the field Thursday at Arizona, David Terrell awaited his last opportunity to make the Broncos’ roster. And he waited. And he waited. But the deep pass thrown by Van Pelt in the final preseason game hung in the air.
By the time the pass was close enough to drop into Terrell’s hands, Arizona safety Jack Brewer was able to knock it away.
“I just couldn’t catch a break,” said Terrell, who was cut Saturday even though his 128 career receptions were easily the most among the Denver candidates vying for backup receiver spots. “Not in the NFL, I couldn’t. Maybe, I’d have better luck if I tried out for the WNBA, but I sure didn’t have it in the NFL.”
Roster revelations
Position-by-position roster breakdown: Quarterbacks (two), running backs (five), wide receivers (six), tight ends (five), offensive linemen (nine), defensive linemen (nine), linebackers (six), defensive backs (nine), kicking specialists (two).
A surprise: Denver kept only three defensive tackles, with rookie Elvis Dumervil able to play inside and outside. Broncos also kept just four cornerbacks; tight ends Chad Mustard and Nate Jackson made the team. CSU product Erik Pears played well enough to force the Broncos to keep nine offensive linemen. And receiver Charlie Adams was kept. Adams was dealt to Dallas last month but was returned when he failed Dallas’ physical with an old knee injury.
Staff writer Mike Klis contributed to this report.
