Fieldwork
The morning session produced the first significant injury as receiver Domenik Hixon suffered a separated shoulder while diving to make a catch. Hixon, who missed his entire rookie year because of leg and foot injuries, had been projected as the team’s top returner and No. 4 receiver.
Outside linebacker Ian Gold was held out Tuesday because of back spasms. Louis Green filled in at Gold’s weakside (Will) linebacking position with the No. 1 defense. Receiver Brandon Stokley and tackle Adam Meadows were giving the morning off to rest old injuries but were expected to participate in the afternoon session.
The offense had a tough morning. After one sequence of four consecutive receiver drops and Jay Cutler incompletions, coach Mike Shanahan called his offense together for an impromptu instructional clinic.
Attending the morning session was Rockies pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, who was recently placed on the disabled list with a sore elbow. Lopez grew up in Mexico City rooting for the Dallas Cowboys and his hometown kicker Rafael Septien. “I know the game,” Lopez said. “But this is the first time I’ve seen anything like this at a camp.”
Also in attendance was Charlie Casserly, a CBS analyst and former Washington Redskins GM who drafted Champ Bailey, Kenard Lang and Stephen Alexander.
Position battle
It seems like every day the depth chart changes at the strongside (Sam) linebacker position. Eddie Moore was No. 1 through most of the offseason until he suffered a serious knee injury. Then Warrick Holdman opened training camp at No. 1. On Tuesday, Nate Webster was the first-string Sam. Although a middle-linebacker prototype at 6-foot, 237 pounds, Webster is well aware the starting job opening is on the strongside. “Oh yeah, they let us know,” he said. “I’m up for the challenge.”
Shanahan loves Webster’s football instincts so the Broncos may be serious about making the veteran their Sam linebacker. “”I hope so,” Webster said. “We’re all grown men but coach won’t let you know if you’re job’s safe. He wants to keep you fighting, keep you competing for a job.”
Biography: Dre’ Bly, cornerback
Nobody knows better than Bly that this is a crazy country that pays $30,000 a year salaries to school teachers and $6.6 million a year to NFL cornerbacks. Bly is the son of Donald and Gloria Bly, who have a combined 55 years of fifth-grade teaching experience in Norfolk County, Virginia public-school system. Bly is also a Broncos’ cornerback who a few months ago signed a five-year, $33 million contract ($6.6 a year).
“It’s out of whack,” Bly said. “The people who educate and lead kids to go on and be what they are don’t get rewarded. But it’s been like that for a long time, which is why I give back.”
As part of his foundation work, Bly adopted a Detroit middle school last year when he played with the Lions and is seeking a similar arrangement for a Denver-area middle school this year.
At home, Bly has a wife, Kristyn, three sons and a 1-year-old daughter. It hasn’t been easy for him to see his family during training camp as he said the final team meeting ends at about 9:30 p.m. and he has to be back at camp the next day by 8 a.m. “My boys will still be up when I get home,” he said.
Quote of the day
“Kenard Lang is one of the main guys. He’s funny. He’s so country, too, that’s the thing about him. He’s always talking.”
— Broncos DE Tim Crowder on the veterans razzing rookies like himself.
Wednesday camp facts
Almost all the starters will workout once, in the morning session, which begins at 8:30 a.m. The afternoon workout is for special teams only, starting at 3:40 p.m.
Admission: Free for parking and to watch the workouts. Gates open an hour before each workout.
