Fieldwork: Webster shines
Although coach Mike Shanahan said the morning session Wednesday was a tad sluggish, there was some solid play.
Early on, the defense was stuffing the run well. Linebacker Nate Webster, making a nice early play for the starting strong-side linebacker spot, had another helmet-popping hit, this time on running back Mike Bell. On another play defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban drilled starter Travis Henry.
In the passing game, receiver Javon Walker made two big-time catch-and-run plays on passes from Jay Cutler. Late in the practice, Champ Bailey intercepted a Cutler pass and brought it back for what would have been a touchdown.
Through the morning session, 8,756 fans attended the first four days of practice. It was a 37 percent increase from last year’s attendance.
Biography: Champ Bailey
Bailey might as well sleep with that thing.
Hidden beneath his uniform, the Broncos cornerback wears a cumbersome shoulder harness. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
In the first game of the 2005 season, Bailey suffered a shoulder injury. He didn’t miss a game, but had to wear a shoulder harness the rest of the season. As a precaution, he wore it in 2006 as well. He’s wearing it again in training camp and will continue to wear it this season.
“I feel naked without it,” said Bailey, who had 10 interceptions last year. “I have no pain at all, but it has become part of me. I’m surprised I don’t sleep in it. I’ll probably wear it the rest of my career.”
The first time he played with the harness, Bailey made an interception against San Diego that turned around Denver’s 2005 season. “I got that pick in the first game, and it just made me feel better about wearing it,” Bailey said. “Now, I don’t even notice I have it on.”
Quote of the day
“Today was an average practice for us, because it was a fourth day. A lot of times, guys are a little sore, mentally it’s a little bit draining. But it’s something they have to work through, it’s part of two-a-days.”
— Coach Mike Shanahan, after the morning practice session Wednesday.
Camp facts, If you go
Today’s schedule: Practice begins at 8:30 a.m. and will run approximately two hours. The afternoon practice begins at 3:50 p.m. and will run up to about two hours.
Admission: Free. Gates open an hour before each practice.
Parking: Located on the west side of the practice fields at Broncos headquarters. Open on a first-come, first-served basis. Nonalcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at training camp.
