Starting right guard Montrae Holland was held out of Friday’s first practice because he showed up at training camp overweight.
Instead of working out with the team, Holland spent several hours of one-on-one time with strength and conditioning coach Rich Tuten, running and pushing a sled on a separate practice field.
“I didn’t make weight,” Holland said. “I’ll be back in a few days.”
Holland is listed at 6-foot-2, 322 pounds, weighing more than any offensive lineman except rookie left tackle Ryan Clady, who is 6-feet-6.
“We’re not going to have him practice until he gets back to his reporting weight,” coach Mike Shanahan said.
With Holland out, Chris Kuper practiced for the first time at right guard, with Ryan Harris at right tackle. Kuper and Harris are expected to battle for the starting job at right tackle.
Veteran center Tom Nalen was back with the first-team offense. Nalen, entering his 15th season, had his left knee scoped during mini-camp in early June. With Rod Smith’s official retirement on Thursday, Nalen is the only remaining player from the Broncos’ two Super Bowl championship teams.
Clady deal finalized.
It took all-night, nonstop negotiation but the Broncos and Clady, their No. 1 draft pick, reached an agreement on a six-year contract.
The deal was reached about an hour before Broncos were to begin training camp by reporting for physicals at 6 a.m.
The parameters of the deal would include guarantees of between $10.7 million and $11 million and an option for the rookie left tackle to void after his fifth season providing he meets certain playing time incentives.
What will Clady buy first once he collects a portion of his NFL bonus?
“Probably some furniture,” Clady said. “Although, I still have to get a place worked out.”
After the player physicals, Shanahan was to lead the team’s season-opening meeting before commencing the workout at 11:15 a.m.
Cutler being monitored.
Quarterback Jay Cutler opened camp wearing a new blood sugar monitor strapped to his upper left arm. The monitor feeds a signal to head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos every minute.
“He (Antonopulos) just walks by me and tells me where I’m at,” Cutler said.
Cutler, diagnosed with Type I diabetes in the offseason, is not wearing an insulin pump during practice.
“When it gets really hot out it gets a little sticky and I don’t like messing with it,” Cutler said.
No sleep till Dove Valley.
Clady’s agent, Pat Dye, and Broncos officials worked until the wee hours of Friday morning to finalize the contract for the team’s first-round pick.
The five-year deal with a maximum of $17.5 million with about $11 million guaranteed, was completed around 4:30 a.m., which was when Clady said he received a text message from Dye. “I slept a lot better after that,” Clady said.
Lindsay H. Jones and Mike Klis, The Denver Post
