ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Michael Pittman doesn’t mind filling in at fullback.
However, he still wants a shot at the Broncos’ starting tailback spot, where he’s battling Selvin Young, Andre Hall and Ryan Torain for the job.
“We’re all working hard and we’re all trying to be that guy,” Pittman said.
With rookie Peyton Hillis out with a hamstring injury, Pittman was shifted over to a position he knows little about, just to give the team more depth.
Pittman is all right with the move, learning as he goes. He’ll even volunteer for special teams if it means a spot with the Broncos.
“I’m not your biggest fullback, but I’ll go in there and I’ll block and do the best I can,” he said. “I’m a halfback, third down back, whatever you want me to be.”
Pittman sat out practice Wednesday with a left hamstring strain, not that he’s concerned about it. He said it was just precautionary, and was back in uniform for the afternoon’s special teams practice.
Instead of looking at the drawbacks of fullback—such as the punishing blocks—Pittman is concentrating on the positives, like being part of the passing game. The Broncos love to throw to the fullback out of the backfield, and Pittman has the hands they covet. He has the second-most receiving yards of any active running back, trailing only Warrick Dunn.
“I take pride in my hands,” said Pittman, who’s caught 415 passes for 3,400 yards since 1998. “I take a lot of pride in whatever I do. I give my all.”
Pittman has the strength to make a sturdy lead blocker, once setting a Fresno State weightlifting record for running backs by bench pressing 435 pounds. He’s increased that to 490 pounds.
“Once I learn this offense and get that underneath my belt, then I can really showcase what I can do,” Pittman said. “Instead of being out there thinking all the time, I’ll be out there playing and having a good time.”
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FUN AND GAMES@: On the tape of one wrist, cornerback Domonique Foxworth had drawn a crossword puzzle in marker. On the other side, he penned a Sudoku puzzle. Both of them were partially completed.
“I got a little done, but I wasn’t doing it during practice,” he said.
Why the games?
“Camp makes you crazy,” he said. “I figure if I start out crazy, I’ll end up sane.”
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MISSING FROM ACTION@: Veterans Dewayne Robertson and Tom Nalen were given a day off from practice Wednesday morning.
Robertson was held out to rest his left knee while Nalen came out for practice in full gear, only to take his jersey off shortly after stretching. Nalen has been bothered by a sore left knee.
“He wanted to practice,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “He had a little pain in that area, so we told him to stay away. We’ll feel it out. Hopefully, he will be able to come back (Thursday).”
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FAMILY TIME@: Dre’ Bly broke up a pass in the end zone and then continued running off the field, giving a high-five to one of his sons and a kiss to his wife.
“It’s a good feeling when you have the kids back there cheering for you, to see their smiling faces,” Bly said as he held his 2-year-old daughter, Peyton.
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STRIPPED AWAY@: After tight end Tony Scheffler caught a pass on a slant route, rookie safety Josh Barrett came up from behind and swatted the ball loose. Barrett pounced on it and raced back down the field.
“It was a good play for the defense,” Barrett said. “I was hustling to get over there as quick as possible, I saw the opportunity to come down on it, and got it out.”
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FIRST DOWNS@: Broncos kicker Matt Prater was 7-for-8 on field goal attempts in the morning session, missing only an attempt from 39 yards. … After Broncos safety Hamza Abdullah intercepted a pass from Darrell Hackney, he celebrated by zooming down the field with his arms spread like an airplane. Shanahan then called him over for a little chat. … Defensive tackle Larry Birdine had a nice move to get around rookie left tackle Ryan Clady in morning drills.
