With the first round of roster cuts looming after tonight’s preseason game against Green Bay, there’s no denying the feeling of urgency for players on the bubble to make the team.
“It’s really important. Guys are fighting for jobs,” veteran running back Michael Pittman said. “This is our livelihood. Even though it’s preseason, we still want to win these games, and coaches want to look at a lot of players.”
Pittman, entering his 11th season but his first in Denver, is hoping to prove to coaches that he is an indispensable weapon in the backfield — bigger than the other tailbacks and faster and stronger than fullbacks.
Pittman leads all backs with 21 carries through two preseason games, though all of his carries have come in the second half. Tailbacks Selvin Young and Andre Hall and fullback Cecil Sapp have played with the first-team offense so far.
“You can’t be a one-dimensional player,” Pittman said. “A lot of one-dimensional players are out of the league a lot faster than a guy that can do a lot of different things. Like I can run, I can catch, I can block. That’s the reason why the Broncos brought me here, and I really want a chance to show them that when I really get the opportunity to go in there with the first team.”
Lindsay H. Jones
