The Broncos said Tuesday they traded cornerback Domonique Foxworth to Atlanta for a 2009 late-round draft pick.
Foxworth, a part-time starter throughout his three seasons in Denver, was sent home from the Broncos’ facility Monday morning and told the team was working out a trade for him.
Foxworth said he had two teams interested in him: Atlanta and Kansas City. His preference was the Falcons, though, because of their need for an experienced corner. The Falcons expected starters at both corner positions, Chris Houston and Brent Grimes, are both in their second year.
Atlanta plans on using Foxworth as the nickel cornerback and on special teams in its season opener against Detroit on Sunday. Foxworth will then have the chance to compete for a starting job.
“It wasn’t necessarily the depth chart, but Atlanta was my preference,” Foxworth said. “I’m quite appreciative of Mike Shanahan and everybody else for making it happen.”
Foxworth said he didn’t ask for, nor receive, an explanation from the Broncos as to why he was being traded, and was happy to be moving on.
“I just wanted to get out from behind Champ Bailey and Dre” Bly so I got out of there before they had a chance to change their mind,” Foxworth said.
Foxworth took a flight from Denver to Atlanta Tuesday morning, his agent, Brian Macklin, said.
“It worked out great,” Macklin said. “He’s got a fresh start there.”
The Broncos re-signed guard Dylan Gandy to take Foxworth’s spot on the 53-man roster. Gandy was waived on Saturday, and will backup starters Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper. Gandy started 14 games in his first three NFL seasons, all with Indianapolis. He originally signed with Denver as a free agent in May after he was waived by the Colts.
Foxworth was one of two third-round draft picks in 2005, along with fellow defensive back Karl Paymah. Paymah spent time at nickel last season while Foxworth started five games at safety, and is now the only player from that draft class still with the Broncos. Both Paymah and Foxworth will be free agents after the 2008 season.
Foxworth was a popular player in the Broncos’ locker room and one of the team’s most active members in the community. He was a driving force behind the opening of the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center, which opened in May in honor of Williams, the former Denver corner who was drafted a round ahead of Foxworth in 2005. Foxworth was also previously the team’s union representative and is on the NFL Player’s Association executive committee.
More moves
In other roster moves Tuesday, the Broncos released veteran defensive tackle Alvin McKinley and signed defensive tackle Josh Shaw.
Shaw is entering his sixth season, and the Broncos are his fifth team. He spent 2007 in Oakland and was released by the Raiders on Saturday. He has also played for Miami, New Orleans and San Francisco.
