Denver Post sports writer Mike Klis posts his Broncos Mailbag every Tuesday during the 2008 NFL season on DenverPost.com.
To drop a Broncos- or NFL-related question into the Broncos Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
I noticed a couple of undrafted . How do undrafted players get to try out for the Broncos? Do they get invited by the team? Or do they show up at Dove Valley? Or? Thanks.
— Roger Edrinn, Buena Vista
Roger – The undrafted rookie who makes it has become less of a novelty since the NFL reduced its draft to seven rounds in 1994. That only makes room for roughly 250 players to be drafted, and college football produces more prospects than that.
As a general rule, teams will start figuring out about in the fifth round which players won’t be drafted. They will start making calls to these players in hopes of signing them as free agents immediately after the draft is completed. Once signed, they are part of the 80-man offseason roster. They are invited to the offseason workouts and mini-camps. If they continue to impress, they go to training camp. If they impress some more, as was the case this year with Wesley Woodyard, Brett Kern and Tyler Polumbus, they get a place on the 53-man, regular-season roster.
Running back Anthony Alridge might have been a fourth undrafted rookie to make it, but he was placed on injured reserved after suffering a season-ending foot injury in the final preseason game.
So all I have been hearing is rave reviews about Ryan Clady. But does a conventional big LT really fit into the Broncos’ zone-blocking system?
— Jesse, New York
Jesse – He does if he has quick feet. Mike Shanahan has always said he prefers bigger linemen. It’s just not easy to find big linemen who can move. That’s why the Broncos have always had smaller blockers.
At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Clady is a rare package of size and agility, which is why the Broncos took him instead of six other projected left tackles who were drafted behind him in the first round.
There has been little information regarding . What really happened as he didn’t look injured during or after the Cardinals game? A sure ticket off the Broncos’ regular-season roster seems to be the player listed as the starting fullback during training camp and preseason.
— Tom Love, Temecula, Calif.
Tom – Yes, this is the second consecutive training camp/preseason that ended with the starting fullback getting cut. Kyle Johnson got it last year. Sapp this year. Sapp did suffer a hip flexor injury in the final preseason game at Arizona, and he also had been bothered by a thumb injury. The Broncos wound up giving Sapp a three-week injury settlement and his release last week.
Even had Sapp not been injured at Arizona, he probably would have been cut. When rookie Peyton Hillis was out there sharing time with the first-string offense in the all-important third preseason game against Green Bay, even though he had missed most of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury, it showed the Broncos were keeping the position warm for the kid. Another rookie, Spencer Larsen, has been moved from linebacker to Hillis’ backup at fullback.
Tatum Bell is cut by the Lions. Hugh Charles (who I loved at CU) is cut by the Patriots. The Broncos need another back; could either of these guys get a look?
— Tom, Illinois
Tom – Tatum won’t be coming back. Not because of the Rudi Johnson-bag-snatch incident but because the Broncos already have his slashing/speed style of back in Selvin Young. The Broncos prefer Young in part because he runs stronger between the tackles and doesn’t fumble. As for Hugh Charles, it’s possible the Broncos considered him but instead picked up P.J. Pope for their practice squad. Pope was a late cut by the Chicago Bears.
Mike – What do you think about two seasons after he left Denver in a huff because he wanted to be “the man” and not play second fiddle to Walker? I think you could cut the irony with a knife.
— Bryan, Irvine, Calif.
Bryan – You got that right, although at the time of his holdout, Lelie would have been behind Walker and Rod Smith. Still, Lelie nearly committed career suicide with his decision to hold out and force a trade two years ago.
I remember what Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said about Lelie’s holdout. Bowlen has an offseason home in Hawaii and got to know Lelie during the wide receiver’s college days at the University of Hawaii. So he liked Lelie more than most people. But about Lelie’s holdout, Bowlen said: “These things normally don’t end well for the player.” And it didn’t for Lelie.
Hey, Mike. I would like to know who the Broncos’ captains are this year?
— David, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
David – I assume you sent this question before Friday, when . The offensive captains are Jay Cutler and Daniel Graham. The defensive captains are D.J. Williams and Champ Bailey. And long snapper Mike Leach is leader of the special teams.
Hey, Mike. I don’t pretend to be a roster-management expert, but what’s the deal with John Lynch and the Patriots? He was cut, obviously, but the common assumption seems to be they’ll bring him back during the season. What’s the benefit of that move for the Pats?
— Matt Driscoll, Tacoma, Wash.
Matt – If a veteran is cut before the regular-season opener with the intention of bringing him back, the usual motive is to remove the guarantee from his salary. Had Lynch stayed on the Pats’ roster through Sunday, he would have been assured of making $1.5 million this year. Now, if the Pats decide to bring him back, Lynch essentially would be playing week-to-week.
Mike Klis is in his fourth season of covering the Broncos after previously covering the Colorado Rockies and Major League Baseball for 15 years. To drop a question into his Broncos Mailbag, or visit DenverPost.com’s .
