Ever have your back go out?
Only then can a person comprehend how much the back is needed to get through life’s routine.
Elvis Dumervil has gained appreciation for his right pinky finger.
The Broncos’ best pass rusher, Dumervil had 21 sacks in his first 31 NFL games covering two seasons. But he badly fractured his pinky in the preseason. Forced to wear castlike protection around his whole right hand, Dumervil will be seeking his first sack when the Broncos play Game 3 today against the New Orleans Saints at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“I can’t really grab,” Dumervil said. “I like to grab, man. I like to snatch-and-jerk, try to make that Kenny Peterson move. Once I get these pins out, I can finally start rehabbing this finger.”
Dumervil will get the four pins removed from his right pinky Tuesday.
Champ’s pick.
Broncos’ cornerback Champ Bailey has 43 career interceptions, 25 with Denver. Where would he rank his interception against Drew Bees in Week 2 of the 2005 season?
“I’d say it was No. 2,” Bailey said.
Brees, who is now the Saints’ quarterback, was playing three years ago for the San Diego Chargers, who were leading the Broncos 14-3 at halftime.
The Broncos had been trounced the week before in Miami and entered their halftime locker room in Game 2 with home-crowd boos ringing in their ears.
But on the first series of the second half, Bailey picked off Brees along the right sideline and returned it for a touchdown. Not only was it the turning point in the game, it was considered the pivotal play in catapulting the Broncos to a 13-3 season.
“It’s still No. 2,” Bailey said.
No. 1, he said, came later in the 2005 season, in the playoffs against the New England Patriots. Bailey picked off Tom Brady in the end zone and returned it 100 yards to the 1, from where the Broncos scored on the next play. It was a 14-point swing and the Broncos won 27-13 to advance to the AFC championship game.
“Any time you get Brady, it has to be No. 1,” Bailey said.
Hang time.
Broncos’ rookie punter Brett Kern had a good game on paper last Sunday against the Chargers, averaging 53.7 yards on three boots. His deep punts of 56 and 64 yards, however, soared low and could have been trouble had San Diego returner Craig Davis not initially muffed them.
“If I do kick them deep, I have to put hang time with them,” Kern said. “I didn’t do that (Sunday), and I was fortunate the returner wasn’t able to field them that well. I definitely have a lot of work to do, but a win’s a win.”
Footnotes.
Defensive tackle Josh Shaw will be a game-time decision after missing most of the practice week to heal a 40-stitch gash in his left calf. Shaw was being held up by the San Diego center Sunday when he was inadvertently cleated by Broncos defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban. . . .
Ekuban spent all of training camp and what little he played during the preseason at defensive tackle. In the first two regular-season games, he has mostly played defensive end.
“I can play all four D-line positions, and if that’s what they need me to, I’ll do it,” Ekuban said.
Mike Klis, The Denver Post
