As the weeks passed by without an offer from an NFL team, Chad Jackson was starting to get worried.
Jackson, a second-round draft pick by New England in 2006 who was cut by the Patriots after training camp, traveled around the country to try out for NFL teams throughout the first six weeks of the season, yet no one signed him.
That was until last week, when he agreed to join the Broncos. He signed on Monday and practiced with his new team in its first post-bye week workout.
“It was miserable just sitting around, watching football games, wishing you could be out there,” Jackson said. “I don’t wish this on anybody, man. While you’re in the league right now, don’t take it for granted.”
Jackson played in 12 games his rookie year for the Patriots and made 13 catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the AFC championship game and was not activated until late in the 2007 season. He played in only two games last year and had no catches.
“When I tore my ACL, that’s when they brought in (Randy) Moss and Wes (Welker) and all those guys, and I was kind off in the background,” Jackson said. “I guess they didn’t really have a need for me.”
With the addition of Jackson, the Broncos have six receivers, one more than they have had at any point this season.
“He did a pretty good job his first day out,” Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. “We’ll get a chance to see him over the next week or so.”
Wilfork meets with NFL about Cutler hit.
New Eng- land defensive tackle Vince Wilfork met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York on Tuesday about a late hit caught on camera during New England’s 41-7 victory against the Broncos on Oct. 20, the NFL Network reported.
Wilfork elbowed Denver quarterback Jay Cutler in the head after Cutler threw an interception, according to the report. The hit was not captured by ABC’s cameras or aired, but was seen on footage shot by the NFL Network.
Wilfork was not flagged or fined for the hit.
A meeting with the commissioner could mean a forthcoming suspension for Wilfork because he was fined twice last year for unsportsmanlike conduct for elbowing Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman and poking his finger in the face of Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.
Hall of Fame nominees.
Former Denver tight end Shannon Sharpe, coach Dan Reeves and five other former Broncos were among 133 people nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sharpe is one of 11 players in their first year of eligibility.
The other former Broncos on the list are safety Steve Atwater, running back Terrell Davis, linebacker Tom Jackson, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg and cornerback Louis Wright.
The field will be narrowed to 25 candidates next month then down to 15. The Class of 2009 will be selected on Jan. 31, the day before the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla.
Quarterback John Elway and left tackle Gary Zimmerman are the only Broncos enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Footnote.
The Broncos worked out several linebackers this week, including Rod Wilson, Mario Haggan and Marcus Riley, plus defensive tackle Matthias Askew.
Lindsay H. Jones and Mike Klis, Denver Post staff writers
