Denver Native (Carol)
08-27-2010, 04:11 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15905075?source=rss
Though the NFL's first roster cutdown — to 75 players — isn't required until Tuesday, the Broncos go into Sunday night's game at Pittsburgh already there.
With the release of a handful of players this week, including Cherry Creek High School alumnus Tyler Polumbus, the Broncos reached the first benchmark, and they are likely to make additional cuts shortly after Sunday's game.
NFL rosters don't have to be down to 53 players until Sept. 4, but Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said if the team doesn't think a player is in a position to appear in the preseason finale in Minnesota, he might be let go.
Asked Thursday why the Broncos elected to go to 75 players early McDaniels said: "We think it's fairer to give them an opportunity to go play someplace else, on a team where they may have a chance to win a job. We'll probably try to do more of the same, even though we're already down there, just because I think it's the fairest thing to do for the player."
The Broncos, at least for now, are inclined to leave outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil on the roster as he continues to heal from surgery to repair a torn pectoral tendon and muscle damage. Most players miss an entire season with the injury, but the Broncos hope he might be able to return this season.
McDaniels said the Broncos' injury situation at other positions could impact the decision.
"We're letting the thing heal, the stitches, and all the rest of that stuff, we're talking to the doctors soon," McDaniels said. "We have not made any, obviously, decisions yet. We're going to see the next few weeks here how this goes and then try to make the best decision we can for him and for the team. But we're going to give it as much time as we possibly can.
"He's a very valuable player to us, but he also has a very valuable future. So, we're not going to try to compromise to save a few games here and there if that's what it ends up being. We're going to try to do the best thing for the team and I think also, the last couple weeks here as the roster plays out, based on injuries, maybe there is a better chance that we just hold out hope, maybe there's not. But nothing is more important than his health."
Though the NFL's first roster cutdown — to 75 players — isn't required until Tuesday, the Broncos go into Sunday night's game at Pittsburgh already there.
With the release of a handful of players this week, including Cherry Creek High School alumnus Tyler Polumbus, the Broncos reached the first benchmark, and they are likely to make additional cuts shortly after Sunday's game.
NFL rosters don't have to be down to 53 players until Sept. 4, but Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said if the team doesn't think a player is in a position to appear in the preseason finale in Minnesota, he might be let go.
Asked Thursday why the Broncos elected to go to 75 players early McDaniels said: "We think it's fairer to give them an opportunity to go play someplace else, on a team where they may have a chance to win a job. We'll probably try to do more of the same, even though we're already down there, just because I think it's the fairest thing to do for the player."
The Broncos, at least for now, are inclined to leave outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil on the roster as he continues to heal from surgery to repair a torn pectoral tendon and muscle damage. Most players miss an entire season with the injury, but the Broncos hope he might be able to return this season.
McDaniels said the Broncos' injury situation at other positions could impact the decision.
"We're letting the thing heal, the stitches, and all the rest of that stuff, we're talking to the doctors soon," McDaniels said. "We have not made any, obviously, decisions yet. We're going to see the next few weeks here how this goes and then try to make the best decision we can for him and for the team. But we're going to give it as much time as we possibly can.
"He's a very valuable player to us, but he also has a very valuable future. So, we're not going to try to compromise to save a few games here and there if that's what it ends up being. We're going to try to do the best thing for the team and I think also, the last couple weeks here as the roster plays out, based on injuries, maybe there is a better chance that we just hold out hope, maybe there's not. But nothing is more important than his health."