ENGLEWOOD ‑- Like hockey has done for decades, the NFL wants teams to designate their captains with a "C'' on their jerseys this season and beyond.
Broncos players today elected their teammates who will wear the "C'' this season. On offense, center Tom Nalen and quarterback Jay Cutler were chosen; on defense, the picks were cornerback Champ Bailey and safety John Lynch.
Captains on special teams are chosen each week during the season, but today the players elected Jason Elam to be the captain for Sunday's opener in Buffalo.
"Not only the captains, but all the leaders of this team, (should) make sure we're all going about our jobs the right way,'' Lynch said.
It is the first time Nalen has been voted a team captain in his 14-year career with the Broncos. Cutler was also elected in just his second year in the league and his first as a starter.
"It gives you an idea of what the team thinks of him,'' Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "This is totally a team selection; coaches have nothing to do with it. Strictly between the players and who they see as a leader.''
Meanwhile, defensive end Simeon Rice, who was signed Monday, practiced today for his third consecutive day to close out his first week with the team and Shanahan said he expected the defensive end to play "about 15 plays or so''
on Sunday.