Getting To Know The New Denver Broncos
By Jeremy Glasoe | March 5, 2009
The Denver Broncos have been by far the most active team in the 2009 FA period. If my math is correct, I believe that adds up to 12 new players in free agency. Don’t forget about the 9 draft picks in April’s draft (subject to change). Strength in numbers? Yeah, well necessity also. You see, there were a lot of players cut on this team when Josh Mcdaniels came in and asserted himself and the New England Patriots way. Not to mention the horrible defense that had to be fixed.
So, I figured I would catch everyone up on the 12 new players added through free agency.
20 Brian Dawkins, Safety
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 210 lbs.
College: Clemson
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (Philadelphia), 2009
Pro Year: 14th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 183/182
Postseason: 18/18
Dawkins is a 14th-year player who joins the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent after spending his first 13 NFL seasons with Philadelphia. A four-time Associated Press All-Pro selection who was named to the Pro Bowl during four of the last five years, Dawkins entered the NFL with the Eagles in 1996 as a second-round draft choice (61st overall) from Clemson University.
With 34 career interceptions and 21 sacks, Dawkins is one of four players in NFL history with at least 33 interceptions and 20 sacks for a career. His 34 interceptions tie for the most by an Eagles player in club annals, and his 21 sacks rank fourth in league history among defensive backs. Since his rookie year in 1996, Dawkins has totaled the most combined interceptions and forced fumbles (66 / 34 INTS and 32 FFs) in the NFL.
The safety is Philadelphia’s all-time leader in regular-season games played with 183 and has started 182 of those contests. His 109 career wins (99 regular season / 10 postseason) are the most by a player in Eagles history.
For his regular-season career, Dawkins has registered 1,294 tackles (851 solo), 34 interceptions (515 yds.), 158 pass breakups, 21 sacks (177 yds.), 32 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries. He also owns 94 tackles (76 solo), four interceptions (75 yds.), nine pass breakups, two sacks (23 yds.) and three forced fumbles in 18 career postseason games (all starts).
In 2008, Dawkins started all 16 games for the third time in the last four seasons and registered a team-high six forced fumbles along with the third-most tackles (142) for the Eagles. Named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December, Dawkins was selected to the Pro Bowl and helped Philadelphia advance to the NFC Championship Game for the fifth time in his career.
A three-year starter at Clemson, Dawkins was an all-state selection at Raines High School in Jacksonville, Fla. He was born on Oct. 13, 1973.
See the rest after the jump!
J.J. Arrington, Running back
Height: 5′ 9″
Weight: 212 lbs.
College: California
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent (Arizona), 2009
Pro Year: 5th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 58/8
Postseason: 4/0
Arrington is a fifth-year running back who spent his first four NFL seasons with Arizona, which selected him in the second round (44th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft from the University of California. He has played 58 career regular-season games with eight starts, totaling 183 rushes for 654 yards with three touchdowns along with 91 receptions for 693 yards with two scores. Arrington owns 114 career kickoff returns for 2,694 yards (23.6 avg.) with two touchdowns.
In 2008, Arrington saw time in 11 regular-season games with three starts and all four postseason contests for the Cardinals, who won the NFC West title and advanced to Super Bowl XLIII. He rushed for 187 yards on 31 carries with one touchdown and tied a career high with 29 receptions for 255 yards with one score during the regular season. He also returned 36 kickoffs for 923 yards (25.6 avg.) with a 93-yard touchdown return.
During his rookie campaign with Arizona in 2005, Arrington rushed for a career-high 370 yards on 112 carries with two touchdowns and had 25 receptions for 139 yards. He returned 67 kickoffs for 1,520 yards (22.7 avg.) with a 99-yard touchdown return for the Cardinals in 2006.
Arrington played two seasons at California after beginning his collegiate career at College of the Canyons in Valencia, Calif. He received consensus All-America honors as a senior at Cal, rushing for at least 100 yards in every game en route to finishing the year as the nation’s leader in rushing yards with 2,018 and yards per carry with a 7.0 avg. on 289 rushes.
A two-way player at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, N.C., Arrington was born on Jan. 23, 1983.
Correll Buckhalter, Running Back
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 217 lbs.
College: Nebraska
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (Philadelphia), 2009
Pro Year: 9th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 84/16
Postseason: 10/0
Buckhalter is a ninth-year player who spent his first eight professional seasons with Philadelphia, which selected him in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft from the University of Nebraska. He has played in 74 career regular-season games (16 starts), totaling 476 rushes for 2,155 yards (4.5 avg.) with 18 touchdowns along with 85 receptions for 930 yards (10.9 avg.) with four scores.
The running back, who owns four career 100-yard rushing games, also has returned 39 career kickoffs in the regular season for 840 yards (21.5 avg.). In 10 career postseason games, Buckhalter has posted 58 rushes for 240 yards (4.1 avg.) with one touchdown and 13 catches for 99 yards (7.6 avg.).
Buckhalter’s 4.5-yard career rushing average ranks third in Eagles history among running backs with at least 450 carries. During the last two seasons, he has averaged 4.9 yards per carry (138-682) for the ninth-best mark in the NFL among players with at least 125 carries.
In 2008, Buckhalter played 14 games (2 starts) for Philadelphia and registered 76 rushes for 369 yards (4.9 avg.) with two touchdowns along with a career-high 26 receptions for 324 yards (12.5 avg.) with two scores. He averaged a career-best 5.0 yards per carry (62-313) and had four rushing touchdowns a year earlier in 14 games (2 starts) for the Eagles in 2007.
Buckhalter’s 586 yards (126 carries, 4.5 avg.) in 2001 were a career high and represented an Eagles rookie record. His eight rushing scores in 2003 tied for the fifth-highest total in the NFC, and he finished that year with 542 yards on 126 carries (4.3 avg.).
At Nebraska, Buckhalter appeared in 46 games and finished his collegiate career ranked eighth in school history in rushing yards (2,522). He attended Collins High School in Collins, Miss., and was born on Oct. 6, 1978.
Andra Davis, Linebacker
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 250 lbs.
College: Florida
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (Cleveland), 2009
Pro Year: 8th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 106/83
Postseason: 1/0
Davis is an eighth-year linebacker who spent his first seven NFL seasons with Cleveland, which selected him in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft from the University of Florida. He has played 105 career regular-season games (83 starts), totaling 908 tackles (557 solo), 8.5 sacks (60 yds.), eight interceptions (72 yds.), 28 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
A 16-game starter three times for his career, Davis has started at least 10 games in each of the previous six seasons with Cleveland. He started all 16 games for the Browns in 2008 and finished second on the club with 134 tackles (72 solo) while posting one interception.
Davis led the Browns with a career-high 207 tackles (119 solo) as a 16-game starter for the club in 2005. His five sacks with Cleveland in 2003 were a personal best and tied for the seventh-highest total among AFC linebackers.
At Florida, Davis was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference choice and a Butkus Award (nation’s best linebacker) semifinalist during his senior season. He received All-America honors at Suwanee High School in Live Oak, Fla., and was born on Dec. 23, 1978.
Ronnie Fields, Defensive Tackle
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 315 lbs.
College: Mississippi State
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (San Francisco), 2009
Pro Year: 5th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 49/9
Postseason: /
Fields is a fifth-year defensive tackle who spent his first four NFL seasons with San Francisco, which selected him in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft from Mississippi State University. He has played 49 career regular-season games (9 starts), totaling 97 tackles (49 solo), one sack (3 yds.), one pass breakup and one forced fumble.
Fields appeared in every game for the 49ers during each of the last two seasons and registered 28 tackles (18 solo) for the club in 2008. A year earlier, he posted a career-high 39 tackles (14 solo) along with one sack and one forced fumble with San Francisco.
In 2006, the defensive tackle started a personal-best nine games for the 49ers.
A first-team All-Southeastern Conference choice as a senior at Mississippi State, Fields started 36 career games for the Bulldogs. He attended Bogalusa High School in Bogalusa, La., and was born on Sept. 13, 1981.
Jabar Gaffney, Wide Receiver
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 200 lbs.
College: Florida
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (New England), 2009
Pro Year: 8th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 113/74
Postseason: 6/4
Gaffney is an eighth-year player who joins the Broncos after playing for New England (2006-08) and Houston (2002-05). He entered the NFL with the Texans in 2002 as a second-round (33rd overall) draft choice from the University of Florida.
In 107 career regular-season games (70 starts), Gaffney has totaled 256 receptions for 3,068 yards (12.0 avg.) with 15 touchdowns. He also has appeared in six career postseason games (4 starts) and has made 25 catches for 282 yards (11.3 avg.) with three scores in those contests.
Gaffney has appeared in all 16 games during six of his seven professional seasons. He owns 14 games with at least 80 receiving yards, including four 100-yard performances, for his career.
In 2008, Gaffney saw time in 16 games (7 starts) for the Patriots and posted 38 receptions for 468 yards (12.3 avg.) with two touchdowns. He registered a career-best five receiving touchdowns and had 36 catches for 468 yards (12.3 avg.) for New England in 2007, appearing in every game (8 total starts) and helping the club to the first 16-0 regular-season record in NFL history en route to advancing to Super Bowl XLII.
During the Patriots’ playoff run in 2006, Gaffney became the first player in league annals to post back-to-back 8-catch, 100-yard receiving efforts in the postseason. He had eight receptions for 104 yards against the Jets (1/7/07) in an AFC Wild Card Game before adding 10 catches for 103 yards against the Chargers (1/14/07) in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game.
Gaffney started at least 10 games in each of his first four NFL seasons (2002-05) with the Texans. He had a career-high 55 catches (492 yards, 2 TDs) for Houston in 2005 after registering a personal-best 632 receiving yards (41 catches, 2 TDs) for the club a year earlier.
A two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection at Florida, Gaffney earned consensus first-team All-America honors and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation’s best receiver) in his final year with the Gators in 2001. He set NCAA Division I-A records for receiving yards (1,184) and touchdown receptions (14) as a redshirt freshman in 2000.
Gaffney, who attended Raines High School in Jacksonville, Fla., was born on Dec. 1, 1980.
Andre’ Goodman, Cornerback
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 190 lbs.
College: South Carolina
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (Miami), 2009
Pro Year: 8th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 88/56
Postseason: 1/1
Goodman is an eighth-year cornerback who spent his first seven NFL seasons with Miami (2006-08) and Detroit (2002-05). He entered the NFL with the Lions in 2002 as a third-round draft choice (68th overall) from the University of South Carolina.
In 87 career regular-season games (55 starts), Goodman has totaled 226 tackles (180 solo), 12 interceptions (95 yds.), 63 pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and 21 special-teams stops. He also has appeared in one career postseason contest, logging a start in Miami’s AFC Wild Card Game during the 2008 season.
A 16-game starter for Miami in 2008, Goodman led the club with a career-high five interceptions (53 yds.) and 19 pass breakups while adding 39 tackles (33 solo) that season. His interception and pass breakup totals tied for sixth and seventh, respectively, in the NFL. Goodman’s 55-yard interception return and five pass breakups in the Dolphins’ 38-31 win at Kansas City on Dec. 21 helped propel them to a playoff berth.
Goodman started 14-of-15 games played for the Dolphins in 2006 and was the club’s recipient of its Ed Block Courage Award in 2007.
A four-year letterman at South Carolina, Goodman posted 86 tackles, four interceptions and 20 pass breakups during his collegiate career. He was an all-state selection at Greenville High School in Greenville, S.C., where he played both defensive back and wide receiver.
Goodman was born on Aug. 11, 1978.
Renaldo Hill, Safety
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 205 lbs.
College: Michigan State
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (Miami), 2009
Pro Year: 9th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 111/84
Postseason: 1/1
Hill is a ninth-year safety who joins the Broncos after playing for Miami (2006-08), Oakland (2005) and Arizona (2001-04). He entered the NFL with the Cardinals in 2001 as a seventh-round draft choice (202nd overall) from Michigan State University.
In 110 career regular-season games (83 starts), Hill has registered 476 tackles (371 solo), 15 interceptions (216 yds.), 51 pass breakups, 4.5 sacks (28.5 yds.), three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also has appeared in one postseason game for his career, logging a start for Miami in its AFC Wild Card Game during the 2008 season.
Hill has started at least 10 games during five of the last six seasons and has appeared in all 16 games in three of the last four years.
In 2008, Hill was a 15-game starter and saw time in every game for the Dolphins, tying for third on the club with 74 tackles (59 solo). His three interceptions (34 yds.) that year also tied for second on the team.
The safety notched a career-best five interceptions, including one returned 70 yards for a touchdown, for the Cardinals in 2003.
A three-year letterman at Michigan State, Hill started 35 games at cornerback for the Spartans and concluded his collegiate career with 182 tackles and nine interceptions. He was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as a senior after posting 71 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
Hill, who attended Chadsey High School in Detroit, was born on Nov. 12, 1978.
LaMont Jordan, Running Back
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 230 lbs.
College: Maryland
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (New England), 2009
Pro Year: 9th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 110/29
Postseason: 5/0
Jordan is a ninth-year running back who spent his first eight NFL seasons with New England (2008), Oakland (2005-07) and the New York Jets (2001-04). He entered the NFL with the Jets in 2001 as a second-round draft choice (49th overall) from the University of Maryland.
In 105 career regular-season games (29 starts), Jordan has totaled 872 rushes for 3,648 yards (4.2 avg.) with 28 touchdowns along with 158 receptions for 1,301 yards (8.2 avg.) with three scores. He also has returned 33 career kickoffs for 667 yards (20.2 avg.).
he running back has appeared in five career playoff games (0 starts), registering 38 rushes for 207 yards (5.4 avg.) with two touchdowns along with six catches for 42 yards (7.0 avg.).
Jordan owns nine career 100-yard rushing games, reaching that mark eight times in the regular season and once in the postseason. He posted career highs in rushing yards (1,025), rushing touchdowns (9), receptions (70), receiving yards (563), yards from scrimmage (1,588) and total touchdowns (11) with the Raiders in 2005.
In 2008, Jordan saw time in eight games for the Patriots and had 80 rushes for 363 yards (4.5 avg.) with four touchdowns. His yards per carry average was the second best of his NFL career while his rushing touchdown total tied for his second-best single-year mark.
A 14-game starter with Oakland in 2005, Jordan’s 1,588 yards from scrimmage (1,025 rushing, 563 receiving) that season tied for the ninth-highest total in the NFL. His 70 receptions led all NFL running backs for the year and represented the third-highest single-season mark by a Raiders running back in club history.
Jordan was a three-time All-Atlantic Conference selection at Maryland, where he finished his collegiate career as the Terrapins’ all-time leader in rushing yards (4,147) and yards from scrimmage (4,980). As a junior, he received second-team All-America honors and was named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award (nation’s best running back).
A first-team all-state selection at Suitland High School in Forestville, Md., Jordan was born on Nov. 11, 1978.
Darrell Reid, Defensive Tackle
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 288 lbs.
College: Minnesota
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (Indianapolis), 2009
Pro Year: 5th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 62/2
Postseason: 7/0
Reid is a fifth-year defensive tackle who spent his first four NFL seasons with Indianapolis, which signed him as a college free agent in 2005 from the University of Minnesota. He has played 55 career regular-season games (2 starts), totaling 79 tackles (47 solo), 2.5 sacks (16.5 yds.) and two fumble recoveries.
Reid also posted a team-high 45 special-teams tackles in the regular season during his four seasons with the Colts.
The defensive tackle has seen time in seven career playoff games, including the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI win against Chicago during the 2006 season. He owns four defensive tackles and nine special-teams stops for his postseason career.
Reid has appeared in all 16 games in each of the last two seasons and had 19 tackles (11 solo) along with two sacks (12 yds.) and 11 special-teams stops for the Colts in 2008. His 21 special-teams tackles for Indianapolis in 2007 were a team high and tied for second in the NFL.
A four-year starter at Minnesota, Reid totaled 157 career tackles (115 solo) and 16 sacks in 48 starts for the Golden Gophers. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection as a senior.
Reid attended Freehold Boro High school in Freehold, N.J., and was born on June 20, 1982.
Chris Simms, Quarterback
Height: 6′ 4″
Weight: 220 lbs.
College: Texas
Acquired: Unrestricted Free Agent (Tennessee), 2009
Pro Year: 7th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 20/15
Postseason: 1/1
Simms is a seventh-year quarterback who spent his first six NFL seasons with Tennessee (2008) and Tampa Bay (2003-07). He entered the NFL with the Buccaneers in 2003 as a third-round draft choice (97th overall) from the University of Texas.
In 20 career regular-season games with 15 starts, Simms has completed 292-of-494 passes for 3,094 yards with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for a 71.2 passer rating. He also has posted 30 career rushes for 52 yards with one touchdown.
Simms owns one game of playoff experience, completing 25-of-38 passes for 198 yards with two interceptions in a start for the Buccaneers in their NFC Wild Card Game against the Redskins during the 2005 season. That year, he helped Tampa Bay to the NFC South title, starting 10-of-11 regular-season games played and completing 191-of-313 passes for a career-high 2,035 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions for an 81.4 passer rating.
Last season, Simms appeared in one game as a backup quarterback with Tennessee. He completed 1-of-2 passes for seven yards in the Titans’ game at Indianapolis on Dec. 28.
At Texas, Simms became the first quarterback in school history to lead the Longhorns to consecutive 10-win seasons. Simms, whose 26 career wins (26-6 record) as a starting quarterback ranked second in Texas annals, completed 532-of-911 passes for 7,097 yards with 58 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in 43 career games with the Longhorns.
Named USA Today Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, N.J., Simms was born on Aug. 29, 1980.
Lonie Paxton, Long Snapper
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 260 lbs.
College: Sacramento State
Acquired: Unrestriced Free Agent (New England), 2009
Pro Year: 10th
Year with Broncos: 1st
NFL Games Played/Started: 155/0
Postseason: 14/0
Paxton is a 10th-year player who spent his first nine professional seasons with New England, which signed him in 2000 as a college free agent from Sacramento State University. He played in 155 of a possible 161 games (regular season and postseason) in nine years with the Patriots from 2000-08, helping the club to three Super Bowl titles, six division titles and eight winning seasons during that time.
For his career, Paxton has played in 141 regular-season games and 14 postseason contests while seeing time in every game during eight of his nine NFL seasons. He has not missed a game in the last five seasons, handling long-snapping duties for the Patriots in 80 consecutive regular-season games and 91 overall games in a row dating back to the start of the 2004 campaign.
A key member of the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning teams during the 2001 (XXXVI), ’03 (XXXVIII) and ’04 (XXXIX) seasons, Paxton owns 14 career special-teams tackles in the regular season and three such stops in the playoffs.
Paxton was a four-year starter along the offensive line and served as long snapper for Sacramento State from 1996-99. He attended Centennial High School in Corona, Calif., and was born on March 13, 1978.
Recent Posts
Write a comment