Broncos RB Mike Bell moved to 1st string
Monday morning meant some massive changes as the Broncos reconvened following a day off.
Mike Bell became the first-team running back, working his way ahead of incumbents Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne, who rank second and third on the depth chart, respectively. Jay Cutler, meanwhile, worked his way up to the second-team slot at quarterback, with Bradlee Van Pelt dropping to No. 3.
Head Coach Mike Shanahan and assistant head coach Mike Heimerdinger said the Cutler move was designed in part to help him get more work against the first team; as the third-stringer, he works against the No. 3 defense in “move-the-ball” work at the close of each practice. Now, he’ll lead the No. 2 offense against the first-team defense of Al Wilson, Champ Bailey, John Lynch and others.
Mike Bell, meanwhile, was judged to have outplayed his more experienced foes. Dayne admitted after practice Monday that he wouldn’t have been surprised if Bell had moved up, and indeed, the news shared with the team at a Sunday night meeting proved that to be the case.
Our condolences to the families of fantasy football managers worldwide who drafted Tatum Bell and/or Ron Dayne, who were all killed by a heart attack, a stroke, and an aneurysm, simultaneously, upon hearing this news.
Dove Valley Dispatches (DenverBroncos.com)
