DENVER -- A day after Cedric Cobbs nearly fumbled away the
overtime kickoff against Kansas City, the Denver Broncos signed
former Pittsburgh receiver/returner Quincy Morgan to a one-year
deal.
Morgan
"I think I can come right in and return kicks," Morgan said
Monday. "I know they've got great receivers here. I'll work myself
in and learn each play as quick as possible and do whatever I can
do."
To make room, the Broncos waived wide receiver Charlie Adams,
who was traded to Dallas during training camp, only to return to
Denver when he flunked his physical.
Morgan, a six-year NFL veteran, arrives in Denver just in time.
"The guys we have had back there have not been returners. So,
hopefully this guy gives us a little experience, a little
confidence," coach Mike Shanahan said.
The Broncos (1-1) started the season with rookie running back
Mike Bell returning kickoffs, but he broke a finger blocking St.
Louis defensive end Leonard Little in the opener and was replaced
by receiver David Kircus.
On Sunday, Cobbs almost turned the ball over on his only return.
He bobbled the overtime kickoff twice before falling on it at the
Broncos 16. Compounding his troubles, he severely sprained his
ankle on the play and was still on crutches Monday.
Morgan ranked fifth in the AFC last year with 23 kick returns
for 583 yards, a 25.3-yard average. He also caught nine passes for
150 yards and two touchdowns, but injured an ankle in Pittsburgh's
first-round playoff game against Cincinnati and missed the rest of
the playoffs.
Morgan has 164 career catches for 2,466 yards and 17 touchdowns
and has a 25-yard career average on kickoffs. Morgan played his
first 3½ seasons in Cleveland. He was traded to Dallas in 2004, and
played all 16 games for the Steelers last year. He was waived in
Pittsburgh's final cutdown earlier this month.
He said he's ready to return kicks Sunday at New England.
"These last two weeks I've been working out. I wasn't going to
sit at home. That would have been stupid," he said.
Morgan said he had interest from other teams, but Denver
"needed a returner right away. I mean, it's the Denver Broncos.
They were one game away from the Super Bowl. Why not?"
Morgan said that while it will take some time to work his way
into the receiver rotation, returning kicks is another story:
"There's only three things you have to do: run left, run right and
run up the middle," he said.
That, and hold onto the ball.
Cobbs, a third-string running back who hadn't returned kickoffs
since his junior year at Arkansas four years ago, was the most
relieved man in the locker room after Denver pulled out a 9-6 win
over the Chiefs.
He said his body was cold and his mind not properly focused
"going in after the game's actually supposed to be over. And just
to muff the ball like that, it was pretty terrifying."
Adams is a fourth-year pro who beat out Jerry Rice in training
camp as the Broncos' No. 3 receiver.