General --
"I thought we had some good efforts today.  I thought we had a chance to evaluate a lot of young players, and as you can see a lot of those young players stepped up and helped and gave themselves opportunities to make this football team.  It's a good evaluation process to see some guys play against the first teamers and second teamers.  I thought we had some great effort even though it wasn't perfect, and I think everyone's looking forward to the regular season."

"With injuries, TE Stephen Alexander got kicked in the back of the calf and is quite sore right now.  We don't think it's anything very serious.  The X-rays were negative."

On CB Karl Paymah --
"Karl Paymah is still in the hospital right now.  Right now he is feeling very good, which is a good sign.  The X-rays were negative, and the CAT Scan was negative.  He's doing an MRI right now; we haven't had those results, but they feel really good about where he's at.  He's going to stay overnight tonight for preventative purposes, and hopefully there's no setback and he's ready to go."

"It was scary for a second.  He was out cold.  He went to the hospital and he's normal.  They've done all the tests, except for the MRI, and as I mentioned they are going to keep him overnight, just in case.  But he's doing pretty good right now, so hopefully he continues to feel that way."

On the Younger Players' Performance --
"Obviously, [RB] Selvin Young.  We had some guys help themselves on special teams.  There are a couple other guys that I could mention but I'm not going to, because we're not sure if we're going to get those guys to the practice squad, and I don't want to announce it to everybody in the country."

On [RB's] Mike Bell and Cecil Sapp --
"It's just like we move people around on the offensive line.  Guards play tackle positions.  Tackles will play guards' positions. It's the same thing during the season.  You get people to go down, you get the halfback at the fullback position.  That happened here with a number of players.  [RB] Rueben Droughns and Mike Anderson both played at fullback, and this is a game where you experiment and see if guys can step up and play."

On [RB] Andre Hall --
"I think he played well for not practicing for a few weeks.  He is hampered by a hamstring, but I thought he did a pretty good job for not playing for a couple weeks."

On S Hamza Abudullah --
"Ham's got a lot of ability.  He's played well when he's had his opportunity on defense; he's played well on special teams.  We looked at him a couple years ago and he was just a great hitter.  He seems to adjust year by year, and he gets better and better.  He seems to be more comfortable with the system and more comfortable with defenses in general.  He's been a pretty consistent player for us."

On Improving throughout the Preseason --
"It's hard to tell.  We've juggled the offensive line a little bit with [G/C] Ben Hamilton being gone.  We had [G Chris] Kuper play the guard/tackle position with [T] Adam Meadows being out and [T] Ryan Harris being out.  So I thought we helped ourselves a little bit because we had to experiment with a couple different people.  Our tight end has been fairly consistent with [TE] Daniel Graham, and obviously the supporting cast.  Wide receivers - we had a chance to take a good look today with numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7.  We had all those guys compete very well today.  In the secondary, the eight guys [starters] are pretty obvious, and I thought some of the young guys stepped up."

"I feel pretty good about what I've done personally, but there are always things to improve on. We watched a lot of film, and there are always things you do wrong, but I feel good about my progression as a tight end for sure."

On the prospect of being cut --
"It's not guaranteed at all, you still have that phone next to you, and when it rings your heart skips a beat. I want to be around; everyone here wants to be around.  You put your heart and soul into it."

On his cell phone --
"I should actually turn it off. I should actually just throw it away. If they can't get in contact with me, they can't cut me! I think that's a good idea."

On how he feels about his performance in this game --
"Who knows? I made a couple catches but, it's hard to tell. I have to watch the film, but I'm not going to get to watch the film, so I'm going to be a little bit nervous about it like everyone is here."

On waiting to see if he makes the team on Saturday --
"My phone will be on me and if it rings my heart will probably skip a beat. It's a little nerve wracking. I feel good about what I've done so far this year. I feel like I've improved day to day and that's all you can ask for as a player."

"That's the most frustrating thing right now. I wasn't able to play the first three games because of my hamstring. That's my only time really to show what I can do under the lights. It's depressing right now, because Saturday is going to be an extremely long day. I just hope I can make the team."

On RB Selvin Young --
"[RB] Selvin [Young] did a great job. We all know what [RB] Mike [Bell] can do, and [RB] Travis [Henry], you don't even have to speak about him. I just hope there's a place here for me. I'm just praying."

"When you come to game it's just an extension of practice. I feel like I've been running hard in practice, making the reads and cuts, it just has to carry over to the game."

On if he'll be surprised if he doesn't make the team --
"I won't be surprised at all. It's a business out here in this world, but one thing I feel like I have been doing is putting some things together and hopefully that'll get somebody else looking at me, and add that piece to my puzzle. Regardless of what happens, and if I have to go and play football part-time and coach high school, I'll do it."

On if it'll be a nerve-racking weekend --
"Not at all. The most nerve-racking has been the last four weeks. I've been calm and collected. I feel like all the hard work and all the other stuff, for four weeks is in the bag, and I can relax. If I get a call, I get a call. I am looking forward to playing for this team. I've done everything I could, and I've played hard every snap. I was very limited in my mistakes, and I feel good about what I've done."

Why weren't you drafted? --
"It's good that I wasn't drafted. I wouldn't be here right now if I was drafted. I always knew that everything was going to work out for me just fine in the future. I was always just waiting for the moment when I could feel good, and I always have. I'm really dedicated when it comes to training in the off season in getting myself in shape and getting ready for the season. I felt good my senior year, here we get a chance to go down hill, and not sideways and I feel like I've been able to showcase."

Having a good fourth quarter --
"I feel like I was back in my old days. I always felt like I was a fourth-quarter-back. I got that touchdown run, and I knew the fourth quarter would be fun."

"It was a lot of fun. I caught myself on the bench telling the guys how much fun I was having out there. That first series they moved the ball on us a little. We bent but we didn't break."

On playing with his fellow rookie defensive line mates --
"It was a lot of fun with all of us out there. We all got to play and get a glimpse of our future."

On starting a NFL game --
"I felt comfortable with the whole situation and it meant a lot to me. It was just a preseason game, but I still started in the NFL."

On his chances of making the team --
"In some form, shape or fashion, I feel like I have a job here whether it's on the practice squad or the 53-man roster. You never know because it's a business so hopefully I don't get that call saying I've been released. Me and my agent will talk tonight and we'll see what happens."

On the depth in the secondary --
"I honestly believe that we have the best secondary in the league and of course it's hard to crack that starting lineup. But at the same time it's a great learning experience and opportunity for us. We have two of the best corners in [CB] Dré [Bly] and [CB] Champ [Bailey] and two of the best safeties in the league in [S] John [Lynch] and [S] Nick [Ferguson]. So I just study as much as I can and see what they do and what they don't do."

On the depth of the team --
"We have a lot of guys on this team that are capable of being starters elsewhere. But that's the mark of a good team, how the backups play. My teams in college [Washington State] when we were really good, we had a lot key guys at backups, guys that could be starters. We are just trying to push them because it elevates their game as well as mine."

On running back Selvin Young --
"We played him in college in the Holiday Bowl and he tried to run all over us like he was doing to these guys, so I am no stranger to what he's doing now."

On playing with fellow rookie defensive line mates --
"It felt good but in the heat of the battle you're not thinking about that. But after the game I was like `that's cool'. We all got out there and we all did a good job. We are going to get better and it's going to be scary in the future."

On seeing cornerback Karl Paymah get injured --
"Coaches always preach that you want to keep your head up and it was just one of those situations where it was just a bad hit. I know he wishes he could take that play back. Every time I hit somebody I think about keeping my head up. I have to say, it could have been a lot worse.

As the Broncos' units go through their pre-game paces, many starters already are sans pads. Position-by-position, they include:

QUARTERBACKS: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey
RUNNING BACK: Travis Henry
FULLBACK: Kyle Johnson
WIDE RECEIVERS: Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley, Javon Walker
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Ben Hamilton (who was not in uniform at practice this week), Montrae Holland, Matt Lepsis, Tom Nalen, Erik Pears
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Sam Adams, Elvis Dumervil, John Engelberger, Amon Gordon
LINEBACKERS: Ian Gold, Nate Webster, D.J. Williams
CORNERBACKS: Champ Bailey, Dre' Bly, Domonique Foxworth
SAFETIES: Nick Ferguson, John Lynch

Counting Harris and Meadows, that's 26 players who will sit out tonight.

Quarterbacks: Jay Cutler and backup Patrick Ramsey will clearly make the team.  Third- string quarterback Darrell Hackney is a likely candidate for the practice squad, but fourth-string quarterback Preston Parsons may have trouble keeping his status as a practice-squad player.

Running backs: This is an intriguing group. The Broncos want to keep five running backs but may feel forced to keep six.

The certain keepers are Travis Henry, Mike Bell and Cecil Sapp (who can switch between fullback and tailback).

The Broncos signed Paul Smith for special teams consideration. Fullback Kyle Johnson also is a special teams standout and has played with the first team, even catching a touchdown pass from Cutler last Saturday against Cleveland.

The Broncos also like undrafted rookie Selvin Young and second-year player Andre Hall, whose chances of making the team are hurt because he has been injured recently. Young's future may hinge on his performance tonight.

"I know there is a lot of talent here," Young said. "I know I still have work to do."

Wide receivers: Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall and Brandon Stokley are entrenched as the team's top three receivers.

Second-year players Domenik Hixon and Brian Clark also should be safe. Rod Smith will start the season on the physically unable to perform list because of a hip problem, and he will be evaluated again in October.

Returner and receiver Quincy Morgan is on the bubble. Because of logjams at tight end and on the defensive line, the team will keep only five receivers.

Tight ends: If the Broncos keep a combined total of 10 running backs and receivers, it may be because they will keep five tight ends, including veteran long snapper Mike Leach.

Obviously, starter Daniel Graham and pass catcher Tony Scheffler will be on the roster. Nate Jackson has been one of the standouts of camp and preseason. He has caught everything that has come his way and the Broncos have confidence in him. Jackson's presence could be a reason the Broncos keep only five receivers.

The team also likes the experience and blocking ability of Stephen Alexander. He may be a bubble player, but the veteran would be hard to let go.

Offensive linemen: Behind the starting five, the Broncos usually keep only two or three backups. They probably will keep three, but could keep four this season. Chris Kuper is the top backup and the team loves rookie Ryan Harris, who is expected to be back in two to four weeks after minor back surgery. If there are any setbacks, Harris could be put on injured reserve.

Chris Myers will make the roster and is working with the first team at left guard because concussion problems have sidelined Ben Hamilton. That leaves Adam Meadows and Greg Eslinger looking to fill the final spot or two on the line. Meadows has been injured and Eslinger could lose out because Hamilton and Myers can play center if Tom Nalen were to be injured.

Defensive linemen: The Broncos could keep 10 players here.

After the starters, rookies Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder and Marcus Thomas will fill roles. Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, who is in the rotation, will be on the roster. The team also likes versatile Alvin McKinley and second-year tackle Antwon Burton.

Kenny Peterson likely has a role, but he will be suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league's steroid policy.

"We like what we have on the line," Broncos defensive boss Jim Bates said. "We have a lot of numbers there."

Linebackers: The Broncos likely will keep six linebackers.

The top backup choices behind D.J. Williams, Ian Gold and Nate Webster are D.D. Lewis, Louis Green and Wesley Mallard. All three are solid players on special teams.

Defensive backs: The Broncos may keep only eight in the secondary, despite sometimes having kept 10. Behind the starters, the sure keepers are cornerback Domonique Foxworth and safeties Hamza Abdullah and Curome Cox. They are three valuable backups who will get playing time behind a strong starting four. The other top candidates to make the roster are cornerbacks Jeff Shoate and Karl Paymah. Shoate could emerge after a strong summer. The team also likes safety Steve Cargile, who can play linebacker if needed.

Specialists: With the Tuesday release of Paul Ernster, it is certain the Broncos will go with only two kickers: Todd Sauerbrun, who will punt and handle kickoffs, and Jason Elam.

Placement on the PUP list buys him and the Broncos 12 weeks before making a determination whether to move him to the 53-man roster or place him on injured reserve.

A player must remain sidelined as PUP for the first six weeks of the regular season. Smith then is eligible to practice for three weeks before a final decision is made -- but the Broncos do not have to make that choice until three weeks after the initial six-week PUP stint concludes.

This means the Broncos actually have until Week 12 to determine whether Smith could play before being faced with the choice of moving him to the 53-man roster or injured reserve.

The latter option, of course, would end his season.

Last year, Domenik Hixon was designated as PUP after a protracted recovery from a fractured metatarsal bone; he would end up practicing for three weeks -- as is permitted when placed on the PUP list -- before moving to injured reserve.

General --
"Offensively in the first half I think we did some good things.  That first drive we had an opportunity to get in the end zone and we had to settle for the field goal.  We had the ball on the ten.  And on the last drive of the second half I was pleased with the way we put the drive together.  We had the ball three times in the first half.  I thought we did some good things.  We did play very well coming out in the second half.  We had two three plays-and-outs.  Obviously, we'd like to have something going there and finish on a positive note.  Defensively, anytime that you're 5-for-8 on third downs in the first half, the team's going to move the ball and control the tempo of the game.  We only allowed ten points and came back in the second half.  We have a lot of work to do, but we're not there yet, but we'll get there."

On QB Jay Cutler's Performance in the Preseason --
"Jay's done a pretty good job. I'm pleased with how he's handling himself.  We've got a lot of work to do, we're not there yet, but I'm pleased with how he's handling himself, and the way he's played.  I thought he handled himself very well in the drive in the first half.  Pretty impressive, obviously we should have had another touchdown on the first drive.  I thought he put the ball on the money.  I couldn't see from where I was, but I thought it was a pretty good throw.  That's pretty impressive.  There was a lot of pressure obviously on him going into this game to perform and I thought he performed well."

On RB Cecil Sapp's Performance Tonight --
"Cecil gives us a lot of flexibility.  He can play tailback and the fullback position.  He helps us out on special teams and he can help us out in a lot of different areas.  When he doesn't play fullback he gets a lot of yardage.  He's in great shape, and he can play a couple different positions for us, and I was pleased with him today."

On RB Selvin Young's Performance Tonight --
"He looked faster to me than everybody else on the field.  He looked like he was a step quicker than everybody else.  It's pretty impressive for a guy to come in with a couple tailbacks going down for him to step up, and to play with the kind of sense of urgency that he has.  He broke a few tackles and I was impressed with the way that he played."

On WR Brandon Stokley --
"We're not going to play him too much, I think it was good for him to get some playing time after his injury, especially after an Achilles [injury] in the [2006] regular season.  He won't play next week, but he'll be ready for Oakland."

On Defense --
"I think anytime you talk about a `unit' you have to talk to about 11 guys going in the same direction and if one guy's just a little bit off it can make you look average pretty quickly.  So we have a couple weeks to straighten out those things and hopefully we can get there."

On the Secondary --
"I think our secondary is very good.  We're going to get challenged.  There are a lot of great receivers in this league.  We have to get pressure on the quarterback too, regardless of how good those corners are.  If you don't put a little bit of pressure on that quarterback, they can look not average, but not great.  We have work to do as a team, and we have a couple weeks to do it, and hopefully we will."  

On Competition in the Punter Position --
"It's been pretty competitive - both punt and kickoff.  We've got competition at a number of positions and that's one of them."

RB SELVIN YOUNG --
General --
"I'm fighting every day.  Fighting for my job.  Hopefully, I don't get that call that will send me home.  I came into camp and turned on my switch and I'm not turning it off until I retire."

On Coach Mike Shanahan commenting that Young is quicker than anyone on the field --
"I actually felt that way.  I felt that way in practice this week.  I felt real prepared.  I was able to go off instinct and not be thinking.  I was able to look down and see the defense and recognize the defense, recognize my protections and just felt real prepared."

On the Offensive System --
"It's the system.  Obviously, you're going to try to run the ball more than you pass the ball and try to be balanced as an offense.  I'm pretty sure it might have been that way for a lot of years.  The consistent thing for me from the outside looking in is the coach.  Coach [Bobby] Turner [RBs] has been here through all those running backs.  He's just got a gift.  I'm not so sure he gets enough credit for that, but I came in off the street, and like I just said now, I was a step quicker and felt more prepared.  It gave me the edge on Bobby Turner and Mr. Shanahan working together in the backfield, and it's amazing."

WR BRANDON STOKLEY --
General --
"I was a little rusty out there after not playing in a while, but that's what the preseason is for.  We need to get better.  We did some good things and some bad things, but we lacked consistency."

On the Preseason --
"You are playing a lot of people.  The outcome doesn't necessarily matter.  You just want to get cohesiveness and get the flow of the offense and defense going."

LB D.J. WILLIAMS --
On the Defensive Struggles --
"I think it's our communication.  Nobody is being physically beat, it's just us killing ourselves."

On the Transition to Middle Linebacker --
"It's a daily process.  The `Mike' linebacker has more responsibilities and more ground to cover.  If I keep it going, it'll turn into a good thing.  They [the coaches] wouldn't have put me in this position if they didn't think I could get the job done."

S JOHN LYNCH --
General --
"We need to have some success to help our confidence.  I think we all believe that this is going to be a very good unit.  We haven't shown it yet, so, is there some concern?  Yes.  But is there belief that we're going to get this thing down?  Yeah."

"I always try to go out there and play that perfect game, but we're not there yet by any means.  We've got a ways to go, but there are some improvements.  I think you take that and you build upon it, and like I said all along, you play each preseason game just to build for the opener.  We made some strides today, but we have to continue to make strides."  

DE ELVIS DUMERVIL --
General --
"We lost a key player last week in [DE] Ebenezer [Ekuban].  I don't think he's irreplaceable, but I'm just going to go out there and try to play my role on defense."

On his Power Rushing Technique --
"It's something I've tried to improve on in the offseason with my coaches.  I'm just trying to work on power rushing this year because I speed rush a lot and I want to keep them [defenses] guessing.  I'm not a complete player yet, but I'm taking strides to get to that point.  I'm really excited about this year."

DE JARVIS MOSS --
On the Last Preseason Game against Arizona --
"I feel like it's important for the second team to get in there and prove they're worthy to get on the field.  They are complete players and they play at the same level as the starters."

General
"I've got a lot more to show and a lot more to prove, so when the time comes, the coaches will start working me in there more and more."