The Denver Broncos on Tuesday announced several roster transactions, including the signings of linebacker Mario Haggan, running back P.J. Pope and defensive back Roderick Rogers to their active roster.
The club also on Tuesday waived tight end Chad Mustard while adding running back Cory Boyd and linebacker Tyson Smith to its practice squad.
Mario Haggan (6-foot-3, 263 pounds) is a sixth-year linebacker who spent the last five seasons (2003-07) with Buffalo, which selected him in the seventh round (228th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft from Mississippi State University. He appeared in all 16 games during each of the last four years with Buffalo and has played in 65 career games, totaling 21 tackles (14 solo), one sack and 57 special-teams stops. Haggan attended Clarksdale High School in Clarksdale, Miss., and was born on March 3, 1980.
P.J. Pope (5-foot-9, 205 pounds) is a second-year running back who spent the first nine weeks of the 2008 season on Denver's practice squad. He entered the NFL with Chicago in 2006 as a college free agent from Bowling Green State University and saw time on the Bears' practice squad during each of the last two seasons in addition to a brief stint on Green Bay's active roster in 2006. Pope has appeared in one career game, posting a special-teams stop for the Packers. He attended Wyoming High School in Cincinnati and was born on Feb. 26, 1984.
Roderick Rogers (6-foot-2, 187 pounds) is a second-year defensive back who spent the first nine weeks of the 2008 season on Denver's practice squad. Rogers, who entered the NFL with Denver in 2007 as a college free agent from the University of Wisconsin, appeared in the Broncos' final two games as a rookie last year after beginning that season on their practice squad. He attended Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., and was born on Sept. 7, 1984.
Cory Boyd (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) is a rookie running back who joins the Broncos after being waived on July 26 by Tampa Bay, which selected him in the seventh round (238th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of South Carolina. He played 46 games (27 starts) for the Gamecocks and finished his collegiate career with 464 rushes for 2,267 yards (4.9 avg.) with 23 touchdowns along with 117 receptions for 1,303 yards (11.1 avg.) with five scores. Boyd attended Orange High School in Orange, N.J., and was born on Aug. 6, 1985.
Tyson Smith (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) is a second-year linebacker who joins the Broncos after competing in Dallas' training camp this year. He has appeared in three games for his career, totaling four special-teams tackles for the New York Giants during the 2006 season. Last year, he saw time on the practice squads of the 49ers, Redskins and Cowboys. Smith, who entered the NFL with Baltimore in 2005 as a college free agent from Iowa State University, attended Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, and was born on Oct. 9, 1981.
What does all this mean?? The fact the Broncos promoted Pope likely means that Selvin Young is not ready to go. Chad Mustard getting released likely means Tony Scheffler is getting close and will hopefully go on Thursday. The rest? The only disappointment I can say I have is Rogers. Not that he was brought to the active roster but rather Josh Barrett hasn't made enough progress as of yet.