The Denver Broncos acquired Running Back Lance Ball November 3rd, 2009 when he was signed to the team's Practice Squad. That was where he finished the season. At the beginning of 2010, Denver signed him to a Futures contract, but Lance got cut in Training Camp and ended up on the Practice Squad to start the 2010 NFL season. He was promoted it to the Active Roster on November 10th and appeared in 10 games during the 2010 campaign. He was 3rd on the team in rushing with 158 yards on 41 carries for a 3.9 average. Lance has held on to his roster spot ever since. After completing his 3rd season in the league, Ball is currently an Exclusive Rights Free Agent. Let's take a close up at the young Running Back.
OVERVIEW:
Ball ranked third on the club with 402 rushing yards in 2011. In Week 8 vs. Detroit, he had Denver’s longest play from scrimmage, a 34-yard run four plays into the game’s opening series. Lance ran a career-high 30 times for 96 yards in the Broncos' Week 10 win over the Chiefs while pacing a Denver rushing attack that racked up 244 yards. Willis McGahee (hamstring) and Knowshon Moreno (knee) left the game early on and Ball was the only back left to carry the workload. The Broncos ran on 22 of their first 23 plays, and passed the ball just eight times in the contest. He got his first NFL Rushing Touchdown during Week 15 against the New England Patriots on a 32-yard burst in the first quarter. That marked the second-longest rush of his career. As a receiver, he caught 16 passes for 148 yards including a 9-yard Touchdown pass from Kyle Orton in the Monday Night season Opener against Oakland, the only Broncos score of the game.
Ball also contributed on Special Teams with one 9-yard Kick Return and 4 Tackles.
Lance made $405,000 in 2011. As a player entering his 4th year, he will earn at least $700,000 in 2012.
Ball is a Journeyman type Running Back who is capable off the bench. After Knowshon Moreno's ACL injury and his recent show of immaturity, Ball should receive a tender to earn the back-up spot to Willis McGahee in Training Camp.
Go Broncos!
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