Former Broncos running back Montee Ball clears waivers

According to NFL Networks Ian Rapoport, former Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball has cleared waivers and is now a free agent.

A bit of a surprise: #Broncos RB Montee Ball cleared waivers. He’s a free agent

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 7, 2015

This news is a bit surprising. He was a second round pick only a few years ago, he's only 24 years old, and his contract is pretty reasonable. So you would have assumed that a team would have taken a flier on Montee Ball.

What makes things look even worse for Ball is that the Broncos essentially picked running back Kapri Bibbs over Ball.

Head Coach Gary Kubiak explained that they felt comfortable letting Ball go because they were going to sign Bibbs to their Practice Squad.

"I would say it had a lot to do with the fact that we were able to get Kapri back on the football field. It had nothing to do with Montee. You better have four backs in this league, so we went into the weekend that way. I told you guys before; he's a good football player. We were able to get Kapri back. We feel confident in him, so it helped us. We wish Montee all the best. He's done everything we've asked him to do."

So what's next for Ball?

It's unlikely that anyone will sign him their 53 man roster after he went unclaimed on the waiver wire. What might be his saving grace is that he still has some Practice Squad eligibility left.

There was so rumors that the Atlanta Falcons had some interest in Ball, but it will be interesting to see where Ball lands.