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Published on 09/23/2008 at Tue Sep 23 14:48.
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Tom Nalen Placed on Injured Reserve

Posted Tue Sep 23rd by

Nalen

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Tuesday placed center Tom Nalen on injured reserve with a left knee injury, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

A 15-year veteran, Nalen ranks second in Broncos history in career starts (188) while his 194 career games played in a Denver uniform represent the third-highest total in club annals. He entered the league with the Broncos as a seventh-round selection (218th overall) in the 1994 NFL Draft from Boston College.

Nalen, whose five Pro Bowl selections (1997-2000, ’03) are the most by a Broncos offensive lineman in franchise history, was a key member of Denver’s back-to-back Super Bowl teams in 1997 and ’98. He helped Denver post the most rushing yards (29,131) and individual 100-yard rushing games (93) in the NFL from 1995-2007 in addition to tying for the league lead in individual 1,000-yard rushing seasons (11) during that time.

An honorable mention All-American as a senior at Boston College, Nalen attended Foxboro High School in Foxboro, Mass., and was born on May 13, 1971.

Is this the end for Tommy Nails?  My all-time favorite Bronco, other than Elway, might be hanging them up after this.  Much like Rod Smith, the heart is willing, but the body isn’t able.  He’s a definite Ring of Famer and should be a Hall of Famer.  He’s not retired yet, but I’d seriously be surprised if he laced them up ever again.  Thanks for everything Tom.

  • http://merlinofchaos.livejournal.com E. Halsey Miles

    I think the writing was on the wall last week when he got pulled from practices and Shanahan said his knee had a setback. Very sad though. Wiegmann is doing a decent job but Nalen was always a much better run blocker.

  • J

    Roster spot for Lynch???

  • BH

    This is really too bad. You know that he really wanted to play. Thank goodness we signed Wiegmann. BTW, I live in Chefs country and one of the sports reporters said that Wiegmann told him that he wouldn’t cross the street to help Larry Johnson fix a flat tire. That’s how much he thinks of LJ and should give you some insight into the depth of the Chefs problems. There isn’t just a talent shortage, they have a bad locker room.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Joe

    Theres not a chance Lynch will come back. He’s done.

    But for the record, Broncos waived Hamza Abdullah and signed safety Vernon Fox, according to DenverBroncos.com

  • Richard

    Well lets hope Weigman does’nt get hurt. Looks like they are either impressed with Cory Lichtensteiger at center or we will find a backup center to fill Abdullah’s spot.

  • kerry

    oh my god. ENOUGH with the John Lynch theories!!!!!!!!! he wont be back!! he is slower then safeties we have now and our run defense has been good without him. and as much as i love Tommy Nalen, weigmann has been playing way too well to just take him out in favor of a guy whos knee cant hold up. Tom i wish you all the best. see you in the hall of fame one day.

  • ryan k

    Sad to see the last Super Bowl Bronco go, it really is the end of an era. On a bright note, we have a wealth of promising young O-linemen. Cory… something or other I think will be a great long term replacement.