Broncos Release Warrick Holdman, Sign WR Hamilton

After months on Injured Reserve and never seeing the playing field with his new team, Warrick Holdman was released by the Broncos on Monday.

Holdman looked like a promising fit at strong side linebacker before the injury ended his season.  He suffered a spinal cord injury on August 2, 2007, costing him the rest of his season.  Holdman joined the Broncos in free agency in 2007, his ninth year in the NFL.

WR Derrick Hamilton replaces Holdman on the Broncos roster.

Hamilton (6-foot-4, 207 pounds) is a third-year player who enters his first season with the Broncos after seeing time on the practice squads of Houston and Tampa Bay in 2007. Selected by San Francisco in the third round (77th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft from Clemson University, Hamilton was with the 49ers for his first two professional seasons before spending the 2006 campaign out of the NFL.

The 26-year-old has appeared in two regular-season games for his career, seeing time with the 49ers as a rookie during their final two contests of the 2004 season.

After Atlanta waived him on June 12, Hamilton spent the first part of the 2007 season out of the NFL before signing with Tampa Bay’s practice squad on Oct. 23. He was with the Buccaneers for one week and finished the year on Houston’s practice squad after signing with the Texans on Nov. 21.

Hamilton was out of the NFL in 2006 after reaching an injury settlement with the 49ers on Aug. 10, 2006. Following a rookie season with San Francisco in 2004 during which he played two games, he spent the entire 2005 campaign on the 49ers’ physically unable to perform list with a knee injury.

In 38 games (27 starts) at Clemson University, Hamilton set a school record with 4,839 career all-purpose yards. He also finished his collegiate career ranked first in Clemson annals in receptions (167) and fourth in receiving yards (2,312) with adding 16 touchdown grabs.

A SuperPrep All-American at Dillon High School in Dillon, S.C., Hamilton was born on Nov. 30, 1981.

Not much to say, really. Everyone knew Holdman was likely on his way out. Hamilton could be a nice fit.