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Published on 09/23/2008 at Tue Sep 23 15:18.
Tagged: ,,,,.



Hamza Abdullah Waived and More Roster Moves

Posted Tue Sep 23rd by

Abdullah

The Denver Broncos performed a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, some surprising, some not. It was first announced that veteran C Tom Nalen has been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his season and possibly his career.

That move isn’t surprising. This one is – safety Hamza Abdullah, the starter up until the third week of preseason, has been waived. The Broncos added free-agent safety Vernon Fox, most recently from Washington, to take his place.

Abdullah started in eight games for the Broncos in 2007, finishing with a career-high in tackles (48) and pass breakups (7). He was declared inactive as a healthy scratch against both the Chargers and Saints this year. In his one and only game in 2008 against the Raiders, Abdullah registered one tackle.

The Broncos also released wide receiver Travis Wilson from its practice squad on Tuesday.

It makes you scratch your head a bit. Abdullah was by no means an All-Pro, but releasing him for another team’s scraps is a surprise. This was a starter for the Broncos a month ago. He obviously wasn’t stepping it up in practice; perhaps he stopped putting in the effort after he was benched. Press release after the jump.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed free-agent safety Vernon Fox and waived safety Hamza Abdullah, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

The club also on Tuesday released wide receiver Travis Wilson from its practice squad.

Fox (5-foot-10, 203 pounds) is in his seventh NFL season and joins the Broncos after spending the previous two years with Washington, which released him on Aug. 25. He also has played for Detroit (2004-05) and San Diego (2002-03) after entering the NFL with the Chargers in 2002 as a college free agent from Fresno State University.

In 86 career games (11 starts), Fox has totaled 90 tackles (69 solo), two interceptions (21 yds.) and eight pass breakups. He also owns 73 tackles on special teams along with one blocked punt for his career.

Last season with Washington, Fox appeared in 14 games (0 starts) and tied for third on the club with 16 special-teams stops while adding two defensive tackles. He started a career-high six games and appeared in all 16 contests for the Redskins in 2006, recording personal bests in defensive tackles (42) and special-teams tackles (26).

Fox saw time in 14 games in each of his two years with the Lions from 2004-05. During his first two professional seasons with the Chargers from 2002-03, he appeared in a total of 28 games (5 starts) and had 45 tackles along with one interception.

A two-time first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection at Fresno State, Fox attended Cimarron Memorial High School in Las Vegas and was born on Oct. 9, 1979.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Joe

    Alright, this move doesnt really bug me at all. Abdullah was getting burnt in the games, and thats why he’s gone. Now we need to go get a DE. Someone to start opposite to Dume. This needs to be done quick, cause one DE cant do it all when his is being double teamed. Our other DE’s suck, so how about we trade Moss and a second round pick for a good one?? Anyone else agree??

  • HogBlog

    I agree, too bad we couldnt package Paymah too. I have a feeling were going to see Jason Babin sign as our new LB/DE. He’s got upside,and for not having to make room for WR’s and playing behind Patrick Kerney, he became expendable. However, it’s just a guess on my part. We’ll see…

    I hope we move to fill Travis Wilson’s spot with another WR.

  • Dave Simon

    I’m a bit bummed out by this. I think Hamza was a spark for us last year and I was hoping to see him out there knocking heads this year.

    We need some help at Safety.

  • GreasyQtip

    Any time you can get more Fresno State players on your team you HAVE to do it, or you just simply wont be very competative.
    GO BULLDOGS

  • Richard

    Just no way to predict what happens next, but I’m sure it will be a surprise. Shanny said he liked the 3-4 with winborn added to the LBs. Maybe he gives Joe Collier a call?

  • SivNiz

    I’m a bit surprised by this but then again I didn’t notice he didn’t play in the last two games. Either way I’m encouraged that the Broncos are shaking up the D.

  • BroncoFan18

    I think Shanny’s making a statement to the defense to step up. Abdullah probably has been lacking in effort, which Shanny despises. After the Saints game, he said that he wasn’t alarmed by the defense because he thought they played “with the best effort he’s seen in a long time.” So he obviously takes it very seriously.

    Safety isn’t the problem, though. It’s on the d-line. Joe’s right. We need another DE opposite Dumervil.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Dumervil is coasting off a thumb injury and past seasons. He’s invisible out there. Engelberger has been doing much, much better than Doom.

    Hopefully getting those pins removed helps Doom get dominant again. We know he loves to eat Chefs for lunch.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Joe

    Good point Kyle, But Doom has also been getting double teamed, and thats also why he is “invisible” out there. But I agree with you, hopefully when the pins are removed, he will step up. And as far as Engelberger goes, I have yet to see him even get close to the QB.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Correction: pinky, not thumb injury.

  • dersh72

    I know I’m being impatient but…where is Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder? I wanna see some production out of those kids man!

  • rcsodak

    Don’t know why anybody’s “surprised” by the move. Are you in the locker room every day, or at the practice fields every day?
    I’ve yet to see Shanny cut someone that’s a sure-fire starter that will help the team.

  • jchase8410

    As long as we keep getting the w’s I will trust Shanny’s decisions. If fox is healthy, I’ll take him over a dinged up hamza.

  • flbronc

    nalen going to ir opens a roster spot correct? so does waiving abdullah. we signed fox, did i miss who will get the other? are we planning on bringing back gandy for ol depth?

    hog- couldnt agree with you more… thought we would have ditched karl by now, and brought up someone form the practice squad

    dersh- dont hold your breath on either of those guys… if they were any good they would be on the field. i dont think that either have shown any signs that they have improved over last year.

  • flbronc

    i read on yahoo that we signed gandy back to take nalen’s spot.