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Published on 03/04/2009 at Wed Mar 04 21:44.
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Broncos Sign Simms, Re-Sign Arrington, Peterson

Posted Wed Mar 4th by

Chris Simms (8) and the offensive line of the Tennesse Titans. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Chris Simms (8) and the offensive line of the Tennessee Titans. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Well, it seemed as though free agent running back J.J. Arrington was not coming to Denver, but he did his best impression of Michael Corleone from The Godfather. Arrington will be a running back for the blue and orange in 2009, joining LaMont Jordan as the third free agent running back signed in the last week for the Broncos.

Arrington was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2005, after a lackluster debut and the signing of Edgerrin James, he would never be a huge contributor to the Cardinals offense.

Arrington will most likely contribute as a kick returner and receiver out of the back field for the Broncos. As the shift to Josh McDaniels system seems to demand the ability to catch the ball. This could also lead to a Ryan Torain/Peyton Hillis dual near training camp. Hillis is the better receiver out of the backfield and should compete with Correll Buckhalter as the best on the team.

Denver also re-signed defensive lineman Kenny Peterson, who will probably match well as a defensive end in the new 3-4/5-2 system Mike Nolan is bringing in. Peterson had a career season last year (I know!) with three sacks and 24-total tackles (15-solo).

The boys were not finished though and signed the crown jewel of free agent quarterbacks Phil Chris Simms. Simms will hopefully be playing backup quarterback in Denver, he’s best described as, well a poor man’s Jay Cutler. He has a rocket arm, throws into coverage and can’t scramble. He should be an adaquate backup though and when he got healthy there was a decent amount of interest to sign him.

Nation, is this just more of the same anything that you like particularly out of todays signings? Let’s hear it…

  • T-Money

    I like chirs of partrick but both are really not all that great. I like the running backs but i i still think we are realying to much on the landing of BJR in the Draft, or just a nose tackle for that matter.

  • Hansen

    The signing of JJ Arrington is fine. It will provide more competition in TC which is exactly what is needed. Simms should be a good #2, maybe even push Jay just a bit. Drafting a legit QB next year may be in order to really push him hard but that is another story. Dawkins is great to provide leadership and a professional attitude. A good strong mature leader – a defensive field general. Now time to bring in some new blood on D through the draft. So far a serious departure from the past couple years, but exciting. Only time will tell the true story, but so far I am optimistic.

  • broncoNM

    Never been a huge fan of chris simms but i’d consider him an upgrade from ramsey. Adequate backup.

  • SanDiegoBronco55

    k, i like the deals so far in FA, all seem to make somewhat sense except for mike leach..wtf was with that? and lamont jordan! i mean come on with that, peyton hillis is a way better than jordan, in short yardage and out of the backfield in catching…jj will be money for Punt and kick returns, let royal just stick to receiving and not get potentially hurt…solid……simms is enh, but hes a backup, who shouldnt get much playing time anyway, because we HAVE A FRANCHISE QB in CUTLER! man, cutler, sack up and play like that franchise QB….QUESTION: T.O. just got released from the cowboys, and i read on rotoworld (lol not exactly a valid source but hey, work with me here) that he may get some interest from us…Does anybody think we should make a pass at him, simply because our Baby T.O. brandon marshall( whom I love but cant keep his ass out of the commisioners grasp) may be pending a hefty suspension because of his “incident” with his fiance, yes a different girl from the other one…so hey T.O. maybe as our no. 1 while BMArsh is gone? -I say no way….but without bmarsh the heigth of our receivers drops tremendously…an interesting debate…

  • Tom9798

    Home: Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New England, Dallas, N.Y. Giants
    Away: Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington

    Brutal schedule. . . until the free agency picks . . . I thought 9-7 at best . . . now I’m jazzed . . . . 11-5 . . . defense will be ranked in the top ten . . . . offense in the top three . . . 6-2 at home . . . . 5-3 on the road . . . . will sweep S.D. . . . claim AFC West Champions . . . will defeat wildcard in first week and defeat conference opponent for AFC Champion and win the Superbowl by four points . . .
    the Denver Broncos are going to stun the NFL! . . . . could be 12-4 . . . but I’m not quite sure about Indy away . . . . this glass is 4-5ths full . . . just remember a summa-beach told you so . . .

  • Michael

    I think I trust Simms about 5,000,000% more then Ramsey if something bad happens and we need him to lead our offense. Ramsey never looks comfortable under center.

  • SoCal Den Fan

    Tom step away from the hippy lettuce man if you think we are going to go 11-5 you are high!!!! We still have the draft to go there is a long time to go.I love the confidence but lets be real here.

  • Sabrina

    I like Chris Simms…welcome to the Bronco land….

  • http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

    Phil Simms is now forced to say nice things about the Broncos!!

    If I can recall it was either Chris Simms’ last start or one of the last ones with Tampa Bay, he got hit really hard went to the side line puked, came back, lead his offense to a field goal and then had to go to the hospital. He may not be the best, but he’s got the fire to win.

  • Tom9798

    No hippy lettuce here SoCal . . . stealing Miami’s lightning fast defensive backfield with Dawkin’s guiding them is a wake up call for Champ and the others . . . Reid from Indy is huge . . . . and I’m sure the best is yet to come!

  • http://myspace.com/paraleipsis jchase8410

    with all of these RB signings, who is going to be our shake n bake brought to you by Ricky Bobby (dennison/turner) when the season starts? Man I wish I could take credit for the amazing shake n bake nickname, classic. I forgot who cake up with it, so I can’t give credit where it’s due.

    T.O. -absolutely not!!!! I was hoping we would make a run at TJ House-a-mazoolie, even more so with B-Marsh’s inability to keep himself out of bad situations. This kid has to have the worst judgement ever!!! Back to Owens, there is no way I want a cancerous guy like that anywhere NEAR our locker room. It would completely undermine the reason we got Dawkins. I want leaders who are of sound character, not media/attention whore clowns like TO!!

  • Tom9798

    Mr. East . . . Thanks for the comment about Phil Simms! . . . this guy hasn’t had anything positive to say about the Bronco’s and I cring everytime he announces a Bronco’s game . . . maybe a little subjectivity since his son is on the sideline! . . . .

  • http://broncotalk.net Ian Henson

    I guess something that I should have maybe noted in the article… Simms is coming from Mike Heimerdinger’s offense in Tennessee, don’t know what to think of this yet. The card will be shown soon though.

    LaMont Jordan, I don’t know are we signing Patriots to piss of Belichick now? Sending volleys back over the net? I still like Eddie Royal on Punt Returns. Kind of disappointed about Houston matching Anderson though

  • http://birty.blogspot.com mikebirty

    The Jordan signing was probably the most predictable signing of the off season. Shame all these running backs are signing up and getting in the way of Hillis. But I trust our man to come up good and play his heart out at camp and be the best running back for the next two months. Although are the days gone when the best player in camp won the job…..

  • T-Money

    By the looks of it… I would say this whole room is on the Hippie Lettuce Juice.

  • BroncoinVA9986

    Sure beats Patrick Ramsey

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com Danh

    Ian, Simms also played briefly with McDaniels when he was interviewed by New England before making a stop in Tennessee. Something tells me McD always fancied with Simms.

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com Danh

    Scratched what I just said… i blame it on the meds.

  • Rob Bronco

    Here’s what we have to remember – The Broncos had a prolific offense in 2008. Cutler threw some picks down the stretch and our running backs all looked like they were trying out for roles in “The English Patient”, but we still managed to put up decent numbers offensively. I think McDaniels approach is sound – he’s transitioning to the “throw first, run second” offense using multiple backs and the spread offense to move the ball. The Broncos are going to get blitzed more, which puts pressure on Jay to get rid of the ball quicker (hence guys who can catch the ball out of the backfield). There is zero chance that T.O. will come to the Broncos. We can’t afford him and his style doesn’t match what the Broncos are trying to do.

    ANY move on defense would have been better than what we had last year. But with the addition of Mike Nolan @ D coordinator and the acquisitions we’ve made so far, the Broncos have made tremendous improvements so far. I expect that they will use their draft picks to pick up a talented safety/DB as well as a big D lineman. I said it last year and I’ll say it again this year – if the Broncos defense cannot get to the quarterback, it’s going to be a loooong year, especially with the pass heavy teams we’ll be facing in 2009.

  • Richard

    If I was smoking the left handed cigarettes, I’d be talking up the Faiders, and believing that San Diego is the best team in the NFL. And the chefs are going to compete this year. (Cough, cough) Rams and chefs in the superbowl 2009!

  • T-Money

    i like it richard… nice

  • Wilde1

    There is a simple and logical explanation for the LaMont Jordan signing, as well as wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and long snapper Lonie Paxton: All three former Pats know the playbook and terminology that the Broncos’ new offense will be based on. There is no quicker way to help a team learn the nuances of a new system than to have some veterans on the team that can help explain the details from a player’s perspective.

    Even if Jordan doesn’t make the final cut, he will be helping the other running backs understand the reads for pass protection and pass patterns. Gafney will do the same for the receivers, and Paxton understands both offensive line and special team assignments. For the money, I think Jordan, Gaffney, and Paxton are worth well more than how they will individually perform during this season.

    The signings on defense, starting with Brian Dawkins, are similarly aimed at hiring veterans with a thorough understanding of the 3-4.

  • fischdog

    The only thing I would never want is Christina SIMMS!! A buck toothed TEXASAN QB!!! A TEXASAN QB on the field with other Denver Broncos!! Not cool…not cool. Is he going to drive up in a limo to his first practice?? Hopefully he has gone thru puberty and his voice has changed unlike his daddy.

    He wont even make it past training camp along with JJ Arrington!

  • MileHigh55

    For my self I think the addition of Jordan and Paxton and Arrington who by the way is coming off a knee injury are stretch FA pickups. That money could have gone to picking up at least two more D Linemen.

    Such as Olshansky or Kalimba Edwards or Jerome McDougle at DE. DT there is still Tank Johnson or Kenderick Allen I think the money could have been better spent.
    How about Cutler for Peppers start Simms and draft Chase Patton of Missouri 6-5 220lbs they say he is a better QB prospect than Chase Daniels.

    Man the air is thin here in the Mile High City oh how about trading Marshall to the Patriots for one of there 4 2nd rd picks and bring big mouth Owens in for one year only . Damn I should shoot myself in the foot for thinking of Owens in the Orange and Blue.

  • MileHigh55

    How about bringing in former SS of dallas ( notice the little d )lol Roy Williams and turn him into and outside LB.

  • Roy

    I prefer Simms to Ramsey. Simms has shown he is competitive and can handle being under center, something Ramsey never quite achieved. The only signing I really hate is Jordan. I think he is a fat, lazy slob. Hopefully he is just bing brought in to help with the system for camp, then will be cut.

  • steve

    i really like our running back situation. we have 5 guys who each bring something to the table.

    im curious to see what our rotation will look like between hillis, arrington, buckhalter, torain, and maybe even sprinkle in some lamont jordan. should be effective

  • soxbigdog

    Interesting side note (for those of you who don’t know) Chris Simms and Mike Shanahan’s son Kyle were VERY close in college…

    to the point that they have each other’s initials tatooed on their legs…

    Take from that what you will… LOL

  • BroncoinVA9986

    soxbigdog: the matching tatoos sound reallllly gay. not that there is anything wrong with that

  • soxbigdog

    Like I said…. Take from that what you want ;) LOL

  • BroncoinVA9986

    creepy i guess..

  • soxbigdog

    If one of my sons and their one of their buddies had done that… we would seriously need to talk !!!

  • Anthony33

    Steve,
    You like our running back situation, you’re kidding right?
    Have you looked at the stats over the past three years of Burkhaler, Arrington and Jordan, they are all below average backs.

    I don’t get it. They sign three slugs for X dollars when they could have gotten Ward for less money (then the combined 3) and solved our running back need.

    Simms is probably better than Ramsey, so I see that as a slight upgrade.

    I now think they need to draft a running back in the early rounds and a QB late in the draft. Also, based on what they have done it looks like they will go with a LB, probably Malauga, in round one.

  • Anthony33

    oops: should be (than the combined 3)

  • DB

    Mr East, I agree that Phill simms IS forced to say good things about the Denver Broncos. He is just jelous of John Elway in my opinon…any way, i’m not happy about this pick up. I thought Ramsey was better/more reliable back up QB.

    Just my thoughts fellas!

  • Tom9798

    just a couple stats on Jay Cutler . . . our over-sensitive Q.B. . . . in 1993 John Elway threw for 4,030 yds. ( his most ever to that date) and 25 T.D.’s . . . it was his 11th yr. in the NFL . . . Jay Cutler threw for 4,526 yds. and 25 TD’s in his 3rd yr. and made the Pro-Bowl . . . and unfortunately either Q.B. during this time had crap for a defense to back him up . . .

    This is going to change this year . . . not only has the offense improved with the competition at RB and the addition of Gaffney at WR . . . but we managed to steal a lightning fast defensive backfield from the Dolfin’s with Hill and Goodman . . . and an All-Pro Brian Dawkins to mentor them along with the Bailey brothers helping tudor and punch the outsides . . . also getting Reid from Indy was huge . . . . and we haven’t even gotten to the draft yet . . .

    This will not be the same defense Bronco fans have endured the last three years! . . . I’ve already posted on other blogs that we will win the Superbowl next year . . . . most tired of hearing negative BS, maybe you are too . . . let’s start looking at the cup 4-5th’s full . . . . this is going to be an exciting year to come!

  • JBone

    The Denver Broncos are gonna be a force to be recon with. The league got a small taste of the offense last year with the adjustments of McDaniels it should be the best in the league. The defense will be strong and be able to stop the run and defend the pass. I’ve been telling people that we are at least gonna get to the AFC Championship game this year. What about the rokkie QB we got in the draft last year, Darryll Hackney, He looked solid in preseason last year and was fast which is great fit for Denver Offense. to me I’m glad Ramsey is gone. Can’t wait to watch them beat the Raiders and Chargers in person at Qualcomm and in the black Hole since my mom is a Raider fan. I’ll meet her there this season ready to cheer from the black hole for Denver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Denver_______10-6
    San Diego_____8-8
    Kansas City____6-10
    Oakland______6-10
    GO BRONCOS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

    Haha I love the optimism JBone.