Mike McGlynn was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday and could have been a Denver Bronco Sunday. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos had the 2nd pick in the NFL waiver wire Sunday. Many thought “The Day After Cut Day” would be a virtual second draft for the Broncos in 2011. Deeper teams’ trash would become Mile High treasures for a front office eager to improve its depth and talent.

But the Broncos opted not to place one claim.

In contrast, the Carolina Panthers, who had top priority, snagged five players through waiver wire claims Sunday. Other teams, like the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, picked up three apiece.

It’s true that claiming a player on the waiver wire means you also inherit the player’s contract, and that the Broncos haven’t been as loose with the purse strings as they have been in years past, but not addressing their depth on the offensive line and defensive line with some of the players that were available is surprising at best, maddening at worst.

For instance, the Bengals, who had the 4th option in the waiver wire, snagged two young, experienced, relatively productive players in WR Brandon Tate and C/G Mike McGlynn. It’s particularly disappointing to see McGlynn go to another team when the Broncos could have easily signed the former Eagles starter. It’s true that McGlynn doesn’t know the Broncos’ system, but he’d be a clear upgrade over Manny Ramirez or even Russ Hochstein. And, as a backup, he’d have time to learn.

Today’s flurry of moves means the Broncos do have another option at the waiver wire tomorrow. But based on today’s relative lack of activity (signing CB Jonathan Wilhite, a free agent, was the only roster move), don’t get your hopes up.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Adam Weber will run the scout team as the Broncos' practice squad quarterback. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

The Denver Broncos 2011 practice squad has been announced.

As previously reported, QB Adam Weber and DE Jeremy Beal will be among the team’s eight-man practice squad. Other notable additions include S Kyle McCarthy and WR Eron Riley, who many thought would make the 53-man roster but were surprisingly cut Saturday. Full list below.

• QB Adam Weber
• DE Jeremy Beal
• WR D’Andre Goodwin
• T Adam Grant
• RB Jeremiah Johnson
• S Kyle McCarthy
• WR Eron Riley
• FB Austin Sylvester

Weber’s got potential to be a backup in this league and so is definitely worth keeping with Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn both on the last year of their respective contracts. Riley, McCarthy and Johnson are potential studs and we’re thrilled they’ll be sticking around as well.

Wilhite in 2009

The Denver Broncos have addressed their depth at cornerback Sunday by signing former Patriots cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, per multiple reports. Safety Darcel McBath, a 2nd round draft pick by the Broncos in 2009, has been waived.

Wilhite (5-11, 185), primarily a backup and nickelback, started in 13 games in his three seasons in New England, but just one game in 2010. A fourth-round draft pick in 2008 by the Patriots, Wilhite appeared in 34 games with 23 starts at Auburn (2005-07) after transferring from Butler County Community College following the 2004 season.

Wilhite was waived on August 29th, a few days before Cut Day, which would imply that this wasn’t a waiver wire pickup but a free agent signing by the Broncos. No other changes to the 53-man roster have been announced; we’ll have more news as it unfolds.

Steve Hauschka‘s 51-yard field goal as time expired in Week 3 of the preseason lifted the Broncos to a 23-20 victory. It also saved the thousands viewing and in attendance from that unholiest of unholiness — overtime in the preseason.

But perhaps most importantly, it left quite a mark on the Broncos’ opponent that week, the Seattle Seahawks. A day after being released by the Broncos, the Seahawks signed Hauschka to their active roster. They released K Jeff Reed.

One wonders if this was the reason the Broncos gave Hauschka that chance all along. Congrats to Hauschka for the clutch kick that landed him a starting gig in the NFL.

Defensive end Jeremy Beal was the only member of the Denver Broncos‘ 2011 NFL Draft class to not make the team following roster cuts Saturday. On Sunday, the seventh round pick received redeeming news.

Beal has been signed to the Broncos’ practice squad, per several reports. He and QB Adam Weber are the only two players reported to have signed onto the eight-man squad thus far.

Expect the Broncos to announce the full practice squad roster soon.

It’s been a quiet Sunday morning in Dove Valley. News of teams making waiver claims have been flying left and right, but tidbits out of Denver have been nonexistent.

We do have one piece of news to report. Quarterback Adam Weber, who made the most of his two minutes of NFL preseason game time, has been signed to the Broncos‘ practice squad, according to his agent on Twitter.

Meanwhile, linebacker Lee Robinson tells us via Twitter that he has not been signed to the team’s practice squad (he has been off and on the Broncos’ and other teams’ practice squads the past two seasons). We wish Lee happy landings.

H/T It’s All Over Fat Man

Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos stands with teammates in the huddle during the preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 26-7. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

We know who was cut — now let’s look at who’s left.

The Denver Broncos‘ 53-man roster, before more potential waiver wire transactions Sunday, breaks down like this (via DenverBroncos.com):

• Three quarterbacks
• Three running backs
• One fullback
• Five wide receivers
• Three tight ends
• Nine offensive linemen
• Five safeties
• Four cornerbacks
• Seven linebackers
• 10 defensive linemen
• Three specialists

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Wide receiver Eron Riley hauled in two touchdown passes in the 2011 preseason, including this touchdown catch-and-run against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz., but did not make the team's final roster Saturday. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Denver Broncos announced several roster transactions Saturday as they trimmed their roster to the league-mandated 53 players.

The more notable surprises among the cuts are S Kyle McCarthy, DT Jeremy Jarmon, WR David Anderson, and WR Eron Riley. CB Perrish Cox, currently undergoing trial for sexual assault, was also cut.

Also surprising is the fact that WR Demaryius Thomas remains on the active roster. The second-year player, who injured his Achilles, was thought to be still be out for some time and a prime candidate for the PUP list. The Broncos indicated Saturday Thomas could be practicing by this week.

Meanwhile, RB Brandon Minor was among three players placed on IR.

Also sad, but less surprised, to see guys like QB Adam Weber and RB Jeremiah Johnson released. Remember that many of these players are practice-squad eligible so if they clear waivers, the Broncos can keep them in orange and blue that way.

The Broncos are 2nd on the waiver wire so it’s likely more moves are coming to make room for other teams’ cuts. Full list after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Last night second year cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson tore his Achilles tendon, ending his season. Thomspon played in 13 games last season and notched a key interception in the Houston game, sealing Tim Tebow‘s first career win as a starter.

It’s devastating to see a young guy who has worked so hard and has had a great camp go down in the final game of the preseason.

Broncos at Cardinals pre-season game, week 4. Kickoff at 8:00 mountain. Kyle is live at the game, we’ll be following his twitter feed. Jump in!