It is shocking that Nate Webster isn't signed yet. Nate was very solid last year for the Broncos & can play any LB position. He is healthy.




(drewrosenhaustwitter)

Below proCanes.com analyzes the NFL U free agent market and tries to give you, the fans, a better idea of where these free agents may end up for the 2009 season. First off, here are the different types of free agents defined in case you don't now the difference:

Unrestricted Free Agents
Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) are players who have completed four or more accrued seasons of service and whose contracts have expired. They are free to sign with any club.

Restricted Free Agents
Restricted Free Agents (RFA) are players who have completed three accrued seasons of service and whose contracts have expired. They have received qualifying offers from their old clubs and are free to negotiate with any club until April 21, at which time their rights revert to their original club. If a player accepts an offer from a new club, the old club will have the right to match the offer and retain the player. If the old club elects not to match the offer, it may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the level of the qualifying offer made to the player.

Exclusive-Rights Free Agents
Exclusive-Rights Free Agents (ERFAs) are players who have completed between 0-2 accrued seasons of service whose contracts have expired. If tendered, they have no negotiating rights with other clubs and must sign their tender with their old club or sit out the season.

2009 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Phillip Buchanon CB 5-11 186 7th Season Buccaneers:
According to members of the Buccaneers organization, many from within believe Phillip Buchanon was their most consistent cornerback last year. At the beginning of the offseason many people thought the Bucs would let Buchanon go because of the coaching changes and and change in defensive philosophy. That looks to not be the case though. The Bucs will be talking to Buchanon's agent Drew Rosenhaus this week and hope to sign before he hits the open market. After a rough beginning to his career, Buchanon seems to have settled and become a vital part of the Tampa Bay defense. Look for him to remain a Buccaneer.

Vernon Carey OT 6-5 350 5th Season Dolphins:
Vernon Carey actually never hit the free agency market despite not being franchised by the Miami Dolphins. Once the Dolphins elected not to franchise him most people began to speculate that they no longer wanted Carey and both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings would go after him. One day later though, the Dolphins did sign Carey to a 6-year $42 million contract making him the highest paid right tackle in the league. Congrats to Vernon!

Bubba Franks TE 6-6 265 9th Season NY Jets:
Bubba Franks had a disappointing 2008 season despite being teamed up with Brett Favre again. Bubba's best seasons as a Green Bay Packer were with Favre, but they never seemed to to find that magic last year as Jets. Bubba fought through injuries during the season but missed 8 games. He finished the season with only six reception for 47 yards and no TDs. The Jets did released TE Chris Baker, which would create an opening for Bubba, but they do have Dustin Keller who they are pretty high on. If Bubba stays looks for him to be Keller's backup which is a possibility as long as he can show that he can stay healthy.

William Joseph DT 6-5 308 6th Season Raiders:
Joseph was signed last offseason by the Raiders to give them help along the defensive line with the loss of Warren Sapp. Joseph was cut right before the beginning of season, but was then signed in week 8 and played the last 7 weeks of the season accumulating 8 tackles. Since being drafted by the NY Giants in the first round in 2003, Joseph has not lived up to expectations. He will probably get signed by someone in need of DL depth and it very well could be the Oakland Raiders.

Ray Lewis LB 6-1 250 13th Season Ravens:
It is rumored that the Jets are making salary cap room to possibly sign Ray Lewis. The Cowboys have been rumored to be a destination Ray would potentially prefer as well. Ray has said before that he would like to end his career as a Raven and the Ravens would really like to sign him before the free agency period begins on February 27, despite being irked by his comments at the Pro Bowl which most people think were said to get him a bigger contract. This would be the first time Ray would hit the free agent market and the Ravens are afraid that if he does he will be gone. Look for the Ravens to sign him before he hits the market.

Darrell McClover LB 6-1 226 5th Season Bears:
McClover has been important cog in the Bears' special teams for the past few years, but he missed the last 6 games due to injury this year and the Bears do not seem to be interested in resigning him. He has been a career special teams player but also has the ability to play the OLB spot. If the Bears do not re-sign him, which looks unlikely, look for him to get picked up by a team with special teams needs like the Patriots, Chiefs, or Titans.

Jerome McDougle DE 6-2 2646th Season NY Giants:
McDougle has dealt with a lot of adversity during his short career and unfortunately has never lived up to expectations despite always performing well in training camps. More than anything, he is happy to be alive considering his near-death experience of being shot in the abdomen. McDougle didn’t contribute much to the Giants, and now Osi Umenyiora is presumably coming back to join what should be a three-man end rotation with Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka. Dave Tollefson (an exclusive rights free agent) figures to be the fourth. If there’s a fifth, it’ll come out of the draft. Look for McDougle to get one more shot in someone's training camp, he has shows great resiliency throughout his tough career.

Brett Romberg C 6-2 298 5th Season Rams:
Though a little undersized Romberg has been in the thick of the starting center position for the last few years in St. Louis. He started three games in 2006, nine games in 2007 and six games in 2008. Last year he broke his hand in training camp and lost the job to Nick Leckey. Romberg did end up starting the last 6 games of the season though. The Rams seems to like Romberg more than Leckey so look for them to re-sign Romberg.

Jonathan Vilma LB 6-1230 5th Season Saints:
Re-signing MLB Jonathan Vilma is the Saints' top priority. Vilma, who was traded to the Saints a year ago, is said to be very interested in re-upping with New Orleans, but the team will not strike a deal with him until Feb. 27 — the start of free agency — at the earliest, guaranteeing that Vilma will hit the open market. Signing him before then would force the Saints to give up higher draft picks to the Giants and Jets — first- and second-rounders, respectively, instead of second- and third-rounders — per the deals for TE Jeremy Shockey and Vilma. The Saints are optimistic he will be back and so are we. Unless someone throws a lot of money in Vilma's direction look for him to sign with the Saints as soon as he hits the market.

Nate Webster LB 6-0 232 9th Season Broncos:
Webster beat out free-agent Niko Koutouvides for the starting MLB spot last fall which was a huge surprise to many considering the large contract that was given to Koutouvides. The Denver defense last year was bad. Many people blamed Webster but the problems ran much deeper than him. The DL was atrocious and injuries took their toll as well with DJ Williams missing time as well as Webster. Koutouvides was recently cut by the Broncos, which could mean that the Broncos are interested in keeping Webster. If they do, look for him to be more of an insurance policy as he can backup all three LB positions or if Williams is moved back to MLB then Webster could find a spot on the outside.

2009 RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Rashad Butler OT 6-4 309 3rd Season Texans:
Butler is well-respected in the Texans organization because of his ability to overcome the disease: ulcerative colitis. This was the reason for Butler's inability to keep weight on during his days in Carolina. Since then he has been able to control the disease and played in 8 games in 2007. He didn't see much action in 2008, but look for the Texans to resign him for a league minimum resulting in 3 offensive lineman from the U on the Texans (Chris Myers, Eric Winston, Rashad Butler).

2009 EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

Orien Harris DL6-3 300 1st Season Bengals:
Harris was a standout in Saints camp in 2008 and was surprisingly released before the season started. The Bengals though, snatched him up quickly and Harris saw action in 14 games and started Week 6 against the Jets. He is an exclusive rights free agent; the team has already signed FB/TE Daniel Coats, who was the other player in that category. Look for the Bengals to re-sign him and in the off chance they don't, the Saints will be in the running for his services.

RELEASED

Ken Dorsey QB 6-4 215 6th Season Browns:
Dorsey struggled towards the end of last year when he was forced into action for four of the last five games of the season throwing zero touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Dorsey has always been limited physically but has been a great tutor for Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. If he lands anywhere it will probably be with Rob Chudzinski and the San Diego Chargers to mentor Phillip Rivers.

Najeh Davenport RB 6-1 247 7th Season Colts:
Najeh played 4 games for the Steelers last year in the middle of the season after being released in the offseason. He was then released by the Steelers and signed by the Colts where he played in two games before being released before the start of the playoffs. Davenports has shown he can still play both as a running back and also as a kickoff return man. In week 17 he had 8 carries for 26 yards along with four receptions for 54 yards. The knock on Davenport has always been his ability to stay healthy and stay in shape. Look for him to get signed by someone in need of RB depth and also special teams player.

MLB Nate Webster could end up back with the Broncos on short-term, low-risk deal late in the spring if no other team shows any interest and Denver still has some spending money left over. Head coach Josh McDaniels’ club will be well below the cap this offseason, and sources say they expect the team to go after at least one high-priced free agent.

(profootballweekly.com)

The Rocky Mountain News suggests that D.J. Williams (knee) could move to middle linebacker full time now that he's healthy.
Williams, who's listed as probable, was playing inside on passing downs before his injury. Denver wants to keep rookie WLB Wesley Woodyard in the lineup and it could come at current MLB Nate Webster's expense. Denver could also move Webster to the strong side, replacing Jamie Winborn.

(rotoworld.com)

Outside linebacker D.J. Williams (knee) and running back Selvin Young (groin) were held out for at least one more week.

Middle linebacker Nate Webster returned after missing the previous three games with a left knee injury. Spencer Larsen, a rookie who had been filling in for Webster at middle linebacker, returned to fullback where he will start.

(denverpost.com)

The team hopes to get its middle starter back this week from a partially torn MCL in his right knee. Webster has missed the past three games after going down early the week before. He was among the league tackle leaders before the injury. Teammate D.J. Williams has been taking limited practice reps as well but doesn't appear to be as close to returning.

(sportingnews.com)

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Nate Webster's injury was a second-degree sprain in the MCL of his left knee.
Webster thought it was the "same thing D.J. [Williams] got," and he will have an MRI Friday. The Broncos have lost all three starting linebackers in successive weeks and will likely be starting Jamie Winborn, Wesley Woodyard, and Niko Koutouvides for the next couple of games.

(rotoworld.com)

Q: How long before the Broncos make a change at middle linebacker? Nate Webster has been almost invisible this season -- other than the fumble return (for a TD). For a position that should be involved in most plays, he's been conspicuous in his absence. The only time he's visible is when he's over-running plays, filling the wrong hole, or chasing a tight end or running back downfield after a pass reception. Could Spencer Larsen or Niko Koutouvides be any worse? Nate has been around long enough for coaches to know that what you see is what you're going to get.

A: Also in some of the Webster questions were add-ons about the team's ability to improve the pass rush as it goes along and any potential for some trades.

Right off the top it has to be noted the coaches' video review has Webster leading the team in tackles, being a couple ahead of D.J. Williams and, in their minds, he won the job in training camp.

Whether folks watching the game at home would agree with that or not, Webster is still the official leader. He has over-run some plays in his zeal to make something happen - that is the one thing opposing offensive coordinators do point to at times when looking at his game - but he has not been alone, especially in Kansas City when Larry Johnson gained a significant amount of yardage coming out of the back side of the play after the front side - or "play" side - was bottled up.

The Broncos had certainly signed Koutouvides with the intention of playing him at middle linebacker and would have if he would have done a little more in the preseason. Even Koutouvides admitted that he did fine when it came to assignment football, but that he felt like he didn't "make enough plays'' to tip things his way.

Webster won the job with his best offseason in quite some time with efforts the Broncos likely didn't expect when last season ended.

But Koutouvides would be put into the lineup if Webster graded out poorly enough at some point for the coaches to believe they needed to make a change. And if they are thinking anything close to that right now, they have not conveyed that to any of the players at the moment.

Also, certainly if Webster got hurt Koutouvides would be in the lineup.

But right now they have big picture problems on defense that require their attention rather than simply tinkering with the depth chart in one or two places - that's just smoothing a rough edge or two to replace a player here and there.

(blogs.rockymountainews.com)

There's no doubt the Broncos' defense has struggled, but sources in Denver say MLB Nate Webster has been one of the team's more pleasant surprises. Webster moved to the middle after playing on the strong side last season, and he's been a much better fit inside. He's fiery, and although CB Champ Bailey and WLB D.J. Williams were voted defensive captains, insiders say Webster is the one who brings the most energy to the defense. The Broncos signed Niko Koutouvides for a starter's salary in the offseason, and he was expected to get the nod at middle linebacker. However, Webster, who is in much better shape this season, sources say, outplayed Koutouvides all through training camp and took the job away. The ninth-year veteran doesn't have a whole lot of range or speed, but the coaches know his weaknesses and he typically is pulled off the field in passing situations.

(pfw.com)

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos signed linebacker D.J. Williams to a five-year contract extension Sunday.

The deal was first reported by the NFL Network and Rocky Mountain News, which said that the contract is worth $32 million, including $13 million in guaranteed money.

Williams has played all three linebacker positions since being drafted by the Broncos in 2004. He lined up at middle linebacker last season for the first time in his career, and was credited with 170 tackles, the most by a Broncos player in five seasons. He also had a sack, three forced fumbles and an interception.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Williams was switched back to the weakside slot for this season, as Nate Webster inherited the middle linebacker duties.
Williams was recently voted a defensive captain by his teammates, along with Champ Bailey.

After starting three years at the University of Miami, Williams was taken by Denver with the 17th overall pick in 2004. He has started 62 games since he was selected.

The Broncos open the season at Oakland on Monday night.

(kentucky.com)

It's Nate.

The Broncos' top position competition of the preseason has been settled.

Mike Shanahan, the Broncos' coach, announced Nate Webster has beaten out Niko Koutouvides for starting middle linebacker.

The decision was an upset of sorts as Webster is a nine-year veteran who was primarily a back up in Tampa Bay and Cincinnati before starting at strongside linebacker for the Broncos' last year. Koutouvides was one of the Broncos' top free-agent pick ups this offseason as he received a three-year, $7.5 million contract that included a $2 million signing bonus.

"It was a very close competition," Shanahan said. "Both guys I look at as starters. Both guys will help as special teams but it was nip and tuck."

Shanahan said Koutouvides, a standout special teams player for four years in Seattle, would play extensively in the fourth and final preseason game at Arizona to get him more familiar with Denver's defense.

"Nate's a little more comfortable in it, right now." Shanahan said.

(denverpost.com)

Nate Webster played well in his starting role at middle linebacker. It appears he may hold off Niko Koutouvides for the starting job.




(espn.com)

ENGLEWOOD — Your guess is as good is theirs.

Neither Nate Webster nor Niko Koutouvides is sure how their battle to become the Broncos' starting middle linebacker ultimately will pan out.

At various points this summer they've traded practice days, swapped games and, so far, no one has given them a clue where their competition stands. But both are assured of one thing:

While Friday night's preseason game with the Green Bay Packers might not be the be-all, it will be the end-all of a competition that has lasted the past five months.

Koutouvides played a half with the No. 1 defense last Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys and made one tackle as Denver allowed one touchdown.

It's Webster's turn against the Packers, and the coaching staff has essentially promised to make a decision before next week's preseason finale, when the starters will not play.

"You just keep playing until you hear the word, basically," Koutouvides said. "There's not much we can do on our part except keep playing ball."
Webster and the rest of the first-team defense will play the first two quarters against Green Bay, plus the opening series of the third quarter. Koutouvides then takes over with the reserves.

"I love it, man," Webster said. "I don't feel bad at all about the situation. I feel I've done the best job I could do."

Webster, who also started the first preseason game, is currently listed as No. 1 on the team's official depth chart. But that latter document often is misleading at this early juncture. And the Denver coaching staff is known to defer to holdover players as far as providing the first crack in tight battles.

"They don't clue us in about what's going on, pretty much," Koutouvides said.

Webster entered the competition with the slight advantage of having been entrenched in Denver's defense for several years. Still, the scheme was tweaked, and last year he was playing the strong side, not the middle, so while not as steep as the one Koutouvides faced, there was a transition period for Webster.

But middle linebacker is Webster's most natural position. And he has bulled his way into the competition to a large degree with a solid offseason that was borne not only out of the desire to change Denver's defensive fortunes from a year ago but also from tragedy.

Webster's father, Nate Sr., suffered a heart attack in the offseason and was hospitalized for a month. During that time, the linebacker lost 15 pounds.

But after his dad rallied, so did Webster Jr. He rebuilt his body the right way in regaining his weight back as a 100 percent participant in the offseason strength program.

"I kind of teased them that I was stripping the engine down and was going to rebuild it," Webster said. "I wanted to put a big engine in."
Koutouvides had some weight of his own with which to deal - the expectations wrought from a three-year, $7.5 million free-agent contract.

"It's two guys who are busting their butts, two guys who can start, and two guys who both make our defense better," said Marlon McCree, who has gotten an up-close view of the battle while aligned as the deep safety on virtually every snap. "It's a coin toss . . . Both guys are fiery. Both guys are smart. Both guys hit blocks well. It's a good problem to have."

(rockymountainnews.com)

Niko or Nate. Nate or Niko.

It's only at middle linebacker, among the 11 starting defensive positions, that the Broncos have yet to decide.

Niko Koutouvides was the middle linebacker last week in the serious test that was the Dallas Cowboys. The Broncos' first-string defense played well, allowing only seven points and 128 total yards in the first half.

Nate Webster is the middle linebacker this week for the all-important third preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.

Will it be Nate? Or is it Niko?

"I guess it's going down to the end," Webster said. "They've given us both a fair shot. But I'm sure we've got to make a decision somewhere in the next couple weeks."

Maybe after the Packers game. Even though Broncos starters generally play 2 1/2 quarters in the third preseason game, coach Mike Shanahan said he and his defensive staff haven't settled on how to divvy up playing time at middle linebacker.

"It's going to be a big game for both of them," Shanahan said.

(denverpost.com)

With no afternoon practice today, I just was able to get caught up with Episode 2 of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” A television crew is following the Cowboys through training camp, including the team’s four practices against the Broncos.

Episode 2, which aired on Wednesday night, included a short segment on rookie RB Keon Lattimore, who just so happens to be little brother of Ravens LB Ray Lewis. Guess Broncos’ LB Nate Webster (who, like Lewis, is a former Miami Hurricane) hasn’t been watching.

On Thursday, Webster unleashed possibly the hardest hit of training camp on Lattimore — the crunch of the hit, not even a real tackle since no one was in full pads — was heard all the way across the practice field. No surprise, but Lattimore fumbled the ball.

After the practice, I was talking to Webster, when cornerback Domonique Foxworth came up to us and asked me if I had seen the hit. I said I did, but Foxworth wanted to make sure, so he grabbed my notebook and wrote in it that “Nate Webster almost killed a man.” Foxworth said it was Lattimore, and I told Webster that Lattimore is Lewis’ brother. That led to one of my favorite exchanges of camp:

Webster: “Ray Lewis has a little brother?”

Foxworth: “Not anymore he doesn’t.”

I’m looking forward to seeing the next episode of Hard Knocks to see if that hit — and how much of the Brandon Marshall-Adam “Pacman” Jones “feud” — makes the cut.

(blogs.denverpost.com)

There is certainly no one on the Broncos' defense louder than Nate Webster, but all it took was one late-night phone call in early January for everything to go silent.

His mother, Linda, was on the other end of the line. She was crying. "Your daddy's not breathing," Webster remembered her saying.

Nate Webster Sr. had suffered a major heart attack at his home in Tampa, Fla.

"At one point, he was dead," Webster said. "The paramedics brought him back."

Webster flew to Florida the next day and spent about three months there while his father recuperated. During that time, Webster lost 15 pounds from the stress.

But the ordeal gave him a new perspective once he returned to Denver for offseason conditioning in March, about he time he learned he would be switching from strong side to middle linebacker, the same position he played at the University of Miami and earlier in his career with Tampa Bay.

"My dad's been so strong and worked so hard for so many years to be a provider for us. I have never seen him at a weak point, never ever, so to see him down and unconscious, that hit me hard," Webster said. "Right then and there, I just wanted to dedicate and put a lot of focus into getting into the best shape of my life."

Coaches noticed. Mike Shanahan commented on the day before training camp started last month that Webster had never been in better condition. After almost three weeks of camp, Webster is listed first on the depth chart at middle linebacker, ahead of Niko Koutouvides, who was signed away from Seattle in the offseason with the intention he would be the starter.

Webster, who was credited with 100 tackles by the Broncos in 2007, started the preseason opener against the Houston Texans, though the battle is far from over. Koutouvides led the first-team defense Monday and Tuesday.

"It's going to go down to the wire, and that's the way it should be," Koutouvides said. "Give both players every opportunity to show what they've got."

What makes the battle more interesting is that Webster and Koutouvides are so different.

Koutouvides, a Connecticut native who went to Purdue, isn't flashy or loud. Webster, though, is impossible to ignore, from his overly baggy mesh shorts that hang nearly to his ankles to his tendency to lose his helmet in piles of tacklers.

And, of course, there is that voice.

Almost every day, he issues a guttural yell as he walks toward the practice field, and hardly a play goes by without him making some sort of comment to the offense.

"He's a live-wire kind of guy, always talking," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "He always has to be talking, has to be moving."

That kind of behavior has endeared him to teammates, though he knows he has to learn to better curb his emotions at times during games. It wasn't something he always knew how to do when he was younger.

"Back in the day, I used to be a bit dirty under the piles," Webster said. "But the cameras see everything, plus it's just part of growing up and being smarter, and not wanting to put your team in a bad situation, get a penalty, do anything that will hurt your chances of winning the game."

Webster's father has recovered enough from the heart attack to travel, and he and Linda are staying with Webster in Denver during training camp.
Linda cooks, and the three spend as much time as possible talking about when Webster and his siblings were young.

"I want to get him out here to participate, to see as much of me as he can, whether it's coming to games or practices, or just being around me, period," Webster said, "because I'm a daddy's boy."

(denverpost.com)

Nate Webster gets the start at middle linebacker tonight, but Niko Koutouvides is still very much in the running for the job.

Throughout training camp, Webster and Koutouvides have taken turns practicing with the first team. Usually, each player gets two consecutive days with the first unit, and then they switch. Shanahan said they’ll take turns in the preseason games, too.

“Both of them will get a chance to play with the starting defense, and we’ll evaluate both of them,” he said. “I feel good about both of them.”

(timescall.com)

Nate Webster is back with the first-team defense, it's not going to be apparent who has won the middle linebacker position until the season begins. Coaches are rotating Webster and Niko Koutouvides every two days it seems, on the first-team as middle linebackers.

(broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com)

Nate Webster apparently is in peak physical condition.

He's not in bad shape, either, when it comes to his position battle.

On Sunday, Webster ran with the first team at middle linebacker after Niko Koutouvides was No. 1 the first two days of practice. That revolving pattern should continue until one of the players establishes a firm grip on the starting job.

"That's fair to me," Webster noted. "As far as competing for the position, it's better than staying with the 'twos,' and you get a chance to switch up tempo."

Webster started last season at strong-side linebacker. But he's a more natural fit in the center of the defense as a between- the-tackles defender.

"I call it home. That's what I've played all my life . . . ," he said. "I'm real excited about it."

The staff also is pleased with Webster's offseason participation, which has resulted in him being "in the best shape I've ever seen him in," according to coach Mike Shanahan. When Webster first came to Denver in 2006, he still was feeling the aftereffects of a torn right patella tendon.

"I had to damn near start over again. But that's not even a question anymore," he said. "And last year, I finished the season healthy and didn't miss any games, so that was one of my first goals I did reach. My next goal was to stay healthy and play hard."

Webster finished 2007 second on the team in tackles, with 100 (77 solo), playing on the strong side. Both numbers were career bests.

"Nate did some good things even at the strong-side linebacker spot last year," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "He flashed some talent in the run game and was physical and explosive. But we thought him being inside in the middle would be the most natural position, and having those two compete is good. And it's tight. They've both been doing really good things."

(rockymountainnews.com)

Expect a new-look linebacking corps this season. Boss Bailey was brought in for speed to replace Ian Gold, and Shanahan said that Nate Webster has been awesome in the off-season and is in the best shape of his carrier. He also said not to count out Niko Koutouvides, who impressed coaches the second half of last season.    

(thedenverdailynews.com)

ENGLEWOOD - Nate Webster is prepared to battle to get a starting job for the second straight year.

Webster, who started 13 games for the Denver Broncos last year at outside linebacker, is practicing primarily at middle linebacker during this week’s minicamp and in Thursday’s practice he took the snaps with the starting defense. Niko Koutouvides signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Broncos this offseason and seems to be the favorite to start at middle linebacker. Koutouvides worked with the second team Thursday.

Minicamp practices hadn’t been open to the media before this week, and Koutouvides took first-team repetitions earlier this week. Webster said he and Koutouvides have been rotating in the middle. Webster said nothing has been promised to either player.

“It’s competition,” Webster said. “I guess we’ll be evaluated throughout the camps, practices and preseason. Nothing has been handed to him or me. We’re going to compete, which I don’t mind doing.”

Webster said he is comfortable being back at middle linebacker. He has played most of his career there, although he can play all three positions.

“That’s almost like being back home,” Webster said. “Middle linebacker is home for me. I can play the other ones, but I’m more instinctive in the middle.”

(gazette.com)

ENGLEWOOD • Nate Webster is prepared to battle to get a starting job for the second straight year.

Webster, who started 13 games for the Denver Broncos last year at outside linebacker, is practicing primarily at middle linebacker during this week's minicamp and in Thursday's practice he took the snaps with the starting defense. Niko Koutouvides signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Broncos this offseason and seems to be the favorite to start at middle linebacker. Koutouvides worked with the second team Thursday.

Minicamp practices hadn't been open to the media before this week, and Koutouvides took first-team repetitions earlier this week. Webster said he and Koutouvides have been rotating in the middle. Webster said nothing has been promised to either player.

"It's competition," Webster said. "I guess we'll be evaluated throughout the camps, practices and preseason. Nothing has been handed to him or me. We're going to compete, which I don't mind doing."

Webster said he is comfortable being back at middle linebacker. He has played most of his career there, although he can play all three positions.

"That's almost like being back home," Webster said. "Middle linebacker is home for me. I can play the other ones, but I'm more instinctive in the middle."

(gazette.com)

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan mentioned Nate Webster when asked who might compete with Niko Koutouvides to start at middle linebacker. It's obvious that the Broncos want Koutouvides to win this battle, and pretty close to a lock that he will. Webster started on the strong side last year, but has been replaced there by Boss Bailey. He's not an effective starter.

(rotoworld.com)

Webster was with the starters at strongside linebacker. The competition is wide-open, but Webster has received a lot of repetitions with the starters.

(gazette.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Nate Webster doesn't look like a trash-talking maniac. He's got more of a tranquil style.

He wears his shorts halfway down his calves and his white undershirt hangs eight inches below his jersey in the back. The long white seeves covering his arms give way to bright orange gloves, all of which hang stiffly by his side when he walks instead of swinging. His movements are rounded and slow.

Once he covers his dreads with his helmet, however, Webster mutates into a pretty animated football player.

"On the sideline there's no reason to be vocal," he said, sauntering toward the locker room. "You can't talk about it if you don't do it. You've got to be about it. You show it when you're on the field."

The eighth-year linebacker was all about it Wednesday morning. Just ask Cecil Sapp. The fullback/running back hybrid fired through a gap in the line as a thud ventured from behind a pile of bodies. Webster made it clear who was on the other end of the pad-popping excitement.

"All day!" a helmetless Webster yelled in Sapp's face as he walked back to the huddle. "He don't make it!"

HT.: 6-0 WT.: 237
EXP.: 8 - CAREER GP: 70 (5 postseason)

Played in three games in 2006, starting two -- one at weakside linebacker (Oakland) and the season finale against San Francisco at middle linebacker ... Focused on middle-linebacking duties at OTAs, but could potentially swing to one of the outside spots. "In our scheme of things, with most of the athletes we have, their ability level will allow them to play more than one position and we will look for the best combination," Bates said during OTAs.

(denverbroncos.com)

(AP) ENGLEWOOD, Colo. If Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson (neck) can't go Sunday, backup Nate Webster is on standby. "I'm always ready," he said. Webster was inactive against Seattle when Wilson went down after hitting teammate Gerard Warren in the back in the fourth quarter. Wilson was carted off the field. "It's enough seeing him down, but it was hard being inactive (and not being able to help)," Webster said. "I've got to get ready for whatever may transpire."

(cbs4denver.com)

Broncos linebacker Nate Webster was excused from practice because his wife was having a baby. He will be back with the team, Shanahan said, for Sunday and available to play . . .

(rockymountainnews.com)

On his first series back as a starter Sunday, Nate Webster's helmet flew off his head, exposing his braided hair to the autumn wind of Oakland.

Webster could smell the NFL again.

"Loved it, man, loved it," Webster said. "This is the real thing. I missed it."

Webster played in place of injured outside linebacker Ian Gold in the Broncos' 17-13 win. If Gold, who suffered a hamstring injury at Pittsburgh on Nov. 5, can't play Sunday night against San Diego at Invesco Field at Mile High, Webster likely will start again. Coach Mike Shanahan said Gold and defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, who didn't play against the Raiders because of a thigh injury, will be evaluated this week to monitor their availability for the AFC West showdown against the Chargers.

ENGLEWOOD - Through one rehabilitation, then a second post-surgery, Nate Webster tried to convince himself everything would be the same in his right knee and he again would be imposing physically on an NFL playing field.

But the Broncos linebacker admitted Thursday, with nearly two years in the trainer's room, it was easy for negativity to creep into his thoughts.

"Being taken away from the game you love is not a good feeling. And not being able to run around the house with your kids and get outside and play with them was another hurtful feeling," Webster said.

The Broncos on Saturday extended the contract of another backup defensive player by working a deal with linebacker Nate Webster.

Webster, who signed a one-year contract in May, is now locked up through 2008. Webster s base salary this season was raised by about $900,000. Monday, Denver gave prospective restricted free agent defensive tackle Demetrin Veal a two-year extension.

"This is a very good development for Nate," said Webster's agent, Drew Rosenhaus. "Nate loves it in Denver and was very happy to see the team having this interest in him."

Webster hasn't played this season but the team considers him a viable injury replacement at all three linebacker spots.

(denverpost.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Growing up in Miami Fla., Nate Webster did not have look far for someone to pattern his game after.  Ray Lewis was mowing down running backs at nearby University of Miami and provided Webster the perfect on-field role model.

This week as the Broncos offense prepared for Lewis and the Ravens defense, they didn't have too look far for someone to mimic the seven-time Pro Bowler.

"Ray was a major influence -- from high school to college," Webster said.  "I grew up watching him and Warren Sapp in the Orange Bowl and I kind of took a little bit of his style and mixed it with my style and it became a lethal mix.  I think I gave the offense as close of a look at what Ray does as I can.  I took my game after him, so I was able to model him pretty well."

(CBS4) DENVER When Al Wilson was suspended for last Saturday night's Denver Broncos game, Nate Webster became the starting linebacker. Webster had a very impressive Broncos training camp, and looks like a good bet to make the team. "I had a lot of fun," Webster told CBS4 of Saturday night. "It was good to be back out there with live bullets ... and to get dirty a little bit."