Up front for Broncos' center

ENGLEWOOD • Last offseason the Kansas City Chiefs were ready to move on without center Casey Wiegmann. Wiegmann was ready to move on, period.

He had played 12 seasons in the NFL, and the last one stung. The Chiefs went 4-12, which made for a tough year. Kansas City chose not to re-sign him when he became a free agent, and he was ready to call it a career.

"I was very close," Wiegmann said. "I was about 90 percent sure I was going to retire."

The Broncos saved Wiegmann's career, and themselves. There wasn't much initial interest in Wiegmann on the market, but Denver called. Wiegmann figured Denver is usually a playoff contender, and maybe he wouldn't have to end his career on a bad team.

"I talked to my wife and were both like ‘We can't go out that way,'" Wiegmann said.

The Broncos signed him in mid-March, but Wiegmann had no clear role because Denver had Tom Nalen. Nalen was coming off a torn biceps muscle but the Broncos anticipated he would be back. And his arm was fine - Denver just didn't figure his left knee would be an issue. Nalen had two surgical procedures to alleviate pain in his knee and was put on injured reserve in September.

All of a sudden, the Broncos' signing of Wiegmann became one of the team's most important offseason moves. They put the longtime veteran, who has started 123 straight games and has played every possible regular-season and postseason snap since the start of the 2001 season, at center and kept rolling.

Denver is fifth in the NFL with 4.5 yards per carry - no small feat considering it has had five tailbacks miss all or most of the season with injuries - and has allowed the second-fewest sacks.

Wiegmann's best game this season might have been Sunday against the Jets. He was going up against New York nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who has been credited for the Jets' top-five ranking in rush defense. Wiegmann is listed at 285 pounds and Jenkins is 349.
"Probably more than that," Shanahan guessed.

Denver helped take Jenkins out of the game by double teaming him. Jenkins had only three assisted tackles and Peyton Hillis ran for 129 yards. Wiegmann wasn't one-on-one against Jenkins the whole game but he was a big reason for the success.

"It just shows you how Casey's a great competitor, he's been playing the game for a long time," Shanahan said. "It was a great challenge for him and he played exceptionally well."

Wiegmann said he used his veteran savvy against Jenkins. He is used to mismatches.
Every opponent he faces might be more impressive on paper, but he holds his own.

He admits that he feels himself losing a step at age 35, but he masks it well.

"You've got to go out there and fight, that's what I've been doing since I was a kid," Wiegmann said. "I'm playing against guys that are bigger, faster and stronger than me, and you've got to give it your all."

Wiegmann will play Sunday against the Chiefs, who are 2-10.

Wiegmann is on a 7-5 team that appears to be heading to the playoffs.

He is happy not to be retired yet.

"I went 4-12 last year so anywhere I could go and win was a positive," Wiegmann said.

"Being 7-5 is a bonus, but I enjoy playing with the guys. They make it fun again."

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Contact the writer: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com. See our Broncos blog at gazettebroncos.freedomblogging.com

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