Broncos sign 2 veteran safeties

After adding two linebackers in free agency, the Denver Broncos turned their focus to safety.

The Broncos signed Marquand Manuel to a three-year, $4.5 million deal on Saturday, his agent Ron Slavin said, and also signed Marlon McCree.

McCree has started 45 games for San Diego and Carolina over the past three seasons.

The Broncos signed linebackers Boss Bailey and Niko Koutouvides last week.

Manuel has played with Cincinnati, Seattle, Green Bay and Carolina. He has started 38 games, including all 16 with the Packers in 2006.
Manuel started two games with the Panthers last year. He will turn 29 in July.

Hamza Abdullah and John Lynch are penciled in as starters, but Manuel came to Denver because he will be given the chance to compete with them for a starting spot.

"He wanted the opportunity to start," Slavin said.

Abdullah finished last season as the starter but has only eight career starts and can become an unrestricted free agent next year.
Lynch agreed to come back for another season but will turn 37 in September.