Shanahan not pleased with Marshall's political gesture

ENGLEWOOD • Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan wasn't a huge fan of receiver Brandon Marshall's planned political statement Thursday night.

Marshall said he planned to pull a glove, which was half-white and half-black, out of his pants after he scored a touchdown as a symbol of unity for the country, which two days earlier had elected Barack Obama as its president. Marshall grabbed the glove after scoring a touchdown with a little more than a minute remaining against the Browns, but receiver Brandon Stokley stopped him because he didn't want Marshall picking up a 15-yard celebration penalty.

"Obviously you can't ever put yourself in front of the team," Shanahan said Monday.

"That could have been a 15-yarder."

Shanahan said he did not know if Marshall's celebration would have drawn a penalty. But he said it would have come at a bad time, with the Broncos nursing a small lead.

"You can't put your team in jeopardy," Shanahan said. "Obviously we have conversations about those things that will stay in house. But you've got to check before you do something like that."

Haynes signed

The Broncos signed running back Alex Haynes to the roster spot vacated when Ryan Torain was placed on injured reserve Monday. Torain, who started at tailback Thursday, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Browns.

Haynes isn't a likely candidate to get many carries at tailback right away. He has played nine NFL games and has 3 yards on three career carries, all with Carolina last season. He was undrafted in 2005 and since then has been with Baltimore and Carolina. Haynes has been out of football since the Ravens cut him Aug. 30.

The Broncos also have Peyton Hillis, Selvin Young and P.J. Pope at tailback. Young left last Thursday's game because his groin injury hadn't fully healed, and he might not be available this week. Pope was signed off the practice squad last week. Hillis, a fullback who filled in at tailback in the second half last week, and Pope said they did not know what the plan at tailback was for this week's game.

Bailey await

Cornerback Champ Bailey, who has missed two games with a groin injury, said he will do some running today and will then see if he has any chance to practice and play this week.

"It's hard to tell right now," Bailey said. "It depends on how it goes (today)."