Broncos: Crunch time for veteran, rookie

ENGLEWOOD • Running back Michael Pittman had to think for a moment, but he thought it had been five or six years since he played in a preseason finale. Most veterans sit out the last preseason game to avoid injury.

The last time Pittman played in one, fullback Peyton Hillis was still in high school. On Friday night, Pittman and Hillis should line up plenty of times in the Denver Broncos' backfield together, two players at far different points in their careers.

Pittman has played 10 years and was a major part of a Super Bowl championship team in Tampa Bay. Hillis is a rookie seventh-round pick out of Arkansas. Both are simply trying to play well enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster to start the season.

"I'm not upset about it at all," said Pittman about playing Friday. "I'm not going to complain about it, I'm going to go out there and do the best I can. It's a challenge. I'm willing to step up and play, and make the most of my opportunities."

Hillis might be a safer bet to make the team than Pittman, who played fullback and tailback during training camp and is listed as the third-team tailback. Hillis is an aggressive, physical blocker and can catch the ball.

He might be Denver's first prototypical fullback since Howard Griffith. The Broncos have used undersized fullbacks such as Kyle Johnson and current starter Cecil Sapp the past few years.

The best sign of Hillis' value came after he missed most of training camp with a bad left hamstring.

Many seventh-round picks would have been ticketed for the practice squad, if lucky, after missing a couple of weeks of practice.

Hillis almost instantly went back to splitting time with Sapp as the first-team fullback when he returned to practice. Last Friday against Green Bay, a nice third-down catch and run by Hillis started Denver on a 99-yard touchdown drive.

Hillis said he didn't know if he would make the team, putting his chances at 50-50.

"I have shown some good things, but I also have shown some bad things," Hillis said. "There's no doubt in my mind if I went on I could be a lot better and be a great player, but time's really not an option."

Hillis said he hopes he proves he belongs with his play Friday night.

Pittman might play a lot, as well. Tailbacks Selvin Young and Andre Hall won't play.

Rookie tailback Anthony Alridge is scheduled to play, but he's coming off a hamstring injury and has missed the past two games.

Pittman said he wants to show he has the fire to keep playing.

"I really want to be a part of this team," Pittman said. "I'm not doing it for the money, I'm doing it because I still love the game, I love playing football."

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