The Denver Broncos on Monday signed free-agent tight end Chad Mustard, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Broncos also on Monday waived guard Dylan Gandy.

Mustard (6-foot-6, 277 pounds) is in his fifth NFL season and third year with the Broncos. He competed with Denver in its 2008 training camp before he was waived on Aug. 30.

In 41 career games (6 starts) with Denver (2006-07) and Cleveland (2002-04), Mustard has totaled 12 receptions for 123 yards (10.3 avg.). He entered the NFL with the Browns as a practice-squad signee in 2002 after a stint with the Omaha Beef of the National Indoor Football League, and he played both football and basketball at the University of North Dakota.

Last season with the Broncos, Mustard saw time in 12 games (2 starts) and had a personal-best five receptions for 62 yards (12.4 avg.). He started a career-high four games and appeared in a total of 12 contests for Denver in 2006.

Mustard played two seasons of football at North Dakota after his basketball eligibility expired. He finished his collegiate basketball career ranked eighth all-time in UND annals with 1,568 points scored.

Born on Oct. 8, 1977, Mustard attended Scotus Central Catholic High School in Columbus, Neb.

The Denver Broncos on Wednesday signed guard Dylan Gandy to their active roster and added cornerback Josh Bell to their practice squad, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Gandy (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) is a fourth-year guard who rejoins the Broncos after he was released by the club on Sept. 9. Originally signed by the Broncos on May 16, Gandy competed in Denver's training camp and was inactive for its season opener at Oakland on Sept. 8.

He spent his first three professional seasons (2005-07) with the Colts after they selected him in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft from Texas Tech University. He has played 42 career games (14 starts) in the regular season along with six career playoff games (1 start).

At Texas Tech, Gandy started 20 games during his four-year career and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference choice as a senior. He attended Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville, Texas, and was born on March 8, 1982.

Bell (5-foot-11, 177 pounds) is a rookie cornerback who joins the Broncos after San Diego waived him on Aug. 31. He entered the NFL with the Chargers on May 2 as a college free agent from Baylor University.

During four seasons at Baylor, Bell totaled 94 career tackles and 12 pass breakups. He received its Best Defensive Skill Player Award as a senior.

A first-team all-district selection at Skyline High School in Dallas, Bell was born on Jan. 8, 1985.

Denver Broncos on Tuesday waived guard Dylan Gandy, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Gandy, a fourth-year player, originally joined the Broncos as a free agent on May 16 after spending his first three seasons with Indianapolis.

He was inactive for the Broncos' season opener at Oakland on Monday.

DT Alvin McKinley Released To Make Room

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed guard Dylan Gandy and defensive tackle Josh Shaw, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

The club also on Tuesday released defensive tackle Alvin McKinley.

Gandy (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) is a fourth-year player who rejoins the Broncos after he was released by the club on Saturday. Gandy, who originally joined the Broncos as a free agent on May 16, spent his first three professional seasons (2005-07) with Indianapolis after the Colts selected him in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft from Texas Tech University.

He has played 42 career games (14 starts) in the regular season along with six career playoff games (1 start), including the Colts' victory in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 season.

In 2007, Gandy saw time in 10 games for Indianapolis and recorded one start at right guard. He appeared in all 16 regular-season games, starting a career-high 11 contests at left guard, for the Colts' Super Bowl XLI-champion team in 2006 that allowed an NFL-low 15 sacks.

At Texas Tech, Gandy started 20 games during his four-year career and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference choice as a senior. He attended Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville , Texas, and was born on March 8, 1982.

Shaw (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) is a sixth -year player who joins the Broncos after spending the 2007 season with Oakland, which released him on Saturday. He also has played for Miami (2004-06), New Orleans (2003) and San Francisco (2002-04), which selected him in the fifth round (172nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft from Michigan State University.

In nine career regular-season games (0 starts), Shaw has totaled nine tackles (7 solo) and one sack (5 yds.).

Last season with Oakland, Shaw posted two tackles in his only game action (vs. Hou., 11/4) after beginning the year on its practice squad. He appeared in a career-high five games with the Dolphins in 2005, recording four tackles, and saw time in three games with the 49ers in 2003.

A three-year starter at Michigan State, Shaw was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference choice as a senior for the Spartans. He attended Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and was born on Sept. 7, 1979.

The Denver Broncos on Saturday made several transactions to reduce their roster to the 53-man limit, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

The club waived 17 players while placing running back Anthony Alridge (left foot) and fullback Cecil Sapp (left quadriceps) on its reserve/injured list. Denver also moved tight end Brett Pierce (left ankle) to its waived/injured list.

Beginning Sunday, the Broncos can establish a practice squad of up to eight players.

The following 17 players were waived by the Broncos on Saturday:

Player                                     NFL Exp.               College                           

G P.J. Alexander                            6                      Syracuse

S Josh Barrett                               R                     Arizona State

LB Jordan Beck                             4                      Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo

DE Larry Birdine                            2                      Oklahoma

DE Paul Carrington                       3                      Central Florida

CB Wale Dada                              1                      Washington State

G Mitch Erickson                           R                     South Dakota State

G Dylan Gandy                              4                      Texas Tech

QB Darrell Hackney                      2                      Alabama-Birmingham

DT Steven Harris                           2                      Florida

WR Glenn Martinez                       3                      Saginaw Valley State

WR Marquay McDaniel                 1                      Hampton

TE Chad Mustard                          5                      North Dakota

P Sam Paulescu                           2                      Oregon State

CB Tyrone Poole                          13                     Fort Valley State

WR Clifford Russell                      6                      Utah

S Vickiel Vaughn                            2                      Arkansas

For the Official List, CLICK HERE!

Player                                     NFL Exp.               College                           

G P.J. Alexander                            6                      Syracuse

S Josh Barrett                               R                     Arizona State

LB Jordan Beck                             4                      Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo

DE Larry Birdine                            2                      Oklahoma

DE Paul Carrington                       3                      Central Florida

CB Wale Dada                              1                      Washington State

G Mitch Erickson                           R                     South Dakota State

G Dylan Gandy                              4                      Texas Tech

QB Darrell Hackney                      2                      Alabama-Birmingham

DT Steven Harris                           2                      Florida

WR Glenn Martinez                       3                      Saginaw Valley State

WR Marquay McDaniel                 1                      Hampton

TE Chad Mustard                          5                      North Dakota

P Sam Paulescu                           2                      Oregon State

CB Tyrone Poole                          13                     Fort Valley State

WR Clifford Russell                      6                      Utah

S Vickiel Vaughn                            2                      Arkansas

Nalen's health will be a huge question in '08

Under Mike Shanahan, the Denver Broncos have been known for a couple things. A strong running game and a solid, if a bit too quiet, offensive line. A group that has been synonymous with imposing their will, despite their lack of pure beef up front, the Broncos' O-Line was an area of the football team that fans could hang their hat on. Over the past several years, however, injuries and age have started to take their toll. Let's look at two different areas that are an indication of O-Line performance. Are these hardened rules when it comes to evaluating an O-Line? Of course not, but I like to keep it simple and let you guys and gals decide.

First, we'll look at sacks allowed, and where the team ranked from 2003 through 2007 --

Sacks Allowed --

2003 -- 25 Sacks -- #6
2004 -- 15 Sacks -- #3
2005 -- 23 Sacks -- #3

2006 -- 31 Sacks -- #13
2007 -- 32 Sacks -- #16

The space between 2005 and 2006 indicates the entrance of Jay Cutler at quarterback, and there is no doubt the combination of youth, and Cutler's style as more of a pocket passer than Jake Plummer had a negative effect on the O-Line.  Need proof?  Cutler was sacked 13 times in the 5 games he started in 2006.  Plummer had been sacked 18 times in his 11 starts.  On average that is a sack a game more with Cutler.  In 2007, that number got even worse, though in my opinion this was more attributed to injuries and youth on the O-line as much as it was to Cutler's "never say die" attitude in the pocket.

How about the running game?  The Broncos have seen a dip that that area, too, during the past 5 years --

Rushing Yards --

2003 -- 2629 yards - 164.3 ypg - #2
2004 -- 2333 yards - 145.8 ypg - #4
2005 -- 2539 yards - 158.7 ypg - #2

2006 -- 2152 yards - 134.5 ypg - #8
2007 -- 1957 yards - 122.3 ypg - #9

Again, there was a lot of consistentcy until 2006.  There are a lot of reason for that, but for the sake of keeping it simple other teams simply stacked the line of scrimmage and forced, at first Jake Plummer, then the rookie Jay Cutler, to beat them.  The Broncos defense wasn't very good either, thus the Broncos were forced to play from behind.  But anyone who watched the games will also admit something was definitely missing from the Broncos running game.  While functional, it wasn't dominant.  Make no mistake, while Mike Shanahan likes to create shock and awe with the passing game early, he wants to smash it down a team's throat late.  Unable to do that, the Broncos offense has sputtered, especially in the red zone and short yardage.  The O-line, with age and injury, has been part of the cause. 

The winds of change are blowing through Dove Valley, however, and the Broncos are addressing their O-Line.  High draft picks(Clady and Harris) along with solid free agent acquisitions(Holland) have injected youth and talent.  Will it be enough to make a difference in '08?  Let's take a look at who will need to move the pile....

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The Denver Broncos on Friday signed free-agent guard Dylan Gandy, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Broncos also on Friday waived guard Isaac Snell.

Gandy (6-foot-3, 302 pounds) is a fourth-year player who spent his first three professional seasons with Indianapolis. Selected by the Colts in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft from Texas Tech University, Gandy has played 42 career games with 14 starts in the regular season.

The 26-year-old also has appeared in six career playoff games (1 start), including the Colts’ victory in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 season.

In 2007, Gandy saw time in 10 games for Indianapolis and recorded one start at right guard. He appeared in all 16 regular-season games, starting a career-high 11 contests at left guard, for the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI-champion team in 2006 that allowed an NFL-low 15 sacks and averaged an AFC-best 379.4 yards per game.

He played 16 games (2 starts) for the Colts as a rookie in 2005.  At Texas Tech, Gandy started 20 games during his four-year career. He received honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference honors after not allowing a sack as a senior. Gandy, who attended Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville, Texas, was born on March 8, 1982.