--Guard Montrae Holland, who didn't practice with the team in the two weeks leading up to its preseason opener because he reported to camp overweight, was thrilled when the coaches said he could return to practice after the first preseason game.
"It's been a long two weeks for me, but it's over now," Holland said. "I'm happy to get an opportunity to get back on the field."
--Broncos coach Mike Shanahan told a Denver radio station that his team will not miss the playoffs. Expectations are low for the Broncos after a 7-9 season, but the players liked hearing Shanahan's confident message.
"Obviously he knows we have a lot of work to get to that point, but right now I feel like we can make it too," cornerback Champ Bailey said.
--Offensive tackle Ryan Harris, a second-year player and first-time starter for the Broncos, had four penalties in the first half of Denver's first preseason game, which was obviously a disappointment.
"I didn't play well enough," Harris said. "I'm very disappointed in myself."
--The Broncos saw some good and some bad from their preseason opener. They lost 19-16 to Houston, and had many mistakes, including 12 penalties. But overall, there was enough progress to be optimistic.
"There were a lot of good things out there, but we obviously have a lot of things we have to clean up and a lot of mistakes we have to correct," safety Marlon McCree said. "Overall, I think it went pretty good."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're not going to miss the playoffs." -- Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, to KKFN radio in Denver on Aug. 1.
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