He also got to break bread with Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, who offered career advice both about off-field and on-field matters.

Marshall on Thursday described his recent play "as just OK, and good sometimes."

He doesn't have a 100-yard receiving game since Sept. 21 and has scored one touchdown in the past seven games.

Irvin, the ex-Dallas Cowboys great, advised Marshall that he needed to get back to being aggressive with defensive backs instead of playing passive Football.

"He put a lot of things in perspective for me," Marshall said. "'Whether they're rolling coverage toward or double-teaming, impose your will at all times.'

"Sometimes I found myself back-side on plays or if I see a double team, kind of taking it easy thinking Jay (Cutler)'s not coming to me," Marshall explained. "But I can give our offensive coordinator and Jedd Fisch, our receivers coach, and Jay confidence that it doesn't matter if they put two or three guys on me that I'm going to get the job done."

Marshall named players such as Cris Carter, Jerry Rice and Irvin as receivers who took that approach and produced startling career-long results.

Irvin tracked down Marshall through a friend and told the Broncos wideout he'd wanted to speak with him for awhile.

Marshall, in turn, expressed to Irvin that he never had watched a Hall of Fame induction speech but saw Irvin's in August 2007 and nearly was moved to tears.

"The things he was able to overcome and achieve, he's a Hall of Fame guy," the Broncos receiver said.

Like Irvin, at times a magnet for controversy in Dallas, Marshall has had his off-field missteps.

The Broncos receiver has worked hard to change his image by keeping his nose clean in recent months and by partaking in charitable endeavors.

Irvin told Marshall to continue on his current path and to continue to surround himself with the right people.

"I feel good the direction I'm headed," Marshall said.

Fox's worth

The free safety position in Denver has been so unstable as to have a Price Is Right feel.

"Come on down. You're the next contestant. . . ."

"Somewhat, that's what it feels like," Vernon Fox responded. "You never know when you come in on Wednesday what's going to be the new thing."

In that game of who's next, Fox could be it.

Denver's tried Marlon McCree (who's still nursing an ankle sprain and is likely out Sunday), Calvin Lowery on a few different occasions and Roderick Rogers, who started last Sunday and was promptly released.

Fox has the most experience of the remaining safeties, having started 11 games for San Diego and Washington while also playing for Detroit.

More importantly, he hasn't yet completely frustrated head coach Mike Shanahan, who this week said he's searching for a "difference maker" at the position.

For Fox, who was signed Sept. 23, that description means someone who's going to step forward and do the job as designed.

"That's what it's about," he said. "We've struggled tackling. That's definitely something that requires a lot of emphasis. When the ball breaks to the second level, we have to get the guys down. . . . It's not that you have many opportunities to get your hands on balls or to be there to break up plays. But when those chances come, you've got to make the plays."

Give it away now

The Broncos have the NFL's lowest total of takeaways through 11 games with 10.

That total includes just four interceptions. To put that figure in perspective, Green Bay's Nick Collins and Charles Woodson each have five.

Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas' pick Oct. 5 for Denver is more than the team's safeties and linebackers combined. And he immediately fumbled after gaining control of the ball.

"I don't think there's any magic formula. The first thing is you have to stop the run so you can rush the passer," said defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, whose defense was run on 41 times last week vs. only 12 passing attempts by Oakland.

". . . You've got to get into a mode where maybe you get a lead and you're stoning the run and they're throwing the ball up in the air a bunch."

Comfort zone

The Broncos will be facing a 3-4 alignment for the third time in six weeks and for the fourth time this season. Denver also held joint summer practices with the Dallas Cowboys, who feature a three-man front, and played against them in a preseason game.

"It used to be only be San Diego and New England and a few teams, but now it seems like everyone's running it," Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said.

"We are comfortable with it, and we have the blocking schemes down. That's the hardest part of it, getting the blocking and the passing schemes down of knowing who the running back has . . . and where we're going to slide (protection)."

Denver has averaged nearly 4.8 yards per carry against the 3-4. But the Jets, with nose tackle Kris Jenkins controlling the middle and linebacker Calvin Pace and end Shaun Ellis dangerous off the edge, are third in the NFL in rush defense at 78.0 yards per game.

Five of the Broncos' eight sacks allowed have come against a 3-4 front, including a season-high three in the Oct. 20 loss to the Patriots.

Injury report

* Wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe) was a limited participant Thursday after missing Wednesday's workout. "It does feel better," he said.

* Also taking snaps in reduced fashion were cornerback Champ Bailey (groin), linebackers D.J. Williams (knee) and Nate Webster (knee) and running back Selvin Young (groin).

* Webster, who has pushed for a return vs. the Jets, called his availability "a coaches decision" but liked the way he's moved laterally this week.

Etc.

* Shanahan waived Friday's player weigh-ins, allowing the players to load up on Turkey Day.

* Cutler needs two touchdowns to reach 50 faster than any quarterback in Denver history. Cutler, playing in his 33rd career game, is chasing Brian Griese and Jake Plummer, both of whom hit 50 in 34 games.

* Six of Brandon Stokley's last eight catches have resulted in first downs over the past two games. He's now converted 24 times on his 36 receptions, a 66.7 percent rate that ranks 31st in the NFL. San Diego's Vincent Jackson is first - 35 of 39 (89.7).

He said it

"Favre used to always say, 'Hey, I'll drill it in there and if it hits a defender, they ain't gonna catch it.' And that's true. That's absolutely true, because that ball's coming so hard. He knew if a receiver didn't catch it, it doesn't matter if it hits that defender right smack in the hands, he wouldn't hold onto it."

Bob Slowik, who was defensive coordinator in Green Bay during Favre's 16-year run with the Packers, on the Jets QB's faith in his strong arm.