ENGLEWOOD – This year’s Chad Mustard Award goes to Isaiah McKenzie.
First, the Broncos’ second-year returner and receiver was told he had been cut.
“It was very tough,’’ McKenzie said. “I didn’t know what to do at the moment. I went home, thought about it. I’d been working so hard returning the ball, learning the plays at receiver and then when it came to an end like that … I was just hoping and praying somebody would pick me up or come back here.’’
Mustard is a former Broncos tight end who was cut six times and re-signed five times in the 2006-08 seasons. In recent years, Broncos’ defensive tackle Kyle Peko went through a similar yo-yo effect.
It became McKenzie this year starting when his agent Pat Dye Jr. called and said the Broncos wanted him back on the practice squad. So, McKenzie went to Broncos’ headquarters late Sunday morning to sign his practice squad papers.
“When I came here they said, ‘Oh, you’re up this week,’’’ McKenzie said. “I hadn’t signed my practice squad contract yet. So, I called my agent and he said, “OK, you’re on the 53-man roster now.’ It was a very weird 24 hours but I’m here now.’’
It's unclear whether McKenzie will be activated on the 46-man game roster Sunday against Seattle as the Broncos have five receivers and punt returner Adam Jones ahead of him.
