NEW ORLEANS — They weren’t sure about Cody Barton coming out of training camp.
The Broncos had a very good player at one inside linebacker position in Alex Singleton and while Barton was a two-year starter at the other linebacker spot, the team was actively shopping for another.
The salary cap budget was tight, though, and the Broncos wound up signing Kristian Welch, who was among Green Bay’s final cuts.
In the season opener against Seattle, Welch, who had mostly been a special teams players his first four seasons and had just arrived 10 days earlier, split time with Barton at the linebacker spot next to Singleton. Not until game 2 against Pittsburgh did head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph settle in on Barton, who played far more than Welch, 47 snaps to 11. In game 3 at Tampa Bay, Welch didn’t play at all and last week he was released.
When Singleton suffered a season-ending knee injury in that big win at Tampa the Broncos signed two proven starting linebackers to their practice squad in Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham.
Barton became the every-down starter who called the defensive plays in the huddle starting in game 4 against the New York Jets and he’s been Denver’s leading tackler since.
And then Thursday night at New Orleans, Barton had a game worthy of saving the TV copy for his grandkids.
“It was just one of those nights where it just comes to you and you just kind of feel it,’’ Barton said after the Broncos polished off the Saints, 33-10.
“Meanwhile, Barton’s all over the place tonight,” TV play-by-play announcer Al Michaels said early in the second quarter after the Broncos’ linebacker returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown that was wiped out by an offsides penalty on D.J. Jones.
On the first defensive series, Barton looked like Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher in the Tampa 2 defense by dropping 30 yards into coverage, only to drop an interception on a Spencer Rattler pass intended for wide receiver Mason Tipton. Sure, Barton should have caught but his coverage drop was nevertheless outstanding.
On the second series, Barton sprinted to his right to knock Alvin Kamara out of bounds after a mere 1-yard gain. Three plays later, Barton came on a blitz, punched the ball out of Rattler’s passing hand forward, and Alexander recovered to set up the Broncos’ second field goal.
On the third defensive series, Barton picked up a fumble by Rattler and ran 14 yards for a touchdown, only to have it nullified.
On the fourth defensive series, Barton stopped tight end Juwan Johnson on the sideline after just a 4-yard gain and later knocked Rattler short of the first down on a third-down scramble.
“By the way, 55, Cody Barton is all over the field,’’ said color commentator Kirk Herbstreit.
And then late in the fourth quarter, Denver nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian strip-sacked Rattler, knocking the ball in the air where Barton just happened to be to nab it out of the air. He returned it 47 yards, then turned around and ran the final 5 yards backwards into the end zone for the touchdown. Had it not been Barton’s sensational performance, McMillian would have got much more buzz for his ubiquitous effort.
“Being on this defense is fun. It’s aggressive. Everyone has a chance to eat,’’ Barton said. “Today, I feel like it was kind of my day. Some of those bigger splash plays came my way.”
By game’s end, Barton had Michaels and Herbstreit completing each other’s sentences.
“Barton who’s been … ‘’ Michaels said.
“Everywhere,’’ Herbstreit said.
“Everywhere tonight,’’ Michaels said.
Barton was the team-leader in tackles all night until fourth quarter garbage time had cornerback Levi Wallace tie him with eight.
“What a night for 55,” Michaels said.
“What’s on my mind? I dropped that pick, that’s what’s on my mind,’’ Barton said to start his postgame press conference.
He played all 70 defensive snaps. He’ll start the next game against the Carolina Panthers.
