Denver Broncos Release Willis McGahee

UPDATE: The Broncos have confirmed the news by releasing a statement:

“It’s never easy to part ways with a veteran player who made so many positive contributions to our team and community,” John Elway said. “I appreciate all of the competitiveness, toughness and leadership Willis brought to the Broncos. He was an integral part of our team’s turnaround during the past two seasons, and I wish him the best as he continues his NFL career.”

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Well, that didn’t go as planned for Willis McGahee. It was just yesterday that McGahee was taking snaps during the teams minicamp drills and claiming that he believed he would be the starting when the season opened on September 5, but my how times changed. On Thursday morning, the team announced that they would be releasing the veteran running back, which really comes as no surprise after the team drafted former Wisconsin rusher Montee Ball to become the featured back.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter had the report:

It could be rough for the injury plagued 32 year old to find a job before training camp, so any hopes he has of becoming a starting running back have to be put on hold. All you have to do is look at some of the other available names —  Michael Turner, Beanie Wells, Cedric Benson, Brandon Jacobs — to realize that the RB market isn’t exactly demanding a lot of attention.

There is also the possibility that McGahee may not have much left in the tank and teams will pass over him in favor of a much younger option with less mileage — much like the direction the Broncos went.

McGahee had a very impressive career when he was healthy and he seemed to be getting back on the right path, but now there is another road block.