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Denver Broncos: Historical look at 5 times team brought in a big-name RB

By Travis Wakeman

Gaston Green runs through a hole during a game against Cleveland on December 8, 1991.
Gaston Green runs through a hole during a game against Cleveland on December 8, 1991. /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Willis McGahee #23 of the Denver Broncos runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the game at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Broncos won 36-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Willis McGahee #23 of the Denver Broncos runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the game at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Broncos won 36-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Willis McGahee

After two four-year stints with the Bills and Baltimore Ravens, McGahee signed a four-year deal with the Broncos prior to the start of the 2011 season. Despite a serious injury in college that many felt was career-threatening, McGahee had become one of the toughest, most durable runners in football.

He came to Denver to be in a complementary role to Knowshon Moreno, but Moreno went down with an injury in the 2011 season opener. McGahee ran for 1,199 yards that season, the third-most in his career and that led to him being selected to his second appearance in the Pro Bowl.

The following season, the Broncos brought in Peyton Manning to replace Tim Tebow and the team was not as dependent on the running game. McGahee had 82 less carries than he did in 2011 but still ran for 731 yards on the season.

He was released that offseason and then signed by the Cleveland Browns, who he played with for one season before calling it a career. Overall, McGahee had a solid body of work in the NFL.

He probably would have lied to finish his career with the Broncos but the team and its offense moved in a different direction following his stellar 2011 season. Still, the Broncos likely were thrilled with what they received from McGahee, who was just short of 30 years old when the team signed him.

Overall result: Worked out

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