Interesting Cut No. 2
Ben Garland, a graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, joined the Broncos in 2010 as an undrafted free agent and moved between the roster and a team ambassador role, and then back to the roster, while he served his duties to the United States Air Force.
The Grand Junction native began the year as the starting left guard for the Broncos, but lost the job to rookie Max Garcia in the first week of training camp. Garcia has subsequently surrendered the job after the Broncos signed All-Pro guard Evan Mathis.
Garland, though with the team in some capacity since 2010, was classified as a second-year player because of time spent with the Air Force and on the practice squad. He saw action on offense and special teams in eight games for the Broncos in 2014.
To this day, Garland still serves in the Colorado Air National Guard as a public affairs officer and holds the rank of captain. He was named the Broncos’ 2014 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his leadership on the field and in the community.
It’s for that reason that the cut is so interesting. Yes, football is all about maximizing the contributions of the 53 men on the roster and the 45 who suit up on Sundays, but Garland offered a community appeal unlike any other player on the roster.
Garland remains practice squad eligible, so there is a chance the team could re-sign him, but with nine offensive linemen already on the 53-man roster, that would seem like a wasted spot on the 10-man practice squad if it was simply a community/PR move.
Interesting cut No. 3 sees a longtime under-performer make his exit.
