Elway Plays Small Role as Broncos Beat Rams

In shopping malls and beer halls, they’re still talking about one pass John Elway threw against the Rams at Mile High Stadium Saturday night.

It was a pass to remember. It was the only pass Elway threw, actually, which tells you something about the Denver Broncos’ 17-13 exhibition victory over the Rams before 70,049 fans.

Pulling out all the stops? Are you kidding? After being sacked three times in the first quarter, Elway, Denver’s king of sling, was yanked so hard and fast you could almost hear the echo off the Rockies.

Elway threw one harmless incompletion and called it a night. People can get their money’s worth later. This exhibition season, even more than others, is all about self-preservation. Under new rules this year, any player placed on injured reserve before the season opener is out for the season. He can’t even practice.

If your star quarterback blows a knee out in the summer, you have to carry him on the active roster if you want him back for the playoff drive in December.

It’s the summer that’s making coaches cringe.

“I didn’t see anyone go off hurt, and that’s the thing you’re looking for,” Ram Coach John Robinson said afterward.

Ram quarterback Jim Everett at least played the first half, completing eight of 14 passes for 110 yards without an interception. The first team hasn’t raised any eyebrows.

“The first unit hasn’t scored a touchdown yet,” Robinson said. “That’s something they need to do.”

The only Ram touchdown drive Saturday night was directed once again by quarterback Mark Herrmann, who came off the bench in the fourth quarter and connected with Thomas Henley on a 15-yard scoring pass play in the final two minutes. It was the second strong performance for Herrmann, who last week stole the show in Tokyo, if there was such a thing.

So why come to Denver? How about to continue the while-Greg Bell-and-Cleveland Gary-are-away-summer-tailback-showdown, featuring Gaston Green and Robert Delpino.

Robinson gave Green the lead last week in Tokyo, and the second-year back responded with 116 yards in 28 carries. Saturday night was Delpino’s turn, and he found the going a bit rougher, finishing with 41 hard-earned yards in 15 carries.

So far, the competition has been fierce but polite, though Delpino acknowledges that he’s the natural underdog. Green is the hometown star, a millionaire, a first-round pick; Delpino the fifth-round choice from Missouri who put his head down as a rookie last season and made some serious noise as a fullback and special teams player. Still, Delpino understands which tailback most Ram fans would prefer.

“They want him to play,” Delpino said of Green. “I’m out of state, Midwest, that’s obvious.”

Delpino isn’t bitter, only realistic.

Saturday night’s game, which produced enough thrills to put on the end of a pin, also allowed Robinson his first look at rookie quarterback Jeff Carlson.

Trying to keep his left-hander out of mop-up work, Robinson opened the third quarter withCarlson, throwing him to the wolves.

Carlson responded by muffing a handoff-exchange to Green on his first snap, setting up an 18-yard scoring pass from Bronco quarterback Gary Kubiak to tight end Pat Kelly.

To his credit, Carlson spent his first series trying to dissect Denver’s first unit.

“I didn’t even know it,” he said. “I didn’t notice that it (the defense) was different. But I’m glad Coach Robinson had the confidence to let me go in the third quarter.”

Carlson, however, completed only one pass in nine attempts.

The Rams started fast on their first possession, driving 56 yards to first and goal at the Denver four. But four consecutive running plays, two by Green and two by Delpino, produced three yards, and the drive stopped there on fourth down.

Elway, sacked three times in the first quarter (twice by Kevin Greene and once by Shawn Miller), figured he had taken enough for one exhibition first half. Kubiak entered with 4:41 left in the first quarter and led the Broncos on a 71-yard drive in 10 plays for the game’s first touchdown, on a two-yard run by Jeff Alexander.

Mike Lansford cut the lead to 7-3 with a 37-yard field goal with 4:49 left in the first half, but again the Rams might have done more with the drive. They were looking at first and 10 at the Denver 13 before a holding penalty spoiled any touchdown plans.

Denver kicker David Treadwell put the Broncos ahead, 10-7, with 26 seconds left in the first half with a 34-yard field goal.

Ram Notes

Ram receiver Henry Ellard slightly sprained his left ankle but said afterward it wasn’t serious. Former Ram receiver Michael Young, who signed with the Broncos in the off-season, had one catch for 10 yards against his former teammates. Gaston Green finished with 18 yards in 9 carries. Ram quarterback Mark Herrmann completed six of nine passes for 78 yards with a touchdown. Bronco quarterback Gary Kubiak, who played most of the game, completed 13 of 20 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown and an interception.