ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Tight ends are no longer an afterthought in Denver's passing game.
In 2009, they had all of 27 catches.
Last year, that number was just 30 — not a single one of them in the end zone — as they were basically used as big bruising blockers in Tim Tebow's read-option offense.
Enter Peyton Manning and exit the notion of such paltry production from the Broncos tight ends, who are oftentimes more of a slot receiver than a run-blocker in the four-time MVP's world.
Fellow free agents Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen lead a new group of Broncos tight ends that has collected 70 catches for 657 yards and six touchdowns so far.
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