If it becomes apparent that newly acquired Laurence Maroney is working out as a running back, the Broncos would like to work out a contract extension before he becomes eligible for free agency after this season.
"Certainly we would love to have an opportunity to keep a young player at that position around for more than a year," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "I think that would be the goal for sure — to give us some guys that really have an opportunity to be here for a long time."
In his first day with the Broncos, Maroney didn't put on the team colors. He didn't practice Wednesday because the transaction did not clear the NFL office until after the Broncos' early afternoon practice.
But Maroney did pass his physical and the trade went through. Besides Maroney, the transaction included the Broncos' sending their 2011 fourth-round pick to New England with the Patriots sending their 2011 sixth-round pick to Denver.