DE Vonnie Holliday, who joined the Broncos on Sunday for his first workout with his new team, says an injured knee is what prevented him from signing a contract this spring.
Holliday, who signed with the Broncos on Saturday after Le Kevin Smith missed Denver's final two preseason games with a knee injury, told The Associated Press after practice that he had his right knee surgically repaired by noted sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews in late January.
"A lot of people don't know this, but I had my knee cleaned up and then I got released by Miami and I found myself in free agency: a 12th-year pro, 33 years old and coming off knee surgery," Holliday said. "So, when I met with the Broncos I had a puffy knee."
Still, the Broncos stayed in touch and came calling Saturday.
"I really didn't want to miss training camp," said Holliday, who stayed in shape by working with a trainer and a nutritionist in his hometown of Atlanta. "When you're going through it, you hate it and you dread it. But I missed it because I was used to being in training camp.
"And retirement was never an option, not from where I'm at right now. I still have a few years left."
Holliday, who started 15 games for the Dolphins last season and led the team's defensive linemen with 46 tackles while compiling 3½ sacks, signed a one-year deal with the Broncos.
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