The signing of veteran Jim Leonhard to a one-year contract might be a comment on the Broncos' lack of confidence in their depth at safety.
With Quinton Carter sidelined for at least two weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery and Mike Adams the only healthy safety with more than seven career starts, the Broncos were caught short in proven experience at the position.
Carter had been battling Rahim Moore for a starting spot in a duel of second-year players who split time at FS next to Brian Dawkins last year. Moore struggled early and was supplanted by Carter, and the Broncos spent the offseason working Moore in for first-team repetitions.
But Moore had ups and downs in his first-team work this past week. Some of his struggles in catching up to receivers streaking downfield could be attributed to the quarterback he's faced on each of those snaps (Peyton Manning), but the Broncos' schedule offers a ceaseless parade of elite quarterbacks -- Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub and Philip Rivers.
Leonhard was ready to get down to business after signing his deal.
"It's never a bad day to sign an NFL contract. I'm proud to be a Denver Bronco. Time for work," Leonhard tweeted at 3:25 p.m. MDT.
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