Eric Decker, left, and Adam Weber were an explosive duo with the U and will be teammates for the Broncos. “Now it’s up to me to get some reps and show the coaching staff I belong on the roster,” Weber said. Marlin Levison, Star Tribune
He's been a Denver Bronco for only a few hours. But Adam Weber already has a favorite target.
Weber, who holds every major career passing record for the Gophers, will be reunited with the receiver who helped him set them. Eric Decker, a second-year pro with the Broncos who caught 200 of Weber's passes in college, was one of several reasons that Weber chose to sign with Denver on Tuesday after the NFL lockout was formally lifted.
"That was definitely one of the selling points. It will make the transition easier," Weber said as he packed for training camp. "It will be nice having a guy I can talk to, who can answer my questions and help me adapt as fast as possible to the NFL."
So far, Weber's NFL career has been nothing but fast. He waited for more than four months for the league and its players to agree to new financial rules, trying to stay sane while killing time by running laps and lifting weights while living with his parents. But undrafted players were finally allowed to sign Tuesday, and Weber signed a contract within a couple of hours.
His agent, Mark Lillibridge, received offers from several NFL teams Tuesday morning, and by 9 a.m., Weber was sorting through the possibilities.
"It's really crazy. I had a few good options, and I had to look at them really quickly and make a decision so I can get to work," Weber said. "Teams have different motivations that you have to figure out – like some are just looking for an extra arm for camp – but it wasn't hard. When I looked at the Broncos, it was kind of a no-brainer."
That's because of the presence of a couple of friends: an old one in Decker, and a new one in Broncos quarterbacks coach Adam Gase. Weber met Gase before the draft, and developed a connection that should help him get comfortable quickly.
"He's a young guy, very energetic, and he's all about football. We really hit it off," Weber said. In addition, new Denver coach John Fox brings an offense with which Weber is comfortable, emphasizing reacting to defenses and making smart decisions.
"The verbiage will be different. But I'm pretty comfortable learning systems quickly," after several changes in the offense during his Gophers career, Weber said.
There could be an opening on the Broncos roster for Weber. Kyle Orton, the team's starter last year, reportedly is on the trading block, leaving Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn to compete for the job. That could leave the No. 3 position for Weber, who said he is encouraged by the staff's willingness to give everyone an opportunity.
"I feel like it's going to be an uphill battle, and we'll all feel like we're a little behind because of the lockout," he said. "But I've got a great opportunity. ... Now it's up to me to get some reps and show the coaching staff I belong on the roster."
• Minnesota Duluth running back Isaac Odim, the school's all-time rushing leader with 4,242 yards, signed a free-agent contract with San Diego.
• University of Minnesota fullback Jon Hoese signed with Green Bay.
NAME | TEAM | EXP. | HT. | WT. | POS. | D.O.B. | HIGH SCHOOL | COLLEGE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dominique Barber | 4 | 6-0 | 215 | DB | 08/02/1986 | Wayzata | Minnesota | |
Marion Barber | RETIRED FROM BEARS | 7 | 5-11 | 218 | RB | 06/10/1983 | Wayzata | Minnesota |
Matt Birk | 14 | 6-4 | 310 | C | 07/23/1976 | Cretin-Derham Hall | Harvard | |
John Carlson | 4 | 6-5 | 251 | TE | 05/12/1984 | Litchfield | Notre Dame | |
Craig Dahl | 5 | 6-1 | 209 | DB | 06/17/1985 | Mankato East | North Dakota State | |
Eric Decker | 2 | 6-3 | 220 | WR | 03/15/1987 | Rocori | Minnesota | |
Larry Fitzgerald | 8 | 6-3 | 218 | WR | 08/31/1983 | Holy Angels | Pittsburgh | |
David Gilreath | R | 5-11 | 169 | WR | 12/11/1988 | Robbinsdale Armstrong | Wisconsin | |
Adam Goldberg | 8 | 6-7 | 309 | T | 08/12/1980 | Edina | Wyoming | |
Ryan Harris | 5 | 6-5 | 300 | OT | 03/11/1985 | Cretin-Derham Hall | Notre Dame | |
Jon Hoese | R | 6-2 | 238 | FB | 07/04/1989 | Glencoe-Silver Lake | Minnesota | |
Ramon Humber | 3 | 5-11 | 232 | LB | 08/10/1987 | Champlin Park | North Dakota State | |
James Laurinaitis | 3 | 6-2 | 247 | LB | 12/03/1986 | Wayzata | Ohio State | |
Trevor Laws | 4 | 6-1 | 304 | DT | 06/14/1985 | Apple Valley | Notre Dame | |
Mark LeVoir | 5 | 6-7 | 310 | OT | 07/29/1982 | Eden Prairie | Notre Dame | |
Marcus Sherels | R | 5-10 | 175 | DB | 09/30/1987 | Rochester John Marshall | Minnesota | |
Matt Spaeth | 5 | 6-7 | 270 | TE | 11/24/1983 | St. Michael-Albertville | Minnesota | |
Nate Triplett | WAIVED BY CHARGERS | 1 | 6-3 | 247 | LB | 03/15/1987 | Delano | Minnesota |
Adam Weber | R | 6-3 | 210 | QB | 08/03/1987 | Mounds View | Minnesota |
NAME | TEAM | HT. | WT. | POS. | D.O.B. | HIGH SCHOOL | COLLEGE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Isaac Anderson | 5-10 | 178 | WR | 11/26/1988 | Blake | Wisconsin | |
Kyle Anderson | 6-4 | 275 | DL | N/A | Bloomington Jefferson | Georgetown College (Ky.) | |
Ty Boyle | 6-4 | 286 | DT | 10/20/1987 | International Falls | North Dakota | |
David Gilreath | 5-11 | 169 | WR | 12/11/1988 | Robbinsdale Armstrong | Wisconsin | |
Jon Hoese | 6-2 | 240 | FB | 07/04/1989 | Glencoe-Silver Lake | Minnesota | |
Isaac Odim | 5-11 | 210 | RB | 11/07/1986 | Rochester Century | UM-Duluth | |
Alexander Robinson | 5-9 | 191 | RB | 05/07/1988 | DeLaSalle | Iowa State | |
Blake Sorensen | 6-1 | 231 | LB | N/A | Eden Prairie | Wisconsin | |
Adam Weber | 6-3 | 221 | QB | 08/03/1987 | Mounds View | Minnesota |