National Football League

Broncos cut tight end Graham

Published Mar. 2, 2011 11:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Denver Broncos released nine-year veteran tight end Daniel Graham on Wednesday and made qualifying offers to five restricted free agents, including right tackle Ryan Harris and kicker Matt Prater.

John Elway, the team's chief football executive, praised Graham for his character, the leadership and play he brought the Broncos for four seasons.

''We're thankful for everything Daniel Graham did for the Broncos and the Denver community. Tough to let him go. We wish him the best,'' Elway tweeted.

Graham grew up in Denver, where his father, Tom, played linebacker for the Broncos from 1972-74. He was a 2002 first-round draft pick of the New England Patriots after a standout career at Colorado and joined the Broncos in 2007.

Graham's play slipped last season, when he had 18 catches for 148 yards but dropped a number of passes.

Elway also announced on his Twitter feed the qualifying offers the club made Wednesday to Harris, Prater, linebacker and co-captain Wesley Woodyard and defensive linemen Kevin Vickerson and Marcus Thomas.

Three of them missed significant time with injuries last year.

Harris suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason finale and missed much of the first half of the season before starting the final eight games. The Broncos improved a league-best 1.8 yards a carry after he was reinserted into the lineup in Week 10.

He also protected southpaw Tim Tebow's blindside when the rookie quarterback started the final three games of the season.

Prater made 16 of 18 field goals and scored 76 points before missing the final month with a groin injury, and Woodyard dealt with leg injuries much of last season.

Thomas had 36 tackles last year and joined Rubin Carter (1975-77) as the only interior linemen in Broncos history to start every game during his first thee seasons. Vickerson joined the team as a free agent after his release by Seattle and started 12 games, collecting 52 tackles and two sacks.