McGahee didn't think it was imperative for him to attend the team's OTA sessions

Even though running back Willis McGahee is coming off a torn MCL and a broken leg and even though Denver has three other legit running backs on the roster, McGahee still didn't think it was imperative for him to attend the team's OTA sessions.

Now, he's no longer on the roster, as the Broncos announced Thursday they have released McGahee.

That leaves second-round pick Montee Ball, Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman to compete for playing time.

As Evan Hilbert wrote last month, McGahee's decision to skip voluntary offseason workouts was typical of his annual schedule, but Hilbert also wondered if “he might be sending the wrong message” and “he might be making it easy on the Broncos who could decide to part with his $2.5 million contract in 2013.”

Though the result ultimately isn't THAT shocking, the timing is a little surprising, because McGahee reported to work earlier this week for mandatory minicamp and practiced.

"I'm always on the bubble," McGahee said after his first practice. "Not too much you can do. It's a business. If something happens, it happens."

On Thursday, something happened.

“It's never easy to part ways with a veteran player who made so many positive contributions to our team and community,” Broncos executive John Elway said in a statement. “I appreciate all of the competitiveness, toughness and leadership Willis brought to the Broncos. He was an integral part of our team's turnaround during the past two seasons, and I wish him the best as he continues his NFL career.”

While Tim Tebow gets much of the credit for leading the Broncos to the 2011 AFC West title, McGahee was probably just as important, rushing for 1,199 yards and four touchdowns while earning the second Pro Bowl bid of his nine-year career.

But the problem with McGahee is his injury history and the fact he'll turn 32 in October. Considering the Broncos seem to like Ball quite a bit, this move probably shouldn't have been surprising after all.

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Keller was Sanchez's security blanket

The New York Jets' decision to draft Geno Smith was the clearest sign that the team had lost faith in -- and was prepared to move on from -- quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Letting tight end Dustin Keller walk out the door was a less publicized (but perhaps equally clear) sign. Keller was Sanchez's security blanket, arguably the only receiver Sanchez ever showed legitimate chemistry with in four years.

Keller eventually signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, and on Sunday, he discussed how the Jets' moves to bring in Smith and Tim Tebow affected his former teammate.

"I think he doesn't like the fact those moves were made," Keller said of Sanchez on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Sunday. "I don't think those were things that made him happy. Could it possibly have been something that pushed him? Maybe, I'm not quite sure. But it definitely lit a fire underneath him. I've talked to him a couple of times this offseason and he's been working. So, I think you can expect some good things from him."

Keller also explained his feelings on the media spotlight in Gotham.

"There's always some type of nonsense going on. When you're in the New York media, you don't say that you're used to all of that; there's always going to be distractions," he said. "But this is really more so than anywhere else. You're really talking about a team -- we didn't even go to the playoffs the year before -- and it seemed like we're in the media more than anyone else, and for the wrong reasons. You never want that.
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"Could it have anything to do with the season, kinda things falling apart? I really don't know. When you're in that market, it just has to be something you're ready to deal with."

The Jets had many problems in 2012, but chief among them was a low baseline of talent that couldn't make up for injuries and continued regression by the quarterback.

Keller says we can expect a rebound from Sanchez, but you wonder if Keller actually thinks his old mate needs to get out of town and start over.

It's not a bad idea.