Bad day for former 49ers in Denver

Getting ready to head out the door to the first 49ers’ State of the Franchise evening in San Mateo . . .

when I received this email from the Denver Broncos:

 

The club released defensive end John Engelberger, tight end Nate Jackson, linebacker Niko Koutouvides, safety Marquand Manuel, defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson and linebacker Jamie Winborn.

 

Obviously, it was not a good day to be a former 49ers player with the Broncos

 

Then, again, there did not appear to be much hope for Engelberger and Winborn once the club hired Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator.

 

Neither player fit into Nolan’s plans with the 49ers. Engelberger was traded to Denver for cornerback Willie Middlebrooks, and Winborn was banned from the team’s practice facility while Nolan shopped his services around the league. He was ultimately traded to the Jaguars for a draft pick used to select defensive end Melvin Oliver.

 

(Jackson was with the 49ers before Nolan’s arrival. Bill Walsh liked Jackson a lot and lobbied Terry Donahue to keep him on the team. Failing in that, Walsh engineered Jackson‘s trade to the Broncos. Jackson, by the way, was allowed to leave Broncos training camp for a day to attend Walsh’s memorial service a couple years ago.)

 

OK, check back here later this evening for a complete recap of the evening’s event. Team president Jed York, coach Mike Singletary, general manager Scot McCloughan and chief operating officer Andy Dolich will address a group of season-ticket holders.

 

* * *