43
Broncos retain Mooney graduate
Photo
Kyle McCarthy
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Notre Dame safety Kyle McCarthy, left, celebrates a last-minute interception in front of teammate Brian Smith during a September game in South Bend, Ind.
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
When safety Kyle McCarthy was added to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad this weekend, he could have looked at it as a huge achievement considering he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in April.
But he’s not ready to settle for almost making an NFL team.
“I set goals high for myself,” said McCarthy, a Mooney High graduate. “Being on the practice squad keeps my NFL dream alive, so I’m just going to do everything I can to help the Denver Broncos and let the rest take care of itself.”
After a standout career at Notre Dame in which he led the team in tackles the past two years, McCarthy was invited to the February combine and was hoping to get picked in April’s draft. The Broncos signed him hours after the draft ended and he recorded 11 tackles in the four preseason games.
“It was a tough camp,” he said Sunday. “It was physical and long, but it was a great experience. I’m thankful the Broncos brought me to camp. It’s a great organization and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
NFL teams can keep up to eight players on the practice squad, also known as the scout team. Those players practice with the team during the week but do not travel with the teams or suit up for games.
The minimum salary for practice squad players is $5,200 per week for 17 weeks or $88,400 per season.
By comparison, the NFL minimum rookie salary is $285,000.
Teams can activate practice squad players at any time — usually when a regular gets hurt — and those on the squad can sign with any team at any time without compensating the host team.
Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks released center Steve Vallos (Boardman High). After playing at Wake Forest, Vallos was the Seahawks’ seventh-round pick in 2007. He had eight starts in the 32 NFL games he’s played.
McCarthy said he wasn’t sure what was going to happen on Saturday — “The NFL is a crazy business,” he said — but said he felt confident he did his best during training camp.
“The coaches just said they liked what I brought and they think I have a future in the NFL and they think I can help the team win,” he said.
McCarthy said he’s gotten a lot of support from back home.
“I really appreciate it,” he said. “I really feel like this is just the beginning.”