Alvin

McKinley

Rookies Tim Crowder and Marcus Thomas were listed with the twos. Sam Adams and Gerard Warren were the starting defensive tackles. Veteran defensive linemen Kenard Lang and Alvin McKinley dropped to third string.

McKinley can play both tackle and defensive end, but couldn’t beat out former NFL Europa player Nic Clemons in Denver and is unlikely to help much.

McKinley injured his foot almost immediately after signing a week ago and you won’t last long on the club if you’re in the tub.

McKinley signed a four-year, $8 million contract last year, another example of Denver’s ineptness when it comes to bottom-of-the-roster personnel.

The pick will likely depend on the playing time of Robertson, who’s dealing with a balky knee. The Broncos and Robertson’s agent have been talking about restructuring his deal. Robertson, 26, will be used as a pass rusher in Denver after playing out of position at nose for New York. He’ll battle Alvin McKinley and Marcus Thomas for the two openings at DT.

It’s basically a 180 from the system Jim Bates tried to install last year. They’ll use gap shooters inside instead of big bodies who occupy blockers. MLB Niko Koutouvides won’t be as well shielded as D.J. Williams was in 2007.

Cleveland had been hoping to re-sign Fraley and possibly Russell, as the team’s backup situation at safety is weak and it has no center other than Rob Smith, a second-year player who went undrafted in 2006.

McKinley has played defensive end in Cleveland’s 3-4 defense the past six years but will likely move to tackle in Denver’s 4-3, replacing free agent Michael Myers. The seven-year vet has recorded nine sacks since 2003.