To make room on the 53-man roster for defensive tackle Sealver Siliga, the Denver Broncos released backup quarterback Caleb Hanie, the team announced Saturday.
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The biggest ramification of Hanie's release is that the move elevates 2012 second-round draft pick Brock Osweiler to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Peyton Manning for Sunday night's regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Osweiler completed 48.5 percent of his 33 pass attempts for 139 yards with a touchdown and an interception in four preseason games.
Hanie's release also contained a financial element. Signed to a two-year, $2.9 million contract in early April, Hanie's contract contained no guaranteed money. In lieu of a signing bonus, Hanie was scheduled to receive $1 million in fully guaranteed money and receive a $250,000 roster bonus if he were on the 53-man roster in Week 1, a scenario the Broncos avoided with Saturday's release.
As Mike Klis of the Denver Post notes, it would not be a surprise if Hanie were re-signed Tuesday, at which point his salary for the remainder of the season would not be guaranteed.
The Broncos are high on Siliga, who was receiving an enhanced practice squad salary prior to his promotion to the 53-man roster.
Follow Brian McIntyre on Twitter _@brianmcintyre_.
