Broncos Punting Competition Tilts Away From Incumbent Veteran

DENVER (The Sports Xchange) - The punting competition in Broncos Country could be tilting away from the incumbent veteran.

Britton Colquitt did not play Saturday against the Rams, leaving all of the punting and holding to seventh-round pick Riley Dixon. Dixon has a net preseason average of 41.2 yards -- 1.5 yards better than that of Colquitt -- but Colquitt has dropped a higher percentage of his punts inside the 20.

Riley Dixon (credit CBS)

The biggest differences between the two are in salary and as a holder. Colquitt has a $4 million cap charge, and the Broncos would save $3.25 million by releasing him. Dixon makes the league minimum.

As a holder, Dixon struggled to get timing with Brandon McManus, but the chemistry between the two has improved. After a spate of misses in practice with Dixon holding, McManus was perfect with Dixon last Saturday.