The late-arriving crowd roared as though Andre Caldwell had done something that meant something. The veteran wide receiver hauled in a long touchdown pass, running without traffic as if an E-470 express-toll transponder hung on his jersey. It was a strange feat to be part of, because all the applause said was congratulations on making the team.
The fourth exhibition game for an NFL team remains an exercise in calisthenics, an evening to stay healthy and determine scant roster vacancies.
Those auditioning in this glorified scrimmage, particularly in the first half of the Broncos' 22-20 loss Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals, didn't run away from the competition.