New Broncos guard Barbre learned of trade at gym, finishes workout
Jul 26, 2017, 3:10 PM | Updated: Jul 27, 2017, 1:10 am
To call newly acquired Denver Broncos guard Allen Barbre’s day unique would be an understatement.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced midday Wednesday that Barbre had been released, but rescinded the roster move a few hours later before trading the offensive lineman to the Broncos.
Couple that with Barbre finding out he’d been traded, not cut, while pulling into the gym to work out, the 33-year-old veteran found himself “shocked.”
“It’s kind of a whirlwind,” Barbre told “Stokley & Zach” just moments after learning he’d been acquired by the Broncos.
But, the transaction didn’t get in the way of Barbre’s workout.
“I was on my way to the gym to work out and try to stay in shape for whenever the call was made. I was about to pull into the gym when I got the call, so I went ahead and worked out and finished that up,” Barbre said Wednesday afternoon. “Now, I’m on my way home to say bye to the family and get to the airport.”
The trade comes on the eve of Denver’s training camp, which is set to kick off Thursday morning at UCHealth Training Center. In return, the Eagles receive a conditional draft pick in 2019.
A 10th year pro out of Missouri Southern State, Barbre was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
He spent three seasons in Green Bay and four seasons with the Eagles with a two-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks, where he was a teammate of Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan’s Brandon Stokley.
Over his career, the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Barbre has appeared in 76 regular season games (with 36 starts) and three postseason contests.
During the past two years, Barbre started all 28 games he played for the Eagles, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 82.2 — 16th best in the NFL. For comparison, Broncos guard Ronald Leary, who signed with Denver in March, was ranked No. 21 in 2016.
Barbre said he prefers the left side of the line, where third-year lineman Max Garcia moved back to in June, swapping guard spots with the veteran Leary.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
