reported on denverbroncos.com

When Marcus Thomas was still in college, he knew the first thing he wanted to do if he made it to the NFL -- he wanted to help his community.

It wasn't until he was invited to the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge that he realized he wanted to help by being a part of the National ID Program.

"They had a couple of guys speaking about the child ID program, and I was saying in my head, 'If I make it to the league, if I'm given that opportunity, that's how I want to give back.'"

And in his second year in the NFL, Thomas has done just that. He helped provide 56,000 Child ID Kits to all kindergarten students in the state of Colorado, and that gesture garnered attention and an award from the FBI.

On Monday, Thomas arrived at the State Capitol in a limosine, met with Gov. Bill Ritter and was presented the award at a press conference inside the Capitol.

"This is a great opportunity for us to recognize an athlete who is doing a great thing for his community, making a significant contribution on behalf of his community," said Special Agent in Charge James H. Davis, who is part of the FBI's partnership with the National ID Program. "We greatly appreciate Mr. Thomas' efforts, and it is my honor on behalf of the Director of the FBI to present Mr. Thomas with the Exceptional Service in the Public Interest Award. I can't say enough about what he is doing to help this community."

The idea behind the National ID Program is to help families be prepared in the case that a child goes missing. The American Football Coaches Association created the National Child Identification Program in 1997, then in 2001 the FBI partnered with the association, making it the only program of its kind to gain the backing of the FBI.

Kenny Hansmire, the executive director of the coaches association, explained the use of the child ID kits that Thomas donated. Each contains an inkless fingerprint kit, a wallet card and DNA collection swabs.

"The kits will go out to parents, they'll be sent home with the children along with a letter that basically says it's a little homework assignment," Hansmire said. "It takes about five minutes to fill the ID kit out, and what we do is we ask the parents to keep this ID kit in case of an emergency. What we hope is that it goes into a photo album, and that way if the child becomes missing, the parent can turn the kit over to law enforcement and hopefully help bring their child home."

But at the same time, that's the worst-case scenario. And Hansmire said hopefully the kit will eventually just hold sentimental value.

"What hopefully happens, and what Marcus and we and the FBI wish, is that this is a keepsake," he said. "That 15, 20 years from now the photo album is opened up and there are little fingerprints there and it becomes a keepsake -- that it's never needed."

Thomas was called to the podium to give a brief statement -- Gov. Ritter would announce just afterwards that "it's something to stand behind Marcus -- the lights kind of go out when he stands at the podium. You can't see much in front of him."

Dressed in a suit and battling a bit of a cold, Thomas was a man of few words.

"It's a great thing, just to help all these kids," he said.

"As long as I'm in the NFL, I want to keep giving back."

Just found this cruizin' around...

The Denver Broncos went a little Steve Smith this week. An interesting pitfall behind closed doors has led to the suspension of one of their defensive lineman, Josh Shaw. According to Denver sources, Shaw was getting worn out in practice this week by coaches for messing up, and was screamed at repeatedly. Finally he barked, "I'm trying" or something along those lines in a fairly high-pitched tone. Uh oh, bad move in front of a locker room of football players.

His teammates then took his phrase and, mocking his pitch, repeated it over and over and over and ... you get the point. Later in the meeting room Shaw finally had enough and informed his teammates if anyone belted out the phrase once more he'd had it. Fellow defensive lineman Kenny Peterson took the bait, mocked "I'm trying" once again. Shaw, just as promised, popped his teammate, sources said.

Head coach Mike Shanahan heard about the player-on-player action, walked into the room and suspended Shaw. Sources say he originally wanted to hit him with a four-game suspension, but the NFL Players Association will have something to say about such a harsh punishment.

Defensive end Elvis Dumervil will get the four pins removed from his right pinky Tuesday. And yes, the protection Dumervil wears on his digit has made it difficult for him to get at the passer.

After getting 21 sacks in 29 games through his first two seasons, Dumervil is seeking his first entering Game 3 of the 2008 season.

"I can't really grab," Dumervil said. "I like to grab, man. I like to snatch-and jerk, try to make that Kenny Peterson move. Once I get these pins out, I can finally start rehabbing this finger."

Rocky Mountain News reports the following:

ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos are done saying, “No Moss.”

When the team plays host to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, former No. 1 draft pick Jarvis Moss is expected to make his 2008 debut after two weeks of being declared inactive as a healthy scratch.

“I’m going to get myself ready this week and practice like I’ve never practiced and watch film like I’ve never watched film,” Moss said Wednesday. “And I plan on having a big game.”

Throughout training camp, Moss filled a pass-rushing role in nickel situations. Facing run-heavy teams like Oakland and San Diego to open the season might have factored heavily in the decision to keep him in street clothes on game day. But at the same time, in obvious passing situations, the Broncos have struggled to apply consistent pressure.

The thought seems to be that Moss could be a pick-me-up if he can throw down Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who spearheads the NFL’s No. 7 pass offense.

“My goals haven’t changed at all,” said Moss, who said in training camp his goal is eight sacks this season. “It’s my first game, three weeks in, and I need to get it started right now. That’s something that helps me on Sundays is that drive, that no one can stop me.”

Actually, the coaches were able to pull the plug long before the weekend. The call to sit Moss hurt him personally both weeks but especially last Sunday, when he flew people into town to watch him not play.

Moss said he must abide by what is decided, and he does, especially since the Broncos are off to a 2-0 start without him.

But he doesn’t have to like it.

“It’s kind of personal,” he said. “I want to prove to everybody that I should be playing every single week.”

Even though the coaches kept him informed of their plans the past couple of weeks, it didn’t make Moss feel any better once the decision was made to bench him.

“It’s tough,” Moss said. “You kind of feel like people don’t believe in you or think they can’t count on you. I know that’s not the case. They wouldn’t have picked me where they did if they didn’t have faith in me and just get ready to call quits on me so soon. I know my coaches believe in me. That’s why I’ve got this opportunity this week.”