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• Sep 7, 2007 7:22 am US/Mountain
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  Broncos' Bell Attempting To Adjust To New Role

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Broncos' Bell Attempting To Adjust To New Role

By Pat Graham, AP Sports Writer

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) ― Mike Bell is trying to accept his new role as fullback and be appreciative of the opportunity.

It's just that he can't quite embrace the change. Bell still wants to be a tailback.

"I'm not the happiest camper," Bell said Thursday. "I've been playing tailback my whole life. I'm not going to be jumping for joy."

Bell was notified of the change shortly before the last preseason game on Aug. 30. It's still taking some getting used to. He's currently listed as the team's backup fullback behind Cecil Sapp, who's also a converted running back.

Denver head coach Mike Shanahan said he made the move for flexibility purposes. He wants to be able to move players around.

"You've got to be able to adjust in the NFL," Bell said. "That's how I'm going to continue to do things."

Bell said he was initially shocked by the move.

"But I'm starting to learn you can't be shocked," said Bell, who rushed for 677 yards and eight touchdowns last season as an undrafted rookie out of Arizona. "You've got to expect the unexpected."

He doesn't plan on gaining any weight for his new role. He'll stick at 220 pounds. That way, he can keep his elusiveness should he get the call to switch back to tailback.

And it's not unprecedented. The Broncos moved both Reuben Droughns and Mike Anderson from fullback to tailback.

"I'm appreciative that I'm still playing," said Bell, who has never played fullback at any stage of his football career. "It's cool. One day at a time."

Bell was the Broncos' goal-line specialist last season. He's not sure if he'll be called upon to fill that role again this season.

"If it happens, it happens," he said. "If it doesn't, oh well."

EXTRA POINTS: Rookie DE Tim Crowder missed practice Thursday with a high ankle sprain. ... DE Simeon Rice stayed after practice to work on extra pass-rushing drills. He was asked how practice went and simply answered, "Great." Rice said he didn't know if he would play Sunday. ... CB Karl Paymah (concussion) didn't practice Thursday. Paymah sustained a concussion against Arizona on Aug. 30 when he dipped his head and took a knee to the helmet. "He's doing better," Shanahan said.

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(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)