Broncos free safety Rahim Moore had a fast start to last season but saw his playing time dwindle later in the season.
Broncos free safety Rahim Moore had a fast start to last season but saw his playing time dwindle later in the season. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

In 2003, some rookie safety named Troy Polamalu didn't start a game for the 6-10 Pittsburgh Steelers.

A decade earlier, a Tampa Bay safety named John Lynch had only four starts through his two seasons and didn't become a full-time starter until his fourth year of 1996.

Come again why people are down on Rahim Moore?

For whatever reason, safety is a position not quickly mastered. It takes time — more time than a rookie whose offseason practice was wiped out by the labor lockout can capture. Such was the case for Moore as a Broncos rookie safety last year.

"Guys like John Lynch, Troy Polamalu, I've heard stories about how they came into the league," Moore said. "They had hard times at first, and now they're future Hall of Famers. It's tough being young, but it's not how you start, it's how you finish."

Ready or not, Moore, a second-round draft choice from UCLA, started the Broncos' first five games last year. He was not.

Quinton Carter also was a rookie, a fourth-round pick from Oklahoma, who wound up starting 12 of the Broncos' final 13 games, including their two playoff games. During the postseason, Carter made an interception against Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and another against New England's Tom Brady.

"I didn't expect to play that much, but when I got in I felt like I made a few plays, but I left a lot on the field," Carter said.

Moore and Carter will compete, and rotate, with veteran Mike Adams, acquired in free agency, for the Broncos' two safety spots this season.

Small guarantee, big defensive tackle. The difference between the Ty Warren who was not participating in the Broncos' offseason program and the Ty Warren who showed up for the final two practices this week? A $250,000 guaranteed signing bonus.

The Broncos were able to reduce Warren's 2012 salary from $4 million to $1.5 million — a deal that when initially proposed caused the veteran defensive tackle to walk out of the team's voluntary offseason program.

Then Warren was able to wrestle a $250,000 guarantee, plus $1.25 million in nonguaranteed base salary, from the Broncos.

"I have a big smile on my face," said Broncos' defensive end Elvis Dumervil, whose ability to pass rush from the edge will be easier if Warren can create a push up the middle of the pocket. "I'm excited to be lining up next to a guy like that. The leadership he brings, the intensity he plays with — and he's a smart player too. I think that's underrated about him. I'm glad we've got him back in the building."