Anthony Alridge didn’t practice today because of a sore hamstring, and it could keep him out of Saturday’s preseason game against Dallas. Ryan Torain is also hurt, and the Broncos won’t want to give starter Selvin Young too many carries. If Alridge doesn’t play it could mean opportunities for other players. Andre Hall, Young’s backup, could see a little more time. Michael Pittman, who has been mostly at fullback in camp, could get some extra carries. That could help them in the long run. Last year Young made his splash when he got extra playing time in the preseason because of injuries.

Former Broncos safety John Lynch has agreed to sign with the Patriots, according to ESPN, and now Lynch’s request to be released early in training camp seems strange. Lynch said he was unhappy with his role, but he probably won’t have more than part-time status with the Patriots. When he was released by the Broncos, he was a starter in the base defense but came off the field in passing situations. The team released him so he could have a chance to be a full-time starter, which he probably won’t be in New England.

Maybe Lynch thought he’d get a chance to be a starter elsewhere, and when that didn’t materialize he took the best opportunity he had. However, there could be some bad feelings in Denver about Lynch’s departure.

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall and Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones have had a playful competition the past two days of practice, and Marshall got the best of him in a one-on-one drill. Jones was in press coverage and Marshall beat him deep for a catch. Later, Marshall ran a stop-and-go route and beat Jones so badly that Jones had to grab Marshall’s shirt as he ran by.

“We were 100 percent going deep today on ‘Pacman’ Jones — sorry, Adam,” said Marshall, mistakenly using the “Pacman” nickname Jones has dropped. ”We won today.”

Jones, not surprisingly, didn’t see it that way. He said one-on-one drills between receivers and cornerbacks are geared so the receiver can win most of the time.

“He didn’t get the best of me,” said Jones, who said he and Marshall are good friends. 

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was adamant that a flare-up between the Cowboys and Broncos, which featured Denver defensive tackle Marcus Thomas and Cowboys offensive tackle Flozell Adamas, was not a fight even though both teams came off the sideline as it was happening. However you’d label the incident, tempers quickly cooled and the rest of the practice went along without any issues. There was a little more pushing and shoving and there was a more competitive tone on the second day of practice, which was expected by Shanahan.

“Usually, the second day is always that way,” Shanahan said.

Yes, Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall is at it again, wearing another sign chiding Dallas cornerback Adam Jones. Yesterday was “21’s no Champ,” in refefrence to Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. Today it’s “Adam’s no (Pacman),” with the cartoon Pacman from the video game drawn on the end of the sign, referencing Jones’ old Pacman nickname.

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall offered so little insight the one time he talked about his suspension that a comment he made while talking about his playful banter with Dallas cornerback Adam Jones today was interesting. Marshall was asked if he took Jones’ comments that he couldn’t compare to Dallas receiver Terrell Owens personally.

“I’m actually reading this book, ‘Four Agreements,’ and that’s what Chapter 2 is about, not taking things personally,” Marshall said. “If you take it personally, it’s true.”

The book, by Don Miguel Ruiz, is a book of wisdom and changing personal behavior.

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall came out for the afternoon practice with a piece of tape on the back of the exposed part of the shoulder pads reading “21’s no Champ,” a reference to Broncos all-pro cornerback Champ Bailey and a reply to Dallas corner Adam Jones’ morning statements. Jones, who wears No. 21, said Marshall couldn’t compare to Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.

Marshall said he was joking around and having fun with Jones, although Jones was not kidding when he said Owens was 10 times stronger and 10 times faster than Marshall.

“I believe he was serious,” Marshall said. “And I was serious with what I said, too.”

Marshall promised another message for Jones on his pads during Thursday’s practice. He said Jones is a “really nice guy” and talked to Jones near the end of practice.

“He said ‘Dang man, I just seen what you wrote,’” Marshall said. “I said ‘Boy, you’re slow.’”

Receiver Rod Smith visited practice on Wednesday, the first time he has come to practice since he retired before training camp. He said he’s enjoying life and is doing things he didn’t have time to do before, such as go to a game at Yankee Stadium with his friend he grew up playing baseball with. He has been working on some projects and preparing to watch his son play high-school football this year, something he missed all of last season. Smith said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan reiterated he could come work for the Broncos in some capacity whenever he wanted, but he doesn’t sound like he is ready to get back into football right now.

“Right now, I’m focusing on my family, focusing on my friends, focusing on me,” Smith said.

Interesting to watch the Cowboys and Broncos battle on the practice field. Here’s a few things that stood out:

– The Cowboys are huge, especially on the offensive line. Their offensive line, which includes 353-pound Leonard Davis and 340-pound Flozell Adams, looked very good in one-on-one drills against Denver’s defensive line.

– Offensive tackle Ryan Clady, Denver’s first-round pick, went against Cowboys Pro Bowl outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware a couple times in one-on-one drill and Ware got the best of him. On one play, Ware beat Clady cleanly with a good outside rush.

– The funny thing about Adam Jones saying Brandon Marshall doesn’t compare to Terrell Owens is Marshall was just coming off a fantastic practice. Marshall has had a great camp and was one of Denver’s best players in the morning drills.

– The Broncos got a chance to use both punters, Sam Paulescu and Brett Kern, in a drill. Paulescu, who kicked better in the preseason opener, hit some low and short kicks. Kern hit some very good kicks, but at the end of the drill he shanked one out of bounds. The Broncos like both punters but will probably have to live with some inconsistent moments this season.

Denver has made a couple of changes on the bottom of the depth chart at cornerback the past couple days. First, Lamont Reid was waived on Tuesday and Wale Dada was signed. Then Christian Morton was waived today and veteran Tyrone Poole was signed. Poole broke into the NFL in 1995, and spend the 2002 season with the Broncos.