Schlereth gets Ray feeling disrespected after Broncos benching

Dec 18, 2018, 11:23 AM Updated: 7:45 pm

Denver Broncos linebacker Shane Ray said on Monday he felt it was a “little disrespectful” to be a healthy scratch Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.

On Tuesday, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth came to Ray’s defense, saying he understands that feeling of disrespect since he experienced it in his own NFL career.

“You just get to the point where you’re like, wait a minute man, I have had multiple surgeries, I’ve battled for you guys, I’ve done all these things, and this is just kind of an unceremonious dumping,” Schlereth said.

Ray missed eight games in 2017 after undergoing multiple surgeries on his wrist.

Situations like Ray’s are why Schlereth said he will “always side with the players when it comes to getting paid.”

“Get your money because as soon as you’re not productive or as soon as an injury limits you and you can’t be productive anymore, what happens to you? You just get unceremoniously let go,” Schlereth said.

The linebacker has seen a significant dip in production in 2018, grabbing just 10 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one pass defensed.

And the lack of production, said Schlereth’s co-host, Mike Evans, is likely why the Broncos decided they would be better off having someone else play in his place.

“They’ve got to put the best 46 out there on game day, and they decided (Ray’s) not one of them,” Evans said. “So, how is that disrespectful.”

Schlereth agreed that players have to produce and make plays, but it’s hard to do so when your opportunities are limited.

“You’ve got to produce on the field. But if you’re not getting very many opportunities, it’s really hard to produce,” Schlereth said.

Ray has also played just 255 snaps this season, roughly 33 percent of the total snaps of the 11 games in which he’s played.

But in the end, leaving in free agency this offseason is probably the best thing not only for Ray but also for the Broncos, Schlereth said.

“I hope Shane Ray, in this offseason, can get himself right, can get himself healthy, can get himself a team, and I hope he produces on that new team,” Schlereth said.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.