GOLD AT A GLANCE:

• A sixth-year linebacker who rejoined the Broncos as a free agent March 3, 2005, for his fifth season with the team after playing for Tampa Bay in 2004.

• Rebounded from a torn ACL in his right knee that limited him to only six games in 2003 by ranking third on the Buccaneers in 2004 with 120 tackles (70 solo) in 16 games (13 starts).

• Distinguished himself as a top special teams player with Denver, earning Pro Bowl honors for the unit in 2001, before emerging as a starter in 2002.

• Scored two career touchdowns - a 12-yard interception return at Cin. (9/7/03) and a 12-yard return on a punt that he blocked vs. Oak. (11/13/00).

• Selected as the Broncos’ 2003 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. • Began his collegiate career at the University of Michigan as a running back before switching as a sophomore to linebacker, where he earned All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior.

• Grew up as a Michigan Wolverine - Born in the university’s hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., and both of his parents are Michigan graduates.

• Drafted by the Broncos in the second round (40th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft.

MILESTONES: First NFL game: at Stl. (9/4/00); First NFL start: vs. Stl. (9/8/02); First sack: 2 yds., vs. Oak. (11/13/00 - QB Rich Gannon); First touchdown: 12-yard blocked punt return, vs. Oak. (11/13/00); First interception: 12 yds. (TD return -QB Jon Kitna), at Cin. (9/7/03).

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Drafted by the Broncos in the second round (40th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft; Signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent 4/28/04; Released by Tampa Bay 3/1/05; Signed by the Broncos 3/3/05.

2004: In his first and only season with Tampa Bay, Gold ranked third on the Buccaneers with 120 tackles (70 solo) while adding one interception (31 yds. at Stl. 10/18), half a sack (5 yds.) and two pass breakups in 16 games (13 starts). The only starts he missed – at. Stl. 10/18, vs. Chi. 10/24 and at Ari. 1/2 – were due to Tampa Bay opening the game with three defensive backs. He started in the season opener at Was. (9/12) and made seven tackles (6 solo) before notching seven tackles (2 solo) and a pass breakup the next week vs. Sea. (9/19) in helping limit the Seahawks to 182 total yards. He recorded six tackles (3 solo) at Oak. (9/26) and tallied a season-high 10 stops (3 solo) vs. Den. (10/3), the team that drafted him and for which he was a member of for four seasons. He recorded five tackles (4 solo) at N.O. (10/10) and tallied six tackles (2 solo), an interception (31 yds.) and a pass breakup at Stl. (10/18) on Monday Night Football. He did not start against the Rams because the Buccaneers opened the game in a nickel defense but picked off Marc Bulger and returned it 31 yards before he was tackled. After posting two tackles (both solo) vs. Chi. (10/24) and helping limit the Bears to 167 total yards of offense in a game that he did not start (nickel defense), he added eight tackles vs. K.C. (11/7). His lone sack of the year came in the form of half a sack (5 yds.) of Michael Vick at Atl. (11/4) in an eight-tackle (6 solo) game. The next week vs. S.F. (11/21), he made eight tackles (7 solo) and helped limit the 49ers to only 26 total yards of offense and two first downs in the first half. He finished the Buccaneers’ contest at Car. (11/28) with nine tackles (6 solo), including a tackle for loss. He notched eight tackl