Montee Ball Waived by Denver Broncos | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Montee Ball hasn't proved to be a great fit with the Denver Broncos since entering the league in 2013, which led to the team waiving the third-year running back after reportedly exploring the trade market for his services.

The Broncos confirmed on Sunday they had parted ways with Ball a day after omitting him from the list of roster cuts when the team named its 53-man roster.

On Sept. 4, Vic Lombardi of 104.3 The Fan reported the Broncos were gauging the Dallas Cowboys' interest in acquiring Ball. However, Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill heard the Cowboys were not interested in a trade for Ball.

Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas reported the Cowboys personnel department doesn't value him as "pick-worthy."

Ball was the Broncos' projected starting running back last season, but injuries and ineffective play pushed him behind C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman on the depth chart.

While Anderson and Hillman were essentially givens to make the roster this year, Ball also received competition from Juwan Thompson.

According to the Associated Press (h/t FoxSports.com), the former Wisconsin stud believed a lack of playing time in the preseason hurt his stock in the eyes of the Broncos leading up to the team's final exhibition game:

It is tough because I feel like I really haven't had the opportunities in these preseason games, but there's still one more left and I feel like I'll have some playing time in this one, and I'll show them what I can do. ... I was expecting a lot more playing time. It caught me off-guard, but my head's not down. I'm going to keep it up and keep fighting.

Ball finished Sept. 3's contest with a mere 27 yards and 16 carries, which was the final nail in the coffin with regard to his time with Denver.

After losing DeMarco Murray via free agency, the Cowboys are expected to lean on Joseph Randle and the oft-injured Darren McFadden at running back in 2015. Dallas also completed a trade for Seattle running back Christine Michael on Sunday, potentially ending any chance of Ball landing on the roster.

Ball could still add some much-needed depth given the unreliable nature of the Cowboys' current options, and prior to his release, Bleacher Report's Cian Fahey believes he could be a good fit in Dallas' offensive system:

The 24-year-old back was one of the best collegiate running backs of all time with the Badgers, rushing for 5,140 yards and 77 touchdowns in four seasons. Denver saw something special in him, as it invested a second-round pick in his talent.

That move hasn't paid off up to this point. It appears Ball has lost whatever made him great at Wisconsin, but there is a chance that he could find it again with a change of scenery. 

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