Broncos bolster thin secondary by signing Keo

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The newest Denver Broncos safety sent an all-out blitz at defensive coordinator Wade Phillips through Twitter.

The ploy landed him a job.

Hoping to keep his name in the mind of his former defensive coach, Shiloh Keo sent messages to Phillips via social media. And with the Broncos hurting in the secondary, the team signed Keo on Wednesday. The fifth-year veteran was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2011, when Gary Kubiak was the coach and Phillips the defensive coordinator.

They're reunited again in Denver.

''I was just playing around,'' Keo said of his recent tweets to Phillips. ''At the end of the day, I was just trying to touch base with all my coaches. This time of year, I know how things go - it's hard to get on, especially at my position. Not too many injuries happen at safety.''

But the Broncos have been besieged by quite a few ailments. David Bruton Jr. (knee) and Omar Bolden (hamstring) were banged up Sunday in San Diego. T.J. Ward was already sidelined with an ankle injury and is expected to miss this weekend's game against Oakland.

That left the Broncos with two healthy safeties in Darian Stewart and Josh Bush, who was re-signed last week.

The addition of Bush led to a tweet from Keo, who wrote to Phillips and said: ''Didn't want to pick me up huh?''

To that, Phillips offered an explanation: ''Keo--Josh was with us in camp and first 4 games - u know how much I think of u.''

Keo understood and let Phillips off the hook: ''I hear ya, still the same system tho. ... Keep me in mind tho if things don't pan out.''

All in good fun.

''It was more of a joke,'' said Keo, who was in training camp with Cincinnati this summer. ''I know with Wade, he's a jokester. He's a funny guy. He shares a good relationship with most of his players.

''I was trying to reach out to him as well, just shop around and see what they were thinking. I've been playing the game, looking at all the rosters, looking at all the moves. Just trying to stay in touch.''

His scheme worked out, too. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Keo made an impression - on Twitter and through his 42 games with the Texans after being taken in the fifth round. Keo also plays special teams.

''Shiloh has been in the scheme,'' Kubiak said. ''We feel like if need be, he could help us quickly from the standpoint of knowing what we're doing.''

One day back at work - a simple walkthrough in the indoor facility - and Keo already feels ready.

''Everything seemed pretty similar,'' Keo said. ''I'm thankful for the opportunity.''

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