Fencer got it right. It was the Broncos, and yes in 71 I was a late cut. The league I played in was the Atlantic Coast league that had teams running from Quincy, MA in the north to Richmond and Roanoke in VA. I made $25o/game, which was more than the $175/wk I was making teaching school in Boston.
I went to the Broncos because one of my coaches got me an invite and they sucked so bad then, I though I had a better shot at making the team. Fencer almost got it right on my position. I was a 200 lb NT/LB in college. I played OLB in Quincy and my first preseason with Denver. I actually had my closest shot as a SS.
In the end, though I was fast enough, I wasn't a good enough athlete. Though I had lettered in 4 sports in HS, and 2 (lacrosse) in college, I was always a better football player than athlete. Watch some time how these DB's can get their bodies into positions to defend passes. Sadly, I came to understand, that I couldn't do that, though I was great against the run.
But it was a different time then. 45 man rosters, 14 game seasons, around $15K minimum wage. Preseason was longer. Most included 2 a days. Most practices featured contact, and somehow most of us survived. Bruised and battered, but survived.
I played my last year at 6'1 200, and I was considered a big SS. But those were still the days when most offensive lineman where still in the 260 range and there were still OLB's playing at 220. I failed the previous year at 210, hence the position change.
Now almost 50 years later, I am no longer 6'1 and I struggle to keep my weight under 220. Getting old sucks, but on the bright side, I have my memories, and in those memories I get better and better every year. By the time I'm 80, I'll be coming here and claiming I actually made the team.