Broncos' Ray: Late-week scratch 'disrespectful'

Denver Broncos linebacker Shane Ray was offended by the lack of advanced notice he received before being made a healthy scratch Saturday versus the Cleveland Browns.

"A little disrespectful," Ray said Monday, courtesy of CBS Denver's Michael Spencer. "... Whatever reason they felt that I needed to be inactive, that's on them. I don't have to answer to that guys."

Ray was told he'd be inactive one day before the game. He was one of two surprising healthy scratches for the Broncos in a contest they had to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The other was safety Su'a Cravens, who was equally displeased.

"I'm not going to speak bad on the dude," Cravens said in reference to head coach Vance Joseph, according to Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post. "He's my coach, he's my superior, I'm going to do whatever he says. But as far as him saying he got the best players on the field, I disagree."

The Broncos lost 17-16 to the Browns, ensuring they'll miss the playoffs for a third straight year. Cravens and Ray were both expected to be key cogs in Denver's defense this season, but neither made much of an impact.

Ray, a free agent at season's end, noted that he'll be ready for the final two games, but would like to know earlier if his services will be summoned.

"Hope they let me know sooner than this last time," he said, per Spencer.

The 6-8 Broncos travel to the Oakland Raiders and then host the Los Angeles Chargers to close out the schedule.