DENVER — Trevor Pryce is still bitter over the way his time in Denver ended, so he kept quiet this week. No sense giving the Broncos fresh bulletin board fodder when the unbeaten Baltimore Ravens visit Invesco Field on Monday night.

The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, however, previously has had plenty to say about his former employers since signing a $25 million deal with Baltimore in March after the Broncos jettisoned him in a cost-cutting move after nine seasons.

He dissed Denver time and again, saying the coaching staff and team chemistry were better in Baltimore.

Pryce felt he was miscast, misused and misunderstood in Denver.

He still can't fathom why the Broncos had him plugging gaps instead of pestering the passer, dropping back into coverage and not hassling offensive linemen, even though the formula was successful.

"It became, well, you hold up these guys and let the little guys pass rush," Pryce said in March. "And I'm like, well, rushers should rush, droppers should drop. But in Denver, we just didn't know what we were doing: rush guys drop, drop guys rush. It worked, obviously, so I couldn't complain then."

The Broncos (2-1) had two responses while preparing for Pryce's return with the Ravens (4-0).

Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said he loves Pryce like a son, so if the Broncos misused him," I would be very sorry to have wasted a talent like that."

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan doesn't apologize for anything, and he freely acknowledges that Pryce's talents weren't put to their best use last season.

Shanahan said he did what he had to do to jump-start the defense, so at midseason he switched to a blitz-heavy style where linemen plugged holes while the safeties and linebackers went after the quarterback.

Consequently, Denver turned around its turnover differential and won nine of its last 11.

"Even though we were getting turnovers and playing good defense, we did tie the hands of some of the defensive linemen because of gap responsibility," Shanahan said. "So, what Trevor was saying was technically right, but it was the best thing for our defense and we were very successful."

Just like with running back Mike Anderson, who also joined the Ravens after getting cut by the Broncos, Shanahan said he wanted Pryce to stay in Denver, but his $10.3 million cap number was prohibitive.

"Anytime you lose players that have helped you win, it's always tough to see them go. But in the day of the salary cap it happens quite often," Shanahan said. "We'd love to have both those guys back."