SmilinAssasSin27
03-02-2008, 02:19 PM
Broncos setting trading sights lower
Offseason deals avoid big names
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 03/02/2008 05:51:41 AM MST
Broncos right guard Montrae Holland has been a great value. ( John Leyba, The Denver Post )
Not long ago, the Broncos owned the offseason. Dominated it.
They would aggressively attack the free-agent and trading period in a furious attempt to upgrade their roster, as if they were convinced Super Bowls were won in March.
It was an exciting time, the Broncos' offseason. There was no need to buy the new edition of "Football Prospectus" to learn about the likes of Javon Walker, Dre Bly, Travis Henry, Daniel Graham, Brandon Stokley, Sam Adams and Simeon Rice.
There was nothing like big names with big production to build hopes of playing in the big game.
But then something odd happened to the Broncos in the regular season. The more star players coach Mike Shanahan acquired through trade or free agency since hosting the 2005 AFC championship game, and the more money owner Pat Bowlen spent, the further the Super Bowl fell away.
The Broncos finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs in 2006. They tumbled to 7-9 last season, or nine wins fewer than the New England Patriots.
This offseason has brought a philosophical shift to Dove Valley. Instead of big names, the Broncos are pursuing some players with really long names, like middle linebacker Niko Koutouvides. Other hardly household names the Broncos are visiting during the early days of free agency are receiver Keary Colbert, and linebacker Tracy White.
"I don't think it's an extreme shift in philosophy," said Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. "We have gone after quite a number of free agents in the past few years and spent a lot of money. We could have gone in different directions that probably would have been more beneficial to the club. But I don't think we're sitting on the sidelines by any stretch of the imagination. We've got some guys we're targeting."
But even the more-recognizable names like Marlon McCree, Boss Bailey and Sammy Knight are not considered elite players. The Broncos, it seems, are setting their sights on finding the next Montrae Holland. The least known from the team's
star-studded free- agent class last year, Holland may have also provided the greatest value. Signed initially for one year and $1 million, Holland wound up starting all 16 games at right guard.
"We are looking at what we need and we're a lot more vigilant about who fits in this organization," Bowlen said.
That may be, but if Broncos fans didn't know better, they'd wonder if there's a cash problem at Dove Valley. Is there?
"I would say the Broncos and 31 other teams are feeling much the same way," said Bowlen, who as chairman of the NFL labor committee does not want the league to continue giving 60 percent of revenues to players past the 2009 season. "I know we're going into very serious labor negotiation. Unfortunately, I've been given the responsibility on that labor committee, which I'm not looking forward to because I think it's going to be a very contentious negotiation. If you're seeing it with the Broncos, you're going to see the same thing with the rest of the league.
"Now there are teams going after players and paying big bucks because they think they're going to find their missing link. And they may well be. But what I'm feeling is the philosophy is changing among the teams in the league. The feeling is free agency is too expensive. If you can draft quality players and keep them in your organization, that's a much better way to go."
The Broncos' newfound prudence appears well- timed, as this year's market has been scarce in star-power and consequently a treasure chest for role players.
Head-scratching contracts have been received by the unheralded likes of Tommy Kelly (seven years, $50.5 million), Madieu Williams (six years, $33 million), Gibril Wilson (six years, $39 million), and Justin Smith (six years, $45 million).
It's difficult to look at the deals for those players and have confidence teams are going to get the expected performance value in return. Still, would the Patriots have taken an 18-0 record into the Super Bowl had they not acquired Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth in the previous offseason? And aren't the Pats worse off today now that they've lost Asante Samuel, Stallworth and possibly Moss?
Closer to home, there is concern the Broncos have too many weaknesses to be exercising fiscal responsibility.
"Are we going to be favorites to win the whole thing?" Broncos safety John Lynch said after signing his reduced contract Friday night. "Absolutely not. A lot of opinions out there say we have a ways to go. But that's the fun thing about this business. You look at the Giants last year and people were talking about firing Tom Coughlin. They're losing Tiki Barber, and it looks like everything is in disarray. And they wind up winning the championship. So anything's possible."
Offseason deals avoid big names
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 03/02/2008 05:51:41 AM MST
Broncos right guard Montrae Holland has been a great value. ( John Leyba, The Denver Post )
Not long ago, the Broncos owned the offseason. Dominated it.
They would aggressively attack the free-agent and trading period in a furious attempt to upgrade their roster, as if they were convinced Super Bowls were won in March.
It was an exciting time, the Broncos' offseason. There was no need to buy the new edition of "Football Prospectus" to learn about the likes of Javon Walker, Dre Bly, Travis Henry, Daniel Graham, Brandon Stokley, Sam Adams and Simeon Rice.
There was nothing like big names with big production to build hopes of playing in the big game.
But then something odd happened to the Broncos in the regular season. The more star players coach Mike Shanahan acquired through trade or free agency since hosting the 2005 AFC championship game, and the more money owner Pat Bowlen spent, the further the Super Bowl fell away.
The Broncos finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs in 2006. They tumbled to 7-9 last season, or nine wins fewer than the New England Patriots.
This offseason has brought a philosophical shift to Dove Valley. Instead of big names, the Broncos are pursuing some players with really long names, like middle linebacker Niko Koutouvides. Other hardly household names the Broncos are visiting during the early days of free agency are receiver Keary Colbert, and linebacker Tracy White.
"I don't think it's an extreme shift in philosophy," said Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. "We have gone after quite a number of free agents in the past few years and spent a lot of money. We could have gone in different directions that probably would have been more beneficial to the club. But I don't think we're sitting on the sidelines by any stretch of the imagination. We've got some guys we're targeting."
But even the more-recognizable names like Marlon McCree, Boss Bailey and Sammy Knight are not considered elite players. The Broncos, it seems, are setting their sights on finding the next Montrae Holland. The least known from the team's
star-studded free- agent class last year, Holland may have also provided the greatest value. Signed initially for one year and $1 million, Holland wound up starting all 16 games at right guard.
"We are looking at what we need and we're a lot more vigilant about who fits in this organization," Bowlen said.
That may be, but if Broncos fans didn't know better, they'd wonder if there's a cash problem at Dove Valley. Is there?
"I would say the Broncos and 31 other teams are feeling much the same way," said Bowlen, who as chairman of the NFL labor committee does not want the league to continue giving 60 percent of revenues to players past the 2009 season. "I know we're going into very serious labor negotiation. Unfortunately, I've been given the responsibility on that labor committee, which I'm not looking forward to because I think it's going to be a very contentious negotiation. If you're seeing it with the Broncos, you're going to see the same thing with the rest of the league.
"Now there are teams going after players and paying big bucks because they think they're going to find their missing link. And they may well be. But what I'm feeling is the philosophy is changing among the teams in the league. The feeling is free agency is too expensive. If you can draft quality players and keep them in your organization, that's a much better way to go."
The Broncos' newfound prudence appears well- timed, as this year's market has been scarce in star-power and consequently a treasure chest for role players.
Head-scratching contracts have been received by the unheralded likes of Tommy Kelly (seven years, $50.5 million), Madieu Williams (six years, $33 million), Gibril Wilson (six years, $39 million), and Justin Smith (six years, $45 million).
It's difficult to look at the deals for those players and have confidence teams are going to get the expected performance value in return. Still, would the Patriots have taken an 18-0 record into the Super Bowl had they not acquired Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth in the previous offseason? And aren't the Pats worse off today now that they've lost Asante Samuel, Stallworth and possibly Moss?
Closer to home, there is concern the Broncos have too many weaknesses to be exercising fiscal responsibility.
"Are we going to be favorites to win the whole thing?" Broncos safety John Lynch said after signing his reduced contract Friday night. "Absolutely not. A lot of opinions out there say we have a ways to go. But that's the fun thing about this business. You look at the Giants last year and people were talking about firing Tom Coughlin. They're losing Tiki Barber, and it looks like everything is in disarray. And they wind up winning the championship. So anything's possible."