bmarsh15
03-10-2008, 11:33 PM
Woody has got a good point here
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_8516060
woody paige
Broncos' signings smarter
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 03/10/2008 12:25:00 AM MDT
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Or a free agent.
They cost.
In March of last year, after the Broncos signed a flock of veteran unrestricted and released free agents, I wrote:
"Almost every box delivered to Broncos Central in Dove Valley apparently is stamped: Damaged Goods."
How did those free players, who received multiple millions of dollars, work out?
Travis Henry. Duh, dud and dad, and you know the rest.
Sam Adams was a blunderbuss and a blunder bust. Warrick Holdman was severely injured in camp. David Terrell whiffed. Eddie Moore went from potential starter to injured backup to unemployment. Todd Sauerbrun was cut late in the season after an alleged altercation with a taxi driver.
Brandon Stokley became the Broncos' second-most valuable receiver.
Daniel Graham had an acceptable, but not spectacular, season at tight end. Montrae Holland and Alvin McKinley became passable starters (who likely won't start next season), and Patrick Ramsey and Paul Smith were backups who didn't matter.
Over the past half-dozen seasons, perhaps a dozen veteran free agents have become quality additions to the Broncos, and only one — John Lynch — made the Pro Bowl.
Mike Shanahan, Pat Bowlen and the Broncos, as they should, have rethought their free-agency approach.
They're signing younger, cheaper players who have prospective long-term upsides rather than older, high-priced players who will be one-year wonders.
Most important, the Broncos are looking for players of character instead of characters who play. The team has extended its background checks and intensified its personality studies.
Fewer damaged bads and more solid goods.
The true (predominantly) blue fans of the Broncos want a team they can be proud of, not ashamed of.
Javon Walker is gone, and Oh Henry will be on a short leash. Marcus Thomas had better clean up his act. He has run out of chances. The Broncos need superior people in the starting lineup, not in a police lineup.
So they signed Boss Bailey.
Not only will he be a starting linebacker on the strong side, but Bailey has a strong side — and a solid family. Champ Bailey has proven that the sons play well and were raised right.
They should do everything to keep Domonique Foxworth. Fellow columnist Mark Kiszla and I talked with Foxworth's parents a few times on the road last season. They are grand folks, and Domonique will be a special player.
Safety Marlon McCree, just signed, was the Chargers' on-field mentor for the secondary two years ago and remained a positive clubhouse teammate even when he split time with Eric Weddle.
Niko Koutouvides, the new, probable starting middle linebacker, isn't a troublemaker and is, by all accounts, a potentially unyielding defender. Another signed safety, Marquand Manuel (what is it with the Broncos and M.M. safeties and a B.B. 'backer?), has bounced around as a journeyman, but was performing well for Seattle until being injured in the Super Bowl. One of 18 children, he majored in criminology and law at the University of Florida and he was on the SEC all-academic team.
Keary Colbert, a wide receiver signee, was the Panthers' No. 2 pick in 2004 and had a productive rookie season. He has been a disappointment since, but, at 25, maybe the scenery and system should change.
All the free agents so far are excellent values — and seem to be men of dignity and skill. The Broncos definitely have upgraded their linebacking and secondary corps and depth. They still have to improve the defensive and offensive lines (and get everybody healthy) and sign another receiver or three.
But more free-agent signings will occur soon. Shana- han and his staff currently are locked in, staring at tapes and reports of ripe plumbs and sore thumbs.
Then there's the draft and the college free-agent signings. The Broncos have gotten at least a dozen starting types from the past four drafts — think Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, D.J. Williams, Elvis Dumervil, Tony Scheffler and (injured) Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, among others — and running back Selvin Young and offensive tackle Erik Pears off the draft's overlooked list.
The Broncos aren't New England or New York yet, but they will be New Denver.
It's a start back to respectability on and off the field and free to be.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
Discuss
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_8516060
woody paige
Broncos' signings smarter
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 03/10/2008 12:25:00 AM MDT
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Or a free agent.
They cost.
In March of last year, after the Broncos signed a flock of veteran unrestricted and released free agents, I wrote:
"Almost every box delivered to Broncos Central in Dove Valley apparently is stamped: Damaged Goods."
How did those free players, who received multiple millions of dollars, work out?
Travis Henry. Duh, dud and dad, and you know the rest.
Sam Adams was a blunderbuss and a blunder bust. Warrick Holdman was severely injured in camp. David Terrell whiffed. Eddie Moore went from potential starter to injured backup to unemployment. Todd Sauerbrun was cut late in the season after an alleged altercation with a taxi driver.
Brandon Stokley became the Broncos' second-most valuable receiver.
Daniel Graham had an acceptable, but not spectacular, season at tight end. Montrae Holland and Alvin McKinley became passable starters (who likely won't start next season), and Patrick Ramsey and Paul Smith were backups who didn't matter.
Over the past half-dozen seasons, perhaps a dozen veteran free agents have become quality additions to the Broncos, and only one — John Lynch — made the Pro Bowl.
Mike Shanahan, Pat Bowlen and the Broncos, as they should, have rethought their free-agency approach.
They're signing younger, cheaper players who have prospective long-term upsides rather than older, high-priced players who will be one-year wonders.
Most important, the Broncos are looking for players of character instead of characters who play. The team has extended its background checks and intensified its personality studies.
Fewer damaged bads and more solid goods.
The true (predominantly) blue fans of the Broncos want a team they can be proud of, not ashamed of.
Javon Walker is gone, and Oh Henry will be on a short leash. Marcus Thomas had better clean up his act. He has run out of chances. The Broncos need superior people in the starting lineup, not in a police lineup.
So they signed Boss Bailey.
Not only will he be a starting linebacker on the strong side, but Bailey has a strong side — and a solid family. Champ Bailey has proven that the sons play well and were raised right.
They should do everything to keep Domonique Foxworth. Fellow columnist Mark Kiszla and I talked with Foxworth's parents a few times on the road last season. They are grand folks, and Domonique will be a special player.
Safety Marlon McCree, just signed, was the Chargers' on-field mentor for the secondary two years ago and remained a positive clubhouse teammate even when he split time with Eric Weddle.
Niko Koutouvides, the new, probable starting middle linebacker, isn't a troublemaker and is, by all accounts, a potentially unyielding defender. Another signed safety, Marquand Manuel (what is it with the Broncos and M.M. safeties and a B.B. 'backer?), has bounced around as a journeyman, but was performing well for Seattle until being injured in the Super Bowl. One of 18 children, he majored in criminology and law at the University of Florida and he was on the SEC all-academic team.
Keary Colbert, a wide receiver signee, was the Panthers' No. 2 pick in 2004 and had a productive rookie season. He has been a disappointment since, but, at 25, maybe the scenery and system should change.
All the free agents so far are excellent values — and seem to be men of dignity and skill. The Broncos definitely have upgraded their linebacking and secondary corps and depth. They still have to improve the defensive and offensive lines (and get everybody healthy) and sign another receiver or three.
But more free-agent signings will occur soon. Shana- han and his staff currently are locked in, staring at tapes and reports of ripe plumbs and sore thumbs.
Then there's the draft and the college free-agent signings. The Broncos have gotten at least a dozen starting types from the past four drafts — think Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, D.J. Williams, Elvis Dumervil, Tony Scheffler and (injured) Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, among others — and running back Selvin Young and offensive tackle Erik Pears off the draft's overlooked list.
The Broncos aren't New England or New York yet, but they will be New Denver.
It's a start back to respectability on and off the field and free to be.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
Discuss