Scheffler trade sets Broncos' rebuild in high gear for this week's draft
The last of the trio who once appeared to be the team's foundation is sent to Detroit
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
POSTED: 04/20/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
UPDATED: 04/20/2010 02:57:11 AM MDT
Tony Scheffler was benched last season when his complaints about his limited use got to coach Josh McDaniels. (John Leyba, Post file photo )
Go back 16 months.
Glance at what the Broncos looked like just over 16 months ago. On Dec. 7, 2008, the Broncos had defeated Kansas City to boost their record to 8-5 and their AFC West lead to three games with three games to go, one victory from clinching a playoff berth.
The team was coached by Mike Shanahan and largely built around three young stars — quarterback Jay Cutler, receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler.
Cutler completed 32-of-40 passes against the Chiefs for 286 yards and two scores. His top target was Marshall, who had 11 catches and two touchdowns. Scheffler had five catches for 61 yards.
Could anyone have imagined that a bit more than 16 months later, things would be so different?
The Broncos lost their final three games and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive year. Shanahan was fired. Cutler, Marshall and Scheffler reacted to Shanahan's firing by expressing their desire to be traded. With Monday's trade of Scheffler, all have gotten their way.
"I think something had to be done, but the way it worked out for all of us, I think we're all excited," Scheffler said Monday.
Before a team can rebuild, it must destruct, and the dismantling phase was completed Monday when Scheffler was dealt, along with a seventh-round draft pick, to the Detroit Lions in a three-team deal. The Broncos received a fifth-round draft pick from the Philadelphia Eagles, who also nabbed outside linebacker Ernie Sims from Detroit.
Sims was the No. 9 pick in the 2006 draft class for Detroit. Cutler was the No. 11 pick. He's long gone from Denver. Scheffler was taken in the second round, Marshall in the fourth.
While the Broncos did well to get two second-round draft picks for Marshall, they got little in return for Scheffler, who led all NFL tight ends the past four seasons with a 13.7 yards per catch.
Scheffler became increasingly disenchanted with his limited use in 2009.
His complaints to teammates got back to coach Josh McDaniels, who benched Scheffler from the final game of the season, then dumped him for little more than the proverbial bag of balls.
"It's unfortunate the way it ended," Scheffler said. "But it's a business, and I'm excited about playing for the Lions."
At least the Broncos took the high road when it came to granting the trade wishes of their disgruntled stars. Cutler was dealt to the Chicago Bears, the team he rooted for while growing up in Indiana. Marshall was traded last week to Miami, which is down the road from his hometown in Orlando.
And now Scheffler will go home again. He grew up in Chelsea, Mich., an hour's drive from Detroit.
"Restore the Roar!" Scheffler said when he answered the phone after the trade, referring to the Lions' slogan since Jim Schwartz was hired as head coach to rebuild the 0-16 franchise before the 2009 season. "It's going to be surreal walking into that locker room and putting on those clothes for the first time."
He'll pinch himself soon enough. The Lions are having an organized training activity today, and they've asked Scheffler to attend.
That Scheffler wound up in Detroit is a bit surprising considering the Lions last year used a first-round pick, and $9.4 million in financial guarantees, on tight end Brandon Pettigrew. However, Pettigrew suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee in Game 11 against Green Bay.
Scheffler adds protection in case Pettigrew takes awhile to rebound, and he will play on the affordable $1.176 million salary he was tendered by the Broncos as a restricted free agent last month.
Expect the Lions' offense to employ plenty of two tight-end sets this season.
The three-team trade went through after Scheffler talked to Schwartz by phone and agreed not to seek a new contract. Scheffler will become an unrestricted free agent after next season if the league reaches a new collective bargaining agreement.
Until then, Scheffler joins a Lions offense led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft who had a 422-yard, five-touchdown game against Cleveland mixed with several rough outings as a rookie.
"Just hearing Jay (Cutler) talk about him — their personalities are different, but I think they're very similar about how they play on the field," Scheffler said. "I'm looking forward to playing with a young quarterback who has an arm like that."
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or
mklis@denverpost.com