Free Agent Signings around the League

[BradyFTW!]

Ware was looking for $10M/year, and Jason La Canfora predicted that Denver would give it to him. $20M guaranteed. Denver has guaranteed $60M to Aqib Talib ($26M), DeMarcus Ware ($20M) and TJ Ward ($14M).

Ouch.

Just saw Schefter's tweet... wow. Denver is seriously going all-in, because three years from now they'll likely be one of the worst teams in the league with the guaranteed money that they're throwing around.

Looks like they'll be a force to be reckoned with in 2014, though.

 

[mayoclinic]

Are they basically conceding Demaryius and Julius next year? How in the world will they resign them?

Not to mention Von Miller.

It almost sounds like this they are planning on this being Manning's last year, and they don't much care who is around to catch the ball in 2015 if he's gone.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Looks like Ware's going to make $13M this year, per Schefter. And he'll most likely give them moderately more production than Shaun Phillips did for $1.4M last year.

 

[Brady6]

As I have said for months, there is no reason to cut Connolly. He can start at two positions, or he can be the Game Day backup at three positions. Having Connolly gives us lots of positional flexibility.

If they extended Connolly for 1-year, they could convert $2M of his $3M base to a signing bonus and prorate it over two seasons. Then give him a $2M non-guaranteed base for 2015, so if they cut him it would only leave $1M in dead money. They would save $1M this season though.

 

[mayoclinic]

Looks like Ware's going to make $13M this year, per Schefter. And he'll most likely give them moderately more production than Shaun Phillips did for $1.4M last year.

In the current NFL system, you need "cheap production" to be successful. You get that from guys on their 1st contracts who play at a starting level or better, and from low-cost veteran pick ups who perform. The Broncos are quickly running out of guys from whom they can get "cheap production".

 

[Brady6]

Looks like Ware's going to make $13M this year, per Schefter. And he'll most likely give them moderately more production than Shaun Phillips did for $1.4M last year.

Elway is trying to do as an executive what he did as a player, win a Super Bowl or two, retire and leave the franchise in ruins.

 

[DaBruinz]

With Denver signing Ware to that deal, I'm pretty sure they've used up most of their free cap space now. Especially since they'll need space for their picks and for depth..

 

[mgteich]

Understand that many fans (in both DEN and NE) favor this approach.

Elway is trying to do as an executive what he did as a player, win a Super Bowl or two, retire and leave the franchise in ruins.

 

[Efstratios]

That's a pretty hefty contract that they gave Ware. Surprised that they didn't try to entice Allen with a comparable deal (or maybe he turned it down, All I know right now is that he's speaking to Chicago and Seattle).

Anyhow, does anyone know how much cap space the Broncos have left after signing Ward, Talib, and Ware? I'm curious if they are going to/ are able to, invest in any more mid-high level FA's.

 

[Tunescribe]

Understand that many fans (in both DEN and NE) favor this approach.

So if the Broncos make it to the Super Bowl next year they'll lose 23-8 instead of 43-8.

 

[strngplyr]

Denver is probably a few injuries away from struggling to win their division. They had 0 depth last year, their 2 biggest signing are a constantly injured CB and a DE/OLB coming off of a few neck injuries.

 

[primetime]

So is this what you call "mortgaging the future"? Holy crap.

I think Elway is remembering his glory days...cheat the salary cap!

It doesn't even make sense. All it takes is one Peyton Manning injury (heck, one Demaryius Thomas injury) and all that championship-or-bust stuff goes up in smoke. And the odds of that happening in the NFL, especially to an older quarterback who was nearly forced to retire due to neck injuries, is far from impossible. Imagine if the Patriots, one game from a ring in 07, had splashed huge money in 08 to try to make themselves invincible? Whoops...

 

[Efstratios]

It doesn't even make sense. All it takes is one Peyton Manning injury (heck, one Demaryius Thomas injury) and all that championship-or-bust stuff goes up in smoke. And the odds of that happening in the NFL, especially to an older quarterback who was nearly forced to retire due to neck injuries, is far from impossible. Imagine if the Patriots, one game from a ring in 07, had splashed huge money in 08 to try to make themselves invincible? Whoops...

I guess the Broncos will use the remaining cap space+draft to shore up whatever needs they have on the O-line? That might help to decrease the odds that Peyton goes down.

 

[dales804]

Looks like Allen is looking for what Ware got:

Jason La Canfora ?@JasonLaCanfora 1m
The deal Ware signed in Denver is, according to a league source, identical to what Jared Allen's camp had proposed to the Broncos ...

 

[goheels22002]

Looks like Allen is looking for what Ware got:

Jared Allen is yet another 32-year-old defensive lineman looking for three years at $30 million?

If I was 32-year-old Vince Wilfork, my agent would on the phone with Elway saying "Vince will have what they're having," while I am in Bob Kraft's office on my knees wailing, "Cut me! Please cut me! For the love of all that is good in the world, please cut me!"

 

[dales804]

I don't know if Starks' contract was posted but here it is, per LaCanfora:

Jason La Canfora ?@JasonLaCanfora 1m
Randy Starks agrees to terms with Dolphins on a 2yr/$12M deal

 

[West Philly Patriot]

It doesn't even make sense. All it takes is one Peyton Manning injury (heck, one Demaryius Thomas injury) and all that championship-or-bust stuff goes up in smoke. And the odds of that happening in the NFL, especially to an older quarterback who was nearly forced to retire due to neck injuries, is far from impossible. Imagine if the Patriots, one game from a ring in 07, had splashed huge money in 08 to try to make themselves invincible? Whoops...

The same is true of literally every playoff team in regards to the QB position. Let's be honest even if your depth guys are solid, if it comes down to them for any extended period of time in the postseason your likely going home.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I don't know if Starks' contract was posted but here it is, per LaCanfora:

Not a bad deal at all for Miami. Better than the tag that he played under last year.

 

[Brady6]

Interesting….

Ian Rapoport ?@RapSheet 10m
What’s going on with #Browns center Alex Mack? I’m told 4 teams have been in contact on varying levels. Waiting for the frenzy to die down

 

[jmt57]

I think you're quoting another Incarcerated Bob wannabe.

What, his twitter mini-resume doesn't impress you? C'mon, this guy has contacts on all 32 NFL teams!

Sports Management major and football player at Husson University. Boston sports fan.​