NFL Denies Ayers Contract

Denver Broncos rookie linebacker Robert Ayers (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Denver Broncos and Robert Ayers had a contract in place that would ensure the first-round pick reported for camp on time, but the NFL Management Council threw a wrench in the works, ESPN’s John Clayton reports. The committee did not approve of some language in the contract, making it unlikely Ayers will report on time (Clayton states he simply won’t, but the Broncos have worked through the wee hours to get a rookie contract done as recently as Jarvis Moss in 2007).

Fellow first-rounder Knowshon Moreno also remains unsigned.

I wonder if this is a common occurrence for all NFL teams. I recall this happening several times over the past 2-3 years with the Broncos…. I understand why these contracts have taken so long, what with the entire NFL’s first round rookie contract environment only heating up in the past 48 hours, but if neither Ayers or Moreno are present to start camp, I’ll be very disappointed.