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Published on 07/27/2011 at Wed Jul 27 10:40.
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Bronco’s cap situation makes free agency difficult

Posted Wed Jul 27th by

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

All has been quiet on the free agent front for the Broncos. Many have expected a signing or two on the first day, and possibly even a Kyle Orton trade.

However, outside of the expected release of Correll Buckhalter, the signing undrated free agents like Mario Fannin, Deron Mayo, Jamel Hamler, Adam Weber, and several others, not much has happened in the Mile High city.

With only one returning non-free agent defensive tackle on the roster, many expected Denver to pursue that position heavily. Some of the player’s available at the position are Seattle’s Brandon Mebane, Green Bay’s Cullen Jenkins, and San Fransisco’s Aubrayo Franklin. However, clearing the cap space to sign any of these previously mentioned behemoths will be difficult.

When the lockout ended, the Broncos had $129 million against the cap. The new cap ceiling under the new CBA is $120 million. The release of Buckhalter frees up some cap space, but not much seeing how his $1.92 million contract contained no guaranteed money.

For the Broncos to sign some free agents they will need to get rid of some big contracts, and that is why they’re trying to deal Orton and fast. Orton’s is slated to receive $9 million this season from Denver, so his removal from the cap could go a long way.

With Donovan McNabb looking like he’ll be in Minnesota, Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee, Tarvaris Jackson in Seattle, and Matt Leinart joining him as well, the landing spots for Orton have narrowed down to Arizona and Miami.

Whoever agrees to a trade with Orton also agrees in taking his contract. This stipulation might mean Arizona could be considered since they did not acquire Kevin Kolb as fast as everyone though they would. Orton’s price-tag may be high, but it is certainly not as expensive as bringing on Kolb as your franchise guy and signing him to a franchise deal.

Expect some moves to made soon as the front office crunches some numbers and make some phone calls.

What do you think Bronco Nation? How will the cap situation unfold? What team will Orton get traded to? Who will be sought in free agency?

  • DOneal4500

    Trade Orton and trade him fast before we are stuck with him and all the good DT are gone, will not be a good look for Elway if he doest get this done even if it means for a 3rd or 4th round pick

  • Ryan K.

    Even without trading Orton the Broncos are only around $100 million on the pay roll.

  • MrEast

    Not currently.

  • BroncoMan24

    There is a lot of confusing information out their on our cap room.  I thought this article was good in explaining our cap space, but not sure who is correct.  Any thoughts? 

    http://www.milehighreport.com/…

  • MrEast

    “As my colleague Jeff Legwold reported, the Broncos emerged from the lockout with nearly $129 million in salary cap liabilities for 2011.”
    http://www.denverpost.com/krie…

    That's what I'm going with.

  • td30ismpv

    Kyle is in contract talks with Miami- good luck buddy!

  • Thomps1523

    Ryan is right, Mr. East is wrong… they're at 97.5 million with orton on the team… look at section 5 of the CBA…  Or else tell me where you get your information

  • areferee

    According to Jeremy Bolander at Mile High
    Report, July 26, 2011″”Article 11 of the new CBA contains the rules that
    will allow the league to transition into the new league year, and buried among
    the many items within it is the following subsection:Section 5. Salaries
    and Salary Cap Accounting:….(b)     Proration From Preexisting
    Contracts.   ….(i) No signing bonus proration to the League Years of this
    Agreement shall apply for any Preexisting Contract that was terminated, traded
    or assigned via waivers prior to March 11, 2011….
     What this means for Denver is that the proration cap penalty of Jamal
    Williams, Justin Bannan, and Daniel Graham, who were all cut on March 3rd will
    not apply.  This frees up $11.676million to be used immediately in free agency,
    though the approximate cap hit of $900,000 for Correll Buckhalter will still
    apply (total cap savings of $1.45mil from cutting Buck)

      Denver's current position against the cap (top 51 salaries) is
    approximately $100.55mil against a total cap of $120mil.  However, we still need
    to sign our rookies, at an estimated $5.024mil.  That will supplant the bottom
    salaries of the 51, which offset it by about $3.6mil total , so we can expect
    that signing our rookies will put us at about $101.974 against the cap.

    Additionally, Prater and Woodyard are officially signed to their
    tenders, which are 2nd round tenders and will be treated as $1.835mil qualifying
    offers until they renegotiate contract extensions.  That $3.67mil total will be
    offset by approx. $900,000 in bottom end contracts, for a total against-the-cap
    adjustment of $2.77 mil.  Total Salary cap number at this juncture is
    approximately $104.744mil.

    The following items can be accounted at this point as well:

     $3mil cap credit for 3 players making a minimum of $1mil over the minimum
    wage and having at least 5 years of accrued service.  The player must remain on
    a roster designation (PUP counts) and the team will get docked a weekly prorated
    amount from the credit for every week the player is not on the roster.  In
    short, whomever gets the credit, don't cut them.  This credit will get prorated
    on the team's terms over the course of the 2014-2017 league years.

    $3.76mil performance contract adjustment for Brian Dawkins.  This isn't
    etched in stone, but it would be very surprising if it didn't go through.So
    until further notice, the Broncos are sitting at $97.984mil against a
    $120.375mil cap.  That equals $22.931mil in room to spend in free agency, along
    with a 2011 requirement to spend 99% cash towards the cap, or a current minimum
    of $21.216mil.  Still to come are decisions on Kyle Orton ($8.87mil) and several
    other vets.”http://broncotalk.net/2011/07/…

  • Thomps1523

    The new CBA allows teams to write off dead money from the books if it was dead before the new agreement was signed… That being said bannon, graham, green, etc… All those guys dead money doesn't count against us…  That along with cutting buck, and the upcoming reconstruction of b-dawk's deal makes it so denver is around 97.5 million right now…

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Ted Sundquist also stated on twitter this morning that he thought the cap number being distributed through the media were wrong.  He said Denver has much more cap space than is being reported.

  • Big_Pete

    Legwold was on the radio an hour or so ago and said that the Broncos are $18 million UNDER the cap.

  • MrEast

    I'm going with what the media is being distributed.  It is appearing more and more though that those numbers are wrong.

  • Free

    The writing in the new CBA is indeed a bit difficult, but once you get through it all we have just under $100mil on our books so far (this includes Orton). Yes it can apear that we're at $129 without going through everything but once we apply all the writeoffs we end up closer to the $100mil range. With that I'm hoping the reason we didn't even sniff at Cofield was due to the fact that Fox, Elway and Mr. X didn't think he was worth the $$$ or the Years he wanted. We need to quit this nickle and dime stuff and go strong for the last good DL in this years FA pool….Mabane before someone else grabs him.

    As for Orton i say thow our the offer to Arz a straight trade Orton for Rogers-Cromartie. They have openly said that he's on the block toward a new QB and with only 2 suitors out there now I'm not too confident we can get the 2nd rounder we want for him. JMHO but i'll take R-C on the other side ofChamp over out current list of CB's especially with Cox's butt wavin in the breaze to be gone off to jail….

  • DOneal4500

    Deangelo Williams just re-signed, Elway you are moving too slow all of our top guys we wanted are goin fast smh not happy we  let D.Will and B Cofield go……smh another slow rebuilding team

  • Rickscaglione

    No kidding if I have to watch orton cowar under pressure or lose a game because he is scared to cover a fumble I'm going t
    o be sick

  • Mike

    Williams really was never a chance he wanted to retire a Panther so as long as they offered him a shiny penny he was staying, but seriously is our front office even awake? apart from saying Ortons on the block they havent made a single move publically or been officially linked to anyone other than by association. We have the money, at least LOOK interested in spending it. Please.

  • Guest

    say nice things, we're trying to trade him.

  • Guest

    he's 28 and just got a 5 year 20 mil gaurantee (43 total).  i'm ok with not matching that.

  • Rickscaglione

    I guess your right

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    Ahmad Bradshaw is still availble and is much more the type of running back that we are looking for.

  • DOneal4500

    We need a good RB for Tebow to  be good and all of the free agents are older except Bradshaw, when we didnt draft a Rb or Dt im pretty sure we intended on spending a lot of money on those positions anyway

  • Mike

    Id rather have Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Marion Barber or even… well maybe not Willis McGahee over Bradshaw. Just me though

  • MrEast

    Legwold is being a serious Chris Mortenson right now.

  • BroncoMan24

    Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Marion Barber I say no thanks.  Barber is horrible.  McGahee I wouldn't mind for the right price and I do like Bradshaw.

  • Ryan K.

    I think we can get Jason Snelling for a great price.  He is the guy we need to go out and sign.  3 year deal for a guy with a decent speed, and runs north to south.

  • DOneal4500

    Trade Orton and trade him fast before we are stuck with him and all the good DT are gone, will not be a good look for Elway if he doest get this done even if it means for a 3rd or 4th round pick

  • Ryan K.

    Even without trading Orton the Broncos are only around $100 million on the pay roll.

  • MrEast

    Not currently.

  • BroncoMan24

    There is a lot of confusing information out their on our cap room.  I thought this article was good in explaining our cap space, but not sure who is correct.  Any thoughts? 

    http://www.milehighreport.com/…

  • MrEast

    “As my colleague Jeff Legwold reported, the Broncos emerged from the lockout with nearly $129 million in salary cap liabilities for 2011.”
    http://www.denverpost.com/krie…

    That's what I'm going with.

  • TD30isMVP

    Kyle is in contract talks with Miami- good luck buddy!

  • Thomps1523

    Ryan is right, Mr. East is wrong… they're at 97.5 million with orton on the team… look at section 5 of the CBA…  Or else tell me where you get your information

  • areferee

    According to Jeremy Bolander at Mile High Report, July 26, 2011.

    “Article 11 of the new CBA contains the rules that will allow the league to transition into the new league year, and buried among the many items within it is the following subsection:

    Section 5. Salaries
    and Salary Cap Accounting:….(b)     Proration From Preexisting
    Contracts.   ….(i) No signing bonus proration to the League Years of this
    Agreement shall apply for any Preexisting Contract that was terminated, traded or assigned via waivers prior to March 11, 2011….

    What this means for Denver is that the proration cap penalty of Jamal
    Williams, Justin Bannan, and Daniel Graham, who were all cut on March 3rd will not apply. 

    This frees up $11.676 million to be used immediately in free agency,
    though the approximate cap hit of $900,000 for Correll Buckhalter will still
    apply (total cap savings of $1.45mil from cutting Buck)

    Denver's current position against the cap (top 51 salaries) is approximately $100.55mil against a total cap of $120mil.  However, we still need
    to sign our rookies, at an estimated $5.024mil.  That will supplant the bottom salaries of the 51, which offset it by about $3.6mil total , so we can expect that signing our rookies will put us at about $101.974 against the cap.

    Additionally, Prater and Woodyard are officially signed to their tenders, which are 2nd round tenders and will be treated as $1.835mil qualifying offers until they renegotiate contract extensions. 

    That $3.67mil total will be offset by approx. $900,000 in bottom end contracts, for a total against-the-cap adjustment of $2.77 mil.  Total Salary cap number at this juncture is approximately $104.744mil.

    The following items can be accounted at this point as well:

     $3mil cap credit for 3 players making a minimum of $1mil over the minimum wage and having at least 5 years of accrued service.  The player must remain on a roster designation (PUP counts) and the team will get docked a weekly prorated amount from the credit for every week the player is not on the roster. 

    In short, whomever gets the credit, don't cut them.  This credit will get prorated on the team's terms over the course of the 2014-2017 league years.

    $3.76mil performance contract adjustment for Brian Dawkins.  This isn't
    etched in stone, but it would be very surprising if it didn't go through.So
    until further notice, the Broncos are sitting at $97.984mil against a
    $120.375mil cap. 

    That equals $22.931mil in room to spend in free agency, along with a 2011 requirement to spend 99% cash towards the cap, or a current minimum of $21.216mil. 

    Still to come are decisions on Kyle Orton ($8.87mil) and several
    other vets”.

    http://www.milehighreport.com/…

  • Thomps1523

    The new CBA allows teams to write off dead money from the books if it was dead before the new agreement was signed… That being said bannon, graham, green, etc… All those guys dead money doesn't count against us…  That along with cutting buck, and the upcoming reconstruction of b-dawk's deal makes it so denver is around 97.5 million right now…

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Ted Sundquist also stated on twitter this morning that he thought the cap number being distributed through the media were wrong.  He said Denver has much more cap space than is being reported.

  • Big_Pete

    Legwold was on the radio an hour or so ago and said that the Broncos are $18 million UNDER the cap.

  • MrEast

    I'm going with what the media is being distributed.  It is appearing more and more though that those numbers are wrong.

  • Free

    The writing in the new CBA is indeed a bit difficult, but once you get through it all we have just under $100mil on our books so far (this includes Orton). Yes it can apear that we're at $129 without going through everything but once we apply all the writeoffs we end up closer to the $100mil range. With that I'm hoping the reason we didn't even sniff at Cofield was due to the fact that Fox, Elway and Mr. X didn't think he was worth the $$$ or the Years he wanted. We need to quit this nickle and dime stuff and go strong for the last good DL in this years FA pool….Mabane before someone else grabs him.

    As for Orton i say thow our the offer to Arz a straight trade Orton for Rogers-Cromartie. They have openly said that he's on the block toward a new QB and with only 2 suitors out there now I'm not too confident we can get the 2nd rounder we want for him. JMHO but i'll take R-C on the other side ofChamp over out current list of CB's especially with Cox's butt wavin in the breaze to be gone off to jail….

  • DOneal4500

    Deangelo Williams just re-signed, Elway you are moving too slow all of our top guys we wanted are goin fast smh not happy we  let D.Will and B Cofield go……smh another slow rebuilding team

  • Rickscaglione

    No kidding if I have to watch orton cowar under pressure or lose a game because he is scared to cover a fumble I'm going t
    o be sick

  • Mike

    Williams really was never a chance he wanted to retire a Panther so as long as they offered him a shiny penny he was staying, but seriously is our front office even awake? apart from saying Ortons on the block they havent made a single move publically or been officially linked to anyone other than by association. We have the money, at least LOOK interested in spending it. Please.

  • Guest

    say nice things, we're trying to trade him.

  • Guest

    he's 28 and just got a 5 year 20 mil gaurantee (43 total).  i'm ok with not matching that.

  • Rickscaglione

    I guess your right

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    Ahmad Bradshaw is still availble and is much more the type of running back that we are looking for.

  • DOneal4500

    We need a good RB for Tebow to  be good and all of the free agents are older except Bradshaw, when we didnt draft a Rb or Dt im pretty sure we intended on spending a lot of money on those positions anyway

  • Mike

    Id rather have Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Marion Barber or even… well maybe not Willis McGahee over Bradshaw. Just me though

  • MrEast

    Legwold is being a serious Chris Mortenson right now.

  • BroncoMan24

    Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Marion Barber I say no thanks.  Barber is horrible.  McGahee I wouldn't mind for the right price and I do like Bradshaw.

  • Ryan K.

    I think we can get Jason Snelling for a great price.  He is the guy we need to go out and sign.  3 year deal for a guy with a decent speed, and runs north to south.