John Elway, Peyton Manning and John Fox tour Dove Valley. (AP Photo/John Leyba)
As Manning Watch approaches seemingly unendurable Day Seven, there’s one thing to note — the Denver Broncos, the first serious potential suitors of Peyton Manning, remain patient.
They aren’t pestering the future Hall of Famer. They aren’t calling him or his agent every time Manning gets on a plane to Arizona or Tennessee (despite some reports to the contrary). They’re not the jealous owners of a Peyton Manning crush — there will be no Facebook-stalking or Foursquare-friending to get an idea of what the free agent quarterback is up to.
The Broncos don’t need to do that. They know what they have to offer, and they know the makeup of the man they’re trying to offer it to. Writes Dave Krieger —
The Broncos have had no contact with Tim Tebow since the Manning courtship began. If you think about it for a moment, there’s not much they could say. Until Manning makes his choice, Tebow, the Broncos and the rest of planet Earth are in a holding pattern.
The Broncos have not pestered Manning for progress reports or a decision since he left Denver on Saturday. John Elway is driving this bus. He and Manning connected well during the visit Friday and Saturday. The Broncos expect Manning to be as thorough in this process as he is in his game preparation, which is very.
Indeed, Manning is renowned for his careful, meticulous nature. The Broncos know this, they respect this, so they are letting the veteran Colt do his due diligence. Click here to read the rest of this entry »
After seemingly staying quiet during the first forty-eight hours of free agency, the Denver Broncos may be on the verge of making some splashes. Tomorrow, the team will bring in free agent inside linebacker Jameel McClain for a visit.
McClain, 25, has started the last two seasons in Baltimore and has 201 career tackles and 4.5 sacks since he entered the league in 2008. If Denver is smart, they will not let McClain leave Dove Valley without a contract, as inside linebacker has been a position of need for the Broncos for quite some time.
At 6-1, 245 pounds, McClain is a versatile player who has spent the previous four seasons on an aggressive Ravens defense. If Denver were to sign McClain, paired up with second-year linebacker Von Miller, the Broncos would have two young, talented linebackers moving forward.
Broncos, get this done! McClain would be a huge signing for the team and frankly, we could use some good news around here.
Former Denver Broncos wide reviver Eddie Royal has signed with the San Diego Chargers, according to multiple reports. No more Royal treatment for Broncos fans evidently, as the fourth-year veteran has signed with the Broncos’ most despised division rival.
Royal signed a three-year deal with San Diego, after catching 19 passes for 155 yards and a touchdowns last season. Known as a better special teams/return player than as a receiver, Royal is 25 years old.
With Royal now in San Diego, Matthew Willis has jumped to third on Denver’s depth chart — instantly making the receiver position one which needs to be improved by the Broncos. Expect the team to either add one in free agency and/or draft one in April.
Really Eddie? It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to write what I think of you now.
Free agent Joe Mays has planned visits to the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, Mike Klis reports. The Denver Broncos middle linebacker had 75 tackles as a starter for the Broncos in 2011.
Wesley Woodyard is also a free agent, leaving the Broncos with 2011 third round draft pick Nate Irving as the only middle linebacker currently on their books. Is Irving ready? Probably not. Linebacker will clearly be a priority in this year’s draft if the Broncos lose Mays and Woodyard.
The Denver Broncos made their first 2012 free agent signing Thursday, signing defensive back Mike Adams, Vic Lombardi of CBS4 Denver reports.
Adams hails from Cleveland, where he started in 16 games and tallied 61 tackles and three interceptions for the Browns in 2011. An undrafted signee of the San Francisco 49ers in 2004, Adams is renowned for his work ethic and for being a good locker room guy. He’s beaten the undrafted odds to remain in this league for eight seasons.
A solid addition for the Broncos, who still aren’t sure if they’ll have Brian Dawkins back or if Rahim Moore can improve from his rookie year. What’s your take on the Broncos’ first free agent splash?
Brady Quinn (9) dives for a fumble recovery. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)
Remember three weeks ago? When Brady Quinn‘s comments on Tim Tebow were all the blogging rage, consuming the Denver and NFL news landscapes?
Yeah, me neither. Seems like ages go. Maybe it’s the toll Peyton Watch has had on all of us.
Anyway, the free agent quarterback is set to visit the New York Jets on Friday, Mike Klis of The Denver Post reports. We’ve yet to hear the Broncos putting up much of a fight to keep Quinn.
Quinn is a good football fit for the Jets; it wouldn’t surprise me if he signs there. From a media perspective though, that’s a lot of pretty boys playing quarterback for one team. New York is New York, but I’m not even sure that town is metro enough to handle both Brady Quinn and Mark Sanchez.
The Denver Broncos are among two teams reportedly interested in free agent defensive end John Abraham, says NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora.
The other team interested is the Tennessee Titans, who also happen to be courting free agent quarterback Peyton Manning. The Titans must think Denver is doing something right, as the team keeps trying to snatch up free agents out from under them.
Abraham, about to turn 34, still has some gas left in the tank and should have a few more productive seasons. Starting in fifteen games last season, Abraham recorded 9.5 sacks and forced four fumbles.
Abraham is a 6-4, 263 pound twelve-year veteran who has recorded 112.0 career sacks and 36 forced fumbles. Teamed up with Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil in Denver, Abraham would likely improve his career numbers before hanging up his cleats — if he does sign with the Broncos.
He’s old, but the production is there. Would you sign him?
Former Seattle Seahawks and Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant is scheduled to make a free agent visit to the Denver Broncos this Friday, Adam Schefter reports.
Trufant, 31, spent all eight of his professional seasons with the Seahawks, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2007. He finished the 2011 season on Injured Reserve and was released by the club last week.
The 5-11, 197-pounder has had five interceptions since 2007, one returned for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, another defensive back the Broncos brought to town has signed with another team — Brandon Meriweather is a Washington Redskin, The Washington Post reports.
Not in love with this Trufant move, but it’s worth kicking the tires. The Broncos need corner depth; I was just hoping for someone a bit younger. We’ll see how this plays out.
Mario Williams in 2011. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Von Miller won’t be getting his wish.
Mario Williams, the NFL’s top defensive free agent, has agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills, ESPN reports. The six-year contract is widely expected to be the most lucrative deal for a defensive player in NFL history.
Did the Broncos blow it? There were some rumors that the Denver Broncos were waiting on Peyton Manning before trying to lure Williams into town, but we never heard anything solid on that front. It’s very possibly the Broncos were content with their current pass rushing duo of Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller and didn’t feel the need to pursue the high-priced Williams.
Guess Von Miller can expect a paycheck this year after all.
Peyton Manning attends a press conference announcing Manning's release from the Colts at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on March 7, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Joey Foley/Getty Images)
This Peyton Manning sweepstakes is getting a little desperate.
First, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (half-facetiously) offered to play for free to get Manning in Denver. Now, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams has gone the other way — and there’s nothing facetious about it.
The 89-year-old is reportedly offering Manning a contract “for life” if the future Hall of Famer will sign with Tennessee, KHOU Houston reports. While the CBA presumably restricts those types of deals in player contracts, Adams and family are seriously considering offering Manning a minority ownership in the club, according to reports.
We would presume that sort of negotiating would also be in violation of the CBA, but enough buzz has been gathering around this part of Adams’ plan to give us pause. Perhaps the billionaire knows a bit more about big business than we do; perhaps he has found a loophole. He told KHOU he “feels great” about the Titans’ chances of winning Manning, after all.
So, Manning, what will it be?
Published on Thu Mar 15 18:30. 43 Comments |
Tagged: 2012 Free Agency, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, John Elway, John Fox, Kevin Kolb, Peyton Manning, Tennessee Titans, Top Stories.