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AFC West Notes: Broncos, Marshall, Sanders

June 2nd, 2016 at 10:54am CST by Zachary Links

On Wednesday night, Broncos GM John Elway spoke with Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post (on Twitter) about contract talks for linebacker Brandon Marshall, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, and defensive ace Von Miller. Elway says that he has gone back and forth with the agents for Marshall and Sanders but has no real update with regards to Miller. The GM says that he has a goal date in mind for all three deals.

“The ideal thing would be to get all three of them done (by mid-July). That’s the goal. That would be nice if we could do that,” Elway said (link).

Here’s more from the AFC West:

  • Now entering his contract year, it’s time for Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram to put his money where his talent is, Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego writes. Last season, Ingram notched at least one sack in each of the team’s final five games. If he can produce across a full season in 2016, he’ll be in line for a major payday, whether it be from San Diego or elsewhere.
  • Non-union construction workers are frustrated with the latest proposal for a new Chargers stadium in San Diego, David Garrick of U-T San Diego writes. It’s not immediately clear whether these non-union laborers would have any ability to stand in the way of the proposal as it’s currently put together.
  • Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman told ESPN that she has yet to discuss gambling regulations in the process of luring the Raiders (link via PFT). There has been some speculation that the city would be asked to restrict sports books from taking bets on games played in Las Vegas. “We’ve had years and years of experience in how to set regulations and enforce them. But I really don’t believe it’s going to be an issue for us at all,” she said. “At this point, the first step is to work through those numbers to make sure we can get a stadium built, do it high quality and most importantly in the right location.”
  • Earlier this week, we rounded up some more news on the Broncos.

AFC Rumors: Slauson, Chargers, Bills, V. Miller

May 5th, 2016 at 7:58pm CST by Zachary Links

All along, Matt Slauson has planned on visiting both the Chargers and the Bills and he will not rush his decision, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. After wrapping up his visit with San Diego on Wednesday, the center/guard is now meeting with team brass in Buffalo. Slauson doesn’t have a deal with the Bolts yet, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything one way or the other.

Here’s more out of the AFC:

  • Contract talks are at a standstill between Von Miller and the Broncos, but the Super Bowl MVP says that he doesn’t plan on going anywhere. “I’m going to be here in Denver no matter what,” Miller said, as Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post writes. “The contract is going to take care of itself. I’m going to be a Denver Bronco for life.” Miller, who was hit with the franchise tag, is not expected to take part in team workouts this week.
  • Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona “may have to leave the Patriots for a year or so,” a Navy official told The Dan Patrick Show (transcript via ESPN.com). The second-year player has been assigned to a ship, which prompted New England to sign free agent long snapper Christian Yount.
  • Chiefs rookie return specialist Tyreek Hill will not be subject to NFL discipline upon entering the league but could be considered a repeat offender under its conduct policy if he is involved in another incident of domestic violence, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes. The fifth-round choice out of West Alabama pleaded guilty in August 2015 to a domestic abuse incident involving his pregnant girlfriend. The policy only applies when the player’s first infraction occurs while the player is in the NFL. However, the league will not hesitate to hit Hill with advanced punishment if another incident takes place.

AFC Rumors: Broncos, Wilkerson, Ravens, Fins

April 29th, 2016 at 3:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Having traded up on Thursday night to nab Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, the Broncos may now be in a better position to negotiate a long-term deal with star pass rusher Von Miller, suggests Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).

Lynch’s rookie contract will likely call for cap hits that range from about $1.7MM in 2016 to $3MM by his fourth year in 2019, meaning Denver may not have much money tied up in the quarterback position for the next few years. While a Broncos source who spoke to Cole cautioned that the team still needs to make sure it has room to extend players like wideout Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Brandon Marshall, there’s some optimism between the team and Miller’s camp that a long-term pact can eventually be reached.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Jets have in fact fielded calls on Muhammad Wilkerson in recent weeks, but no serious suitors emerged, according to sources who spoke with Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. On Thursday night, GM Mike Maccagnan confirmed that a Wilkerson deal is now unlikely.
  • Kevin Byrne of BaltimoreRavens.com takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Ravens‘ process last night as their No. 6 pick approached, including how the Laremy Tunsil video affected the team’s decision. Meanwhile, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald examines the thinking of the team that did take Tunsil, at No. 13: the Dolphins.
  • The NFL’s stance on having a franchise in Las Vegas is “evolving,” per commissioner Roger Goodell, but Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) hears that the league still wouldn’t want a team like the Raiders to have any part-owners who have a stake in a Vegas casino.
  • Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com explores the Browns‘ day-one draft decisions, noting that plenty of execs around the league are skeptical about the team’s approach and the selection of Baylor wideout Corey Coleman.
  • Houston defensive tackle Tomme Mark got calls from the Chargers and Raiders and has drawn interest from Texans as a late-rounder or a priority free agent, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Broncos Rumors: Kaepernick, Hoyer, Miller

April 21st, 2016 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Trade talks between the Broncos and the 49ers regarding Colin Kaepernick are “dormant,” GM John Elway told reporters (Twitter link via James Palmer of NFL.com). However, he added that there is an offer on the table.

Here’s the latest out of Denver:

  • The Broncos are interested in signing Brian Hoyer, but they’re not in a rush to get a deal done, as Michael David Smith of PFT writes. “We had a good visit but he’s got another trip lined up. It’s a possibility. He’s a good football player. We wanted to have him in, meet him and get to know him a little bit. But nothing to report there,” Elway said.
  • The Broncos (and the Jets) remain interested in Hoyer, but both teams have a few balls in the air, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Each side will take a few days to think things over, so we shouldn’t expect Hoyer to sign with anyone today.
  • Elway said the status of negotiations with Von Miller is “not nearly as bad” as it has has been portrayed in the media lately (Twitter link via Lindsay Jones of USA Today)
  • When asked about Miller holding out, Elway said “This is all voluntary. If Von chooses to be here, then great. You always hope that everybody is here,” (Twitter link via Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post).
  • Elway said there have been contract proposals exchanged with Miller, and now that draft meetings are winding down, the two sides will have more time to talk (Twitter link via Jones).

AFC Notes: Broncos, Browns, Texans

April 19th, 2016 at 8:42pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Contract talks between the Broncos and franchise-tagged pass rusher Von Miller are going so poorly that the Super Bowl 50 MVP could consider holding out until November both this year and, if needed, in 2017, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Cole says that the Broncos’ current offer to Miller is worth only a little more per year than what the Giants gave the far less accomplished Olivier Vernon ($17MM) in free agency and doesn’t contain nearly enough guaranteed money for Miller’s liking.

Here’s more on Denver and a couple other AFC clubs:

  • Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez is working hard to take the reins in Denver, showing leadership, and impressing his teammates in the process, reports Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today (video link). “I can tell he wants to be a leader on this team. He wants to be our quarterback. He wants to be The Guy. And that’s the type of guy we need,” receiver Emmanuel Sanders said. Of course, early reviews aside, Sanchez is a long shot to win the Broncos’ starting job. The team could foil his plans to start by trading for the 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick, adding a high-round draft pick, or signing free agents like Brian Hoyer or Ryan Fitzpatrick.
  • After the Browns released veteran defenders Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner earlier this offseason, linebacker Paul Kruger worried about his own status with the team, he told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “Yeah I was definitely anticipating something,” the 30-year-old said. “Made me a little nervous, I’m not going to lie.” The Browns could still part with Kruger and save $5.3MM before June 1 or $6.5MM if he’s a post-June 1 cut, but they already have the third-most cap space in the league. Kruger, for his part, now expects to remain in the fold. “Those are discussions that I let my agent and those people take care of but hey, I’m here right now and this is where I’m planning on being come August,” he said. Kruger’s sack total plummeted from 11 in 2014 to 2.5 last season, though he still menaced opposing quarterbacks, finishing with the league’s fourth-most hurries (33).
  • The Texans will bring in Wisconsin fullback Derek Watt and Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams for Wednesday visits, reports Tania Ganguli of ESPN (Twitter links). Derek Watt is the brother of superstar Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt.
  • Wide receivers Cam Worthy and Saalim Hakim, offensive lineman James Brewer and defensive back Dax Swanson will partake in Browns minicamp this week as tryout players, tweets the team’s communications manager, Dan Murphy.

Broncos Sign Shiloh Keo, Brandian Ross

April 18th, 2016 at 3:38pm CST by Luke Adams

As first reported by Mike Klis of 9NEWS and Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter links) earlier today, the Broncos have re-signed safety Shiloh Keo and signed safety Brandian Ross, the team announced in a press release. Both players received one-year deals.Shiloh Keo

With T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart penciled in as the Broncos’ starting safeties, neither Keo nor Ross is expected to have a significant role in Denver this season, if they even earn spots on the roster. Still, having lost David Bruton in free agency, the club could use some depth at the position

Keo, who joined the Broncos last December after making his case for a contract on Twitter to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, played a little down the stretch and in the playoffs for the club, grabbing a Week 17 interception. He was was arrested for driving under the influence in February.

As for Ross, he started 13 games for the Raiders in 2013 and 10 more in 2014, but was cut in 2015 and didn’t find a new home until near the end of the season, when he signed in San Diego. The Chargers non-tendered him last month.

Here are a few more Broncos-related updates for Monday:

  • With the Broncos’ voluntary offseason program underway, Von Miller won’t be in attendance, and Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports takes a closer look at the contract talks between Denver and its star pass rusher. According to Robinson, the two sides are believed to be about $20MM apart over the span of five years — about $4MM per season. The Broncos’ offer is reportedly around $18MM per year, while Miller is seeking something closer to top QB money ($22MM annually).
  • Robinson’s piece includes plenty of interesting details, including several on Broncos cap guru Mike Sullivan. Some agents believe that, after locking up defensive lineman Derek Wolfe to a below-market deal, Sullivan and the Broncos are now attempting to get more players to agree to team-friendly contracts. Said one agent: “I think the Derek Wolfe deal screwed their heads up. It made [Mike] Sullivan believe he could get everyone to do bad deals. There is a lot of arrogance there.”
  • Although Sullivan certainly has a significant role when it comes to contract negotiations, anyone who has been around the Broncos knows that John Elway “calls all [the] shots,” says Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter link).
  • Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall has yet to sign his RFA tender, but he’s still participating in workouts this week, signing a waiver to cover him in the event of an injury, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who is entering the final year of his current contract, said today that he hopes to remain in Denver for several more years, as Brandon Krisztal of Denver Sports 760 tweets. “The City of Denver has been really good to me,” Sanders said. “I want to be a Bronco, I want to retire a Bronco.”

Latest On Von Miller

April 16th, 2016 at 1:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two days away from the Broncos convening for their initial voluntary workouts of the offseason, Von Miller called Gary Kubiak to inform him he won’t be in attendance for the summer program, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

Slapped with the exclusive franchise tag worth $14.129MM, Miller expressed regret to the second-year head coach during the conversation due to the fact he doesn’t have a long-term contract with the Broncos yet, sources told Klis.

But the sixth-year linebacker’s absence isn’t surprising. He has not signed his tenure and is pursuing a landmark contract for a defensive player. We heard last week the Broncos’ best offer so far to Miller was more than $17MM per year. Denver hasn’t moved far off that number, with its latest proposal hovering around $18MM AAV, Klis reports. The Broncos have been resonant in wanting to keep his price tag below Ndamukong Suh‘s $19.06MM-per-season accord, per Klis.

The Broncos and Miller’s agent, Joby Branion, have continued negotiations this week, Klis writes.

Miller finds himself in the on the same terrain as Muhammad Wilkerson. Both pass-rushing dynamos have observed many of their fellow 2011 draft picks — from Cam Newton, to J.J. Watt, to Marcell Dareus, to A.J. Green — receive lucrative extensions, while both the Jets’ and Broncos’ stars from that class played their 2015 seasons on the team-friendly fifth-year options and are currently among the franchise-tagged contingent.

Although, Miller hasn’t been connected with any trade rumors like Wilkerson. The Broncos have signed each of their three prior tagged performers under sixth-year GM John Elway.

Miller’s stance remains that he’s worth far more than what the Giants paid for Olivier Vernon, whose $17MM-per-year deal is structured so the former Dolphins standout receives $29MM in Year 1. New York could afford to structure Vernon’s deal this way due to a cap situation far friendlier than what Denver was working with going into the offseason.

The Broncos currently possess $8.2MM, according to OverTheCap, but that is with Miller on their books for $14.129MM. A long-term deal would bring this 2016 figure down, and Denver could afford to pay out more of Miller’s presumptive contract down the road. The team’s $80MM+ in space available in 2017, as of now, represents the most in the league.

None of the Broncos’ three previous franchise-tagged players under Elway’s regime — Matt Prater, Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas — participated in offseason workouts, so despite his expectation that Miller would be back in Denver on Monday for the start of the 2016 program, it’s hardly shocking that the Dancing with the Stars participant won’t be.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Franchise Tag Notes: Mo, Cousins, Norman

April 12th, 2016 at 6:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The asking price for Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is a first-round pick, and perhaps even more, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, who reports that Wilkerson is still on the trade block. One club that won’t be bidding for Wilkerson is the Bears, per Robinson, because Chicago doesn’t want to sacrifice the No. 11 pick and likes the depth of this year’s defensive line draft class.

Let’s take a deep dive into Robinson’s article (which is well worth a full read), as he passes along updates on the top franchise-tagged players…

  • Kirk Cousins wants a “legitimate” franchise quarterback offer before he considers signing a long-term deal with Washington, sources tell Robinson. In other words, Cousins, who is set to earn more than $19MM in 2016, isn’t interested in a “pay-as-you-go” extension signed by the likes of Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick. At the moment, Washington doesn’t view Cousins as the centerpiece of its team.
  • The Panthers aren’t interested in paying cornerback Josh Norman‘s asking price, which Robinson reports is around $15-16MM (a number that jibes with earlier reports). Carolina is fine with letting Norman play out the year under the franchise tag, which, at nearly $14MM, pays him like an elite corner.
  • Von Miller‘s price has gone up this offseason following Olivier Vernon‘s massive deal with the Giants, but the Broncos want to pay him somewhere between Ndamukong Suh and Justin Houston money, which would be around $18MM. Recent reports have indicated that Denver offered Miller more than $17MM annually.
  • The Bills have made left tackle Cordy Glenn their top priority, and because they view him as an “ascending cornerstone,” they’re willing to pay him elite tackle money, writes Robinson. The deal could be delayed, but Anthony Castonzo‘s deal with the Colts is a starting point in talks, per Robinson.
  • The Chiefs expect to get a deal done with Eric Berry, but probably not until after the draft, according to Robinson. Berry and Kansas City have a great relationship which should make negotiations easier, and Robinson opines that Berry should be able to top Devin McCourty‘s deal.
  • Alshon Jeffery is in the same boat as Berry, per Robinson, as the Bears are largely focused on the draft at the moment. Jeffery is not worried about reaching a long-term deal, especially since the franchise tag is paying him nearly $15MM, but the two sides are expected to knock out an extension later in the offseason.
  • The Rams might have a hard time getting cornerback Trumaine Johnson to agree to a reasonable deal, especially because they picked Johnson over fellow CB Janoris Jenkins, who went on to score a large contract with the Giants. If the two sides do work out an extension, says Robinson, it will be late in the offseason.

Broncos Offer Von Miller $17MM+ AAV Deal

April 10th, 2016 at 5:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

It appears Von Miller‘s Dancing with the Stars run will likely keep him from beginning offseason workouts with the Broncos. Well, that and the fact the star pass-rusher hasn’t signed his franchise tag yet. Unless the 27-year-old Miller is eliminated from the competition Monday night, he will remain in Los Angeles for the duration of his stint on the show, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

But the bigger takeaway from Klis’ report is the Broncos have offered Miller a deal that would pay him between $17-$18MM per year.

That total would place the Super Bowl MVP second among all defensive players, behind only Ndamukong Suh‘s $19.06MM, in terms of average annual value.

Despite Miller’s demand of a $22MM-AAV deal in line with elite quarterbacks, the Broncos do not want to exceed Suh’s annual salary, Klis writes. Without Peyton Manning‘s $15MM+ cap number on their books as it was from 2012-15, Miller would become the highest-paid Bronco on a per-year basis — since the full parameters of Denver’s offer to Miller is not yet known — if he opted to accept this deal. Klis reports Miller is not expected to sign his franchise tender anytime soon.

Denver’s No. 2 pick in 2011, Miller believes he’s worth far more than the $17MM-AAV deal Olivier Vernon signed with the Giants based on the edge-rushers’ disparate sack numbers. The Broncos have eclipsed Vernon’s per-year mark but not nearly to Miller’s liking. A 2012 second-rounder, Vernon has 29.0 career sacks and one season with more than 10. Miller, a two-time first-team All-Pro, has 60.0 and four 10-sack+ seasons.

Vernon, however, was able to push his price this high because he was a free agent, whereas Miller will have a difficult time moving the Broncos to beyond $20MM per year due to the fact they’re negotiating with the franchise tag in play. Miller could play this year on the tag and be re-tagged next year — like the Seahawks did with Walter Jones — and still fall well short of Suh’s $19MM+ salary since his exclusive franchise tag is worth $14.129MM.

So, this standoff will likely continue well into the summer. If the sides don’t reach an extension agreement by July 15, Miller will play the 2016 season for $14.129MM.

Had Miller not been involved in this television competition, the fact that he hasn’t signed his tender would keep him out of Denver. Demaryius Thomas bypassed Broncos workouts until being signed to a five-year extension last July. Gary Kubiak told media, including Klis, he expected every player on the roster to attend these workouts, including Miller.

Klis doubts Miller will be eliminated from a contest that has actually induced Miller to take up residence in L.A. to practice at least four times per week. Dancing with the Stars arranges housing for its contestants.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Extra Points: Manziel, Bills, Newsome

April 9th, 2016 at 12:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL…

  • Broncos star linebacker Von Miller wouldn’t mind if his team added his former college teammate, embattled quarterback Johnny Manziel. “If I had to make my decision on it, he would already be with the Broncos. But we’ve got guys in the front office that make those decisions, and they’ve put us in the championship with those decisions,” Miller said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com).
  • Linebacker Danny Lansanah is set to visit the Bills, tweets Josh Reed of WIVB. The 30-year-old spent the past three year with the Buccaneers, and he finished last season with 55 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
  • Jonathan Newsome avoided a felony conviction stemming from his marijuana arrest, writes Stephen Holder of IndyStar.com. The former Colts linebacker was instead sentenced to supervised probation.
  • Newsome may get another chance in the NFL, but ESPN.com’s Mike Wells doesn’t believe it will be with the Colts. The 25-year-old was released by the team in February following an arrest for marijuana possession.

 

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