An Absolute Panic
One day you’re winning the Super Bowl. A month later, your team is picked apart in free agency.
No, the first day of the NFL’s annual meat market was not good to the Broncos.
Just days after Peyton Manning retired, his heir apparent, Brock Osweiler fled for the Houston Texans, who handed the relatively untested passer a contract worth $72 million over four years.
Broncos president John Elway, apparently more than a bit miffed, said: “We’ve stayed true to our philosophy of building a team with players who want to be Denver Broncos and want to be here. That’s been a successful approach for us.” This is the same Elway who was drafted by the Baltimore Colts and threatened to play major league baseball if they didn’t trade him … which they did.
Gone from that No. 1-ranked Denver defense are lineman Malik Jackson ($90 million over six years from the Jacksonville Jaguars) and linebacker Danny Trevathan. Four teams are bidding for running back C.J. Anderson. Guess a lot of guys don’t want to be there, John.
About 50 players changed teams on the first true day of free agency; generally 90-100 move in any given off-season, so Wednesday was a blowout.
It was fascinating watching players flee the Miami Dolphins. They haven’t won anything in forever – their last playoff victory was 16 years ago. Defensive ends Olivier Vernon ($20M signing bonus alone from the New York Giants) and Derrick Shelby exited, as did receiver Rishard Matthews. Backup quarterback Matt Moore seems likely to sign with the Dallas Cowboys. And running back Lamar Miller will be joining Osweiler with the Texans. Dolphins? They’re barely minnows now.
This initial wave of free agency was more like a tsunami ripping through the league and the teams. It won’t last much longer, not at these prices. But there’s always a second wave and then the NFL draft.
Hope. That’s the most expensive commodity an NFL team can buy.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
Tensions Rise At The Democratic Debate In Miami
-
Correa joined the Mets with a $315 million contract. Recently, baseball player Carlos Correa announced that he had cut...
-
Oklahoma and Texas will depart from the college sports conference at the end of the season. The Big 12...
-
Robert Kraft wants to re-sign Brady just long enough that he can retire as a Patriot. Earlier this week,...
-
The skilled third-baseman will be enshrined in Cooperstown. Scott Rolen is one of the most skilled and recognized third-basemen...
-
Brady’s 23rd football season has ended. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys went head-to-head for...
-
Smith has been fired after one season with the team. Over the weekend, the owners of the Houston Texans...
-
Pelé passed due to complications related to colon cancer. On Thursday night, the sporting world received unfortunate news: Pelé,...
-
His return heralded a victory over the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas needed to take...
-
Mayfield will be available on waiver to other NFL teams. After an underwhelming performance in his current role as...
-
Mike White led the team to a decisive victory over the Bears over the weekend. On Saturday, the New...
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...