ESPN.com reported Monday morning that the Broncos had come to terms with linebacker Niko Koutouvides, who spent the last four years with the Seattle Seahawks.
Monday afternoon, the Broncos announced that Koutouvides had signed his contract. The Broncos also announced the signing of Keary Colbert and the re-signing of defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban; both had first been reported in the media Saturday.
The Purdue product, who turns 27 on March 25, primarily handled special-teams duties for the Seahawks throughout the last four years. He started three games during the 2004 campaign — two in the regular season and one in the playoffs.
Over his four years as a Seahawk, Koutouvides had 89 solo tackles, 22 assists and a sack.
Discuss below …
Tags: Free Agency, Niko Koutouvides
Ya’ll are talking about Niko being a backup… he is competing for the starting job at middle linebacker. DJ Williams did not play his best football there and the Broncos have thought of moving him back.
C2 we cut Gold because he couldn’t tackle anybody last season. It was like we were playing with 10 on defense. If Elam doesn’t return it is because the Broncos can’t pay him what he wants. It would be nice if we could get at least another linebacker/safety and defensive tackle before the draft.
Gold was not the same football player, he was slow and couldn’t get off his blocks. Big Al hasn’t signed anywhere now has he, that’s HINT #1 that MAYBE he’s not fit to play anymore. Elam’s not going anywhere dumb ass, he’s thinking about retiring. Robertson has to come so far under that contract it’s a joke. The Jets can’t just expect another team to eat $9 million and like how it tastes. D.J. Williams is a STUD, keep him wherever HE feels most comfortable and build the LB core around him. I believe they’ll move him back to WLB and most likely draft a guy to play middle. OL and DL are the number one issues though on the team, still, Shanny should trust his board and draft the BEST PLAYER there. If Clady’s there I’m gonna dance a jig.
Koutouvides is a joke, he hardly played in four years!!! We need to go after bigger names
BTW, can we trade Dre Bly??? I know the pass wasn’t that great but, man he got freakin burned all over the field!!!!!!
Gnarly, you’ve gotta be kidding. If Thomas is friends with this guy, I’m willing to bet he knows if the guy is likely to have drugs and guns in his car. And this isn’t the first time he has been in trouble. Remember how he basically got kicked off his college team because he repeatedly got in trouble, after multiple warnings by his coaches? remember him slipping in the draft because most teams thought he was too risky off the field? I still think it was a GREAT move by the team. He is super talented, and I am all about giving a college kid a second chance. However, he is now a PROFESSIONAL. He should be held to a higher standard than college kids. When you become a grown man and a PROFESSIONAL, you are expected to act like one, especially when you have already been given a chance by an employer who could’ve written you off like all the rest did. I don’t know about you, but if I get caught in a car with someone with drugs and guns in the car and I actually get arrested (it’s called constructive possession), I am not going to have a job to go back to. Playtime is over, and he needs to grow up if he wants the PRIVILEGE of playing in the NFL.
shelbo bronco,
After reading your blog, I feel victomized. Who is the victom anyway?
suavey 303,
Be careful what you say about Greeks…
I say pick up Dunn! Cut/trade Henry and Bell for draft day moves! Selvin and Hall are both great young RB and KR crew. Pick up Dunn who still made like 800 yards with the falcons sorry O. Dunn could pull 1000 easy here and still get Selvin close to 1000 with splits. I’m still sure we need one more solid DT/DE combo guy . This Kovo is gonna be a needed live wire on ST but doubt much else. I see draft day being a Dline and LB priority followed with a WR/RB sleeper.
There was no Gun in the car. Here is the link with the CORRECT information on the Marcus Thomas arrest.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030308/spo_253092901.shtml
My Small, Light Greek backup
Now resign Al Wilson
And, good job trading for a DT
hey mason any word on if there is a chance Elam will be back.
here you go 1088: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_8436952
Thank you vegasbronco, ironically that article made me feel even better about the arrest. He was tested and it was negative after the arrest, therefore he was not using the illegal substance and it was not his car in which the gun was found in the glove compartment. He can have whatever friends he wants as long as he makes the right choice by not using any illegal drugs. I honestly think that this is not as bad a thing as it first sounded for Thomas except for the fact that he needs to make sure the friends he choses to hang with are not doing anything illegal while he is with them.
I can see why some of you guys are complaining because we didn’t sign any big names in free agency this year. After all, look where all the big names we signed last got us??? I love Jason Elam , one of the best Broncos of all time, but if he does leave then we only have to carry 2 kickers on the roster instead of three and that opens up a spot for someone else. He will retire some day and we may never have a kicker as great as him. I’m sitting on fence on this one but I can’t help thinking we might have been 5-11 last year or worse without him. Niko will be our best special teams player next season, enough said. He was also a captain on the seahawks , we do need leaders on this team. I do think warrick dunn can still play, i don’t think we need him unless we give henry the boot. One old guy running the ball is enough. Henry was awesome when healthy last year but he wasn’t healthy enough to do the team any good over the long haul. I’m really worried about cutler getting killed again this year, we need a great left offensive tackle. I’m worried about stopping the run. we need a strong young bull in the middle of that d-line, no fat guys please. I was amazed at jarvis moss’s speed off the corner last year, I can’t wait to watch him play again. I think it says something for marcus thomas that he was in the wrong place but didn’t do the wrong thing. That takes a lot of will power to be around your peers and not surcome to peer pressure. I think he’s gonna be alright. I think colbert might work out, he’s got to be excited to have a guy like jay culter throwing the ball his way.
Niko’s primary role will be on special teams. Obviously, we need some assistance in that department so he’ll fulfill his purposes marvelously. If he does anything else, it’s all gravy.
You guys who are hung up up on the fact that Koutouvides hasn’t played much the last four years (except on special teams), are you unaware that he was backing up an all-pro? He’ll do well in the middle, and Williams can move back to the outside which is more suited to his talents. Yes, he was good in the middle. He’ll be even better on the outside. As for wishing we had traded rather than released Gold, why didn’t I think of that? I think we should have traded for, oh, Lance Briggs, or maybe Tomlinson. Yeah, why didn’t we do that? Maybe we didn’t get anything for Gold because nobody WANTED to give us anything.
I like that we signed this guy, we are taking a much different route this year, and that tells me shanahan and the broncos are trying to make up for the upsets last year, the quick fixs didnt work, now we do it the long way, this is how the Patriots did it guys, build through the draft and address what we need.
My list of free agents I think are still availible that we could use is:
1) Marlon McCree S- this guy was part of a good chargers defense and hes about 30 years old, and we still need some experience, I like this guy and should pursue him.
2) T Shaun Olivia- this was one of the lineman the chargers let go and with lepsis out I think this guys can help us out alot hes 25 years old and can have a good football career ahead of him in Denver, plus he block for LT, means something!!
3)Boss Bailey- 2 reasons why I like this guy, one he is champs brother and they would make a great duo and the game would be that much fun for them, playing side by side as brothers and competing i like it, two, hes a another speed demon, and when he was a rookie he ran the fastest 40 of all LBs, injuries set him back but he appears healthy and ready to play and young so this guys is a must and I hope we sign him.
4) We still need a #2 reciever, my list of recievers that are good are D.J. Hackett, Bryant Johnson although he may want money for it, Malcom Floyd from the chargers, tall 6′5 guy who is to me a guy that will perform if given the opportunity, and even Jabar Gaffney, now these names are not big, but the potential is there.
Any guys for those who know nothing of Keary Colbert, hes faster than hes shown, he ran a 4.38 on his combine about 3-4 years ago, hes just not been in the right situtian or given a chance.
In the Draft we need a DT for sure, you’ll be surprised who we can get, if you look whos ahead of us, Maybe only the Bengals are really in need of a DT like us, so we could get a good one, there are so many good D-line man in this years draft.
Blasphemy on you moody dont you open your mouth to say some garbage like get rid of Mike, he’s done entirely too much for stupid crap like that.
Maybe mike can pull of a great draft day trade and we will…….
TRADE UP FOR DORSEY.!!!!!!!!!
I think so far we have been doing good in free agency. Signing this guy is a good move, Mike has a knack for finding hidden talent. I suggest leaving D.J in the middle and letting the rest of the linebackers like this guy battle it out for a starting position. Uh if i’m not mistaken I think Jordan beck is also trying to compete for a starting job.
Is it me or are the Broncos really dropping the ball right now in free agency? It seems like they haven’t tried to pick up any real talent yet and now it’s too late. Sure the 11th pick is great, but after the past years drafts do we really have faith in what old Shanny is gonna draft?
For all you haters who have no clue about football, let the professionals who actually do this for a living sign the talent…and for those of you who can read check out today’s Denver Post!!
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_8443449
I,m with you XZBRONX, we had our chance to really bolster the defense , instead it’s the same old defense and logic. Bend don’t break defense never works. We need to be dominate and nasty SOB’s on defense. Make every other team scared to play us. Now we are just another win for someone else!!!
Hey guys I from Brazil, I love football and Broncos. I’m 18 and watch this game for at least 5 years…somethig fortunatelly, is not more so unusual around here…
I’m not inside all this drft news or free agency, but Dunn, in my opnion, would be a great add, this guy is a playmaker; our offense really needs a boost and a experienced man to share the hard work with Cutler. The running game must be a real threat that runs well every game, Hall and Young are not prepared yet. Olivea is a great name and with Matt out, we should pull that trigger.
On D, it’s nice to know that Champ could play by the side of another Bailey. I also like Gibril Wilson, he’s a great name. Adding a huge DT would make our D-line look a little more scaring, but I don’t have a clue who could be it.
Man, DJ is our cornerstone, let him play wherever he wants, we have to find someone to play by his side, not the opposite.
I’d like somebody to talk more often about our tean…
Thanks Broncos Fans, I hope I didn’t say any stupid thing…
Finally someone knows what there talking about … greekbronco9!!
For those of you who don’t know who Niko is, lets remind ourselves this is a guy who at Perdue was 1st team All-big 10 two years in a row, and won Perdue’s hammer award (meaning I hit like a truck) 2 years in a row. He was drafted by Seattle, and in his rookie year started the last 4 games of the season (and started in the Playoffs). Sorry Lofa (aka 3 time probowler) was drafted and started over the guy. Can you name any other middle linebacker in the NFL that would start over Lofa? Didn’t think so. Also, in Seattle 4-3 system, there was no room for Niko. So what does the guy do….oooo how about be 2nd in the league in special teams tackles (and be one of Seattles CAPTAINS!, any team can use good leadership). It just proves he is hungry, and he finally is getting a chance to make it happen. And do you think Shanny is dumb? The man knows Niko can play, and they are bringing him in to play Mike, and move DJ to where he loves…. The outside. Niko is a good player, who hits like a truck, and is mean as hell. Lets give him a chance to play ball b4 we make posts saying who is this guy. I hope he proves all you haters wrong.
keary colbert is not #2 wideout material, and niko is gonna b a backup and help our coverage unit. dj is alot better bigger, and all he needs is 1 more DT. dj woulda gone to the pro bowl as a first alternate but ray lewis went becuase his name is ray lewis
I can’t believe how many of you are ripping these guys without giving them a shot. Remember a few guys named Ed, Rod, Terrell, Cadrez, Braxton? They weren’t exactly house hold names either but I believe once they got a shot they excelled. And seriously, for the last F’N time, quit the bitching and pleading to bring back Al Wilson. The man no longer fits the scheme and he can’t land a job right now because of his serious healthy concerns. Quit looking in the past, that’s the problem with too many of you now.
Can’t believe the jets signed pace for more than briggs(42mil,36mil). Don’t know much about niko or colbert but there are suprises every year like selvin last year. Wish we would have made a bigger splash in FA but it is risky as we found out last year.
MOODY we keep Shanahan, he is one of the better things that has happened to this franchise.
HRDNOKD is right, Al Wilson has health issues. Stick with what we got in D.J. Williams. I think 120+ tackles is something to admire especially at such a young age.
DENVER NAPOLEON I believe this should be said. Ray Lewis, Brain Urlacher, D.J. Williams, Shaun Philips, and Demeaco Ryans are better MLBs than Lofa Tatupu. But I think you are right with Koutovides, he is hungry (on special teams). I believe his inexperience would show on the field.
If nothing else happens in free agency and we can grab some names like Rod Coleman DT from the Falcons, Roosevelt Colvin/Victor Hobson/Boss Bailey OLBs, and Bryant Johnson WR from Arizona.
Then in the draft hopefully it goes like this:
1st rd: Keith Rivers OLB USC
2nd rd: Pat Sims DT Auburn
4th rd (1): Jeremy Zuttah OT Rutgers - strong, good zone-blocker
4th rd (2): Kirk Barton OT Ohio State - strong, athletic
5th rd (1): Dominique Barber SS Minnesota - very similar to John Lynch
5th rd (2): Jason Shirley DT Fresno State
7th rd:Jayson Foster WR Georgia Southern - fast, explosive, great returner
Great to see that Eb was resigned by the Broncos. This was a major must sign for the Broncos.
Bronco Boy2012,
Nice draft. I like Zuttah. He can play right tackle or guard. Might even play left tackle in a pinch. Very fast. Very strong. He has two teammates the Broncos should bring in as CFAs if they don’t get drafted (Sosa & Fladell). It would be cool to get their other teammate (Rice), but that probably won’t happen. Hope Zuttah is there in the 4th as you project; maybe not. Sucks not to have a 3rd, but that went for a good purpose regardless of what shelbo bronco says. Don’t the Broncos still have the 6th? When Jimmy Kennedy was cut, I thought that nullified the trade/contingent on making the team. And, don’t the Broncos have an extra 7th? Lelie? Warren?
Get rid of Elam? I think I’m going to be sick…If it wasn’t for ole #1’s leg last year we would have lost five or six more.Fact is our D suct last year thanks to Jim(Norman)Bates and his roach motel “system”
i think we should go for an offensive linemen in the first round of the draft and maybe a linebacker with the second choice. Signing Koutouvides was a good step in rebuilding the D.
Elam wants like 3 million a year. I loved you Jason, but you gotta go. No kicker is worth 3 mil. If Elam walks they should take Reda in like the last round this year. Ian Gold was not the same player last year. If talks are heating up with the Jets, I would love to see Robertson. Wait, isn’t Vilma still looking for someone for a trade? I would take him way before Robertson.
I really think we need to snag lil bro Boss Baily from Detriot. Champ and Boss would do wonders together on the same defense
Denver can save a lot more money by cutting Elam! Everyone is right, 3mil for a kicker? See ya!! Then get rid of Dre Blind ooops…Bly- the guy is absolutely worthless.. We need the Offensive Line men truly. That’s where it all starts. Get the guy out of the University of Michigan…
Cut BLY!!!!!
Boss Bailey will be vistiting tomorrow on 03/05, and expect them to make a serious attempt at signing him….Elam is probally done because he’s asking for way too much money for someone who only kicks field goals and extra points. As far as the draft look for an OT early and I expect a trade up at some point with all the lower picks we have. Niko will be our new MLB and DJ Williams is going back outside where he belongs, and then Boss will be on the other side. The area i’m not sure about is DT……..any thoughts there.
Are you serious??? What I wanna know is why Denver didn’t automatically sure up the linebacker core with the addition of Jonathon Vilma, and move DJ back to his original spot! That right there makes that defense better. They could have snagged Vilma for a 4th round pick!! Another thing is why they didn’t pull the trigger on Shawn Rodgers??? That makes no sense to me what so ever. I seriously hope we were not waiting for Marcus Thomas to develop, cuz now look at whats going on with him… So now denver missed the chance on not Rodgers, but another solid DT from NY Jets, and the solid DT from Jacksonville… Denver could have easily made this defense very solid with the additions of two of these players? Another thing is I seriously hope they don’t expect Colbert to the other starting reciever along side Brandon Marshall.. Thats a joke!! I think there are alot of Broncos fans that would agree that the biggest area of need right now would be GM worth a damn..
Are you kidding? Lofa ain’t all that! He’s an average player on an average N.F.C. team(THEY’RE All AVERAGE IN THE N.F.C.-THE GIANTS ARE A FLUKE). If this guy was so good Seattle would have moved him to another position to get him from behind Lofa. Denver has signed two average second-stringers when our starting line-up has more holes then a Packer fan styrofoam cheesehead. We only have one legitimate N.F.L. starter in the front seven unless Moss suddenly gets his game back. I’m starting to wonder if Shannahan has holes in his head. This team will be lucky to be 7-9 next year. There are no legitimate free-agents left and the draft is one of the weakest fields in the history of professional football. While others are making moves to improve their teams our team is getting younger and less talented.
Are you serious?? What i would like to know is why Denver has let some players this offseason just go right through their grasp? Denver had the chance to sure up their linebacking core with the addition of Jonathan Vilma for a 4th round pick!! And they let him go.. with the addition of Vilma that allows DJ to go back to his normal strongside position. Also with Vilma that automatically makes your defense better then what they displayed in 2007. Another question mark is why they didn’t pull the trigger on Shawn Rodgers, D’wayne Robertson, or even Marcus Stroud? All 3 of them DT’s are pro-bowl caliber players and would have been able to come right in and make an instant impact on the struggling D-line that Denver is known for… If Denver brings in Vilma and one of these DT’s were looking at a possible Top 10 Defense in 2008. Also, I really hope Denver really isn’t banking on the addition of Keary Colbert. You have got to be kidding me if they think for one minute that he is going to be a number 2 reciever alongside Brandon Marshall.. Thats a joke! The last solid season he had was is rookie season and that will be 5 seasons ago. I believe many Bronco fans out there would agree that one of our biggest needs right now is a GM that is actually worth a damn, and to take them strings from Shanny and just let him worry about getting this team where they need to be.. I really hope that Denver has a trick up their sleeve come Draft Day cuz if not I really believe we are looking at what could be a very very long 2008 season.
I dont know why theres all the fuss about our line backers, and “who we should bring so DJ can move back out side.” If you dont have a d-line to keep 330 pound fat asses from driving your line backer into the dirt, it wont matter who is playing line backer. Does any one remeber the monday football game between the ravens and cheifs a few years ago. Remeber what RAY LEWIS was cryin to his coaches about?? he was brought to tears because every play the guard and center where kickin his ass, and if you watch the game, it was only the center the guard was runnin by beatin up on another line backer or safety. Why do you think ray wanted them to draft a DT that year cause he was tired of gettin his ass stepped on by guys that got 100 pounds on him. Line backers are only as good as the line, look at the giants their line backers are above average at best, but they look like freakin gang busters all the time because no one can get past their line and if they do the threat of penetration is too high to risk.
Lets be real has DJ lived up to the hype since he came out of miami…. im gona say no, and why is that, because at miami he had 3 first round line men playin in front of him so all he had to do was find the ball and run to it. He dosnt have that here, and any line backer that you put in a broncos jerzey wit the same Dline, youd come up wit the same results. hence my logic behind the chant
TRADE UP FOR DORSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What are the Broncos thinking of signing Keary Colbert?!?!? I live in NC and I had to watch this bum drop passes all year long. All my buddies make fun of me now because they are so happy to be rid of him and they think it is hilarious that the Broncos went out and paid him 7 million bucks…..the embarassment continues.
cfrazier77,
I’m sorry you feel bad. But if you think your situation is bad, just think of what Hitler is going through on youtube concerning the Cowboys.
javon walker signed with the raiders. what a dbag.
In a sense I do agree with you M.C. I do agree Denver needs to move up and try and snag Dorsey, but the likely hood of that happening is slim to none. I don’t agree wtih that D.J. hasn’t lived up to the hype. How hasn’t he? His rookie year he led the team in tackles over Al Wilson, Ian Gold and the rest of the defense. He never had a sophmore slump. Yes he didn’t live up to his hype this year because it was his first year in a new position. DJ is not a middle linebacker period. He is meant for the outside in coverage and coming off the edge you know like that one dude in San Diego Shawn Merriman we know him all to well lol… As far as your linebackers being only as good as your line that is somewhat true.. If you recall when Al Wilson was in the middle before his accident we had the top linebacker core in the league! Not to mention top 5 defense for over half the season the only reason for the fall was because that bum Plummer couldn’t keep our offense on the field for more then 5 plays a series. I don’t care what D line you have for linebackers when you constantly on the field your gonna get worn down through 17 weeks. But I am with you on the move for Dorsey I would love to see it.
To all you second guessers.Let me know what you think after camp when Niko starts hurting players on the practice field. He won’t talk aabout all you fools he will show you what he can do on the field. Stay tuned!
So the Raiders signed Walker to a 6 year deal. I sure hope that the Raiders guanteed a buch of it. With his bad knee, Walker will be lucky to play 6 games, much less six years.
BroncoBoy2012:
Shawn Philips from Purdue good friend of Niko’s isn’t a MLB.
Vic Carucci’s mock draft has us takin jackson out of cal in the first round. What a #$#@in idiot, he just lost all credibility with this bull $#@% he put up. He dosnt even have cedric ellis bein drafted in the first round. he’s got aqib talib bein the first CB drafted at #5 to kansas city, you gona draft a CB that gets burned by jordy nelson get the #$#@ serious. He has malcolm kelly bein the first WR bein drafted this man has lost his #$@^n mind
And no DJ is better than merriman,when DJ and maurice jones drew collide who wins that battle..DJ, when Maurice and merriman meet who wins that battle… that right pocket hercules. Shawn aint $#@% wit out that juice, And DJ is all 100% pure freak of nature
WOW!!! I don’t understand how your riding DJ’s nuts when you just said he hasn’t “Lived up the to the hype” That all he did at Miami was chase the ball because of the Dline in front of him