When free agency began, Joe Mays admits he had doubts he would end up back in Denver.
“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, just not knowing what to expect, not knowing what direction the team wanted to go in,” he said Thursday.
So the linebacker began visiting other teams. Fresh off a trip to New Orleans, he hopped on a plane headed to Washington before connecting to Indianapolis.
Mays, who typically turns off his phone as soon as he gets on a plane — “I usually do that and follow directions,” he smiled — kept it on this time.
And it rang.
“My agent…called me and just asked me how I was doing, just regular conversation,” Mays recalled. “I’m like, ‘Well, I’m on a flight — the flight that you booked for me.’”
“I was like, ‘What’s up?’ He just said, ‘Well, get off the flight, we just agreed to a deal.’”
The Broncos had agreed to terms to re-sign the veteran linebacker, who played all 16 games (12 starts) for the team in 2011 and ranked third on the club with 74 tackles.
So Mays spent the next few minutes figuring out what to do next before grabbing his bags and getting off the plane prior to its departure.
“At the end of the day it all worked out, because I was able to get off and we had a guy on standby that was able to get on,” Mays laughed. “I was excited. I knew he was excited to get to his destination, as well, but I was excited to hear that I’m coming back here. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be.”
The standby passenger couldn’t have asked for a better place to be either, as he took over Mays’ first-class seat.
But all joking aside, Mays said he was thrilled to be able to rejoin the Broncos.
“They made me the offer, and I wanted to be here, my family wanted to be here — It was easy for me to say yes,” he said. “Just the fact that they offered me, they believe in me, they want me to come in and do better than I did last year, and you know what, I’m just going to make sure I keep my end of the bargain and do whatever it takes.”
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: 2012 Free Agency, Joe Mays
Hey Turtle. I did see it, and yes, you’re right….his base salary is less than $1 million, but there are bonuses factored in that gave him over $8 million against the cap this year. Even at that, he’s still making $11 million less than PM. I couldn’t post worth a hoot yesterday, so I gave up and did some gardening. Later…….
Thx for the homework assignment rbf1..
I really got into the draft after watching year after year of questionable drafts by the Broncos, including ignoring the defense recently, and then not being able to retain our few good picks, all while seeing teams like the Packers and Giants have success building through the draft. Other than Burress (Giants), and Woodson (Packers), I really can’t think of too many free agents those teams have brought in. Correct me if I’m wrong, but most of their players are home grown, through the draft, something we desperately need to emulate
rbf1 – just joking about the homework assignment, thank you your kind words
Oh – I know OT..
Figured as much. Just making sure, seeing how tensions are running high around here.. Lol
Random Friday Factoids….
Montana has 3 times more cattle than people.
The highest point in Pennsylvania is still lower than the lowest point in Colorado.
Ohio is the only state not to have a rectangular flag. It’s a pennant.
Until 1796, there was a state in the US called Franklin. It’s now known as Tennessee!
Now for some trivia…there are 4 states where the 1st letter of the capital city is the same letter as the first letter of the state. Can you name them?…
I got 3 out of 4 before googling the other……..but I’m canadian so I’m excused! LMAO!
I had no idea what the capital of delaware is.
The one in Hawaii is my favorite!
No you’re right OT… those Teams have had great success building thru the draft. (Steelers, Patriots, Packers and now 49ers).
I know JE is making a committment to build thru the draft. That recipe has built numerous championship Teams in the past as well…. (Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, 49ers, Bills etc).
If the Broncos can add two to three players a year that can contribute as starters, that would be awesome. Seems like we’re lucky if we hit on 50% !! Shanny’s last draft as HC was his best.
Dover, DE
Honolulu, HI
Indianapolis, IN
Oklahoma City, OK
The players that could possibly be still available for us at 25 that I would like are (not in order):
RB Doug Martin, Boise State
DE Chandler Jones, Syracuse
DT Kendall Reyes, UConn
DT Dontari Poe, Memphis
WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech
LB Donta Hightower, Alabama
CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
hey rbf1
How’s it going BO14 ?
don’t know if anyone has posted this, but here we are:
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20438104/broncos-now-chasing-cb-asante-samuel-sources-say
Best Secondary in the league with him. Bailey at RCB, Samuel at LCB, Porter at RNB, Harris at LNB, Thompson at 5, Vaughn at 6. or we put Bailey or Samuel at Safety and let the other be the RCB.
im alright
dying of suspense for 6 days from now
Turtle,I doubt many on here even know what 420 means bro,lol.
BO14
I would want Dont’a Hightower. He is a pretty good at tackling and we may be without DJ Williams for the first 6 games. He could fill in nicely. I think by the middle of the year he could challenge Mays for the starting position.
This class is deep at DT so why would we burn our first round pick on a DT when most of the other positions are week after the first round tier? Use the first pick on a good LB or CB like Dre Kirkpatrick. Then worry about DT in the second or third round.
Great article on Manning:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82878b9c/article/peyton-manning-in-charge-at-broncos-workouts?module=HP11_headline_stack
Has anyone heard how Walton is doing or if he is at practice?
BFE, if folks on here don’t know that 420 means April 20th, then….well, I don’t even know what to say about that.
I heard today eagles will take a 5th or 6th round for asante. Also heard mallet might be on the trading block because he is a better qb than tannehill. Just an idea.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82879300/article/von-miller-robert-griffin-iii-isnt-that-special?module=HP11_headline_stack
Id be amazed if Tide knew what 420. Its National(or is it international) Pot Day. usually followed by 421 (National Drug Test day) lmao
Later Days, TRB
420 LOL Memories but those days were for the youth in me! good they are in the past