Before the coaches and personnel staff left for vacation, General Manager Brian Xanders said the club is ready for free agency.
We thought we’d ask him to delve a little deeper into the club’s preparation, and below is what the general manager had to say.
On being ready for free agency since December:
“We have internal boards and rankings we’ve worked on since December. We’ve actually been ready for it since December. But we’ve watched it over and over in January, February and May. We’ve gone through and cleansed the board. What was interesting was having the draft before free agency, which changed the specific team needs. For example, if we draft three linebackers and we feel good about our group of nine linebackers for camp, it wouldn’t make sense to go out and sign a big-time money free agent at linebacker. What that did is the draft filled in some team needs before free agency at a different pricing level.”
On whether this year’s free agency will be any more stressful because it could come at a moment’s notice:
“We don’t know the rules and right now we’re not allowed to talk to any agent for anybody. The players that are on our target list, they don’t even know that we like them. So we’ve got to wait until they create some rules and system rules for free agency. I think it will be regimented — I don’t think there will be chaos. I think we’re going to be really specific with who we’re going after, and we’re going to try to get those guys in the first day. That’s NFL free agency and the college free agents.”
On whether the team will be aggressive in free agency:
“What it is is specific positions. The media has been good about picking out what positions those are likely to be, but it’s really groups of positions of players. The high-level money, the mid-level money and then back-end money. So that’s how we’ve done it. We’ve ranked them, we’ve gone through the tape again, we’ve got market analysis of their pricing — what their production values over their career match up to what other guys got with similar production. So we’ve done the cost analysis studies for their contracts, we’ve done their scheme fit for our football systems and our team, so we’ve really tied that together. We’re ready for all three levels. It’s really like a domino effect — if you miss on a high-level money guy here, then it allows for more money elsewhere.”
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
I haven`t given up on my Denver teams at all, especially for the Bronco`s and Rockies, but when money is put before the game, it takes away from the realities of why they play the game. Just as when we were kids, we played ball because it was fun and we loved playing the sport, to be competitive. Thats hardly the case anymore. Bummer drag.
That article was written by Dave Krieger, a sports writer for the Denver Post.
I just know that it is spot on. He could not of said it any better or plainer than that. The question is though…Is anyone that really matters to this mess going to read it and try to do something about it? I mean, I love the game just as much as the next guy. I remember when years ago my dad took all of us to the Miami games (played in the OLD Orange Bowl of course). We loved going to those games as kids. He was a farmer and could take us to games once in a while, but now…no way. I couldn’t afford the parking, let alone the admission or any concession of any type.
This will make the party boys happy. Started the day with a bloody v-8 and a Macanudo stoogie. Rock on! LOL
Anyone else think Jim Kelly and Elway look alot a like??? ha they even handle interviews the same way!
Weatherman1, well said. I`m in agreement with you.
Thanks strand. And I especially don’t want to forget to wish all of my Bronco buddies around the globe a very safe and enjoyable 4th!
seweatherman….couldn’t have put it better myself!!!
Money is ruining the Damn game!!!
BFE, hows it going my Bronco friend? We know whats up. With age comes wisdom. We see the clear cut picture. It`s green and it doesn`t grow on trees. ORANGE AND BLUE FOREVER!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!!! HAPPY INDEPENENCE DAY TO ALL!!! HAVE A SAFE 4TH TO EVERYONE!!! FREEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/07/03/3320436/rookie-miller-makes-stand-in-labor.html
just a read i thought some might enjoy on labor day. some may have already seen it. Anyway, the more i read about the kid the more i like. Nice character. Still a PP guy but can’t be mad at the selection of miller at all. Happy Independence day … TRB out…
TRB, that is an outstanding article. I agree and I believe the Broncos made thr right choice in their pick of Miller. This kid is going to be something! And, he said a mouthful. He is ready to play football. Maybe the others will listen to him and settle this thing so we can get on with the game!
Yeah, Von Miller is definitely one of the few players with his head screwed on straight, glad he is on our team.
Happy 4th Bronco Country!
And happy 82nd birthday to Al Davis, hahaha!
It’s been a while since last i have been here. I am not American but I will say to all of those in Bronco Country who are have a happy 4th of July
Bay,Al Davis has to be at least 187…….haha!
Have a Happy but safe 4th of July Broncos Country!!!!
Wished we all could just get together and celebrate one big Orange and Blue Independence day!!!!
Guess we’ll fire up the grill and pop the tops on a lot of cold beer!!!!If we don’t get rained out……but if we do oh well,we can still drink cold beer……It’s all good!!!!!!!!!!
Forget about football,forget about the CBA,clear your minds and have a great 4th of July with family,if you can,that’s what it’s all about my friends.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
I wonder if Miller is going to line up on the same side as Doom,I hope he dosen’t,the other team will triple that side,if we line him up on the other side..we got Doom and DJ on one side and Ayers and Miller on the other.
Ayers and Miller will be hard to run against,and Miller can get to the QB,Doom and DJ will create havoc for the QB on the other side!!!
Sorry I just posted I was trying to forget about football today,lol.
BFE, I believe Doom will still be on the weakside, in front of DJ and Von Will be on the Strongside behind Ayers as the Sam LB. TRB out…
The scary thing is Al Davis`s mother lived to be 100 years of age, no lie.
BFE and TRB, thats a LETHAL combination right there. We must get to the QB this year.
TRB…I agree and hope we’re right…I like it!!!
strand rock on bro!!!!!
Getting to the QB is Miller’s specialty. He should have a lot of fun on the line this year. I am hoping that some of the opponents offensive lines think he is going to be a push over. (hahaha) Shame on them for thinking!
This is all I got for today:
Independence Day marked the 111th day of the NFL lockout. Today the NFL’s owners and players are scheduled to resume negotiations in New York as the sides try to come to an agreement to end the longest work stoppage in league history.
Based on some progress made last week in a critical negotiating session in Minneapolis, there is hope heading into this critical week. Owners and players are getting closer when it comes to agreeing on the division of revenue, sources told ESPN.com’s John Clayton.
With Chief Magistrate Arthur Boylan stressing urgency in mediation, the percentage of revenues offered by the owners, according to sources, rose to around 46 percent.
(Remember it was at 48%, then 45%, whatever….)
Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith, their colleagues and constituents all appeared in good spirits Friday as they left the office building where they met and either walked away or climbed into black cars waiting by the doors.
“We’ll continue to meet next week, and the goal is to get a deal done,” Smith said on his way out.
The revenue split (9 billion), a major sticking point all along and particularly over the last couple of weeks, is considered a domino that must fall for a deal to get done.
Another major sticking point has been the union attorney’s back and forth about something the two sides created called the “legacy fund,” a source familiar with the talks told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
One of the league’s first proposals to the players called for the establishment of a new legacy fund for retired players, which would include $82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years.
Smith’s idea, which the NFL agreed to, called for the league to share the funding with the players on a 50-50 basis. But the union lawyers backed away and said the owners should fund Smith’s idea with no effect on the cap — meaning no player contribution.
The key economic issues cannot be resolved until this one is.
Training camps start at the end of the month, with the preseason-opening Hall of Fame game scheduled Aug. 7 between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams. Even missing an exhibition game or two would begin to really cost the league money, not to mention testing the faith of the fans that have made this sport so big.
There also is the wild card of a pending ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the players’ antitrust lawsuit against the league, which was filed in Minneapolis and prompted Boylan’s involvement as a mediator.
The appellate judges won’t wait forever, and one of them warned earlier that neither side will like their decision on the legality of the lockout. But a faction on the players’ side believes it’s worth waiting on the court’s ruling, and the owners have had plans in place for years to endure an extended work stoppage.
Sorry it wasn’t exactly good news, it seems as if both sides are willing to wait this out and ending up killing the entire off season like I always thought they would. I tend to believe weatherman who always says the “good news” about the talks are simply leaked out there by both sides in an attempt to appease the fans. Lame, lame, lame…. Hopefully we are wrong, but time is running out for any kind of training camp, and boy a team like us really needs one!!!
Crunch time. It`s coming down to the wire.
I believe the owners and players should agree on a 50/50 split. The players should pay part of their own Legacy Funds. They the players need to contribute for the health of their own future. It sound kind of funny but many of these players are making many millions of dollars and then when they do retire thay can`t afford to get surgery on whatever their need is. All of their savings went down the tubes. For shame, for shame! Sounds rediculous to me. On the other hand I `m for the AVERAGE JOE who makes the so called minimum wage or the middle class wage of the NFL and plays for however long, this is who I feel should recieve these Legacy Funds. Just an idea anyway, not set in stone.
And not to single out the players who are filthy stinking rich, but the more a player makes, the more he should pay into the Legacy fund.
You know not having football will hurt me more psychologically than it will finacially. I don’t go to the games, I don’t pay for extra televised converage, I just watch them on the regional stations, I don’t have internet on my phone to watch them or check the scores. The one thing football does for me is it makes me have something to look forward to during the long work week. It makes me feel almost like it is Christmas. The uncertainty of the game, will there be big plays, what awesome play will be in the highlight reel, who is going to win. All this makes it fun and exciting and it makes be able to put up with some of the people that I have to work with. If there isn’t football to look forward to I’m not entirely sure how my work weeks are going to go. For the most part I can keep my emotions in check, but ….. man without a mini Christmas everyweek, I might just fly off the handle LOL!
And the union attorney`s shouldn`t even be apart of this process. Why are they their since the union dispersed.
ooops, why are they there. LOL
Great point strand! and bay, thanks for the info. Maybe this will get settled soon so we can see how our orange crush is put together once and for all. I heard on ESPN news earlier today that Goodell and Smith were not going to be in these meetings today and tomorrow so the wording of the aggreement could be worked out. They would return to it Thursday. I hope this is the case so this will get done soon!
I hear that Brian_schnieder, same here. Minus my broncos backpack I used in college, PJs and sandals, I don’t have much paraphernalia. So its not like i put much into the 9billion they receive, minus im sure the advertising contract they have with tv stations or whatever since im giving ratings by watching or however that stuff works.
I heard retirees were trying to get in on the talks and filing that the judge put the talks on hold until they get in …. like we have time for that. They think the current players are trying to screw them. wow….
Sidenote: CB2k is on NFL.com and they are making a case for Champ and a Case for Nnamdi. Theres a poll and Champ is in the lead. but only by about 5 percent over Nnamdi. Just thought to let you guys know so you can read the article and vote if you like. Later days, TRB out….
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8209ba7d/article/cb2k-bailey-asomugha-shut-down-receivers-differently?module=HP_cp2
that was an awful lot about money this and money that. Wasn’t aware X so literally saw the players as money.
Can’t say that fills me with confidence that he can help build a winning roster.
Agreed in the sense Xanders has everything to prove to me, since everything he has done so far under McD was highly questionable and not at all yet productive. And obviously money is everything in the NFL nowdays, like this whole cba mess proves, and Xanders will have to work with the cap like any other team so that’s why the bucks run his world, however that doesn’t mean he can’t make good decisions with the money he’s got to play with.
Talking about Champ does anyone know where he is at, the guy with the new contract has been absolutely absent from everything, workouts, comments, anything Bronco or NFL related he has completely stayed away from, can’t say I’m as impressed by this off season behavior as much as his on field play. He always said he didn’t like off season activities, but this is right down ridiculous, at least let the fans know you’re alive somewhere…
Well I for one am happy that Nhamndi(sp?) will be out of our division next year, it just makes things easier for Tebow lol.
Now if we could get rid of Jammer and Berry we would be golden.
RE: Bays post two days ago regarding cost to the “average” fan.
My take on it is this. We live in a capitalist country where the market determines the cost. The NFL is not doing anything “wrong,” per say, they’re providing what the market is allowing. The league will continue to inflate until we determine it cannot. If the average fan can no longer enjoy a game then, in theory, a competitor should rise up to balance the table. Hence, the AFL back in the day. Right now, the market is supporting their inflation because we keep coming and spending. Sure, it may be straining our pocket books more then we’d like, so instead we save a little more to then go spend on “The Beast” which only fuels the fire. Until they get to a point that we (society) can’t support it, it’s not going to change. What I believe the article is attempting to foreshadow, is that we’re getting there. I’m not sure if I agree entirely. Personally, I’m more pissed off at the current scenario then the price of my tickets and beer. It’s the idea that they’re fighting over so much when so many have so little that is appalling.
Nothing lasts forever, even the NFL, and how you conduct business in any enterprise has a lot to do about how long you will be around, and professional sports nowdays are completely ignoring that long term reality while shafting the fans, that’s all that was all about. But it probably won’t happen in my lifetime, so I have very little to worry about, haha.
So, nobody knows where Bailey is at, didn’t think so.
Here is an unknown scenario even to Klis since he had Michael Bush listed on top of his list of RBs who could best help the Broncos:
There has been a lot of confusion on whether Oakland running back Michael Bush will be an unrestricted or a restricted free agent if players with four years of service will be unrestricted free agents once the lockout ends.
It has been reported that Bush will be unrestricted. However, Fox Sports reported late last week that Bush will be a restricted free agent. He was drafted in 2007, but he missed his first reason because he was on the non football injury list. He has played three NFL seasons.
According to two NFL sources I spoke to Tuesday, the current expectation is, indeed, that Bush will be restricted in that scenario. Again, nothing will be official until the lockout ends and there is still a gray area, but it looks like Bush might be restricted.
That would be a break for the Raiders. They want to retain Bush and they have several other free-agent issues facing them. Bush would likely be very popular as an unrestricted free agent. The restricted free-agent market rarely moves.
Then I would definitely set my sights on Jason Snelling other than the Fox’s obvious DeAngelo.
I wonder if Shanny regrets the good old times with Mr Bowlen and the Broncos, this from the Washington post:
The NFL lockout has resulted in one positive development for Washington Redskins fans: At least Coach Mike Shanahan couldn’t do more damage to the team. He was unable to approve another disastrous trade. He was forbidden from tinkering with a Redskins defense he significantly weakened before last season.
It appears the league’s work stoppage will end soon, and after everything Shanahan did wrong in 2010, he needs to make a strong comeback.
It’s time for Shanahan to show he’s still capable of coaching a winner. He has to start making sound football decisions again. In his second try, the person owner Daniel M. Snyder hired to lead the organization must prove he’s the right man for the job, because Shanahan’s opening act didn’t inspire confidence.
Brutal but so true….
Remember Olap who use to only post ” Go Redskins” for what seemed like ever after we let Shanny go? Where has he gone? LOL.
Man it’s hard to come up with new stuff but I still manage! Your turn, haha.
Do you think we gave Bailey a contract so we could “trade” him? I apologize if this is has already been discussed since it is an old topic. He was in the last year or his contract so he would’ve been an UFA and gone to the highest bidder. Rather than just letting him walk do you think we offered him a contract so we could trade him and get something in return? I know where Bailey is, he’s “covering some ground.” LOL!
Provocative suggestion Brian, but no I don’t think so, that would be enough to send half the Bronco fans packing and if they don’t start Tebow the other half of the fans will head out leaving only the cheerleaders to cheer, haha.
I don’t worry about where Champ is,we all know when the season starts back he will be in game shape,the dude never let’s me down,class act!
Champ will be a Bronco for at least 4 more years,maybe longer.
Darrell Green played till he was like 40..why can’t champ?
Champ is on “Champ Island” sipping on margaritas,waiting on this B.S. to end,so we can get started back to football.haha.
A 100 million dollar man ought to let his fans know where he is at at least once in the off season, too weird in my opinion.
And I’m not worried about him being ready, just saying he owes his fans more than complete AWOL is all.
Not to mention his teammates…
Correction, 106 million dollar man, with the Broncos alone, not counting the Redskins moneys, 63 mil 7 year contract followed by this 43 mil 4 year contract. I think he owes us an off season word, but maybe not since the players and owners seemingly don’t care about the fans anymore, but somehow I always thought Bailey was a better man than most, oh well…