beer bacon
03-03-2005, 04:08 AM
I just read an article from Rocky Mountain News that was posted on the Mane. It is about the Broncos, but it has a few things that are of interest concerning the Chiefs.
One is that Gold is not yet signed by the Broncos, and that he really wants to play WS-LB instead of strong side. WS-LB for Denver is currently D.J.'s spot. Gold also said that he has offers on the table from four teams, but did not specify which teams.
The other interesting news is that the article claims KC is pursuing Okeafor, the DE from Seattle. The other teams they name trying to get him are Denver, Arizona, and Seattle.
Well here is the article:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/0,1299,DRMN_17,00.html
Broncos see Gold as silver lining?
Ex-Denver linebacker, Okeafor on their radar
By Lee Rasizer And Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
March 3, 2005
There was no immediate charge into free agency for the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, but they are working on a rusher to replace their 2004 sacks leader.
Chike Okeafor, arguably the top defensive end still available, will visit the team today. The Broncos also have all but finished an agreement with linebacker Ian Gold, a standout with the Broncos from 2000 to 2003 on special teams and defense before leaving in free agency last off-season.
Reached Wednesday night, Gold, who spent much of the day at the Broncos' Dove Valley complex, refused to confirm his Denver visit, much less his contract status.
"I have not signed on the dotted line with any team," he said.
But earlier, Gold, released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a salary-cap move Tuesday, maintained that he had offers from at least four teams and expected a quick resolution.
His only caveat was that he wants to play weak-side linebacker (away from an offense's tight end) not the strong side, where he toiled last season with the Buccaneers.
Denver has one of the league's up-and-coming stars on the weak side in D.J. Williams, so it is unclear how Gold would fit into the Broncos' scheme.
Free agency formally opened at 12:01 a.m. EST on Wednesday as the frenzy began leaguewide to secure the biggest names available.
But Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist, with only moderate salary-cap room, had promised a more reasoned, patient approach than some of his peers and Denver followed through as it sought to fill specific needs.
The biggest of those needs is replacing defensive end Reggie Hayward, who agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars that included a $10 million signing bonus.
Okeafor, 28, could be a lower-cost alternative, but he is being pursued by the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and his former team, the Seattle Seahawks. All of those teams have far more flexibility against the salary cap than the Broncos.
Okeafor led the Seahawks in sacks in each of the past two seasons with eight and 81/2.
It is the second time the Broncos seriously have pursued Okeafor. He visited Denver during the 2003 off-season but was snapped up by the Seahawks with a two-year $4 million deal.
Scouts consider the 265-pound Okeafor a high-effort player.
"It looks like Chike is pretty much their target," Okeafor's agent, Andy Simms, said. "We'll see how things play out. The trip's planned for a reason."
Hayward's deal likely has set the market for top free-agent defensive ends. He leaves Denver having played in 47 games with 75 tackles, 22 assists, 22 sacks, seven passes defensed and one interception.
He led the team last season with 101/2 sacks.
"The one thing Jacksonville's been missing is a pass rush, and they had probably identified Reggie as the top pass-rushing defensive end out there since John Abraham (New York Jets) and Darren Howard (New Orleans Saints) were franchised," Hayward's agent, Fletcher Smith, said. "So with that said, I'm not surprised that they felt that he was deserving of the contract comparable to what we were looking for when we set out into free agency."
The Broncos also continue to negotiate with safety Kenoy Kennedy, who is slated to visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday. But the cap-constrained Broncos are not in a position to bid against the Lions, Jets and Miami Dolphins, so early indications are Kennedy has played his last game with Denver.
After making one-year tender offers to their restricted free agents, restructuring eight contracts and cutting guard Dan Neil, the Broncos are about $3.9 million under the $85.5 million salary cap.
But that total does not include Gerard Warren's contract - the defensive tackle's trade to Denver for a fourth-round pick in the draft next month was finalized with paperwork having been filed with the NFL - or the first-year salary of guard Ben Hamilton, who has agreed to terms on a five-year contract that has not yet been filed with the league.
The Broncos also have targeted a potential replacement should they lose Kennedy. Green Bay Packers safety Bhawoh Jue also has drawn interest from the St. Louis Rams and the Broncos, but the fifth-year veteran has received a recommendation from Denver secondary coach Bob Slowik.
Slowik was Jue's position coach for three years with the Packers (2001-03) as well as Green Bay's defensive coordinator last season. Jue, who at 200 pounds played cornerback, free safety and strong safety for the Packers, was a regular on special teams as well.
Also Wednesday:
• Warren spent part of the day at Dove Valley getting acquainted with his new team as well as meeting with coaches. As part of the deal with the Browns, the Broncos will be responsible for dealing with a $1.3 million roster bonus Warren is scheduled to receive today.
• Free-agent guard Rick DeMulling, who filled in at center for the Indianapolis Colts last season, has expressed interest in talking with the Broncos. DeMulling's representative, Ken Staninger, said he contacted the Broncos earlier this week but has not heard back from the team.
"Yes, they are on our radar," Staninger said. "Rick is a Northwest guy and would like to get back in that part of the country if things work out."
DeMulling played at Idaho and is a native of Cheney, Wash.
• Broncos running back Santonio Beard, who had been allocated to NFL Europe, failed his physical at the league's training camp at Tampa, Fla., this week. It means the Broncos lose a roster exemption to bring an extra player to their training camp in July because Beard will not play in Europe.
One is that Gold is not yet signed by the Broncos, and that he really wants to play WS-LB instead of strong side. WS-LB for Denver is currently D.J.'s spot. Gold also said that he has offers on the table from four teams, but did not specify which teams.
The other interesting news is that the article claims KC is pursuing Okeafor, the DE from Seattle. The other teams they name trying to get him are Denver, Arizona, and Seattle.
Well here is the article:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/0,1299,DRMN_17,00.html
Broncos see Gold as silver lining?
Ex-Denver linebacker, Okeafor on their radar
By Lee Rasizer And Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
March 3, 2005
There was no immediate charge into free agency for the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, but they are working on a rusher to replace their 2004 sacks leader.
Chike Okeafor, arguably the top defensive end still available, will visit the team today. The Broncos also have all but finished an agreement with linebacker Ian Gold, a standout with the Broncos from 2000 to 2003 on special teams and defense before leaving in free agency last off-season.
Reached Wednesday night, Gold, who spent much of the day at the Broncos' Dove Valley complex, refused to confirm his Denver visit, much less his contract status.
"I have not signed on the dotted line with any team," he said.
But earlier, Gold, released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a salary-cap move Tuesday, maintained that he had offers from at least four teams and expected a quick resolution.
His only caveat was that he wants to play weak-side linebacker (away from an offense's tight end) not the strong side, where he toiled last season with the Buccaneers.
Denver has one of the league's up-and-coming stars on the weak side in D.J. Williams, so it is unclear how Gold would fit into the Broncos' scheme.
Free agency formally opened at 12:01 a.m. EST on Wednesday as the frenzy began leaguewide to secure the biggest names available.
But Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist, with only moderate salary-cap room, had promised a more reasoned, patient approach than some of his peers and Denver followed through as it sought to fill specific needs.
The biggest of those needs is replacing defensive end Reggie Hayward, who agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars that included a $10 million signing bonus.
Okeafor, 28, could be a lower-cost alternative, but he is being pursued by the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and his former team, the Seattle Seahawks. All of those teams have far more flexibility against the salary cap than the Broncos.
Okeafor led the Seahawks in sacks in each of the past two seasons with eight and 81/2.
It is the second time the Broncos seriously have pursued Okeafor. He visited Denver during the 2003 off-season but was snapped up by the Seahawks with a two-year $4 million deal.
Scouts consider the 265-pound Okeafor a high-effort player.
"It looks like Chike is pretty much their target," Okeafor's agent, Andy Simms, said. "We'll see how things play out. The trip's planned for a reason."
Hayward's deal likely has set the market for top free-agent defensive ends. He leaves Denver having played in 47 games with 75 tackles, 22 assists, 22 sacks, seven passes defensed and one interception.
He led the team last season with 101/2 sacks.
"The one thing Jacksonville's been missing is a pass rush, and they had probably identified Reggie as the top pass-rushing defensive end out there since John Abraham (New York Jets) and Darren Howard (New Orleans Saints) were franchised," Hayward's agent, Fletcher Smith, said. "So with that said, I'm not surprised that they felt that he was deserving of the contract comparable to what we were looking for when we set out into free agency."
The Broncos also continue to negotiate with safety Kenoy Kennedy, who is slated to visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday. But the cap-constrained Broncos are not in a position to bid against the Lions, Jets and Miami Dolphins, so early indications are Kennedy has played his last game with Denver.
After making one-year tender offers to their restricted free agents, restructuring eight contracts and cutting guard Dan Neil, the Broncos are about $3.9 million under the $85.5 million salary cap.
But that total does not include Gerard Warren's contract - the defensive tackle's trade to Denver for a fourth-round pick in the draft next month was finalized with paperwork having been filed with the NFL - or the first-year salary of guard Ben Hamilton, who has agreed to terms on a five-year contract that has not yet been filed with the league.
The Broncos also have targeted a potential replacement should they lose Kennedy. Green Bay Packers safety Bhawoh Jue also has drawn interest from the St. Louis Rams and the Broncos, but the fifth-year veteran has received a recommendation from Denver secondary coach Bob Slowik.
Slowik was Jue's position coach for three years with the Packers (2001-03) as well as Green Bay's defensive coordinator last season. Jue, who at 200 pounds played cornerback, free safety and strong safety for the Packers, was a regular on special teams as well.
Also Wednesday:
• Warren spent part of the day at Dove Valley getting acquainted with his new team as well as meeting with coaches. As part of the deal with the Browns, the Broncos will be responsible for dealing with a $1.3 million roster bonus Warren is scheduled to receive today.
• Free-agent guard Rick DeMulling, who filled in at center for the Indianapolis Colts last season, has expressed interest in talking with the Broncos. DeMulling's representative, Ken Staninger, said he contacted the Broncos earlier this week but has not heard back from the team.
"Yes, they are on our radar," Staninger said. "Rick is a Northwest guy and would like to get back in that part of the country if things work out."
DeMulling played at Idaho and is a native of Cheney, Wash.
• Broncos running back Santonio Beard, who had been allocated to NFL Europe, failed his physical at the league's training camp at Tampa, Fla., this week. It means the Broncos lose a roster exemption to bring an extra player to their training camp in July because Beard will not play in Europe.