vailpass
03-17-2007, 05:12 PM
From the "keep your friends close but your enemies closer" department, some Bronco news:
Lions trying to strike up deal
No. 2 pick on block, but sources say Broncos balked at asking price
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer
Denver Post
Article Last Updated:03/16/2007 10:17:56 PM MDT
Knowing several NFL teams are collectively drooling over the talents of receiver Calvin Johnson, the Detroit Lions have let it be known their No. 2 overall draft pick is up for trade.
Yes, the Lions have held preliminary discussions with the Broncos regarding the No. 2 pick the past month, NFL sources confirmed.
But no, Broncos fans shouldn't get their hopes up.
According to sources, the Lions asked for multiple draft picks that included Denver's No. 21 selection. The Broncos considered the asking price far too high and trade discussions have ceased.
While a Denver deal with Detroit appears unlikely, the Broncos have been trying to deal their No. 21 pick. Some of the Broncos' trade possibilities have them moving up on the draft board; others have them moving down.
For the Lions, the possibility of dealing the No. 2 pick is all about the benefits of moving down. Provided the Oakland Raiders take Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell as expected with their No. 1 pick in the draft April 28, Johnson is widely considered a no-brainer selection at No. 2.
The Georgia Tech product is a 6-foot-5, 239-pound athletic specimen who was clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the scouting combine, plus had eye-bulging measurements at his recent pro day workout of 42K inches in the vertical leap and 11 feet, 7 inches in the long jump.
Put another way, Johnson is to receivers in this year's draft what Reggie Bush was to running backs in last year's draft.
The Lions, however, just happen to be the one team that wouldn't dare take another receiver so high in the draft, not after they were burned by Charles Rogers with the No. 2 pick in 2003 and Mike Williams with the 10th selection in 2005. Roy Williams worked out well with the No. 7 pick in 2004, but at some point, the Lions need to adjust priorities.
With an average record of 4-12 the past six seasons, the Lions are contemplating whether they can get greater value by moving down in the draft for multiple players and picks in return. The Broncos became a logical candidate in part because of how coach Mike Shanahan aggressively traded up to get quarterback Jay Cutler last year (a series of deals moved Denver from No. 30 to No. 11), but also because the two teams worked out a trade earlier this month.
In that deal, the Broncos sent running back Tatum Bell and right tackle George Foster to the Lions in exchange for cornerback Dré Bly.
The Bly ordeal
According to a Broncos source, Bly will not be traded and will play for the team in 2007. There will be doubts, though, until after the draft - when many deals are made - or Bly douses speculation about his preference to play closer to home with the Washington Redskins.
Reached Friday, Bly would not comment.
Big Daddy update
The new deadline for the Broncos to consummate their trade with Miami for defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson has been set for March 30. At issue for Wilkinson and the Broncos is an old knee injury.
The 340-pound Wilkinson, who turned 34 on Tuesday, wants to ease his mind by having his medical people tell him whether his knee can hold up for a 14th NFL season. If Wilkinson is satisfied, the Broncos will then have their doctors check out his knee.
If all are satisfied, the Broncos would keep their commitment of giving their sixth-round draft pick to the Dolphins. If not, the trade would be voided and the sixth-round choice would return to Denver.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Lions trying to strike up deal
No. 2 pick on block, but sources say Broncos balked at asking price
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer
Denver Post
Article Last Updated:03/16/2007 10:17:56 PM MDT
Knowing several NFL teams are collectively drooling over the talents of receiver Calvin Johnson, the Detroit Lions have let it be known their No. 2 overall draft pick is up for trade.
Yes, the Lions have held preliminary discussions with the Broncos regarding the No. 2 pick the past month, NFL sources confirmed.
But no, Broncos fans shouldn't get their hopes up.
According to sources, the Lions asked for multiple draft picks that included Denver's No. 21 selection. The Broncos considered the asking price far too high and trade discussions have ceased.
While a Denver deal with Detroit appears unlikely, the Broncos have been trying to deal their No. 21 pick. Some of the Broncos' trade possibilities have them moving up on the draft board; others have them moving down.
For the Lions, the possibility of dealing the No. 2 pick is all about the benefits of moving down. Provided the Oakland Raiders take Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell as expected with their No. 1 pick in the draft April 28, Johnson is widely considered a no-brainer selection at No. 2.
The Georgia Tech product is a 6-foot-5, 239-pound athletic specimen who was clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the scouting combine, plus had eye-bulging measurements at his recent pro day workout of 42K inches in the vertical leap and 11 feet, 7 inches in the long jump.
Put another way, Johnson is to receivers in this year's draft what Reggie Bush was to running backs in last year's draft.
The Lions, however, just happen to be the one team that wouldn't dare take another receiver so high in the draft, not after they were burned by Charles Rogers with the No. 2 pick in 2003 and Mike Williams with the 10th selection in 2005. Roy Williams worked out well with the No. 7 pick in 2004, but at some point, the Lions need to adjust priorities.
With an average record of 4-12 the past six seasons, the Lions are contemplating whether they can get greater value by moving down in the draft for multiple players and picks in return. The Broncos became a logical candidate in part because of how coach Mike Shanahan aggressively traded up to get quarterback Jay Cutler last year (a series of deals moved Denver from No. 30 to No. 11), but also because the two teams worked out a trade earlier this month.
In that deal, the Broncos sent running back Tatum Bell and right tackle George Foster to the Lions in exchange for cornerback Dré Bly.
The Bly ordeal
According to a Broncos source, Bly will not be traded and will play for the team in 2007. There will be doubts, though, until after the draft - when many deals are made - or Bly douses speculation about his preference to play closer to home with the Washington Redskins.
Reached Friday, Bly would not comment.
Big Daddy update
The new deadline for the Broncos to consummate their trade with Miami for defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson has been set for March 30. At issue for Wilkinson and the Broncos is an old knee injury.
The 340-pound Wilkinson, who turned 34 on Tuesday, wants to ease his mind by having his medical people tell him whether his knee can hold up for a 14th NFL season. If Wilkinson is satisfied, the Broncos will then have their doctors check out his knee.
If all are satisfied, the Broncos would keep their commitment of giving their sixth-round draft pick to the Dolphins. If not, the trade would be voided and the sixth-round choice would return to Denver.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.