the 80-86 roster story is written you would think denver never cut anyone right before the draft. I think there should be something like what soccer has, a jr team or training roster that is at least the size of an onfield team. In soccer you have a jr club which has 22 players. or like the tripple A teams for MLB. these would be reserves in the even a starter went down. you would have one whole roster of just backups that would get league minimum or playining incentive deals. Example: Guys on Liverpool FC jr club get a minimum of 35k a year to hold a reserve roster spot. Than the team adds bonuses if you get time on the Sr team practice squad(extra 15k), the game squad (extra 20k), or game time (25K). Then for goals or saves or tackles and such you get more bonus money. A jr squad player can get up to 500k a game. What about similar situations in the NFL?

I can't believe I missed the story on Vance the first time I read this Horse Tracks!

I was introduced to Vance (when I still lived in Colorado) by a friend of mine who knew him.  It was just a very brief "Hi, good to meet you" kind of thing, but the Three Amigos were a big deal back then.

What a terrible story!  My heart goes out to Vance.  If I was living in Colorado I'd go to his BBQ place and drop some bucks on some ribs every day if it would help out his financial situation.  Losing a child must be the worst pain imaginable.