Will Doom Be Back in 2010?

by mjames82 on Oct 15, 2009 2:11 PM MDT

Important Decisions on Players Looming this Off-Season!

I'm enjoying this season a lot as are most of us. I can't help but take a peak at next year even though we are only 5 games into this season. There are some key players that will be free agents and I wonder if we will be able to keep them all. There are some uncertainties that make it even harder to predict what will happen, but I can't stop my brain from going there. First, we don't know if it will be an uncapped year or not. Second, I don't know the Broncos salary cap position as it stands right now. Regardless, the decision by McDaniels/Xander to trade one of our 1st round picks next year for the right to select Alphonso Smith is looking more intelligent by the day. They may have to pay out a lot of money to keep their own players.

The list of free agents includes Brandon Marshall, Kyle Orton, Tony Scheffler, Chris Kuper, Casey Wiegmann, Ben Hamilton, and Elvis Dumervil. I hate even thinking that one or more of those guys won't be back next year, but some of them will get offered more money to go elsewhere and it will be up to them to decide whether to take less money and play in Denver.

My best guess is that they will let Ben Hamilton go if they can't sign him cheap, and that Seth Olsen will take over his spot. I feel like there is a 2nd year option for Wiegmann, but I can't remember if its a player option or a team option. I can't imagine it not being picked up unless Wiegmann wants to retire. Kyle will come back and he is the type that will take a smaller contract to stay with the team. If he keeps playing like he did in New England then my guess is he'll get something along the lines of a 5 years and 30 Million.

I really think they have to bring back Kuper and Marshall! It sounds like they plan to keep Marshall around, but Marshall is likely to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-5 years and 8-9 million per. This is where it gets interesting to me because Kuper is not going to be cheap. He is solid, young and highly underrated. I could see him getting an offer for 6 years and 35-45 million from some team. Just look at the contracts that have gone to guards the past couple years (i.e. Eric Steinbach, Dockery, etc.) If we manage to sign Orton, Marshall, and Kuper then I really don't see how Scheffler or Dumervil come back.

Blasphemy you say!!!! I know some people are thinking how crazy that is to say that they may not be able to sign Dumervil. And there are many good reasons to sign him. For one, letting him go brings about memories of Shanahan always letting our pass rushers go (Pryce, Hayward, Berry). But if it does come down to O-line and OLB, I think Dumervil is easier to replace. I believe a lot will come down to whether Doom and Kuper are willing to take a home team discount, and a lot will depend on how well Ayers develops. If Ayers continues to progress, the team may feel he can replace Doom next year.

Don't get me wrong, I WANT them all back! But I wonder if its possible to bring them all back. Just cause there is no salary cap next year (assuming thats what happens) doesn't mean you want to spend like crazy cause there may be one in 2011 and then you may be in "cap hell." That still doesn't even count Scheffler who will probably be looking for a 5 year deal worth 25 million. One thing is for sure, if Shanahan is coaching next year he won't hesitate to try and lure Kuper, Doom, or Scheffler away from Denver to help him build his new team.

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts. I doubt I'm the most knowledgeable person on MHR on how this would all work out next year.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

Tweet Comment 37 comments | 5 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'd like to think they'd make room for him. Imagine how we'd be looking if we had two first rounders next year. The phonz is looking better all the time.

Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away

by Troy Hufford on Oct 15, 2009 2:57 PM MDT reply actions

The last comment is the wild card

Who knows how many players would want to play for shanny again. I think sheffler might because he did seem to have more targets in the wco. He’s the only one I could see leaving. If this team can go deep in the playoffs and look to be SB quality team next year that may help a few take the patriot style salary discount. Great post and good points.

by BroncoInExile on Oct 15, 2009 3:40 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

I think all the FA's stay after this year

except Weigmann. I think they are grooming Olsen to be the center after this year.

John Clayton is the head Dean at Fail University (known as F.U. in short)

by Joe Medina on Oct 15, 2009 3:41 PM MDT reply actions

Wiegmans not a free agent

he could retire though

CentSports free 10 cents to bet with Better than Fantasy Football, pick'em!!
16-3 baby!!

by RiG on Oct 15, 2009 4:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Weigmann signed a 2 year deal this year...

He will be around for this year and next year… and then probably retire.

"So tell me what happened."
"Well, the last thing I remember is seeing this flash of Blue and Orange and the #22... then everything just went black..."

by HillisRanUover on Oct 15, 2009 3:41 PM MDT reply actions

I also think Hamilton goes after this year...

I think there is a reason that McD and Xanders drafted Ayres and Quinn… both seem to fill the void if Doom and Sheff are gone after the season. Still, I would sure like to see both of them in Blue and Orange next year.

"So tell me what happened."
"Well, the last thing I remember is seeing this flash of Blue and Orange and the #22... then everything just went black..."

by HillisRanUover on Oct 15, 2009 3:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Isn't Quinn a blocking TE

I might be wrong on this, but I thought they brought in Quinn to be primarily blocking TE. I must confess that I am very poorly educated on college players, so I’m not familiar with first year guys all that much.

god created earth in 6 days....on the 7th day, he took a break and created elway

by Bronkos on Oct 15, 2009 4:26 PM MDT up reply actions

scouts said he would be a primary blocking TE but he can catch

CentSports free 10 cents to bet with Better than Fantasy Football, pick'em!!
16-3 baby!!

by RiG on Oct 15, 2009 4:36 PM MDT up reply actions

He was known as the top blocking TE in the draft.

Denver scouts (however) believe that he can catch too.

NE is not a team known for using TEs to catch a lot, but Denver has thrown a few balls to the TEs. Still, in Denver’s now offense, nobody is getting the ball a whole lot because it gets spread around.

I would like to keep Scheff, both for his receiving abilities and his value in the 3 TE sets.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 15, 2009 8:53 PM MDT up reply actions

We would still have Graham

He’s a yards after the catch machine, and probably the best blocker on our team outside the D and the O-line. Also, has anyone considered that we might trade away some players we have who aren’t quite the stars that these guys are? I’m not sure about any of this, cuz I’m not that good at stat/player tracking, but I believe J Moss could get some tackles, and our D can make anyone look good. Maybe he gets shipped at season’s end and we CAN entice the stars back to DEN? Anybody have a supporting or refuting argument? Both equally welcome.

by RaRaDonk89 on Oct 16, 2009 1:45 AM MDT up reply actions

This whole discussion is a great argument for the BPA Approach

HT, I’m really warming up to the way you put things on the draft post yesterday. I’ve been so hung up on Ben Hamilton that I’ve lost sight of the bigger picture. The way McDaniels runs the team, depth is insanely valuable. Even at positions where the Broncos are now loaded, questions loom. Better to get a good replacement a year too early than to let the cupboard go bear. Witness:

We have 3 good TEs now, but Dan Graham is aging and expensive. Tony Scheffler’s contract will be up. Some form of decision is probably coming.

I feel good about the RB position, but Buckhalter is injury-prone. A good back-up would make it easier to spare Moreno.

With Ayers and Doom, we have one ascendant and one ascended monster on the edge. But what if keeping Doom is prohibitively expensive?

Alphonso Smith will step in for whichever member of the Goodman/Bailey tandem leaves first. But they’re both over 30. Don’t we want someone else in the pipeline?

Darcel McBath looks like a keeper at FS. David Bruton is a special teams player right now. If a game-changing SS is available in the first round, there’s no reason not to take him.

And on and on. Over time, the drafts even out.

by Chibronx on Oct 16, 2009 11:53 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

doom?

I don’t see how we don’t bring dumervil back. He has been awesome, he’s young and still getting acclimated to the system. Either Weigmann or Hamilton will be gone for sure I think, just too much money for old, increasingly mediocre OL.

I expect to see Scheffler go too. We already have a fair amount of money tied up in TE and he seems fairly replaceable

by bushwah on Oct 15, 2009 3:53 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

They are restricted free agents

All but Wiegmann and Hamilton are restricted free agents. That will usually lower the price to keep them because they will probably require 1st round picks because they will be tendered as such. I think that the Broncos will be able to keep any of those players that they want to keep. More importantly, they will probably extend the ones they want for the long haul.

by ocbroncomaniac on Oct 15, 2009 5:21 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

The biggest question is the uncapped year

Nearly every move will be predicated at least in some degree on what happens with the CBA. Marshall, Doom, and Scheffler will be restricted free agents if a new CBA isn’t reached. I believe Kyle also fits in that same boat, unless there is some exception to the rule that I’m unaware of that deals with traded players.

Just to go on record with my opinion, I think next year will in fact be uncapped. The two sides aren’t even close and with no threat of a lockout until the following year, there’s no real sense of urgency to get a deal done until next year.

The reason I bring up the uncapped year is because in my opinion, teams should be able to find ways to get creative with how they allot money and restructure contracts to help future capped years. In essence, regardless of how much they are willing to spend, they could structure contracts to pay more base-salary money in the first year of a multi-year deal so that when the cap comes back the following year, the cap number will be lower. I’m sure they could also decide to open the wallet a little more to keep players also.

So anyway, the how’s and the why’s aside, I would venture to say that Brandon Marshall is a priority for the front office. Mr. Bowlen’s comments about Brandon the other day served as evidence that the team is looking to extend him at some point. I would guess his contract is set at over $9M per year.

In a couple years the aging secondary will be gone. I see no chance that the team allows Doom to walk away. If it is decided that he is too expensive to keep, the team would certainly get trade value from him at the very least (through use of either a franchise tag or out of restricted free agency).

I think Scheffler is perhaps expendable. PERHAPS. And only if it is to get under the cap. Again, I think he has trade value, less than Doom, but value nonetheless. I don’t think he will command an extremely large contract, however.

I won’t give an opinion on the O’ Line as I’ve not seen enough of the backups yet to know how much of a hit it would be. But I will add that I expct Casey to stay unretired and under his current contract for another year.

As for Mr. Shanahan and players willing to stay/leave for more money: I would say that this season’s outcome will determine that. Players want a chance to capture the Lombardi. If we win 10-11 games this year, I find it likely that no players will be eager to leave.

Just my thoughts. Sorry for the length. Good read, enjoyed the future perspective. Rec’d

by Alex on Oct 15, 2009 5:32 PM MDT reply actions 3 recs

You are right about Orton elvisalex

Players who would be unrestricted free agents entering the final year of a CBA must have at least six accrued seasons. If they have less than six, they can only qualify for restricted free agency. (An accrued season is when a player gets paid for a minimum of six games while being on the active, inactive or injured reserve portions of the roster.)
Kyle will be one year short of UFA status.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Oct 15, 2009 8:27 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks Kirk!

I wouldn’t even dream of putting my two-cents on Orton’s situation. I don’t think I have two-cents yet. Far too early to try and predict if he’s long-term (although that’s looking more and more to be the case) or if Brandstater might be ‘the guy’ in a year or two.

by Alex on Oct 15, 2009 8:37 PM MDT up reply actions

Great Comment

Rec’d dude. Could have been its own fanpost!

"Precipitation, which side are you on?
Are you on the rise? Are you falling down?
Let me know, Come on let's go, yeah
Got some if you need it!" -EV

by sadaraine on Oct 16, 2009 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions

champ and graham

I have said this before in a similar article:
Champ Bailey and Daniel Graham are the two highest paid players on the team. The patriots have a history of letting go of star players who demand too much money (like they let go of Graham).

It is no coincidence that they drafted the best blocking tight end in the draft and a top CB….with the way Jack WIlliams has been playing on top of it, I would not be surprised to see either Champ or Daniel traded or cut.

The patriots have a history of getting rid of players a year earlier, rather than risking keeping them a year too long (as far as age and value are concerned). I fully expect Josh to make some bold and surprising moves next offseason.

by Pierre Coghill on Oct 15, 2009 5:56 PM MDT reply actions

as for dumervil

I don’t think they will let Doom get away…he is too important a piece in this defense, whereas the drop in productivity from letting Alphonso or Jack Williams replace Champ might not be as big a loss for the TEAM. (though Champ is the best at what he does, I don’t think a shutdown CB is as important to the team as a big time pass rusher) And usually the best CBs are young guys.

by Pierre Coghill on Oct 15, 2009 5:58 PM MDT up reply actions

Agree

I see Champ being traded for another CB as well as a 2nd, and a 3rd. In the 2010 draft, those 2nd and 3rd round picks could be easy money there.

John Clayton is the head Dean at Fail University (known as F.U. in short)

by Joe Medina on Oct 15, 2009 7:21 PM MDT up reply actions

I've nevernoticed before but

that may be one of the best sig. lines ever.

That rug really tied the room together...

by Streams Of Whiskey on Oct 15, 2009 8:22 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks man.

haha

John Clayton is the head Dean at Fail University (known as F.U. in short)

by Joe Medina on Oct 16, 2009 2:43 AM MDT up reply actions

I Don't Know if Champ Goes

In the years Champ has played at Denver, he has quietly become a celebrity in Denver. I’m not putting it past McDaniels to do something like this, but I don’t believe it’ll be next year with Champ if the year’s defense continues to dominate as it has, on Champ’s play, like it has. I feel like he’s undergoing a subtle resurgence akin to Doom. Like others said though, too early to tell. That said, anybody given thought to the possible search for safety that is inevitable in the next 4 years or so (at best I think)? Also, when age does force our two deepfield monsters out off the grass, who do you think steps up and commands the D?

by RaRaDonk89 on Oct 16, 2009 2:00 AM MDT up reply actions

Just remember...

That secondary coverage is just as important to a pass rush as an elite defensive end. A lot of our sacks have come because the DBs lock up for just a few tenths of a second more than last year. I think it’s the height of stupidity to get rid of Champ— who has multiple 2nd round picks and/or a late 1st to to give up? It’s too expensive to draft in the top ten, which is fair value for Champ.

by legendarywalton on Oct 16, 2009 10:39 AM MDT up reply actions

Too early to speculate people.

Elvis has 15 more sacks to get, Champ has a couple of INT’s, Marshall will get a mega pay raise and the Broncos are off to the playoffs. One game at a time.

by bfree2bronc on Oct 16, 2009 1:07 AM MDT reply actions

It's never too early...

No disrespect, because I love your comments, but I like this post.

I can’t be sure, but I think it was HoosierTeacher who commented in another post, saying something like (paraphrasing), the team has to stay focused, one game at a time – but we can’t effect the outcome of the game(s). It’s OK for us to speculate.

We won’t be right, mostly. But that’s the fun of being more hardcore fans than the rest. We have knowledge and smart predictions… gotta put ’em somewhere +)

by Alex on Oct 16, 2009 5:36 AM MDT up reply actions

KEEP

HIM!

~me

by vincerelli on Oct 16, 2009 11:06 AM MDT reply actions

Got to keep DOOM!!! his abilities are rare and he doesn't get injured (cross my fingers), and young

by cptmorni on Oct 16, 2009 11:31 AM MDT reply actions

A rookie salary cap

would go a long way to having money for those we would like to keep. It’s getting a little ridiculous to keep giving boocoo dollars to someone who has never played an NFL game.

Just my opinion of course

by papasteven on Oct 16, 2009 11:52 AM MDT reply actions

CBA

I read something on one of the Horsetracks links recently, and I haven’t seen anyone mention this in this thread, but is very relevant to this discussion:

Assuming they don’t work out a new CBA for next year, besides the obvious of no cap and 6 accrued years for a player to become a UFA, teams get 2 franchise tags which they could use as required to keep some of these potential FAs around. I assume it’s true – it is from the MSM, after all ;-)

Jeff Zepp, Kittredge CO USA

by Rzeppa on Oct 16, 2009 12:28 PM MDT reply actions

McGeorge mentioned it earlier

I think it’s time for me to finish assembling a post I have on this subject. Maybe for the bye week. I have so much stuff that I must break it down so the folks here don’t get bored with the lawyer speak.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Oct 16, 2009 4:46 PM MDT up reply actions

Scheff

I hate to say it but he most likely goes. They drafted Quinn for his blocking and are using this year to refine his pass catching skills. Scheffler is young and will probably get a good contract from someone (Eagles?). The Broncos probably realize they can at least get a good conditional round pick for him in 2011 and hope Quinn can replace him

by Mr. Orange on Oct 16, 2009 12:40 PM MDT reply actions

So who would we use the franchise tags on?

I would keep Doom over Marshall

I would hate to lose Marshall but you have to get to the QB in this league with these rules favoring the offense. If Doom keeps up this sack rate he is going to be really expensive I hope we can do it.

We would still need to replace Scheff ,if we do lose him ,in the next draft. I trust the Broncs to do that very well. We need three TEs

Kuper is very valuable and very hard to replace in the short run. Unless we use the first round pick we will get from Chicago.

by Lisa FB on Oct 16, 2009 2:57 PM MDT reply actions