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Broncos re-up Mario Haggan for 2 years

A player few thought much of heading into Training Camp has certainly gotten the attention of Josh McDaniels and the Broncos brain-trust.  First, Mario Haggan won a starting job in the team's new 3-4 alignment.  Now, he has earned a pay-raise as well.

According to a 'Tweet from Adam Schefter, the Broncos signed Haggan to an extension earlier today -

Denver signed starting OLB Mario Haggan to a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension that includes $1.25 million guaranteed.

Haggan is excited about the deal -

You’re always going to be happy in a place where you have opportunity and the Broncos have given me the opportunity.

Haggan is in his 6th season after being draft by the Buffalo Bills in the 7th Round of the 2003 NFL Draft.


Mario Haggan

#57 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

6-3

267

Mar 03, 1980

Mississippi State



0 recs  |  Comment 47 comments |

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Wow

Count me among those who didn’t think he would make the team. Either I am right, and we are weak at LB, or Mario is alot better than I thought.

"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing." -- George Bernard Shaw
Breaking jaws or the NFL in Oakland who cares? Fall on your pirate’s sword - Ponderosa

by KaptainKirk on Sep 9, 2009 10:49 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm in the same boat

and i’m still not sold on him

by Bustafluff on Sep 9, 2009 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

Not too much to pay for a 260+ lb linebacker who can play stout against the run.

by JeffG on Sep 9, 2009 11:22 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cool.

I like Mario’s play and I like signing guys early and at a reasonable price who have earned it.

by NedBronco on Sep 9, 2009 10:52 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

LILB

We still need help at this position.

BUT BMarsh are you listening?

by Endzone on Sep 9, 2009 10:56 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Haggan plays LOLB, or are you just randomly saying we need someone at LILB?

I am surprised by this as well. I assumed Haggan was starting there during the pre-season because Ayers and Reid were in the doghouse for loafing it, I didn’t think the coaching staff liked him that much… interesting.

I have to say though, I was rooting against the guy from the beginning for no apparent reason, and his play was better than I thought. I also didn’t realize how big he is, almost 270! He sure doesn’t look that big on the field, he moves well.

by aLuffabo on Sep 9, 2009 11:01 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought it was....

….Reid and Davis, not Ayers who was in the doghouse?

by Gristle McThornbody on Sep 9, 2009 11:07 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Randomness

I was just randomly saying because A. Davis and S. Larsen are still not shutting down offenses. But while Haggan has done better than Reid, LOLB is still on my wish list.

by Endzone on Sep 9, 2009 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

Reid is good on pass rushing and run defense but he’s been being beaten often and badly in pass coverage.

by Endzone on Sep 9, 2009 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right

I think his 1 INT will cloud memory of his play. I think our biggest problem at LOLB is that we don’t really have anyone who has shown any ability in pass coverage yet. We’ve got a couple of guys who can stop the run and get a little bit of pressure on the QB, but no well-rounded LB yet. I’m hoping Ayers can step up sometime this season.

by BroncosBassist on Sep 9, 2009 11:43 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Duderino,

We spent a #1 draft pick on Ayers to man that spot in the future, we’ve got a couple of stopgaps in Haggan and Reid while he develops, but we’re not going there again in free agency or the draft in the near future!

by aLuffabo on Sep 9, 2009 2:46 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

True

And it will take Ayers a little while to develop. That’s why LOLB is still on my wish list. We’ll see how things work out, but I’m guessing in the next draft we may be looking for a LILB.

by Endzone on Sep 9, 2009 4:00 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hopefully. If we could get a beast next to DJ, and one big impact player on the D-line, I would be ecstatic.

by aLuffabo on Sep 9, 2009 4:28 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I Did Not Know

That Ayers was in the doghouse.

by Endzone on Sep 9, 2009 11:44 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe because of the time he missed

while holding out.

Reminds me of one of my favorite moments from Do The Right Thing — this exchange between Giancarlo Esposito and Danny Aiello:

Buggin Out: Oh you’re kicking me out now? You’re kicking me out?
Sal: I’m not kicking you out. You’re kicking yourself out.

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Sep 9, 2009 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought it was Ayers and Reid who McD demoted because they weren’t practicing hard enough, and that was when Haggan got the #1 spot… I have a horrible memory though, soooooo….

by aLuffabo on Sep 9, 2009 4:24 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

that was Crowder and Reid (and it was in McDaniels' comments related to why Haggan was starter)

"If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences". W. I. Thomas

by Colinski on Sep 10, 2009 12:53 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up. ;)

by aLuffabo on Sep 10, 2009 3:29 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not Bad, Xanders

Great Moneyball move. Super cap friendly.

Smokey, my friend, you are entering a world of pain.

by TJ Johnson on Sep 9, 2009 11:08 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Good value

This is less than what Shanny gave Koutouvides last year. Also, Haggan is ace on ST.

by BuckarooBanzai on Sep 9, 2009 11:10 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Please don't say the K-word!

Koutouvides is the whole reason why I was wary about Mario Haggan to begin with. As a general rule, when you pencil someone in at a given position (IE, Koutouvides), and then a journeyman starts pulling in front of him in camp (Nate Webster), to me that’s a red flag. Usually the team spins it as “scrappy underdog works his way up the depth chart”, but more often than not it’s more like “Overrated veteran gets paid and turns lazy”.

I guess I shouldn’t be so negative, becuase there wasn’t really anyone else penciled in at OLB other than Dumerville this year, so it’s not like any one specific player has been a dissapointment here. But I was pulling for Jarvis Moss to step up and embrace the OLB role better than he did. I think he was clearly undersized at DE, but should have the body type and speed to be a decent OLB if he tried.

Belief is accepting something because you’ve been convinced to do so, whether you like it or not. Faith is accepting something because you want to accept it.

by Hercules Rockefeller on Sep 9, 2009 2:13 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Haggan

Haggan was not the first LOLB “penciled in.” It was Reid. Reid was getting beat too often in pass coverage so now Haggan is there. I understand that Ayers may move to LOLB, but for now Ayers is backing up Doom.

by Endzone on Sep 9, 2009 4:02 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

there are differences

Haggan won the job in an open competition conducted by a new staff without vested interests in the previous staff’s players. Koutouvides was “projected” at MLB based on his 1st year performance (he had been sitting since then) and potential. Koutouvides wasn’t a terrible pickup but he wasn’t as sharp (i.e., quick, good reactions) as he needed to be. He made the Buccaneer’s roster, and would have been a fine backup if we had stayed in the 4-3. The problem was in expecting him to become our answer at MLB. This epitomized the problem with FA strategy of old regime. They either paid too little and hoped for development or paid too much and took risks.

"If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences". W. I. Thomas

by Colinski on Sep 9, 2009 4:30 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't believe we debated Niko V. Koutovides

witha straight face…. hope springs eternal.

Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Sep 9, 2009 7:23 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

believe it or not

Koutouvides was one the first players released by Denver to be claimed. I see he’s a 3rd teamer now, so it’s not like he’s risen to mega-star heights, but someone saw some value in him shortly after his release. The moral of the story is that there were some quality backups on our defense last year — unfortunately, we needed starters.

"If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences". W. I. Thomas

by Colinski on Sep 9, 2009 11:19 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

while I'm thinking of it

One of the obvious failings during the Shanahan tenure was the scouting of Pro Personnel. We were dreadful when it came to acquiring FA talent.

Too much focus is often placed solely on the draft, which is a separate area of personnel. One of the most pronounced differences between this year and last is in Pro Personnel, and it’s illustrated by the number of players we acquired who were no longer wanted by anyone. The MSM’s superficial analysis fails to distinguish this crucial difference between the last year’s and this year’s players. They may appear somewhat alike in that they’re not mega-stars but this year’s players were still wanted by their original team whereas last year’s were there for the taking.

There were – ( 2 ) – players who were still wanted by their original teams in last year’s crop of FAs: Wiegmann and Bailey.

This year’s crop includes – ( 12 ).

RB Correll Buckhalter*** (UFA-Phi)
ILB Andra Davis*** (UFA-Cle)
S Brian Dawkins*** (UFA-Phi)
DL Ronald Fields*** (UFA-SF)
WR Jabar Gaffney*** (UFA-NE)
CB André Goodman*** (UFA-Mia)
T Brandon Gorin*** (UFA-Stl)
ILB Nick Greisen**
S Renaldo Hill*** (UFA-Mia)
RB LaMont Jordan*** (UFA-NE)
G Matt McChesney**
T Clint Oldenburg**
DL J’Vonne Parker**
LS Lonie Paxton*** (UFA-NE)
OLB/DE Darrell Reid*** (UFA-Ind)
QB Chris Simms*** (UFA-Ten)
RB Darius Walker**

( two asterisks ) indicates player was an NFL veteran or had been in other camps before joining
the Broncos.

 ( three asterisks ) indicates player was an unrestricted free agent who had not been released by
previous team

(SOURCE: BRONCOS MEDIA GUIDE)

Who would you trust? Would you go by the MSM’s analysis or would you go by the market value as expressed in a competition between NFL teams for the services of free agents? Also, many higher priced vets aren’t worth the price they’ve established for themselves, so price isn’t always the best indicator of value. My argument here is that being is demand is a better indication of surplus value.

"If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences". W. I. Thomas

by Colinski on Sep 10, 2009 12:50 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's been a pleasant surprise

to me, actually. I kept thinking of him as a backup, but he played well from what I saw in exhibition and as noted above is very good on ST as well. So he’s valuable. He’s definitely better than Niko!

The commenter formerly known as "Dashiell".

by underdog on Sep 9, 2009 11:12 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

He's a more durable Rosie Colvin...

…perfect for the 3-4. But no ish we’re shallow at LB.

by ELGee on Sep 9, 2009 11:19 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Good deal for us. At worst we get an excellent special teamer who is a little over priced and at best we get a decent starter at a bargain

by kappys on Sep 9, 2009 11:22 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

love what it says to BMarsh as well

great timing Xanders!!!

Hope he keeps a starting spot and he would be a nice fill in at LILB if he has more speed than Davis/Larsen…..lets get him schooled up

by BideshiBronco on Sep 9, 2009 11:22 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Excellent Value

I’ve always been intrigued by his play. He’s got great size and appears to be a character guy.

Much better than throwing money at Koutouvides like Banzai said above.

by prototype on Sep 9, 2009 12:04 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Named Team Captain

Haggan was named one of the 3 Defensive Team Captains. The guy must be a lot more on and off the field than I previously gave him credit for. That oversight is attributable, I think, to not paying much attention to him. Congrats!

by Endzone on Sep 9, 2009 12:10 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I was thinking the same thing

I was surprised by the new contract, though it isn’t gaudy and is a smart move by the broncos. And I was even more surprised by the team captain.

Maybe I was just dismissing him, but hopefully he’ll produce for us.

by trumanj on Sep 9, 2009 1:48 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

That caught my attention also

I was down on Haggan when the depth chart was first posted, but these two events are making me re think my impression of him.

Belief is accepting something because you’ve been convinced to do so, whether you like it or not. Faith is accepting something because you want to accept it.

by Hercules Rockefeller on Sep 9, 2009 2:15 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

3-4 guy

He was drafted by a 4-3 team and never quite fit, but his size and skillset fits the 3-4 very well. Nice move, Broncos

Hillis/Moreno in '09

by Emmett Smith on Sep 9, 2009 12:11 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

WOW

Congrats to you Mario. Now lets play some football….

by WestCoast on Sep 9, 2009 12:37 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Definitely a surprise to me, too!

But if he’s solid, then that’s a cap-friendly play… And elected a team captain with Champ and Dawk? That says more than enough for me.

by MakeCents on Sep 9, 2009 12:37 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Cool

How much fun is it to see a player earn the respect of his coaches [promoted over Reid], his teammates [elected captain] and his employers [new contract extension]! I think this just might be how “the business of football” is supposed to work. Now the challenge, as always, is for Mario to take this out onto the field and show us why it makes sense. GO Broncos!

by 42n81 on Sep 9, 2009 2:23 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

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