This is the best situation for both sides, considering.

for a calm, concise presentation of what’s going on. As someone who’s just learning about the ins & outs of tenders, this is helpful.

I agree that this is giving the Broncos, and Marshall, the most options possible in an uncertain setting.

Thanks John.

Do you think it may have just been a statement kind of thing to other teams saying we will listen to offers for him on the request of BM? If he does indeed want out of Denver they will accomodate that as long as they feel they got fair value? I know I feel all parties ended up happy last year. I would assume this will be no different.

I think the Broncos did Marshall a favor. They’ll let the market set his value. I think the Broncos will come out looking like the good guys and be able to keep him.

The more teams that compete for Marshall, the bigger his payday!

Denver and Marshall will find out how much other teams think he is worth. That way Marshall can’t say the Broncos aren’t giving him what he is worth. As I have said before I hope he doesn’t go anywhere.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but when Marshall signs the tender offer sheet thing, whatever, he becomes essentially a free agent. Is it hte Broncos who negotiate with other teams, or Marshall?

That Marshall and his advisors are taking Marshalls value based on his on field performance. The Broncos feel that he has damaged his product as well as their own by his actions. This is the problem and Marshall needs to find out how bad he has hurt his product.

I have one question about the example you gave. Even if the Ravens want “exclusivity” as you put it, what is to keep Marshall from signing an offer sheet with another team? In other words, do the Broncos have the power to grant exclusive negotiating rights for a higher tender, or does Marshall have total control over who he negotiates with?

that the first round tender makes it less likely (though still not impossible) that Brandon will be wearing the Bronco helmet next year?

I was noticing in my newsreader this evening that many other teams are taking this same route with their RFAs. Panthers, Raiders, Jets, Bears and Redskins have all slapped tenders in the same general range on their players.

For those that want to know who is in the Free Agency, who is Unrestricted, who’s been Franchised, and so on…the NFL has a great break down on their site:

NFL 2010 Free Agency

I think it’s probably 75%/25% he stays now.

I (Denver) am selling a vintage Porsche (Marshall) on eBay. I’m going to start the bidding at 30,000 bucks (1st round tender), even though I KNOW the price will rise up. Since it’s a vintage Porsche that’s rare, deep pocketed bidders (Washington, for example) are going to bid over everyone else to get what they want. Of course, it helps that the rich man doing the bidding used to own this exact car that I’m selling (Shanahan). Either way, the WORST that happens is I sell the car for 30,000 and still get a good deal (1st round pick ONLY for Marshall), or I don’t get any bidders and I keep the car.

Anyone else get my drift?

the owners obviously opted out of the CBA because they thought it sucked but the players have to realize that no matter how much we love the NFL (I being chief among those in that camp) they are making money playing a game while I scratch by with whatever I can get. I will cheer for the Broncos until I’m lying face down in my Orange Crush for the count but come hell or highwater, the players need to realize it’s their own DeMaurice Smith forcing them into this situation. The sooner the players acquiesce to owners’ demands, the sooner they become even wealthier while we fans will find solace in the drudgery of our lives by watching the NFL on autumn weekends with NO LOCKOUT. Let’s do this please. I believe in Mr. Bowlen until he proves this is an asinine proposition. In case you’re wondering this has NOT happened yet, nor will it.

Rec’d, and much appreciated.

My my, the skies are finally clearing with this guy.

As others have mentioned, the calm, clear manner with which you sorted through the “tenders” situation lent reason and credibility to the perspective, and it’s hard to disagree with any of it.

My hope is that Denver keeps Marshall – but this was savvy for Broncos management to test the market in this respect, and see what comes of it. Frankly, there will be many ways to positively spin the next (final?) chapter in the Brandon Marshall saga in Denver: He stays, hooray! We get an extra first-rounder (or more) in this year’s draft, hooray!

It almost makes me forget that you’re a Cleveland Cavs fan. Almost. ;)

I am really happy with the way the management have gone about this. I hope we see an offer come in for Brandon and we can see his real market value and make him a Bronco for the forseeable future.

Say the Ravens come the Brian Xanders and say they are going to sign Marshall to a sheet, but want the exclusivity. They could throw a 4th round pick into the deal and get Marshall’s tender for a 1st and 4th. See what I mean?

The problem with your premise, and nearly everybody else’s for that matter, is that it neverminds the fact that if the Ravens (using your example) were interested in Marshall for a first and fourth, then they would be interested in him for a 1st and 3rd (even if we had to negotiate down). It simply ignores that fact, along with the fact that we’ve effectively relinquished control in negotiations, and the very real possibility that Brandon can go off on his own and sign an offer sheet with Miami for a cheapo first-rounder while we were still on the phone with Baltimore.

The less than rosy point here is that while it’s possible that we get more than a 1st… It’s unlikely. We would be hoping that another team is willing to go higher than the asking price just for fun. Just to buy them extra time, because otherwise, they would just deal with Marshall directly. In either event, and this is key, we could have done the same thing if we had placed the higher tender on him. The difference being, that we would have remained in control. Teams would have had to deal through us to get BM, whether that meant lowering the price, or getting proven players in lieu of draft picks.

Has the sky fallen? No. But these ultra rosy pictures aren’t real. I read posts from what I consider very smart football minds on here every day, and I have a hard time believing that they actually believe all this propaganda-like kumbaya singing. It seems like some are agreeing just to agree. There’s some crazy ideas out there about how we’ve got ’em right where we want ’em. BS.

Granted, there is absolutely a chance that we keep Brandon, or that we get more than the asking price. So what, though. It’s not likely. And it’s ABSOLUTELY less likely now, than if we had used the high tender. And that’s the point gentlemen, what most are choosing to ignore, is that we are in LESS control today than two days ago. We are in a lesser bargaining position, and it’s harder to now raise the price, than it would have been to set a higher price and then lower it. Our chances of trading for proven talent has greatly, if not fully, diminished also.

The first-round tender, unlike Orton and Doom and Kuper, says we don’t want him. You folks can be optimistic all you like, but two weeks ago 80% of you thought we could get at least a 1st and a 3rd. If you’re changing your mind now, just to support a bad decision, well, shame on you.

This is being done in an express lane fashion, in attempt to get past Marshall quickly, then move the team forward. Fine. I get that. But we could have at least tried for more, stayed in the driver seat, and even asked for proven players instead of draft picks. Not anymore.

How about value? Let’s say Marshall does get an offer. It is obvious that the Broncos and Marshall cannot come to terms on what his value really is. Instead of fighting over it themselves, let other teams do it. Say the Ravens sign Marshall to a 3 year, $30 million offer sheet. Now the market has been set and the Broncos have two choices – match the sheet or let him leave for a 1st round pick. Get it now?

No. Explain to me again how we are better off by allowing other teams to essentially do our negotiating for us. I’m sure you’re aware, but we would not only be agreeing to the yearly salary that they agreed to, but also the “guaranteed money”, and most provisions. Do you really think it’s a good idea to let others deal with our problem child, hoping they put in the Brandon-don’t get-in-trouble clauses for us, just because we’re too weak to stand and negotiate with him?

The idea that he needs to learn his value has merit. He is hard headed. But you’re playing with fire when you let your competitors do your negotiating for you. The idea overall is lacking.

With Orton being tendered with a first what happens if he decides to hold out like most the restricted free agents will be advised to do?

Do we really want our franchise QB losing an offseason over CBA issues? That would definitely set us back.

Eliminates the headaches of bargaining over a player’s worth, and leaves it in the hands of the free market….what’s not to like?!

And we can match ANY offer if it’s reasonable and he can stay a Bronco! This is good for all involved. If he really does want to leave Denver (I hope it’s not true), then we get adequate compensation and possibly more. :)

I still think he will be a happy Broncos receiver this year!

In the end, if we lose Marshall for a late 1st round pick, it will be a bad deal for Denver where we traded an elite player for pennies on the dollar.

If the Ravens want this guy, there is a good chance our only compensation will be a pick at 25 in the 2010 draft. I don’t see trading Marshall for Golden Tate or Pouncey as an upgrade for Denver. I see it as a huge risk and a move that makes us immediately worse for 2010.

McDaniels is bold and brave. No doubt about it. But if we end up at 5-11 or the like in 2010, he will find himself on the hot seat. Our O was not good to begin with and we didn’t really show any improvement in 2009. Losing our best skill position player (an elite player no less) for a rookie usually means taking a step back, even if the rookie pans out.

If we lose Marshall, a lot things will have to fall into place that didn’t in 2009 (i.e. Eddie Royal and Sheff making massive improvements, Graham playing better than he did in 2009, Hillis or his replacement making an impact, Moreno stepping up quite a bit, Gaffney being more than a 2 game wonder, the emergence of a slot WR and the impact of a rookie at WR). I’m certain some of these guys will answer the bell, but I’m also certain some of them won’t. Losing Marshall puts a lot of pressure on Orton and as Bena said, Orton is likely going to hold out for as long as he can so I don’t know how that will help matters. If our O doesn’t make some strides in 2010, we will not be a good football team.

You guys are really doing a great job with a sensitive subject! Awesome. Here is a link I posted in a comment earlier. This is for informational purposes only. On January 11, 2010, I asked if you would trade Marshall for a 2010 First Round Pick. Here are the results – Over 2000 people replied, 65% said yes they would.

Here’s the poll – http://www.milehighreport.com/polls/show/60003

that the Broncos are giving Orton some respect in his tender. He played better than I expected and as everyone knows, I’m an optimist!