Darian Stewart contract extension keeps Broncos defense intact

Good morning, Broncos Country!

John Elway does it yet again.

The Denver Broncos executive vice president/general manager finds a way to hold onto another key piece of his defense and gives his team a potential spark before a massive game. The move to extend Broncos safety Darian Stewart to a four-year, $28 million contract on Saturday is unexpected but pretty much keeps the defense intact until at least 2019. In the process, Denver keeps an unsung but vital member of this unit for another four years.

Elway gets how important a dominant pass rush and secondary is to a team’s success in the NFL. Now if only he could get the interior of the defensive line and interior linebacker figured out, the Broncos defense will get even better. We won't get started on the offensive line - that's a conversation for another day.

Before I go any further: Do you think that clown at Sports Illustrated, Greg A. Bedard, still views Elway as a "used cars salesman?" You think the Pro Football Writers of America will get the clue and award Elway its Executive of the Year? Finally?

What’s awesome to see is Elway’s passion to win has carried over to the front office. He’s maintained Pat Bowlen’s expectation that this organization win Super Bowls, and if it doesn’t, it’s a failure. To see players like Stewart want to stay in the Mile High City and remain a part of what is going on here is special; especially when you consider they could get more on the free-agent market.

The Broncos safety becomes the latest player to get extended late in a season, joining Chris Harris Jr., and Derek Wolfe. Added with Von Miller and Brandon Marshall, you see Elway is more than willing to give contracts to key members of the defense, despite the failed belief that he’s cheap. Yeah, Elway slammed the door on that ... yet again.

As we’ve grown accustomed to from Elway, this move ensures and proves that Denver will "win from now on." Now, Stewart and the Broncos need to beat the Chiefs.

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AFC West Tracks

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