Williamson states the obvious: Pryce could be released if suitor isnt found

[SoCalBronco]

Release possible if trade doesn't happen

By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer


Post file
Trevor Pryce




Trevor Pryce, the Broncos' four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, could be released soon if the team cannot find a suitable trade partner, according to a source.

The Broncos, who were involved in a flurry of personnel activity this week, are trying to free salary cap space and have been working for two months to move Pryce. A third option would be for the eight-year veteran to accept a substantial pay cut to remain with Denver. That option seems unlikely, however, which could lead to Pryce's outright release.

Pryce's agent, Peter Schaffer, said he is unaware of a pending move. Schaffer said he is working on finding a new team for his client.

"Trevor is not averse to playing his whole career in Denver, but if he's traded there'd be no hard feelings," Schaffer said. "If they release Trevor, we'd rather it be sooner than later."


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Last week, at the NFL owners meetings in Hawaii, coach Mike Shanahan said he couldn't talk about Pryce's situation because it was "on-going." Denver general manager Ted Sundquist said he couldn't comment on whether Pryce, 29, would participate in Denver's offseason workout program, which begins Monday.

Pryce, who has vowed to return to Pro Bowl form after missing most of last season because of a back injury, said last week that he would attend the offseason workout program if the team wanted him to.

Under his current contract, Pryce would cost the Broncos $9 million against the salary cap this year. By cutting him, the team would save about $5 million - money the team needs to sign draft picks and cover possible contract incentive bonuses at the end of the season.

Denver has re-signed five free agents and four new veterans and has traded for three players. The Broncos also have agreements to re-sign defensive linemen Marco Coleman and Luther Elliss and tight end Patrick Hape.

Sundquist said the team could not have made those moves without the relief from Pryce's contract.

With the Pryce situation nearing resolution, Denver is basically finished with major additions except for the April 23-24 draft.

Sundquist said he is satisfied with the offseason, which was highlighted by the signing of linebacker Ian Gold, the additions of defensive linemen Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren from Cleveland and the re-signing of offensive lineman Ben Hamilton.

"We were able to do a lot in the offseason, and we are happy with what we've done," Sundquist said. "We feel like we've upgraded ... We feel like we're a better team."

Denver has acquired four former Cleveland defensive linemen. Ebenezer Ekuban, an end, and tackle Michael Myers were traded for this week in exchange for running back Reuben Droughns.

Brown, Warren, Ekuban and Myers combine for a substantially smaller bill than it would have cost to keep free agent Reggie Hayward. He is receiving $10 million in guarantees from Jacksonville. The new linemen combine for just more than $6 million.

"We had to get aggressive and creative, and thanks to some veterans who restructured, we had the room to do some things," Sundquist said. "We think the end result will be positive."

Footnote

Denver was not among the eight teams that attended a Thursday workout by former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett.

[wabbit]

I'm pretty sure I know who this source is...and I expect some pretty intense talks to move Pryce before the draft...but failing that, on draft day...even if it's only a minor move.

Damn sad exit for a great Bronco, but some of this is very much his own doing...or UN doing as the case may be

[Ballhawk]

Cut him now and sign one more vet.

[Cosmo]

Whats stupid is what in the world is TP thinking? If he didnt' restructure and was released, the idiot would lose millions upon millions of dollars. I dont get this at all, if hes straight out released i'll be pissed, but if its true the guy is sooo damn dumb that he wont restructure than kick his ass out the door.

[delany]

Trevor will have exponentially more suitors flying to meet him than Courtney Brown did. He will make his money.

I have a hard time believing that Denver will just cut him.

If nothing better has happened by draft day...I see them trading up with CinCin or the like.

It might not be good value for Denver...but it is better than just cutting his arse.

[eddie mac]

He'll only get a deal similar to Courtney's. Trevor you must be the stupidest footballer since Forrest Gump!!

[eddie mac]

Trevor will have exponentially more suitors flying to meet him than Courtney Brown did. He will make his money.

I have a hard time believing that Denver will just cut him.

If nothing better has happened by draft day...I see them trading up with CinCin or the like.

It might not be good value for Denver...but it is better than just cutting his arse.

No way teams are gonna throw long-term $$ contracts with signing bonuses at him after he played only 1 game last year, no matter who's interested.

[orange crusher]

I wouldn't just cut him. If they have no plans for him to be around, they would be better off trading him for a 7th rounder. At least they would have some control over where he goes. That's assuming someone would be willing to take his contract.

[delany]

No way teams are gonna throw long-term $$ contracts with signing bonuses at him after he played only 1 game last year, no matter who's interested.

The point is...Trevor will get a contract....and it probably will be in the same ballpark as what Denver is willing to pay now.

So by him doing all this doesn't make him dumb....in the end it probably won't even matter because his coin should be close to the same......unless the Broncos crack and give in...

He is playing the cards that he is dealt. If no one blinks he will be playing for someone else.

Not sure how that makes him dumb.....

[eddie mac]

The point is...Trevor will get a contract....and it probably will be in the same ballpark as what Denver is willing to pay now.

So by him doing all this doesn't make him dumb....in the end it probably won't even matter because his coin should be close to the same......unless the Broncos crack and give in...

He is playing the cards that he is dealt. If no one blinks he will be playing for someone else.

Not sure how that makes him dumb.....

You're kidding right??

He has a base salary of $6.5 million or thereabouts, no-one can afford his cap number of $9.2 million that's why he's gonna have to restructure even before any trade. He'll be lucky to get 1/4 of that in guaranteed money if he's cut!!

[eddie mac]

I wouldn't just cut him. If they have no plans for him to be around, they would be better off trading him for a 7th rounder. At least they would have some control over where he goes. That's assuming someone would be willing to take his contract.

OC if he wont budge on his current deal then he's getting traded nowhere, no team is gonna take on that base salary!!

[delany]

You're kidding right??

He has a base salary of $6.5 million or thereabouts, no-one can afford his cap number of $9.2 million that's why he's gonna have to restructure even before any trade. He'll be lucky to get 1/4 of that in guaranteed money if he's cut!!

Dude....one more time.

Of course no one is going to pay him the coin of his current contract...not even the Broncos. It is a bad value contract considering his performance last year.

So he will either restructure or be cut...either way he will probably make the same coin in a new contract with Denver...or a new one with a different team.

So where is he being an idiot?

Do you think Denver is going to offer him a better restructured contract than he could find else where?

Trevor doesn't think so....and I am not so sure he is wrong.

[orange crusher]

You're kidding right??

He has a base salary of $6.5 million or thereabouts, no-one can afford his cap number of $9.2 million that's why he's gonna have to restructure even before any trade. He'll be lucky to get 1/4 of that in guaranteed money if he's cut!!

They won't have to afford his cap number of $9.2M if his base is $6.5M. They will only have to afford $6.5M. Someone may be willing to take a chance if they don't have to give up much to do it.

[Odysseus]

The point remains that Pryce is gone. He cost the Broncos too much and he best pack his bags.

He said earlier in the press that he was willing to restructure but it was probably too little too late. Coach has to pull the trigger on this.

Trevor is going to miss the Broncos. He's going to learn why the Broncos are respected around the league by the players.

If he ends up on some second tier team he'll never have the pleasure of being in a playoff again.

[Ballhawk]

Dude....one more time.

Of course no one is going to pay him the coin of his current contract...not even the Broncos. It is a bad value contract considering his performance last year.

So he will either restructure or be cut...either way he will probably make the same coin in a new contract with Denver...or a new one with a different team.

So where is he being an idiot?

Do you think Denver is going to offer him a better restructured contract than he could find else where?

Trevor doesn't think so....and I am not so sure he is wrong.

Delany no team is going to give him a 9 mil signing bonus, at best he would get 5 mil guaranteed over 3 years and he would stand to make 7 mill less just this year.

[delany]

Delany no team is going to give him a 9 mil signing bonus, at best he would get 5 mil guaranteed over 3 years and he would stand to make 7 mill less just this year.

Grrrr!

I NEVER said a team would.

I said that the contract Denver wants him to play for will be similar to what any other team out there would sign him for.

Hence it really doesn't matter that he refuses to restructure. He will either restructure with Denver and make 3 peanuts....or he will be cut, get signed my a different team and make 3 peanuts.

The whole point of this line of discussion was refuting the fact that Trevor is 'as dumb as Forest Gump'.

It really doesn't matter which way Pryce chooses the $$$ should be similar.

The only thing he is being 'dumb' about is what quiettiger alluded to...he might go to a 2-tier team.

[Ballhawk]

Grrrr!

I NEVER said a team would.

I said that the contract Denver wants him to play for will be similar to what any other team out there would sign him for.



I think we would pay him more in a restructure or would have if he had been open to it. You only have to look at Golds contract offer last year to see that. He took less with TB because of hurt feelingd. We know all about his rehab and where he is at. This would be a much bigger question mark for other teams.

[delany]

I think we would pay him more in a restructure or would have if he had been open to it.


Now that is the big question. Trevor thinks he can get more on the open market than Denver is willing to pay him. Before the plane arrived from Cleveland he was in a position of power. Now...Denver can get by without him.

Either way...I don't think this qualifies Trevor for being 'as dumb as Forrest Gump'.

[Atlas]

Denver has re-signed five free agents and four new veterans and has traded for three players. The Broncos also have agreements to re-sign defensive linemen Marco Coleman and Luther Elliss and tight end Patrick Hape.

.
God Damn ****ing, coc???cking Patrick Hape!!!! I hate that mother ****er!!! I hope he gets cut!! So bad.

[Atlas]

Release possible if trade doesn't happen


Brown, Warren, Ekuban and Myers combine for a substantially smaller bill than it would have cost to keep free agent Reggie Hayward. He is receiving $10 million in guarantees from Jacksonville. The new linemen combine for just more than $6 million.

.


I think this says alot. I believe Warren, Brown, Ecuban and Myers will count for significantly more tackles and sacks than Hayward. They provide depth and are cheap. How can anyone not like this.? HELL, Ecuban only had 2 less sacks last year than Hayward.

[Mile High Shack]

point is....Trevor is probably broke and won't be the same player, so I'd even take a 3rd rounder for him right now.............

He's too expensive and is an injury liability.....backs are hard to fix.

[RocBronc]

Wouldn't we save more money if we release Pryce after June 1st?

[bronco militia]

if he's not traded before draft day, he won't be released until June..

[bronco militia]

Wouldn't we save more money if we release Pryce after June 1st?

yes...the remaining signing bonus/cap hit (around $3 million) will be spread out over the next two seasons.

[bendog]

I nominate delaney to be the stupidist poster rather than Bob'sourBitch. Bob at least has some humor value, and I think doesn't even believe his own stuff half the time. Delaney seems immune to logic and devoid of any experience in cap.

Actually, I have the mook on ignore, but ya'll are sending me bits of his posts in your responses.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

You're kidding right??

He has a base salary of $6.5 million or thereabouts, no-one can afford his cap number of $9.2 million that's why he's gonna have to restructure even before any trade. He'll be lucky to get 1/4 of that in guaranteed money if he's cut!!

The signing bonus money doesn't go to Trev's new team. They need $6.5M to accept his base salary and that's it.

It'd be stupid to restructure his deal, since any trade would result in the acceleration of all the remaining money that had been paid out, yet had not hit the cap yet. All restructuring does is decrease the amount of money Denver saves in trading him.

[orange 4 life]

I have a hard time believing that Denver will just cut him

my sentiments exactly.

personally, im expecting him to restructure at the last minute.

bottom line is that if he's willing to do that, he's our best signing of the offseason, and we would have the potential of a pretty amazing line.

jake

[Mediator12]

The signing bonus money doesn't go to Trev's new team. They need $6.5M to accept his base salary and that's it.

It'd be stupid to restructure his deal, since any trade would result in the acceleration of all the remaining money that had been paid out, yet had not hit the cap yet. All restructuring does is decrease the amount of money Denver saves in trading him.

Actually, I inferred the restructure to mean Pryce was going to stay at a lower Cap Number for this year, not trade him. By restructuring, the broncos save enough money to do the rookie pool and add any late camp additions. You yourself said the cap is way more manageable next year and they could load it accordingly to their purposes to save just enough to operate with this current year AND KEEP PRYCE.

As you mentioned, there is no way to save money in restructuring and Cutting or trading Pryce at all.

[broncos love]

I think this says alot. I believe Warren, Brown, Ecuban and Myers will count for significantly more tackles and sacks than Hayward. They provide depth and are cheap. How can anyone not like this.? HELL, Ecuban only had 2 less sacks last year than Hayward.

I totally agree and think the broncos dl will be better than last year

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Actually, I inferred the restructure to mean Pryce was going to stay at a lower Cap Number for this year, not trade him. By restructuring, the broncos save enough money to do the rookie pool and add any late camp additions. You yourself said the cap is way more manageable next year and they could load it accordingly to their purposes to save just enough to operate with this current year AND KEEP PRYCE.

As you mentioned, there is no way to save money in restructuring and Cutting or trading Pryce at all.

I said the cap was more managable if Pryce was gone. Dude is not worth anywhere near the $10M cap number he's going to come close to carrying, and any restructuring is going to add more money to that number.

[eddie mac]

The signing bonus money doesn't go to Trev's new team. They need $6.5M to accept his base salary and that's it.

It'd be stupid to restructure his deal, since any trade would result in the acceleration of all the remaining money that had been paid out, yet had not hit the cap yet. All restructuring does is decrease the amount of money Denver saves in trading him.

Apologies Herc I meant that Trev would have to agree a new deal with any other team so they could fit him under the cap. Is that extra $2.7m all signing bonus money?? Isn't there a roster bonus in there this season? and if that's the case the new team would be accountable for that under the cap as we were for Warren's.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

It's a $900k LTBE workout bonus to go with his signing bonus hit. I'm guessing it would be converted to ULTBE bonus with the new team since he would not have completed any of their offseason workout programs yet.

[Rascal]

So you are saying even if we restructure his deal we couldn't afford him?

Well...kiss his ass goodbye then.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

They'd have to restructure someone else if they don't do anything with Pryce. Lepsis would be an obvious candidate, but since his deal voids after this season, anything that is saved will all be on next year's cap.

[Odysseus]

EDIT: Pryce is planning on entering the Broncos off season workout plan. If he enters the building and he's there doing his thing then it's going to be harder for the Broncos to walk him. He's forcing their hand.