Walls reaches out to the Broncos; dismisses Rosenhaus

[SoCalBronco]

Walls sends Rosenhaus to showers
Denver-based agents to work with corner
By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer



Lenny Walls, potentially one of the most attractive free agents on the open market next March, plans to keep his mind on the field this year. But he did make one significant off-field decision this week.

Walls said Thursday he has dismissed agent Drew Rosenhaus. Walls said he plans to hire Denver-based agents Lamont Smith and Peter Schaffer next week. Players must wait five days after firing one agent before hiring another.

The move is notable for several reasons. Rosenhaus, who has been in national headlines recently representing star receivers Terrell Owens and Javon Walker, has been known for gaining clients, not losing clients. However, Walls said he felt somewhat lost in the shuffle. Rosenhaus has more than 90 clients.

"I still think the world of Drew, but I felt this change was necessary for me," Walls said. "Drew had too much going on for me. I feel better about this."

Rosenhaus, who represents former Denver running backs Clinton Portis and Reuben Droughns, predicts he'll work with Walls again.

"I like Lenny very much," Rosenhaus said. "Things like this happen. I think this will get worked out and we'll be working together again."

Walls, who has had several agents and had worked with Rosenhaus for about a year, said he believes working with local agents could help keep him in Denver.

Like Rosenhaus, Smith and Schaffer are among the more successful agents in the NFL. The pair represents Broncos Trevor Pryce, Ben Hamilton, Mike Anderson, Quentin Griffin, Jeremy LeSueur and Tim Stuber. In the past they represented Steve Atwater, Alfred Williams and Mark Jackson. They represented Denver cornerback Kelly Herndon in March when he received a five-year, $15 million contract with a $3.6 signing bonus as a restricted free agent.

"This is where I want to be, so having Denver guys could help,"

[Candy Cigarettes]

"This is where I want to be, so having Denver guys could help,"

Hmm, Walls clearly understands that Shanahan does not like dealing with Rosenhaus. Nice that he wants to stay in Denver.

[IHaveALight]

Great news! Hopefully Lenny will still be a Bronco next year. I really do think he's going to have a great year though, and the Broncos won't be able to afford him because of it.

[SoCalBronco]

I feel much better about Lenny staying here. I really like this gesture. He's been kicking ass in camp so far according to Khan. Just stay healthy and you'll get paid Lenny. This is a nice step though.

[Odysseus]

Lenny gains a lot working with Champ Bailey and needs to prove himself durable. He's making more money focusing on staying put then any amount of money he gets moving around. He's doing the right thing playing the long game and building a bigger reputation. If he starts getting picks and becomes a threat underneath the next time around he'll command huge dollars. It really helps all parties if he stays focused.

Karl Paymah just got taxed again.

[sirhcyennek81]

Lenny must like what he sees here, to fire an agent that shanahan hates working with.

[orange crusher]

Good for him! Wasn't he one of the last, if not the last, player on Denver's roster represented by Rosenholdout?

[Bronco LB 59]

I don't blame Walls for doing so. Rosenhaus has become an attention whore and his A list clients have taken top priority. Why work with a sleezebag who isn't going to take the time to fly out to Denver and spend some quality business time with you? I bet Washington and Pyongyang will be on speaking terms before Denver does serious business with Rosenhaus.

[fontaine]

"This is where I want to be, so having Denver guys could help,"

Woohoo!

Lenny has impressed me all the way. This is just another solid, mature decision by a kid who started out the same way.

I remember how many different teams were recruiting Walls after the draft finished and he chose denver simply because he said Mike Shanahan was the only coach to call him up personally and ask him to come on board!

[Atlas]

I don't blame Walls for doing so. Rosenhaus has become an attention whore .

It's funny you say that 52. I saw this pic of Rosenholdout trying to drum up more business.

http://www.boomspeed.com/thxinc/attention_whore.jpg

[Jori]

Good job Lenny :thumbs:

[Beantown Bronco]

Good for him! Wasn't he one of the last, if not the last, player on Denver's roster represented by Rosenholdout?

I think the rookie Myers is the only one left.

[SouthStndJunkie]

Smart move Lenny.

SSJ

[watermock]

Lennie Walls can get good representation without the Shark. Denver always gives decent contracts for performance. If Walls has a good year, he will be paid. The Broncos are not tightwads, far from it. Denver bounces against the cap every year.

In fact, trading our first round pick gave us enough money to sign Pryce.

[baja]

Sometimes making a little less money to stay in the enviorment you like and be with the players and coaches you know and like is the smart move.

make the smart move Lenny there's a ring in it for ya.

[Garcia Bronco]

Walls stock just went up in my book, because he seems intelligent

[Play2win]

Maybe this will start a trend in RosenWHORE'S soon to be former clients...

[Kaylore]

Yay! I'm hoping we keep Walls now!

[OrangeShadow]

what a classy move

[illbroncsfn]

Great move on Lenny's part, wouldn't be surprised to see an extension signed at some point during the season now...

[elsid13]

Great move on Lenny's part, wouldn't be surprised to see an extension signed at some point during the season now...


Darn you, you stole my thoughts exactly. Work out best for both side Lenny get a new deal, Denver lock up a good cb without fighting off other teams in the open market

[CBF1]

Lets see if we can sign him to a new contract. I hope players start looking at Denver in the same eyes they see New England and sign for fair money to play with the team and not like Drew's other players looking to break the bank.

[Rascal]

This is awesome news. I was concerned about next year with him potentially leaving but if he stays healthy this year we look good to go at CB for next year. Sweet.

[Beantown Bronco]

Looks like we may have another "Terry Pierce" situation on our hands. Terry gets drafted in case Al leaves. He doesn't so, as we all know, Terry rides pine.

This year we draft 3 CBs partly because of Herndon moving on, but mostly in case Walls leaves. If Walls stays, at least 2 of the 3 CBs we signed this year will be riding pine.

[fontaine]

Looks like we may have another "Terry Pierce" situation on our hands. Terry gets drafted in case Al leaves. He doesn't so, as we all know, Terry rides pine.

This year we draft 3 CBs partly because of Herndon moving on, but mostly in case Walls leaves. If Walls stays, at least 2 of the 3 CBs we signed this year will be riding pine.


I don't care. I'll gladly pay the price of having at least 2 of those 3 CBs ride the pine just so it won't mean they draft another high round BUST in Middlebroke/O'Neal etc.

[Ballhawk]

what a classy move

It really was! Nice to see a player not just say but do something to show he wants to be part of the team for years to come. Too many player's hurt them selves by moving teams for a slightly higher payday only to find they do not fit in as well somewhere else and get cut before they can see the bigger years of their contract. If Walls has success here why move on to somewhere that could kill his career?

Lets hope Warren has success this year and he too feels like this is his home.

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

Rosenhaus couldn't orchestrate a successful holdout if you paid him...

[ludo21]

I was almost positive Lenny was GONE after this year, but now, im not so sure, as long as Denver is willing to give Lenny top dollar if he shows up, Walls can still remain a Bronco!! But just caz his agent isnt Rosenhaus dont mean Lenny is not gonna want top dollar. So i hope the Broncos do the right thing here...

[Beantown Bronco]

Top dollar for a #1 CB like Champ is one thing. Top dollar for a #2 CB playing across from a guy like Champ is another thing entirely. Let's hope Walls knows the difference.....

[Mediator12]

If he gets 15 million over five years with 5 mil up front I would be ecstatic! More like 25 over six with 8 up front and another 3 in bonuses tied to his health would be realistic.

BTW, this assumes he is 100% healthy this year.

[Hogan11]

Walls wants to stay in town.....given that, the move makes sense.

Seeing anyone fire that slimeball is heartwarming....that it was Lenny Walls, really makes my day.

[TheManeMan]

Well this is some encouraging news...Very wise choice Lenny....

http://www.uwm.edu/~dgdohr/lenny1.gif

[DomCasual]

What I was impressed with was the reason he gave for leaving Rosenhaus. He didn't burn a bridge - even with a scumbag like DR. In fact, he sort of gave the guy a backhanded compliment - that he had become so popular, he didn't have as much time to focus on a little guy like Lenny.

As much as I hate Rosenhaus, and as much as I would have liked to have seen Lenny say, "I don't like the way this guy has been handling his clients, and I didn't like my odds of resigning with the Broncos with him as my agent," I think you have to salute the maturity to do it the way he did it - just going about his business and avoiding controversy.

But hey - at least Drew is saving lives. (I still would feel better about that story if there had been video and corraboration by independent medical experts - but that's me.)

Paul

[TheReverend]

It'd be really ironic if he went out and hired the Postons and not the Denver locals...

[Taco John]

If I were Lenny, I would be talking to Gold about representing him...

[watermock]

How amusing.

I just read Walls has hired the Poston brothers. He's gonna be a Soulja!

[Kaylore]

How amusing.

I just read Walls has hired the Poston brothers. He's gonna be a Soulja!
No! Link please.

[watermock]

Bad Joke I think Lennie knows that Denver has saved him from working at Piggly Wiggly.

[Cito Pelon]

Rosenhaus has become an attention whore . . . .

That's about the size of it. Some players want to drag along behind his mini-skirting glamor, others want to be on a team. Pretty smart of Walls. He showed Broncoland some class.

[Clockwork Orange]

Excellent move Walls. If you do indeed want to stay in Denver, you just took a big step towards making that happen.

Now go talk Myers into dumping Rosenholdout and the Broncos will be completely free of that weasley little bastard.

[watermock]

Drew hasn't exactly been scoring home runs his offseason.