View Full Version : Al Wilson is expected to get a second medical opinion on his back.
Al Wilson is expected to get a second medical opinion on his back.
Wilson's back apparently caused him to fail the Giants' physical last week, not the neck he injured late last season. He hopes to get a favorable opinion from a doctor so the Broncos can complete a trade.
Source: ESPN Insider
CSU Husker
03-26-2007, 03:27 PM
Is it too late to keep him, or have we burned that bridge? I cant imagine with this speculation they will get much in return if they do pull off a trade.
Dukes
03-26-2007, 03:46 PM
Sounds like Mr. Wilson wants out of town from that little tidbit. Hopefully he takes a paycut and stays.
yerner
03-26-2007, 04:23 PM
He gone.
watermock
03-26-2007, 04:25 PM
This is turning into a docudrama.
Barry Ramey
03-26-2007, 04:30 PM
Geez, from his thumb, to his neck, and now back. The guy seems to be breaking down. Who would want to trade for a guy making that kind of money with these issues? I'll be surprised if they don't end up cutting Wilson in the end.
watermock
03-26-2007, 04:36 PM
That isn't really true at all...he had surgury on the thumb and that should be fine.
The "Cervical/Back issue is one in the same...it just depends how you want to define it.
bendog
03-26-2007, 04:53 PM
"Mr. Wilson, the x-rays and a review of your post-trauma mri's indicate that you are 50% more likely to suffer a life threatening cervical/spinal injury than an uninjured 22 year old. Therefore, we cannot advise the Giants to offer a bonus to you, or to take on any potential liabilty themselves for a potential injury."
I WANT A SECOND OPINION!!
Bronco_Beerslug
03-26-2007, 05:04 PM
Geeezus, now he has a back problem to go along with his neck.
cmhargrove
03-26-2007, 05:16 PM
Geez, from his thumb, to his neck, and now back. The guy seems to be breaking down. Who would want to trade for a guy making that kind of money with these issues? I'll be surprised if they don't end up cutting Wilson in the end.
Champ has that shoulder problem, maybe he should hang it up too.
Nobody is talking about our star left tackle - what about ACL + microfracture surgery, dump him too.
Nalen's getting old, can his a$$.
Cecil Sapp broke his leg, what a pu$$.
Gerard Warren still might be hobbling around with busted toes kick him out.
Maybe we could keep adding to this list.
How much trouble is someone's neck/back/toes if they only missed one game last season and led the team in tackles?
Bronco_Beerslug
03-26-2007, 06:04 PM
Maybe we could keep adding to this list.
How much trouble is someone's neck/back/toes if they only missed one game last season and led the team in tackles?For a middle linebacker it's probably a whole lot of trouble.
Inkana7
03-26-2007, 06:45 PM
This is a ****ing mess.
Needa Pass Rush
03-26-2007, 06:46 PM
Al Wilson ~ Giants update
After trade talks for Broncos linebacker collapsed March 23, just before the deal was about to go through, the New York Giants arranged March 25 for Kansas City free-agent linebacker Kawika Mitchell to visit today. Pending a physical, the New York Giants are expected to reach agreement on a one-year deal with Mitchell.
2KBack
03-26-2007, 08:34 PM
Just out of curiosity, are there any starting MLB in the league that DIDN'T lead their team in tackles?
Wes Mantooth
03-26-2007, 08:58 PM
How did Al go from the worst trade idea to the worst guy we have on the roster in a week? This place is crazy.
footstepsfrom#27
03-27-2007, 12:25 AM
Nobody is talking about our star left tackle - what about ACL + microfracture surgery, dump him too.
Where have you been?
http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1517534&highlight=surgery#post1517534
Rigs11
03-27-2007, 12:29 AM
Stay classy Denver:oyvey:
Rigs11
03-27-2007, 12:30 AM
How did Al go from the worst trade idea to the worst guy we have on the roster in a week? This place is crazy.
Don't you know? The guys around here are the greatest fans in the nfl....
Killericon
03-27-2007, 12:48 AM
How did Al go from the worst trade idea to the worst guy we have on the roster in a week? This place is crazy.
This is disgusting.
Pop quiz: What is the most important position on defense?
If you guessed Middle Linebacker, congratulations! You've won some bitter confusion about why we're rumoured to be trading our 5-time pro-bowl 30-year-old MLB!!!
Tredici
03-27-2007, 01:02 AM
Al Wilson ~ Giants update
After trade talks for Broncos linebacker collapsed March 23, just before the deal was about to go through, the New York Giants arranged March 25 for Kansas City free-agent linebacker Kawika Mitchell to visit today. Pending a physical, the New York Giants are expected to reach agreement on a one-year deal with Mitchell.
Take the Chief.
I bet Al wants a second opinion. That first opinion probably cost him a few million dollars.
Would I be the only one to think... set up? See Al, better get back to the table and give up some money right here. No sense in going somewhere else to do it...
This is disgusting.
Pop quiz: What is the most important position on defense?
If you guessed Middle Linebacker, congratulations! You've won some bitter confusion about why we're rumoured to be trading our 5-time pro-bowl 30-year-old MLB!!!
Middle linebacker is not the most important defensive position in any defense.
3-4, the OLBs are more vital than the two ILBs.
4-3, your entire front four carries more weight.
You gotta be strong at the point of attack, lots of guys with good wheels and the ability to tackle can throw up 100+ tackles at MLB.
#1 CB is actually the scarcest, most valuable defensive position. A lot of corners are up and down week to week and can't cover a top WR. Teams without elite CBs are constantly exploited by opposing passing attacks.
fontaine
03-27-2007, 10:01 AM
Middle linebacker is not the most important defensive position in any defense.
3-4, the OLBs are more vital than the two ILBs.
4-3, your entire front four carries more weight.
You gotta be strong at the point of attack, lots of guys with good wheels and the ability to tackle can throw up 100+ tackles at MLB.
#1 CB is actually the scarcest, most valuable defensive position. A lot of corners are up and down week to week and can't cover a top WR. Teams without elite CBs are constantly exploited by opposing passing attacks.
Read what you wrote again.
The front four should be more important but in our D they aren't because they're average to poor. In 2005 they were relegated to bystanders when Coyer had to implement zero blitz schemes because of the piss poor pass rush.
Wilson is the most important player in the front 7. All the more so with the increased coverage responsibilities he has.
Case in point: The last four/five years where the FO has swapped out DL players over and over and we've still managed to be respecteable in run D up the middle and pass coverage from our LBers largely because Wilson has manned the MLB spot. Move Wilson out of Denver in that time period and our front 7 falls apart.
cmhargrove
03-27-2007, 10:03 AM
Where have you been?
http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1517534&highlight=surgery#post1517534
I guess I kind of don't get your point..?..
My point is, anyone that plays professional football gets hurt, some more serious than others. Just like in the draft, football play, not speculation, track scores, height and weight measurements, or bench reps should determine the best players. Al has proven himself as our best option at middle linebacker. Al gives it all up for the team. If Al was really as dangerously crippled as some are now saying, I believe he would be smart enough to hang it up. He is still the same player he was, he is still the leader he was, and deserves to stay with this team. I don't even know who people want to replace him with?
It made sense to get rid of Foster and Bell, we had better replacements. Who can we put in Al's spot that will be better this year, while still saving money??? All the other beat up veterans will cost just as much, and the other guys will be a step down - that's stupid. Put the money on the D-line where it should go, make Al accountable to new coaches so he wraps up more often, and Al will have another banner year. If he takes a paycut, that's even better, please tell me who you think will fill his spot better, and for less money?
About Lepsis, there are no guarantees but no one seems worried about this. I believe his injury was the main reason we missed the playoffs last year. Our whole offense was less productive without him (and with Foster / Meadows trading in and out). If Lepsis doesn't come back healthy, we still have the team's major problem staring us in the face.
Players get injured, then they prove they can either play or not. That was my point.
Wes Mantooth
03-27-2007, 10:23 AM
This is disgusting.
Pop quiz: What is the most important position on defense?
If you guessed Middle Linebacker, congratulations! You've won some bitter confusion about why we're rumoured to be trading our 5-time pro-bowl 30-year-old MLB!!!
Two weeks ago, this place was up in arms about the trade that he was the most valuable guy and we couldn't do without him. A common theme around here now is he is washed up and worthless to the Broncos. How could that be? I understand the business side trying to get something for him while there is still time, but in term of the fan reaction, I have a hard time understanding why he is kicked to the curb.
Tredici
03-27-2007, 10:53 AM
With Plummer gone, Rod Smith being iffy with the hip injury, and the possibility of Wilson out the door the biggest concern is the loss of veteran leadership.
Remember how well that turned out in not so distant history?
Atlas
03-27-2007, 10:55 AM
Geeezus, now he has a back problem to go along with his neck.
The neck problem is old. That is from 2003. The back is what caused him to miss the 49ers game.
Read what you wrote again.
The front four should be more important but in our D they aren't because they're average to poor. In 2005 they were relegated to bystanders when Coyer had to implement zero blitz schemes because of the piss poor pass rush.
Wilson is the most important player in the front 7. All the more so with the increased coverage responsibilities he has.
Case in point: The last four/five years where the FO has swapped out DL players over and over and we've still managed to be respecteable in run D up the middle and pass coverage from our LBers largely because Wilson has manned the MLB spot. Move Wilson out of Denver in that time period and our front 7 falls apart.
I agree that Wilson has been the most important guy in our front seven, but that isn't because he's an MLB. The original quote claimed MLB was the most important defensive position. Broncos fans have just been fooled into thinking that after years of absolute crap on the DL.
For most teams linebackers are pretty replaceable, there is a reason the franchise tag value, an average of top salaries at each respective position, has linebackers paid significantly less than DE, DT, and CB.
We instead have put a ton of money in the LBs and have used that to carry our front seven. Can anyone argue that we're getting comparable results to teams with that much talent in their front line though? Look at Chicago, they have a DT picked just before DJ, a speedy but small DE paid big money like we did with Gold, and then one elite LB like we've had with Wilson and they're arguably the best D in the NFL. Briggs and Hillenmeyer where nobody middle round picks who now look great playing behind an all-star line.
Or look at the Eagles during their best runs a few years ago. Tons of talent at DL, replaceable OLBs, and a system MLB who can tackle (Trotter).
Same went for the Dolphins under Bates leadership though, so what do you think this team is trying to do? Bates wants to change our front seven focus away from linebackers and put it on the DL, Shanahan and Sundquist are doing everything they can to accommodate him. Thats why we're seeing this move with Al, I'm sure the staff would love for him to stay, but it just can't be at an elite player's salary or we'll never fix the front four.
Billy Clyde Puckett
03-27-2007, 11:08 AM
With Plummer gone, Rod Smith being iffy with the hip injury, and the possibility of Wilson out the door the biggest concern is the loss of veteran leadership.
Remember how well that turned out in not so distant history?
Too many folk forget how important this is. Add Nalen, Lynch and Burns to the list of leaders in their last couple of years. This is one reason I hope they sign Foxworth to a long term contract. He seems ready and willing to assume a leadership role.
One must wonder if Al is unhappy playing for Denver.
Pryce was unhappy with Broncos FO and went elsewhere and did wonderful things.
At some point we will have to ask if we have a management problem in Denver.
If work gets out that players don't want to play in Denver anymore we will lose our free agency advantage that we now enjoy.
One must wonder if Al is unhappy playing for Denver.
Pryce was unhappy with Broncos FO and went elsewhere and did wonderful things.
At some point we will have to ask if we have a management problem in Denver.
If work gets out that players don't want to play in Denver anymore we will lose our free agency advantage that we now enjoy.
I don't know, Trevor was happy enough with the FO to take a pay cut after the '04 season. He then continued to scrub it up in '05 so we cut him. Didn't have a bad word to say about the team until he wasn't welcome here anymore. He had a great year, sure, but it was in a defense full of all-pros and was much better suited to his current game.
Also of note is that all of Pryce's parting shots were taken at the defensive staff, primarily Coyer's scheme and how it made them basically hold up OLs to free the linebackers for plays. Notice who isn't on the coaching staff anymore?
fontaine
03-27-2007, 12:08 PM
I agree that Wilson has been the most important guy in our front seven, but that isn't because he's an MLB. The original quote claimed MLB was the most important defensive position. Broncos fans have just been fooled into thinking that after years of absolute crap on the DL.
For most teams linebackers are pretty replaceable, there is a reason the franchise tag value, an average of top salaries at each respective position, has linebackers paid significantly less than DE, DT, and CB.
We instead have put a ton of money in the LBs and have used that to carry our front seven. Can anyone argue that we're getting comparable results to teams with that much talent in their front line though? Look at Chicago, they have a DT picked just before DJ, a speedy but small DE paid big money like we did with Gold, and then one elite LB like we've had with Wilson and they're arguably the best D in the NFL. Briggs and Hillenmeyer where nobody middle round picks who now look great playing behind an all-star line.
Or look at the Eagles during their best runs a few years ago. Tons of talent at DL, replaceable OLBs, and a system MLB who can tackle (Trotter).
Same went for the Dolphins under Bates leadership though, so what do you think this team is trying to do? Bates wants to change our front seven focus away from linebackers and put it on the DL, Shanahan and Sundquist are doing everything they can to accommodate him. Thats why we're seeing this move with Al, I'm sure the staff would love for him to stay, but it just can't be at an elite player's salary or we'll never fix the front four.
I'm not questioning the imporance of DL over MLB. Dude that's why I bolded that part in my post.
I'm just saying that Wilson is the most important player in our front 7 because the DL suck. As far as upgrading the DL? Hell yeah I'm all for it, but it's not going to happen in one offseason given the lack of talent at DT especially so in the mean time Wilson is still going to be the most important player in our front 7, unless you expect some rookie or Alvin McKinley to come in and become a pro-bowler right off the bat.
As far as fixing the front four with Wilson's elite salary? Cutting him provides very little cap savings.
You want to trade Wilson, fine, let's get good value for him. I'm just saying it's stupid to trade for Wilson without having a proper front four first.
I'm not questioning the imporance of DL over MLB. Dude that's why I bolded that part in my post.
I'm just saying that Wilson is the most important player in our front 7 because the DL suck. As far as upgrading the DL? Hell yeah I'm all for it, but it's not going to happen in one offseason given the lack of talent at DT especially so in the mean time Wilson is still going to be the most important player in our front 7, unless you expect some rookie or Alvin McKinley to come in and become a pro-bowler right off the bat.
As far as fixing the front four with Wilson's elite salary? Cutting him provides very little cap savings.
You want to trade Wilson, fine, let's get good value for him. I'm just saying it's stupid to trade for Wilson without having a proper front four first.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want Wilson going anywhere. I don't think there is any way we cut him either, unless he and his agent adamantly refuse to bend at all. I don't see that happening and I think Wilson will be back at MLB for us next year.
As for turning our D around, I think we can do it a lot quicker than you imply. Obviously Al paring down his salary would open up trade options, like pursuing Shaun Rogers, which is a quick fix. But we also can find our solutions through the draft. Many DLs start and produce as rookies.
We already have two starting quality DLs, Warren and Ekuban, as well as a host of solid rotational/backup players. What we need is a legit every down pass rushing RDE and a DT who can help clog the middle with Warren.
Here's a hypothetical for you.
Draft Jarvis Moss in round one, Mebane or Tyler in round 2, and add another big body DT later in the draft. We can then start Moss at RDE and Mebane at DT next to Warren. Would you disagree with Mebane or Tyler being an immediate upgrade over Myers, who still remains unsigned? I don't have any doubt in it. Moss is also a significant upgrade to our pass rush and if we shift DJ back to ROLB he can cover a lot of Moss' run stopping deficiencies.
Isn't that a better DL than we've had lately? And it'll only get better as the young guys improve.
How about this instead.
Draft Alan Branch, immediate answer at DT next to Warren, he'll stuff the run well even as a rookie, then trade up from #56 to get Moss, Johnson, or Abiamiri. Again, rookies starting at DT and DE who are immediate upgrades over our recent starters there and only getting better with each game they play.
We won't instantly start sporting an elite DL, but it won't take much at all to improve the DL significantly over what Coyer kept running out there and if we do it through the draft those guys will only get better with time.
Rascal
03-27-2007, 02:44 PM
Shaun Rogers is available? If so we need to get him.
Shaun Rogers is available? If so we need to get him.
There are some rumors that the Lions are going to shop him. He gets paid a lot though and had knee problems last year, a big question mark for a DT.
Its not like he'll be had cheap though. He's younger and better than Booger McFarland, who cost the Colts a 2nd round pick.