Broncos Show Faith in Bly

[dragondawg]

Phoenix - Broncos owner Pat Bowlen strolled the lush grounds of the Arizona Biltmore resort knowing one of the final pieces of his expensive offseason had been secured.

"Yes, we just signed Dré Bly," Bowlen said Wednesday regarding the $33 million, five-year deal. "That was big. I feel very good about where we are."

The extension for Bly averted what could have been a major distraction and finalized a key acquisition for the Broncos, teaming Bly with Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey in what could be one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL.

"We have two great cornerbacks now in Champ and Dré," Bowlen said.

That was the Broncos' plan when they traded running back Tatum Bell and offensive tackle George Foster - two players who were not going to be starters in Denver this year - to Detroit for Bly on March 2. However, Bly wanted to play for the Washington Redskins. Bly is from Virginia and had a potential extension worked out with the Redskins if a deal had been made with Washington - before he was traded to the Broncos.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Tuesday he understood Bly initially wanted to be with the Redskins, but Shanahan was hoping Bly would be happy in Denver. To help make that happen, Bly's deal includes $16 million in guaranteed money.

Bly's biggest concern was getting an extension because he had only one season remaining on his contract. Bly and his wife have four children, and Bly wasn't interested in moving his family from Michigan to Denver for one year, then leaving as a free agent.

The talks warmed Wednesday morning as New Orleans and other teams continued to show interest in Bly's future.

"Ted Sundquist and I displayed nothing but a positive outlook during the talks," said Bly's agent, Kennard McGuire. "I have maintained all along that no one has heard Dré publicly complain about his situation. I'd think this new deal would end all that talk."

The arrival of Bly, who will be with his new teammates Monday as Denver begins its offseason conditioning program, is the Broncos' most significant defensive move this offseason. They likely will address the defensive line in the early rounds of the April 28-29 draft. Most of Denver's nine new additions are offensive players. Bly, acquired to fill the right cornerback hole left by the shooting death of Darrent Williams on Jan. 1, solidifies a strong secondary. Domonique Foxworth likely will be the nickel back.

"We're very happy to have him," Shanahan said of Bly. "He fits in great."

In an offseason that has featured several complicated deals, the Broncos have only a couple issues left to resolve before focusing on the draft. The team likely will part ways with linebacker Al Wilson, either trading or releasing him soon. And the trade for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson from Miami is expected to be voided Friday, barring a surprise arrival by Wilkinson to take a physical.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_5543269

[Kaylore]

I guess the Wilson situation will be resolved soon.

[cutthemdown]

Regrdless of how the Wilson situation plays out it's been a good offseason as far as getting more talent on the field.

[fontaine]

I guess the Wilson situation will be resolved soon.


Man I just don't know. We just gave $16 million in guarantees to a 30 year old CB when there were doubts surfacing about his desire to even play in Denver.

If they ask Al to take a direct pay cut considering his service here, how he's been a model leader with Bly's situation in the background then I can imagine Al being extremely pissed.

[atomicbloke]

Man I just don't know. We just gave $16 million in guarantees to a 30 year old CB when there were doubts surfacing about his desire to even play in Denver.

If they ask Al to take a direct pay cut considering his service here, how he's been a model leader with Bly's situation in the background then I can imagine Al being extremely pissed.

I must admit. I am really confused about the Wilson situation for the very reasons you just mentioned. NOt saying I am for or against it. Just saying that something doesn't add up here.

[Arkansas Bronco]

This is the first I have posted on any of the Wilson threads because I like the guy alot. But simple fact is that when ability goes down pay goes down. When it was high he got paid high.

[fontaine]

This is the first I have posted on any of the Wilson threads because I like the guy alot. But simple fact is that when ability goes down pay goes down. When it was high he got paid high.

Well we're not sure if Al's ability has gone down or even if he's lost a step (which I don't think he has). If this was the case then we would have seen DJ taking more snaps in nickel at Al's expense DURING the season.

It's hard to gauge whether it was Al that had a low season himself or was it because our soft as butter DL caused it (pr'bly both).

But Bly has question marks as well. He was let go from Detroit because he couldn't adapt to a cover 2 where run support is all important. We run a cover 2 here so even with those questions he got $16 million to sign.

I just think that the FO wouldn't be as naive to give Bly $16million in guarantees and at the same time ask Wilson to take a paycut/restructure. It doesn't add up.

All signs point to the FO willing to move on without Al in their plans and I expect he'll be gone come draft day. It sucks but I hope wherever he lands he finds himself behind a decent DL where he can showcase his skills.

[BroncoInferno]

Two things, fontaine....1--Bly is 29 and 2--Bates prefers a man-to-man scheme which is why they think he'll be a good fit here.

[cutthemdown]

Well we're not sure if Al's ability has gone down or even if he's lost a step (which I don't think he has). If this was the case then we would have seen DJ taking more snaps in nickel at Al's expense DURING the season.

It's hard to gauge whether it was Al that had a low season himself or was it because our soft as butter DL caused it (pr'bly both).

But Bly has question marks as well. He was let go from Detroit because he couldn't adapt to a cover 2 where run support is all important. We run a cover 2 here so even with those questions he got $16 million to sign.

I just think that the FO wouldn't be as naive to give Bly $16million in guarantees and at the same time ask Wilson to take a paycut/restructure. It doesn't add up.

All signs point to the FO willing to move on without Al in their plans and I expect he'll be gone come draft day. It sucks but I hope wherever he lands he finds himself behind a decent DL where he can showcase his skills.

we don't run a cover 2, Thats not to say Bates doesn't play the back end with corners often in quarters (cover 2) a few yrds of line he does. He plays the 4-3 with the linebacker switching between stacked, under, and over alliignments. I think when they say Tampa Cover Two, and cover 2 as its used to describe how safety's will help corners aren't really the same thing. In Bates system the corners are often asked to play a lot of man to man which is Bly's strength. In the Tampa cover two that detroit is using they are almost always in a zone.

[Arkansas Bronco]

My thought was off anyways. Bailey is the best at his job and took a cut so what I said has no meaning blame it on lack of caffeine.

[Drek]

Well we're not sure if Al's ability has gone down or even if he's lost a step (which I don't think he has). If this was the case then we would have seen DJ taking more snaps in nickel at Al's expense DURING the season.

It's hard to gauge whether it was Al that had a low season himself or was it because our soft as butter DL caused it (pr'bly both).

But Bly has question marks as well. He was let go from Detroit because he couldn't adapt to a cover 2 where run support is all important. We run a cover 2 here so even with those questions he got $16 million to sign.

I just think that the FO wouldn't be as naive to give Bly $16million in guarantees and at the same time ask Wilson to take a paycut/restructure. It doesn't add up.

All signs point to the FO willing to move on without Al in their plans and I expect he'll be gone come draft day. It sucks but I hope wherever he lands he finds himself behind a decent DL where he can showcase his skills.

How are we not sure Al has dropped off as a player? He's playing behind similar quality lines has he's had his entire career. I know they've been crap but do you really think the Meyers/Warren combo is worse than Dalton/McGlockton or some of other junk we've put on the field? Behind those lines he made a ton of plays through the 2004 season. The past two seasons he hasn't. What other excuse is there?

I don't think Al has lost a step, but I do think his neck and shoulders are seriously weakened. His shoulders are the real key, you can see it in how little he wraps opponents up and the fact that he's a step slower to play the ball in coverage. The last two seasons he's had some golden pick opportunities that have just turned into swats.

Loyalty is great in a lot of situations, but its not in pro athletics. You have to play up to your contract or you're weakening your team. There is no reason to think right now that Al can play up to the salary hike he's seeing this year.

I want Wilson on the team as much as the next guy, but I can see the FO having a problem paying him base salaries of $5.2, $3.65, $5.15, $6.8 over the next four seasons when those likely all include $600K workout bonuses and almost $2M in guaranteed salary, making for some huge cap numbers each season.

Its got nothing to do with Bly, a 29 year old who has pro bowled three times in the last four years, getting paid. It has nothing to do with the '07 cap situation, trading or releasing Wilson will only save us very little this year. It has everything to do with Al being paid to the level he performs at and the fact that the Al Wilson we've seen the last couple years needs more help from the front line to be a playmaker than the Al Wilson before that. The money to get that help needs to come from somewhere, we aren't going to be able to overpay Wilson and make the cap room materialize out of thin air.

[Borks147]

My thought was off anyways. Bailey is the best at his job and took a cut so what I said has no meaning blame it on lack of caffeine.

he didn't take a pay cut, he restructured.