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Lynch's options limited; Broncos lose valuable leader
Kidd
By Keith Kidd
Scouts Inc.
(Archive)
Insider
So where might John Lynch fit if he remains in the NFL and what does his departure mean to the Denver Broncos' defense?
If Lynch hopes to stay in the league he will probably find few teams willing to take on a player of his age with declining skills even for the minimum veteran salary, which would be fully guaranteed if he made a roster out of training camp. The New England Patriots are always looking to upgrade but already have Rodney Harrison in their defensive backfield. Tony Dungy coached Lynch in the Tampa 2 system with the Buccaneers but Dungy's Indianapolis Colts team has plenty of youth at safety, and the same can be said of the Tampa 2 defense of the Chicago Bears.
John Lynch
Lynch
Safety
Denver Broncos
Profile
2007 Season Stats Tot Solo Ast FF Sack Int
59 46 13 0 1 0
Based on what we have seen on film in recent seasons Lynch is at his best near the line of scrimmage on first and second downs, as he has limitations extending down the field in deep zone coverages in sub packages. The Broncos acknowledged as much by running Lynch with the first-team defense in training camp but taking him off the field in nickel and dime situations.
Could Lynch help a team? Yes, but mostly as a situational player in a scheme he is familiar with. He could potentially fit somewhere as a third safety, but those players are usually counted on to contribute on special teams and a 15-year veteran like Lynch is not likely to step into that kind of role.
There just doesn't appear to be a good fit out there because he would not put a secondary over the top. Lynch he might have value to a team looking for a stop-gap starter to fill a hole in the event of an injury, though, and will surely be on teams' emergency lists. He will no doubt keep himself in shape if he does not get into a training camp, and a player with his experience could join a team on a Tuesday in October and be on the field the following Sunday. Because of changes to coverage concepts, however, his value is limited.
The recent trend is to find safeties with similar skill sets so that when facing motion across the formation -- which declares both the run and pass strength of the formation -- both safeties have the ability to move into the box against the run or be the single safety in the hole. Tampa Bay felt Lynch was no longer that kind of player when the team released him following the 2003 season, and when I evaluated him at that time as a scout for the Patriots his limitations in coverage were becoming obvious and we felt he would not be an ideal complement to Harrison, who had joined the team the previous year. Lynch showed value against the run but was already struggling to play over the top in the outside third and in the deep zones in the middle third.
And while it might seem that a Broncos team looking to improve a run defense that allowed 142.6 yards per game last season could use Lynch's run-stopping abilities, even that part of his game is becoming a question mark. Lynch had only 59 total tackles last year his fewest since 1996 which indicates that if he is not rolled up near the line of scrimmage from a two-deep look he is missing the speed to get downhill and chase the run inside-out. He is still effective coming up the middle but no longer a force pressing the edges, and even his strength in the middle would probably not help a Denver defense that did little to upgrade that area heading into camp.
The Broncos don't take a big hit in the back end given the emergence of fourth-year safety Hamza Abdullah and the offseason additions of Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel, but they will face a void in the locker room. Lynch is a consummate pro and always led by example, mentoring younger players and teaching them how handle themselves in a professional manner, and those intangibles will be missed in the organization and in the Denver community as a whole.
From a strictly football standpoint, however, Lynch is no longer a Pro Bowl-caliber player and is at or near the end of his career.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
Reasonable assessment of the situation.
broncofan2438
08-01-2008, 12:06 PM
Sounds fair....should have stayed here Lynch
Kaylore
08-01-2008, 12:06 PM
I hope he either signs with a team and wins a Super Bowl or retires.
Borks147
08-01-2008, 12:12 PM
I hope he either signs with a team and wins a Super Bowl or retires.
why would he re-sign with the broncos ; )
watermock
08-01-2008, 12:24 PM
Conclusion almost sounds like.."time to be put to sleep"...
broncofan2438
08-01-2008, 12:27 PM
Conclusion almost sounds like.."time to be put to sleep"...
Yup
doonwise
08-01-2008, 12:35 PM
I hope he either signs with a team and wins a Super Bowl or retires.
Here Here! He was a great player for us and really added value to the team. He was an easy player to cheer for and will be missed. Even my wife was bummed by his departure. Aging is a beeatch.
it sounded like his family liked Colorado, anyone think there is room for him on staff?
BroncoBuff
08-01-2008, 12:44 PM
Reasonable assessment of the situation.
Yes it is.
I hate to say it, but he's not handling this at all gracefully. Personally, I don't see what's wrong in filling a part-time onfield role while remaining a team leader in the room. He really should've looked ahead, seen the writing on the wall, and been prepared for this before he re-signed ... and plus he should have had a Plan B ready with another team before he marched out so indignantly. This is kinda embarrassing for him.
Pride is a b****.
.
Rank&File
08-01-2008, 12:51 PM
Yes it is.
I hate to say it, but he's not handling this at all gracefully. Personally, I don't see what's wrong in filling a part-time onfield role while remaining a team leader in the room. He really should've looked ahead, seen the writing on the wall, and been prepared for this before he re-signed ... and plus he should have had a Plan B ready with another team before he marched out so indignantly. This is kinda embarrassing for him.
Pride is a b****.
.
I don't think he's handling this at all bad. He could have made a scene, moaned and complained about him not getting a fair shake, but he's not. They seem to have parted ways gracefully. We've seen our share of players leaving on embarrassing terms, and imo this isn't one of those times.
cutthemdown
08-01-2008, 01:33 PM
lol at limited!!
Lynch has more options then any of us can imagine. Money and free time all at 35. Congrats John on a great career!!! He has tons of options he can take a job in many areas of football including playing or coaching. He could do charity work or go back to school. He could start a business or be go into broadcasting. Hell I could even see Lynch doing some acting he's that comfortable in front of a camera. He may not be a starter anymore but he still has plenty of options IMO.
broncofan7
08-01-2008, 01:54 PM
I can picture him in a Patsie uniform but as the article stated--they already have a slow safety in Harrison (but lynch doesn't use GH)
TomServo
08-01-2008, 02:32 PM
Lynch has more options then any of us can imagine. Money and free time all at 35.
right now the man wants to play football. and all the free time and money in the world dont matter to him.
broncofan2438
08-01-2008, 02:58 PM
lol at limited!!
Lynch has more options then any of us can imagine. Money and free time all at 35. Congrats John on a great career!!! He has tons of options he can take a job in many areas of football including playing or coaching. He could do charity work or go back to school. He could start a business or be go into broadcasting. Hell I could even see Lynch doing some acting he's that comfortable in front of a camera. He may not be a starter anymore but he still has plenty of options IMO.
Hell yea he does......wow i wish I could retire at 35 and do whatever I wanted or maybe broadcast
Natedogg
08-01-2008, 03:01 PM
Yes it is.
I hate to say it, but he's not handling this at all gracefully. Personally, I don't see what's wrong in filling a part-time onfield role while remaining a team leader in the room. He really should've looked ahead, seen the writing on the wall, and been prepared for this before he re-signed ... and plus he should have had a Plan B ready with another team before he marched out so indignantly. This is kinda embarrassing for him.
Pride is a b****.
.
buff calls it. im a bit baffled. seems to me that there will be no better playing situation than in denver.
to the booth?
SouthStndJunkie
08-01-2008, 03:08 PM
Hell yea he does......wow i wish I could retire at 35 and do whatever I wanted or maybe broadcast
Actually, he will be 37 next month.
I still feel like he kind of quit on the team. If he retires, that is one thing, but if he goes and plays for another team, that will irk me a little. Lynch, better than anyone, should know that it is not all about him, but it is also about the team and making whatever contributions that you can to win....even if it means only playing in the base defense and being a vocal leader.
If a Tony Scheffler or a Dominique Foxworth wanted to be released because of playing time, or not starting, we would be all over them.
I know he wanted to start and play every down, but as a true team player he could have gone out there in the base package and did his thing and been the vocal leader that we needed.
He had to realize that as a soon to be 37 year old safety, that the Broncos were not going to trot him out there on name recognition alone. I know he thinks the Broncos did not give him a fair shot, but they know his limitations.
bronco0608
08-01-2008, 03:12 PM
Or maybe Shanahan told Lynch that he wouldn't make the team and let him ask for release. Let Lynch save face and not be embarrased by getting cut.
Shanahan did this with Jerry Rice and I bet you he did with Lynch. This is not all on Lynch.
Beantown Bronco
08-01-2008, 03:16 PM
Or maybe Shanahan told Lynch that he wouldn't make the team and let him ask for release. Let Lynch save face and not be embarrased by getting cut.
Shanahan did this with Jerry Rice and I bet you he did with Lynch. This is not all on Lynch.
Ummmm, you might want to check out the transcript of the Shanny and Lynch interviews.
Tombstone RJ
08-01-2008, 03:16 PM
I think Lynch's best playing option is with the Broncos, but now he can test the market and decide which direction he'll go. He wants to be a starter and he thinks he still has that ability, perhaps he's right, we'll just have to wait and see.
SouthStndJunkie
08-01-2008, 03:17 PM
Or maybe Shanahan told Lynch that he wouldn't make the team and let him ask for release. Let Lynch save face and not be embarrased by getting cut.
Shanahan did this with Jerry Rice and I bet you he did with Lynch. This is not all on Lynch.
You know that for sure?
This is all on Lynch. Shanahan told him exactly where he stood back in June. Shanahan was all class in how he handled this situation....and there have been many times I felt he could have handled situations differently than he has.
The way I understood it was that Lynch approached Shanahan and wanted to be released:
With his role reduced to a part-time starter, left out of nickel and dime packages, Lynch told coach Mike Shanahan he wanted out. The team still has to file official paperwork with the NFL to finalize their amicable divorce, but if Lynch, who will turn 37 in September, plays again, it will certainly be elsewhere.
TomServo
08-01-2008, 04:21 PM
Hell yea he does......wow i wish I could retire at 35 and do whatever I wanted or maybe broadcast
and thats the difference between highly competitive highly driven quality athletes and shmoes like us.
and the difference between lynch and say players like tiki barber
chawknz
08-01-2008, 06:38 PM
right now the man wants to play football. and all the free time and money in the world dont matter to him.
I listened to an interview with him on KOA yesterday and it sounded like money and a starting spot were the ONLY things that mattered in finding a new team, and if he wasn't able to find that, he'll retire.
*sigh*
broncocalijohn
08-01-2008, 06:45 PM
Yes it is.
I hate to say it, but he's not handling this at all gracefully. Personally, I don't see what's wrong in filling a part-time onfield role while remaining a team leader in the room. He really should've looked ahead, seen the writing on the wall, and been prepared for this before he re-signed ... and plus he should have had a Plan B ready with another team before he marched out so indignantly. This is kinda embarrassing for him.
Pride is a b****.
.
Keith Burns learned it.
Rock Chalk
08-01-2008, 08:56 PM
Actually, he will be 37 next month.
I still feel like he kind of quit on the team. If he retires, that is one thing, but if he goes and plays for another team, that will irk me a little. Lynch, better than anyone, should know that it is not all about him, but it is also about the team and making whatever contributions that you can to win....even if it means only playing in the base defense and being a vocal leader.
If a Tony Scheffler or a Dominique Foxworth wanted to be released because of playing time, or not starting, we would be all over them.
I know he wanted to start and play every down, but as a true team player he could have gone out there in the base package and did his thing and been the vocal leader that we needed.
He had to realize that as a soon to be 37 year old safety, that the Broncos were not going to trot him out there on name recognition alone. I know he thinks the Broncos did not give him a fair shot, but they know his limitations.
True about Tony or Foxworth. But then they havent put in 16 years into the league and shown to be class acts on and off the field. They haven't been leaders for the team and their community, haven't started charities that they are absolutely devoted to and haven't to me shown the pure dedication and heart that Lynch has.
When players attain a certain status in the NFL, like in any career, they are afforded more leeway and freedom. Why should you be irked because Lynch is leaving? HE wouldnt be used much here anyway and would probably be better off either playing elsewhere or retiring.
I dont dislike Lynch leaving. I accept his decision because he has proven to me that he is a player with him I can give that leeway to. Tony Scheffler has proven exactly zero in his 3 years except that you know, he cant stay healthy and on the field. Foxworth can't beat out toast Dre Bly for the starting gig though he does write a mean blog.
Sassy
08-01-2008, 09:03 PM
True about Tony or Foxworth. But then they havent put in 16 years into the league and shown to be class acts on and off the field. They haven't been leaders for the team and their community, haven't started charities that they are absolutely devoted to and haven't to me shown the pure dedication and heart that Lynch has.
When players attain a certain status in the NFL, like in any career, they are afforded more leeway and freedom. Why should you be irked because Lynch is leaving? HE wouldnt be used much here anyway and would probably be better off either playing elsewhere or retiring.
I dont dislike Lynch leaving. I accept his decision because he has proven to me that he is a player with him I can give that leeway to. Tony Scheffler has proven exactly zero in his 3 years except that you know, he cant stay healthy and on the field. Foxworth can't beat out toast Dre Bly for the starting gig though he does write a mean blog.
Exactly! Very similar to what Mike Shanahan said about him too!
Why would anyone find fault with his decision...he did what was best for himself and what he felt comfortable with...you guys would do the same. The only difference is that he's in a high profile career as a Denver Bronco. I think he has shown class every step of the way from his football career, community service and leadership. Would you rather see him go out like Favre? Oh wait...is Favre retiring ;D Or not?
Malcontent
08-01-2008, 09:06 PM
Hey...maybe he had a scruff with a coach/front office guy that we don't know about. I have them occasionally with my bosses/co-workers...although not to Spide's extreme. Maybe he is just ready for a change. More power to him!
SouthStndJunkie
08-01-2008, 09:23 PM
Exactly! Very similar to what Mike Shanahan said about him too!
Why would anyone find fault with his decision...he did what was best for himself and what he felt comfortable with...you guys would do the same. The only difference is that he's in a high profile career as a Denver Bronco. I think he has shown class every step of the way from his football career, community service and leadership. Would you rather see him go out like Favre? Oh wait...is Favre retiring ;D Or not?
Shanahan did not find fault with his decision because he did not care if he left. It made life easier on Shanahan, who was ready to move on.
I think Bowlen wanted Lynch back more than anyone. Shanahan went out and signed a few safeties in free agency for a reason.
I have no problem with Lynch's decision if he does retire. Matter of fact, I am fine with him leaving either way, as I think the team needed to get younger and more athletic at the position. The team will miss his leadership. It is just my opinion that if he left the Broncos to go play for another team that I would consider that quitting on your team. However, I highly doubt anyone will give him the full time starting role he is looking for. Denver probably would have given him more playing time than he will/would have gotten anywhere else.
Colin
08-01-2008, 10:20 PM
The irony is that it almost was a Farveamble . . . you know a player that retires, then comes back and wants to be granted a pardon (sorry NFL wise a release) to go play somewhere else, and ends up being a distraction. He did want to retire and now is the petulant child in the neighborhood that owns the football and insists on being the quarterback or else he is taking the football home. Bottom line is he is at best a situational S and realistically, a team leader (glorified cheerleader) from the sidelines. He is a liability in passing coverage on the field and the reason his tackle are so low is because they will pass to his side of the field and he is out of the play before the ball is snapped. He should become a broadcaster in the town he wants to retire in and move on. A great player, a leader in the community where he lives but, he is not a starting safety any more. Thank you for your efforts.