Why Gold?
 

I can't understand why the Broncos are bringing Gold back, esp. when Gold has admitted that he only wants to play weak side LB. The Broncos drafted DJ for the weak side and now they have Gold competing for the same job.

I really don't think the Broncos have any intention on moving Gold to safety (I suggested they do that when they drafted him, and now that he is slower than he used to be, I really doubt its a good move) because of his knee injury. However, with Shanny and Coyer trying to field the best defense possible, who knows how they will use Gold.

However, if Gold comes back to Denver to play WLB, I think there is a possibility that the Broncos might trade DJ. The question is, how much LB depth do the Broncos really need? They now have Wilson, Williams, Spragan, Gold, Pierce, Chuckurah, Sykes and Green. Aside from Green, all have experience in the Broncos system.

DJ will command the most in a trade. I can see the Broncos trading DJ to a team like New Orleans, who really coveted DJ last year in the draft, for a first round pick, or perhaps, the Saints 3rd and 4th round picks in this years draft. Perhaps the Broncos can swing a trade to the Saints for thier #16 pick in this draft.

Just a thought.

if the broncos trade DJ for a draft pick I'm going to kick shanny in the nuts.

Hell I might do that anyway if we sign Gold.

I'll get the truck and we'll drive up to Dove Valley together

I'll hold him down and gag him and you rochambeaux his ass

In the NFL your only as good as your backups. I agree we have other needs but who is out there to fill those needs ? They are already taking a look at okeefer. The linebackers are the soul of our defense. I think he provides depth and flexablity. we will have the fastest linebacker core in the NFL. There are some creative things you can do when you have linebackers that fast. Creative things that will help out in pass rush ect. Im for it. I remember gold being willing to do what it takes while he was in Denver. Played great on special teams and even lined up as DE against Oakland in 2002, to try and help generate some pass rush in that game.

bwahahahahah!

Tombstone-

Don't take this as a personal attack against you. That being said, suggesting that DJ is possible trade material is ludicrous! The players in this years draft have nowhere near the ability that DJ has.

Secondly, we already have salary cap restraints and you think they are going to trade DJ just to resign an older LB with residual medical issues? Not to mention having to absorb whatever accelerated bonus trading DJ would cause.

C'mon man! That doesn't make any sense...

Better warm the truck up, Mile High!
we all know Master Mind's history concerning off season moves!

to me, its simple guys.

ian is NOT coming back to COMPETE with dj.
to me, the team must believe that dj can and will play the strongside (and why couldnt he excel there?) and ian will reclaim the weak.

im pretty damn excited about it, but it seems that right now im the ONLY one!!

I don't mind him possibly coming back. What I would be bothered by is if they do indeed give him the $8-10 million signing bonus. I would much rather liked them to spend that on Hayward.

I'll pay for the gas and the beer.

We've had the fast LB's for 16 years now. Its time to try something else like real talent on the Dline. (I hate saying this cause I feel bad for our boys :( )

I'm still trying to figure out what the over plan is... If we are moving to a 3-4 then i'm fine with ian. But if we are staying at a predominately 4-3 set then i don't understand this move. But until i see what their entire plan is I'll with hold my joy/fire everyone emotions.

Well these moves seem to validate what the GM and coaches have said about staying in the 4-3 as a base defense. Warren and Ellis Johnson are DTs, not NTs and the 3-4 requires bigger OLB, which is not Gold. I think the Broncs have something up their sleeves with the LB situation, but one thing for sure is that it does not involve trading DJ.

Im still not willing to count Ellis Johnson on our roster tell he signs with the team. If he does it means we really only need another DE cause we have some depth to rotate with but Im not liking he fact that the whole group will be made up of people that never played with eachother.

Dammit, we have a young talented LB in Pierce that can't even get on the field, and here we are wasting money on a second rate DJ who stabbed us in the back once already.

Agree. I cannot see how this DL mess can be fixed in one year.

I am thinking they are bringing in Gold as some type of rover back position player to use in certain situations and to be the special teams ace.

The primary reason he can't get onthe field is due to injury.

F L E X A B I L I T Y If we are gonna be switching between the 4-3 and the 3-4 this is a great group of linebackers to do it with. I've already seen Gold be willing to put a hand in the dirt and go up against lincon kennedy in 2002. If you remember the first time we played oakland that year we had ZERO pass rush in the second game Gold did what he could to help out and actully had a sack against Kennedy. say we go to a 3-4 sometimes and you can get Peirce, Gold, Wilson, and DJ on the feild. I feel pretty darn good about that. I think the Broncos can get creative with this group.

You got that right.

But, don't worry. Gerrard Warren is coming to save the day.

Yea, yea.. I know, he's only a 4th round pick. Very little risk. Let's hope Gold is very little risk/cost, as well... because he proved to be virtually useless when he was in Denver and Tampa dumped him after a season.

So far, Sundquist's "plan" is downright laughable. Wake me up when we do something to improve this team's perennial weak spot. (D-line.)

I don't like this business of moving around DJ Williams. I've got no doubt he could play another position, but IMO you don't mess with a good thing. Let DJ be.

I wish they wouldn't have said they don't like the talent along the Dline in the draft though. I think there are some good DE's this year and though the DT's are not a s deep we still could get a good one in round one as well.

Who said that?

looks like my worst fears are coming true

Former Bronco Gold may return

Gold could reverse field back "home"; Hayward to Jags

By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer


Post / Cyrus McCrimmon
Gold played well for Tampa Bay in 2004.




After spending one season with Tampa Bay, linebacker Ian Gold may be coming back to the Broncos.

Hours after being released by the Buccaneers, Gold began negotiating a return to Denver, according to several NFL sources.

While the Broncos were working to bring in new players, others were working on heading out. Defensive end Reggie Hayward agreed to a deal with Jacksonville for five years and $25 million, including $10 million in guaranteed money. The Jaguars will announce Hayward's signing this morning at a news conference.

Safety Kenoy Kennedy will visit Detroit on Friday and has visits planned for Oakland, Cleveland and New Orleans. Miami also has expressed interest. Kennedy's agent, Vann McElroy, said Wednesday that while Kennedy plans to make those trips, he has not ruled out staying with Denver. The Lions are expected to make a hard push to sign Kennedy.


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Gold, a second-round pick from Michigan in 2000, was released in a salary cap purge by Tampa Bay on Tuesday, and Denver jumped at the chance to bring him back. Kansas City, Atlanta and Houston were among the teams interested in Gold.

The Broncos wanted to retain Gold last year, but had difficulty negotiating with his agents, Carl and Kevin Poston. Gold since has dismissed the brothers as his representatives and is handling his own negotiations.

Gold bounced back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in 2003 and had a big season with the Buccaneers. If the deal is completed, Gold likely would step in as a starter with Denver. D.J. Williams, entering his second NFL season, may move to strongside linebacker to accommodate Gold taking the weakside position. Because of his speed, Gold would be a solid addition to the 3-4 defense.
Gold's return could mean last season's starting strongside linebacker, Donnie Spragan, would move on as a free agent. He has a visit set up with Miami and has received interest from Atlanta.

"I heard about Ian, and Donnie may look elsewhere," said Spragan's agent, Angelo Wright. "But there's still a chance he could come back. They need another linebacker in that 3-4. So there's a chance."

If the deal for Gold is finalized, the Broncos will have two new additions on defense. Wednesday, the Browns announced the trade of defensive tackle Gerard Warren to Denver for a fourth-round pick in next month's draft.

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Warren, who has one year remaining on his contract, will be a starting defensive tackle for the Broncos. His agent, Joel Segal, said Warren is excited to be reunited with Andre Patterson, one of the Broncos' defensive line coaches. Patterson coached Warren the past two seasons at Cleveland.

"The defensive line coach was a big part of Gerard's comfort level in going to Denver," Segal said.

The Broncos talked to the agent of Samari Rolle, who was cut in a salary cap move by the Titans. It could be a longshot for Denver to sign Rolle, who will be one of the most sought-after players in free agency.

Rolle, who visited Kansas City on Wednesday, is expected to garner a large signing bonus. Signing Rolle would mean Lenny Walls would be paid $1.43 million this season to be the nickel cornerback.

Denver is bringing in defensive end Chike Okeafor today for a visit. Denver has talked to Okeafor, who had eight sacks for the Seahawks last season, in the past. The team is looking at free-agent defensive ends as it tries to replace Hayward and Trevor Pryce, whom the team is attempting to trade.

"Chike is serious about Denver and the Broncos are serious about him," agent Andy Simms said. "We are talking to other teams but are very interested in what the Broncos have to say."

The re-signing of guard Ben Hamilton, which has been close since Saturday, hinges on contract language and should be official soon. The Broncos may have an interest in Green Bay safety Bhawoh Jue and Cincinnati punter Kyle Richardson.

Denver restricted free agent Monsanto Pope is getting interest. Any team that signs the defensive tackle would owe Denver a seventh-round pick if the Broncos choose not to match the offer.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Denver inquired about a trade for Dolphins H-back Rob Konrad, but the asking price was too high, the report said.

Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.


Accomodating? We better not be ****ing accomodating anyone. Thus is ludicrous! This is Nuts! His strength isnt at the point of attack its chasing from behind. If that is true, you just robbed DJ of his best attribute. Thanks alot Front Office!! You ****ing idiots. Dont expect stellar play this year, they just pretty much stunted DJs career. What a bunch of dumbasses.

Shanahan and Sundquist are the Keystone Kops of NFL front office's if they bring back Gold to move DJ.

The way they've handled everything so far is downright embarrassing, especially if they give Gold as much money as Hayward got.

Quoted for truth. This is so unbelivably gay, they're screwing with DJ's career to accomodate Ian freakin' Gold. Man, I thought I was upset when the Raiders got Moss? No, this is much worse. You have the best rookie LB in the league and you change his position? Freakin' retarded.