Broncos, Ryan Clady begin to address contract extension

[Bronco Rob]

The Broncos have opened contract-extension talks with Ryan Clady, according to several NFL sources.The left tackle is in the final year of his deal that will pay him $3.5 million in 2012. The franchise tag for left tackles this season was $9.4 million. New Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is almost the anti-Tebow in that the former Indianapolis Colt is one of the NFL's least-sacked passers even though he is also one of the least mobile. Tebow took 33 sacks last year even though he only started 11 games. Manning was sacked 16 times in 16 games in his previous playing season of 2010 and just 10 in 16 games in 2009.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci...ract-extension

[SoCalBronco]

I'd tread carefully on this if I were the Broncos. PFT had a post about Clady today and his decline statistically, it wasn't pretty. I think he needs to really prove himself this year before he gets seriously paid. He isn't the same and needs to get alot better.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

I'd tread carefully on this if I were the Broncos. PFT had a post about Clady today and his decline statistically, it wasn't pretty. I think he needs to really prove himself this year before he gets seriously paid. He isn't the same and needs to get alot better.

Yep I've never been a huge fan of his..

came out of college that played ZBS and although he had great feet, he also had a very mobile QB to help him out..

Then he was injured and frankly I think those great feet are not so great anymore..

I also think that DE's and DC have a book on him and might not be as good as some think..

They have had a TE next to him since year one helping out.. IMO it is time to draft his replacement..

If they do sign him I hope they place some major incentives in it and have an escape clause.

I'm not convinced he will ever be the OLT that he was in his rookie year..

[R-Mac]

I think Clady's quarterback needs to get better, or get rid of the ball faster. Clady will probably look really good with Manning reading the defense. Jay Cutler and Shanahan's scheme helped Clady a lot in 2008.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

I'd tread carefully on this if I were the Broncos. PFT had a post about Clady today and his decline statistically, it wasn't pretty. I think he needs to really prove himself this year before he gets seriously paid. He isn't the same and needs to get alot better.

I'm going to disagree with you somewhat here. In principle, I agree he isn't who he appeared to be. I do think a lot of his issues have to deal with playing with two of the easiest to sack QB's in the league (for ironically completely opposite reasons) the past two years, as well as going from Ben Hamilton to "just some guys" at RG. I think Cutler made the line look better than they were as he rarely took sacks (for both good and bad reasons.)

My point is, Clady is no longer considered "the best" LT in the league, but I do think he is still top ten, and with better interior players, and a QB that knows what he's doing behind center, I think Clady is worth an extension.

[Stuck in Cali]

Last year was probably pretty hard on him, cause the QB would get happy feet before the play developed. He has been a solid LT for us and I bet he will get even better. Don't think he wants Manning chewing his ass out.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I'm going to disagree with you somewhat here. In principle, I agree he isn't who he appeared to be. I do think a lot of his issues have to deal with playing with two of the easiest to sack QB's in the league (for ironically completely opposite reasons) the past two years, as well as going from Ben Hamilton to "just some guys" at RG. I think Cutler made the line look better than they were as he rarely took sacks (for both good and bad reasons.)

My point is, Clady is no longer considered "the best" LT in the league, but I do think he is still top ten, and with better interior players, and a QB that knows what he's doing behind center, I think Clady is worth an extension.

Good post..

Yep cutlet helped him alot with his feet and then again throwing picks or fumbles..

I'm not so worried about Manning getting sacked as I am him getting hit..

and then there is what happens in two years when his quick read and release are retired..


Again I will say hope they get incentives built in so we are not gassed on a huge salary.. UNLESS he earns it..

[Requiem]

Lock 'em up.

[BroncoMan4ever]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

I'd tread carefully on this if I were the Broncos. PFT had a post about Clady today and his decline statistically, it wasn't pretty. I think he needs to really prove himself this year before he gets seriously paid. He isn't the same and needs to get alot better.

I think Clady's decline can be attributed to recovery from the knee injury two years ago and partly last year as well. But also because of Tim's style of play. Tim running all over and his linemen never knowing if he had tucked and run or thrown a pass at the feet, into the stands or 5 yards off the mark led to a lot of holding calls and poor play for the line, Clady especially

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by BroncoMan4ever

I think Clady's decline can be attributed to recovery from the knee injury two years ago and partly last year as well. But also because of Tim's style of play. Tim running all over and his linemen never knowing if he had tucked and run or thrown a pass at the feet, into the stands or 5 yards off the mark led to a lot of holding calls and poor play for the line, Clady especially

Tim's lack of pocket awareness and having Pocket Sloth Orton certainly didn't help him. 9 sacks allowed last year and 13.5 combined the two years (BT -- Before Timothy). I really do not think it is a problem, nor is he as bad as the PFT article was trying to attribute him. This is simply a position we cannot afford to re-draft and invest high on.

[Tombstone RJ]

Clady is coming off a few relatively mediocre seasons. If the Broncos think he's fully recovered from his knee reconstruction and they think he's a top 10 blue chip LT, nows the time to sign him to a long term contract because quite frankly, his value is way down.

If he has a great year with Manning, then the Broncos will have to pay him way more money because Manning made Clady look better.

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I'm going to disagree with you somewhat here. In principle, I agree he isn't who he appeared to be. I do think a lot of his issues have to deal with playing with two of the easiest to sack QB's in the league (for ironically completely opposite reasons) the past two years, as well as going from Ben Hamilton to "just some guys" at RG. I think Cutler made the line look better than they were as he rarely took sacks (for both good and bad reasons.)

My point is, Clady is no longer considered "the best" LT in the league, but I do think he is still top ten, and with better interior players, and a QB that knows what he's doing behind center, I think Clady is worth an extension.

Clady is definitely worth an extension, at the very least he is a very servicable starter quality LT, who is strong in the run game and can keep a pocket passer pretty upright.

He clearly has upside to be more than that, and given his age and injury history (only one major injury) I think he is a no brainer to get resigned.

I have not been a big fan of the Eagles M.O. when it comes to resigning promising young players to long deals with relatively little in terms of guaranteed money because you tend to end up with disgruntled players. I do think however that with Clady we are in a situation now that we can sign him at a reasonable deal, he is not going to get Joe Thomas like money. If we can get him at around the value of Donald Penn that would be a solid signing - if we let him get near free agency not only do we risk him having a great year with Manning (which is not impossible) we also risk alienating him with the franchise tag - I think we are better off as a team to get negotiations rolling and then try to sign him early in the season to a 5 year deal.

[WolfpackGuy]

He's also deadly on the tackle bubble screen.

[DBroncos4life]

If a QB has time to do an epic 360 spin the line is doing its job. The worst QB in the NFL can get the ball out of his hand in the time it takes a human to spin.

[razorwire77]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

I'd tread carefully on this if I were the Broncos. PFT had a post about Clady today and his decline statistically, it wasn't pretty. I think he needs to really prove himself this year before he gets seriously paid. He isn't the same and needs to get alot better.

Big co-sign on this. Clady hasn't been an "elite" left tackle since the injury. Part of it isn't his fault, in that he was blocking for fetal position Kyle and a very raw Tim Tebow who at times held the ball way too long.

He's very good, but I'd wait to see what happens this year before you give him elite top 3 paid at his position type coin, which I'm assuming he'll want.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by razorwire77

Big co-sign on this. Clady hasn't been an "elite" left tackle since the injury. Part of it isn't his fault, in that he was blocking for fetal position Kyle and a very raw Tim Tebow who at times held the ball way too long.

He's very good, but I'd wait to see what happens this year before you give him elite top 3 paid at his position type coin, which I'm assuming he'll want.

he's had one great year and that was his rookie year. He's not elite. If the Broncos sign him now it shouldn't be for 'elite' money. More like "pretty ok, sometimes" money.

[razorwire77]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

he's had one great year and that was his rookie year. He's not elite. If the Broncos sign him now it shouldn't be for 'elite' money. More like "pretty ok, sometimes" money.

That's my entire point. Extend him now if the contract terms are reasonable. However, if he's demanding top 5 LT in the league type money as part of his extension, he hasn't proven he's worthy of that type of coin. If this year under Manning he has a similar season to his rookie year, than you break the bank.

[Wes Mantooth]

Keep in mind he switched positions the moment Tebow came into the game. Sign him up long term he's worth it.

[Lestat]

Clady is a very good LT. he's not what we expected after his rookie year but he's still a top tier LT in this league.
he and Kuper are the keys to our OL and it's success. we need to extend him and continue to improve the OL.

[Rolandftw]

I'm curious how many sacks that have been credited to Clady, that have been his fault and how many were the case of Tebow holding onto the ball so long/Orton being very incapable of extending plays

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Rod-BR

I think Clady's quarterback needs to get better, or get rid of the ball faster. Clady will probably look really good with Manning reading the defense. Jay Cutler and Shanahan's scheme helped Clady a lot in 2008.

I agree with this. Orton had terrible pocket awareness as did Tebow. Watch Clady make the Probowl this year now that he has a QB that is going to get rid of the ball on time everytime.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Lestat

Clady is a very good LT. he's not what we expected after his rookie year but he's still a top tier LT in this league.
he and Kuper are the keys to our OL and it's success. we need to extend him and continue to improve the OL.

I also agree with this. If Denver wants to build a top OL they have to sign Clady so they can solidify the LT position and then address Guard or Center if they feel they must. I think Franklin will be OK. Beadles is still a work in progress.

[Man-Goblin]

Should have never cut his hair. Or played basketball.

[bowtown]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Yep I've never been a huge fan of his..

came out of college that played ZBS and although he had great feet, he also had a very mobile QB to help him out..

Then he was injured and frankly I think those great feet are not so great anymore..

I also think that DE's and DC have a book on him and might not be as good as some think..

They have had a TE next to him since year one helping out.. IMO it is time to draft his replacement..

If they do sign him I hope they place some major incentives in it and have an escape clause.

I'm not convinced he will ever be the OLT that he was in his rookie year..

What?

[CEH]

It's like the "lets draft a QB in round 4" because we need to find PFM replacement. Let's move on from Clady and draft his replacement

We need to upgrade Beadles so let's draft a Oline in round 2 because he will be better when Beadles was drafted in round two. Odd thinking if you ask me.

When you want to build a team all things equal you get the QB then LT.
LTs don't grow on trees. I'm sure they will come to an agreement that both sides can find beneficial


You have to be careful judging Clady on '11 when they were ask to switch up mid stream and none of the Olinemen knew where Tebow was and he held onto the ball way too long.

A 3 step drop has to be a 3 step drop in the NFL and then the QB needs to get the ball out to the right WR.

Ask Kupes dad if Olinemen are asked to block all day on any play. No they are asked to do their job and the QB is asked to do his.