Lelie Threatening Holdout if not Traded

[epicSocialism4tw]

Ashley, we had high hopes for you here and you didnt deliver. I hope that you find a place where you will fit in, because this obviously wasnt the place. Good luck in Philly.

Edit: per ESPN TV 5/1/06

[easymobee]

He'll get his ass to camp.

Either that or what kind of value is he gonna have going into UFA.

TO or Moss can maybe pull off a year sit-out and still get a good deal, but not Ash.

[Bronco LB 59]

This is a sad ending. I remember the day Denver drafted Ashley and he was so excited to be a Bronco.

I hope this can be resolved. I want to see Lelie in a Denver uniform for the next five years if not more. Please stay Ashley, we wan't you to maximize your talent in the Mile High City.

[GreatBronco16]

You just now heard it on ESPN? The ESPn that is running reruns from earlier today? Or is this breaking news on the bottomline or something?

[DarkHorse30]

this is obviously a trick by Shanaco to make Lelie look like a complainer....and a potential #1 WR.......to make it more likely that some team would think they need him.....right? (I can't believe Lelie could POSSIBLY be as stupid as he's sounding right now..."yeah, it's not FAIR that Denver could possibly expect me to PROVE that I'm a #1 WR.....by being a #1 WR")

BTW, it was great to see Jake (aka the outlaw josey wales) address the cutler draft in these classic words "I'd've drafted him too".

[Clockwork Orange]

**** him, let him sit. He's got no trade value as it is and his public sobbing hasn't helped any.

Tell him he plays for the Broncos this season or he doesn't play.

[GreatBronco16]

I just turned it to ESPN News and the bottom line had nothing on it. I think he is FOS.

BTW, where is a link to what Plummer said about the draft? I'd like to see what all he said.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by GreatBronco16

I just turned it to ESPN News and the bottom line had nothing on it. I think he is FOS.

BTW, where is a link to what Plummer said about the draft? I'd like to see what all he said.

I agree. There is no link and he quickly quipped "per ESPN". This is bogus.

Here's the link:

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=609

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by GreatBronco16

I just turned it to ESPN News and the bottom line had nothing on it. I think he is FOS.

BTW, where is a link to what Plummer said about the draft? I'd like to see what all he said.

It was on Sportscenter. You'll find out soon enough. Im sorry I cant satiate your hunger for links.

[GreatBronco16]

Originally Posted by angryllama

It was on Sportscenter. You'll find out soon enough. Im sorry I cant satiate your hunger for links.

I think I already did.

[doof]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3774437

Lelie won't accept drop to No. 3 role
By Bill Williamson and Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writers


Ashley Lelie, a former first-round pick who wants out of Denver, has averaged 17.9 yards on 168 catches in four seasons with the Broncos. (Post / Hyoung Chang)


If the Broncos want to mend fences with wide receiver Ashley Lelie, he says no offense, but he's not interested.

"Me coming back is definitely out of the question at this point with me being the No. 3 receiver," Lelie said Monday night from Arizona. "There's nothing to mend. There's no solution. ... Let me go somewhere where I can compete."

At this point, Lelie - who has forgone Denver's entire offseason workout program - knows there are three possibilities for him: be traded, show up for training camp in late July or hold out for the entire season.

"The odds are the worst scenario is the most likely scenario," Lelie said. "I think holding out is the best odds with me being traded next and then me coming back next. But I don't think I'm coming back. ... The situation has gotten worse. It's gotten a lot worse."

Lelie, of course, is talking about his place on Denver's depth chart at wideout. When Lelie asked to be traded, it was because he was wanted the chance to be a No. 1 receiver elsewhere instead of being the No. 2 in Denver. Saturday, he slid to No. 3 when Denver acquired Pro Bowl wideout Javon Walker from Green Bay.

Thus, Lelie, who has one season remaining on his contract, is behind Walker and veteran Rod Smith.

"I'd much rather sit out than be No. 3," Lelie said. "I'm prepared for the money hit I'll take. It's not about monetary issues. I love to play, and I want the chance to play. When the game is on the line with two minutes to go, I want to be on the field, not the bench. We just don't use three receivers much. We're a running team. I don't see this working."

Said Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer: "I don't see any positives coming from ever holding out. Very rarely does it happen where you get your way."

Lelie insisted he is not upset with anyone in particular, that it's simply the situation.

"My reaction to Ashley is he's under contract," Broncos general manager Ted

Sundquist said, adding, "I fully expect Ashley to be back."
Lelie said new assistant head coach Mike Heimerdinger, who will be in charge of the passing game, called him Monday to try to be the "mediator," but Lelie said he hadn't gotten the chance to call the coach back.

"I have no problem playing for Mike Shanahan or do I have any problem with anyone there," Lelie said. "It's not about being mad, it's about the opportunity. I don't want my legacy to be as a No. 3 receiver."

Lelie and Walker are working out together in Arizona. They looked at each other Monday morning when they began training and laughed.

"He's my buddy and he's happy to be in Denver," Lelie said. "He said he's going to buy my house. I told I'd sell it to him for $10 million. Hopefully, I won't need it."

Backing off blitzing?

Up front, the Broncos believe newcomers Kenard Lang and Elvis Dumervil and former scout team defensive end Corey Jackson not only will offset the departure of Trevor Pryce but intensify the pass rush without relying so much on the blitz.

"I do feel like the defensive staff has worked long and hard already in looking at some of the things we did last year, and they may loosen up our linemen and allow them to put a little more pressure on the quarterback versus playing run first," Sundquist said.

Webster on board

The Broncos finally signed free-agent linebacker Nate Webster, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals.

[Kaylore]

... Ok angry Llama: 1 Me: 0

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by doof

"I'd much rather sit out than be No. 3," Lelie said. "I'm prepared for the money hit I'll take. It's not about monetary issues. I love to play, and I want the chance to play.

[SoCalBronco]

Once again, Ash this isnt the right tack to take. It isnt going to solve the concerns you have. This is simply the cards that you have been dealt. You've done a good job building up your image as a hard worker and a good guy and you will be losing it all over this. Just accept the role, do the best you can, do not complain in public and then sign a 1 yr. contract with the team (and offensive system) of your choice next summer so that you can prove that your worth the money. That's the only approach.

[epicSocialism4tw]

This is really unfortunate, but what can you do? With all of the drops and the unwillingness to perform across the middle, you cant commit #1 plays and #1 money to a guy that isnt well rounded.

The best thing is to find him a place to play. In the NFC. Definately not in Indy.

[Kaylore]

What a soldier. He can kiss my hind parts.


<-------- can we change the sig code for the smilie to :Lelie:?

[epicSocialism4tw]

I wonder if New Orleans would be interested? They might be willing to part with an RB...

[Ratboy]

Hopefully Javon, Rod, Jake, and other leaders convince him to stay.

[watermock]

Fine, let him sit.

[Ratboy]

Obviously Lelie doesn't care about money since he's willing to sit on the bench.

[watermock]

More than anyting this scares moe about Wlaker.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Ratboy

Hopefully Javon, Rod, Jake, and other leaders convince him to stay.

If he could just hang in there, he could take over when Rod retires. Not only that, but one of the strongest-armed QB's in the league is being groomed to throw him the ball.

I dont understand what he thinks his legacy is going to be. He's a deep threat. That's about it.

[GreatBronco16]

Lelie isn't making any sense.

It isn't about the money, he just wants to play. Well come to camp, beat out Walker and take your spot back. And with Walker, Smith and Lelie, who is saying we won't be doing alot of 3WR sets now? You would think Lelie would be thinking that this would open up the deep pass alot more now. Now the defense have to key in on Rod, Walker and the running game, not to mention Plummer bootleging. Lelie would have alot of one on one coverage by the #3 CBs or perhaps the safteys.

Lelie should see this as a chance for the offense to really open up for the good of the entire team, and a great chance to be back in the AFC Champ game perhaps getting to the SB this time.


Players don't care about that anymore. It's not about winning championships anymore. It's about me some more me.

[BroncoBuff]

We "drafted" a Pro Bowl WR with pick #37, so .... hasta la vista, Ashley.

The odd part is, it appears that neither SF nor Green Bay wanted the guy ...

[Ratboy]

Originally Posted by angryllama

If he could just hang in there, he could take over when Rod retires. Not only that, but one of the strongest-armed QB's in the league is being groomed to throw him the ball.

I dont understand what he thinks his legacy is going to be. He's a deep threat. That's about it.

I disagree. Lelie showed he can go over the middle to the end of the year when we utilized him a lot more, and when Plummer looks his direction. From the second he breaks the huddle, his eyes don't leave Rod Smith.

If we trade him, i say we work something out with the Saints and get ourselves Donte Stallworth.