Coming out of a dead period

[SoCalBronco]

September 23, 2008 4:31 PM
Coming out of a 'dead' period
It's called 'dead money,' maybe because the information attached to the salary-cap figure teams would rather bury in a graveyard, never to be re-visited.

The dead-money figure these days from a practical standpoint isn't as important as several years ago, when the overall cap numbers were lower and clubs frequently shoe-horned salaries under the limit. It isn't unusual for teams in 2008 to have bountiful room under the $116.8 million spending limit.

Rather, dead money exposes the botched free agents and missed draft picks that are gone from clubs who continue to pay those players on the books if not the wallet.

In the Broncos' case, an analysis of their dead-money situation is a signal of a changing front-office direction away from the high-priced signings that largely failed the team in recent years to what appears to be a more streamlined, and possibly, more stable future.

It's an emphasis begun under general manager Ted Sundquist and carried on by the front-office triumvirate of Jim Goodman, Jeff Goodman and cap gurus Brian Xanders and Mike Bluem.

In 2008, the Broncos have about $30 million in dead money.

The biggest payouts for nothing in return this season come from released Javon Walker ($6.8 million), retired Matt Lepsis ($5.0 million), injured Al Wilson ($4.166 million), traded Gerard Warren ($2.2 million), retired Rod Smith ($2.0 million), released Travis Henry ($1.2 million), traded Montrae Holland ($1.1 million) and released John Lynch ($1 million).

Obviously some of those expenditures were undermined by circumstances, such as Wilson's neck issues and Smith's hip problems. But many others reflected the large-scale payouts to veteran players that largely failed.

Denver's situation in 2009 -- though there are certain changes to come, is much more settled. Henry's $3.6 million balance is the only notable expenditure. The sum total of the rest of the dead money is under $600,000.

Couple that with the signing of linebacker D.J. Williams, a player just entering his prime; the stockpiling of draft picks from trades involving Keary Colbert, Chris Myers, Holland and Domonique Foxworth and recent successes selecting from the college ranks the last three years in April. Denver's 3-0 start shouldn't be the only developments exciting Broncos fans.

It's the underlying foundation that seems to be strengthening beneath that success.

-- Lee Rasizer

Posted by at 4:31 PM | Comments (1)

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/b...os_buried.html

[baja]

Very cool

[TheManeMan]

30 million? Thats the most expensive toilet paper i've ever heard of...

Good read Socal, thanks for sharing...

[2KBack]

I heart the Goodmans

[Broncosfreak_56]

Very nice.

[Vegas_Bronco]

Maybe Pat can give me a home loan next year?

[SoCalBronco]

Obviously, we all like the new direction they are going in but it does have some obvious downsides, such as the lack of a quick fix. People are talking in the other thread about bringing in a big time DE etc., well thats not really going to happen anymore. We're not going to make those kinds of investments anymore by and large. In fact, I would suggest that we are not going to make the type of required investment in FA for even a SINGLE true big time impact DL. I suspect that this new enlightened line of thought had less to do with the Broncos realizing that it was a smarter way to go than the Broncos simply adding up the projected numbers of their own homegrown big time soon to be UFAs (i.e. the class of 2006) and coming to the inescapable conclusion that the only way to have a real shot at retaining all of them was to put the brakes on all this crap. Either way, I'm glad they are at that point, even if it will prevent us from adding another big piece or two to take the next step. We're going to have to take the next step on our own and that makes it harder, but its ok.

I do wish Warren was still here, though.

[baja]

who did we get with that raiders 4th we got for warren

[wolf754life]

socal, they HAVE to add some quality Defensive starters next year through free agency, no choice but to upgrade.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by wolf754life

socal, they HAVE to add some quality Defensive starters next year through free agency, no choice but to upgrade.

We will upgrade by amassing even more picks than the sad lot of them that we have now by continuing to trade replaceables and more importantly by accomplishing trades down by being willing to forego the premium over chart value and even if we have to giving up a little bit of overall chart value in the exchange. We will then be able to use these picks en masse on the position with hope that at least one or more will work out, or in the alternative, have the flexibility (because we will have, if we do it right, alot of picks, right now we only have a pathetic 9) to package several to move up for a guy we really want. This is how its done.

If you want to do FA, we do ONLY bargain basement to mid-level FA's. That's it. No more "lets add this monster DE or DT" or any of that crap. We can't afford that. We've got a ton of kids from the 06 draft coming up on UFA. The lion's share of funds need to be reserved for that. If you want to add the equivalent of a Boss Bailey type or Weigmann type to the DL, fine, but thats it so far as FA goes. You can't say "oh this is a great new strategy" and turn around and say "I want that beast, give him whatever he wants, we need him bad".

[TheManeMan]

Originally Posted by baja

who did we get with that raiders 4th we got for warren

It was a conditional 5th...and I believe it was Torain...

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

We will upgrade by amassing even more picks than the sad lot of them that we have now by continuing to trade replaceables and more importantly by accomplishing trades down by being willing to forego the premium over chart value and even if we have to giving up a little bit of overall chart value in the exchange. We will then be able to use these picks en masse on the position with hope that at least one or more will work out, or in the alternative, have the flexibility (because we will have, if we do it right, alot of picks, right now we only have a pathetic 9) to package several to move up for a guy we really want. This is how its done.

If you want to do FA, we do ONLY bargain basement to mid-level FA's. That's it. No more "lets add this monster DE or DT" or any of that crap. We can't afford that. We've got a ton of kids from the 06 draft coming up on UFA. The lion's share of funds need to be reserved for that. If you want to add the equivalent of a Boss Bailey type or Weigmann type to the DL, fine, but thats it so far as FA goes. You can't say "oh this is a great new strategy" and turn around and say "I want that beast, give him whatever he wants, we need him bad".

I think it depends on the player. New England is a great example of a team that has built through the draft and FA. They paid big for Adalius Thomas and you cant say that hasn't worked out for them.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by SonOfLe-loLang

I think it depends on the player. New England is a great example of a team that has built through the draft and FA. They paid big for Adalius Thomas and you cant say that hasn't worked out for them.

It doesnt matter. We dont have the money to spare on big time FAs. New England doesnt have a big time recieving TE they will have to pay. New England doesnt have the No. 1 WR in pro football that they have to pay. I could keep going down the list but you get the picture.

Like I said, I wish this was about the Broncos just realizing one day, in the abstract, that it was just smarter to do it this way, but they probably came to this conclusion just by looking at the numbers and who's coming due and the huge burden it will be to keep them.

[DB-Freak]

If they let go of Marshall, I'll have to choke a b****...

Preferrably a b**** that has the name Rasheeda.

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Obviously, we all like the new direction they are going in but it does have some obvious downsides, such as the lack of a quick fix. People are talking in the other thread about bringing in a big time DE etc., well thats not really going to happen anymore. We're not going to make those kinds of investments anymore by and large. In fact, I would suggest that we are not going to make the type of required investment in FA for even a SINGLE true big time impact DL. I suspect that this new enlightened line of thought had less to do with the Broncos realizing that it was a smarter way to go than the Broncos simply adding up the projected numbers of their own homegrown big time soon to be UFAs (i.e. the class of 2006) and coming to the inescapable conclusion that the only way to have a real shot at retaining all of them was to put the brakes on all this crap. Either way, I'm glad they are at that point, even if it will prevent us from adding another big piece or two to take the next step. We're going to have to take the next step on our own and that makes it harder, but its ok.

I do wish Warren was still here, though.

I agree with almost everything you've said here bro but I do think that we have a two year window where we could sign a couple of very good Defensive starters through FA.

Cutler, Marsh, Royal, Kuper, Harris, Clady, Schef are still playing on their rookie deals and we have a two year window where their original contracts will expire and we'll have to resign them (Apart from Clady who still has five left or so). Like you said that'll shift the balance of the salary cap towards the offense.

And while I agree with you that we'll have to then start using 1st day picks on the defense, I think we have a window of two years to bring in two quality defensive Free Agents. A veteran safety like Darren Sharper because safeties just get paid less in FA and possibly a Mike or DT. The rest we can filter through the draft and we'll need to make the most of the next two drafts to bring in guys who can produce instead of raw potential types like Moss. With our offense we'll have a window of maybe the next five years before injuries and age take over and it's what we do in the draft the next two years defensively that will dictate whether we can go the Indy route to the SuperBowl (loaded offense, and adequate D through the draft) instead of being full of fail like KC were for 5 years (loaded offenses, perenially crappy D).

[Vladimir]

I am confused as to why when a player retires such as Matt Lepsis and Rod Smith it counts as dead money....

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

It doesnt matter. We dont have the money to spare on big time FAs. New England doesnt have a big time recieving TE they will have to pay. New England doesnt have the No. 1 WR in pro football that they have to pay. I could keep going down the list but you get the picture.

Like I said, I wish this was about the Broncos just realizing one day, in the abstract, that it was just smarter to do it this way, but they probably came to this conclusion just by looking at the numbers and who's coming due and the huge burden it will be to keep them.

One first day pick should go toward another interior OL and a second pick to the same pos. on day two.

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

One first day pick should go toward another interior OL and a second pick to the same pos. on day two.

You know what man - i'd take BPA with the picks we have. No matter OL/DL/LB/S. If they meet those conditions, snatch them. Of course if you get a surprise player - you can always snatch them up.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by amesj523

You know what man - i'd take BPA with the picks we have. No matter OL/DL/LB/S. If they meet those conditions, snatch them. Of course if you get a surprise player - you can always snatch them up.

I'm sure Goodman will have a nice list of capable players for each pick we have. Hopefully, one of them on the first day is an interior OL to get some experience in the system before he's in the fire.

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I'm sure Goodman will have a nice list of capable players for each pick we have. Hopefully, one of them on the first day is an interior OL to get some experience in the system before he's in the fire.

I think Lichtensteiger might be ok for us. I mean, if there's a sure fire C in the first round - cool - but i'm not above/beyond taking anyone that can fill a hole - i just don't want to reach for them.

I still want to give Moss time - but i'm impatient. I projected him as taking up to 5 years to become a complete player.

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

One first day pick should go toward another interior OL and a second pick to the same pos. on day two.

Since the first day is only two rounds long now, I'd be shocked if both didn't go towards the defense. Unless they trade down and somehow get three picks on day one, I'd be pretty confused if they went with a guard or center on day one.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

Since the first day is only two rounds long now, I'd be shocked if both didn't go towards the defense. Unless they trade down and somehow get three picks on day one, I'd be pretty confused if they went with a guard or center on day one.

With the 64th pick, I fully endorse it.

[socalorado]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

With the 64th pick, I fully endorse it.

With the 64th pick you endorse a o-linemen?

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by socalorado

With the 64th pick you endorse a o-linemen?

Interior for sure. Someone to push Lichtensteiger and vice versa. That way the loser of that contest can provide quality depth and be ready to fill LG when Ben hangs it up.

[theAPAOps5]

This is why Lee Rasizer is the best writer in Denver. All his articles are well thought out and well written.