After the circuses surrounding Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler led to both players being traded away from the Mile High city, people around the league, fans around the country, the city of Denver, and perhaps even some Broncos players, began to think the Broncos were not going to take care of their own — even the star players.
Now, however, they’ve found a way around the odd rules of the uncapped season to give Elvis Dumervil a six-year, $61.5 million contract — and a salary more suiting of a guy who had 17 sacks in 2009.
It’s a bit odd that a franchise quarterback and top-five receiver would get shipped out under the watch of an offensive-minded head coach, but that the team would go above and beyond to make sure their pass-rushing outside linebacker is all taken care of regardless of the pain-in-the-neck restrictions they face this year.
The details of the contract get a bit involved and, to be quite honest, I’ve never taken enough time to fully understand the way the contracts work. But, thankfully, Mike Florio of PFT.com is a former lawyer and can spell it out:
"Per a league source with knowledge of the situation, Dumervil’s new contract from the Broncos has a base value of $61.5 million over six years.The deal carries $58.332 million in new money, and an injury guarantee of $43.168 million. Skill guarantees apply in 2011 ($28 million) and 2012 ($12 million).The compensation for 2009 remains the same, with Dumervil getting $3.168 million. Dumervil’s base salary was dropped to the minimum, with the balance paid as a signing bonus.On the first day of the next league year, whenever it may start, $14 million in base salary becomes guaranteed for skill. At about that time, $6 million of it will be paid out as an advance.Also in 2011, $14 million in base salary for 2012 becomes guaranteed. In early 2012, $13.3 million of it will be paid as an advance in March of that year.In 2012, $12 million in base salary for 2013 becomes guaranteed.The remaining base salaries are $10 million in 2014 and $9 million in 2015."
Yeah. So there’s that.
It’s certainly a good move by the Broncos and shows they’re at least starting to understand the concept of taking care of your own. There are times to put up a fight, and there are times to give in and give a man his due. This situation called for the latter approach, so kudos to the Broncos for recognizing it.
Now if Josh McDaniels could only find a way to get that quarterback and receiver we mentioned earlier…