Smizzy Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Putzier, Denver a match Broncos expected to equal Jets' offer for free-agent tight end By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News March 10, 2005 Barring a late change of heart, the Denver Broncos will keep tight end Jeb Putzier in their lineup by matching the five-year, $12.5 million offer sheet the fourth-year veteran signed with the New York Jets last week. Putzier is a restricted free agent, giving the Broncos the opportunity to match any offer he received. By league rules, the Broncos had seven days to match the offer. They face a Friday deadline. If the Broncos had not elected to match the offer, the Jets would have to surrender a sixth-round pick - the round Putzier was selected by Denver in the 2002 draft. The Broncos were aided in their opportunity to match by the structure of the offer sheet to Putzier. The Jets did not front-load the deal with balloon payouts, as some teams have done with restricted free agents to make the deal difficult to match. The Jets' offer included $2.5 million in upfront money - a $1 million signing bonus this year and a $1.5 million payment next season. Putzier was tendered a one-year, $656,323 offer by the Broncos just before free agency started March 2. Since the offer was made, the Broncos have brought in Detroit Lions tight end Stephen Alexander for a visit. Alexander caught 41 passes last season. The Jets saw Putzier as a better receiving threat than they have had at the position in recent years. In 2004, Anthony Becht led Jets tight ends in receiving with only 13 receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown. Putzier finished with a career-most 36 catches last season, averaging 15.9 yards a catch. MORE COMPETITION: The Broncos had started some preliminary contract discussions with free-agent guard Matt Lehr, but Lehr now is finding more suitors. The veteran Wednesday left Atlanta - he expects to have a contract offer from the Falcons today - and is expected to visit the Minnesota Vikings before the week is out. The Houston Texans also have made some preliminary overtures to Lehr, who played seven games for the St. Louis Rams last season. In a shallow pool of available guards, the 6-foot-2, 293-pound Lehr likely fits best in the Broncos offense and its zone blocking in the run game. Another upside to Lehr is his age; he is only 25. The Broncos also have a standing offer to Cooper Carlisle, a free agent who has spent the past five seasons with the Broncos. Carlisle will be at Baltimore today to take a physical with the Ravens, who appear to be the front-runners to add the guard. The Falcons, whom Carlisle visited Monday, remain in the mix for the offensive lineman, who started the Broncos' final five games last season. GARCIA MULLING: Quarterback Jeff Garcia has completed his free-agent visits and has told his agent, Steve Baker, he will decide where he would like to play by the end of the weekend. Garcia has been offered the backup job at Denver, Detroit, Tampa and Seattle. Denver and Detroit are considered the front-runners and the Broncos are expected to be given an opportunity to match any deal Garcia is offered. SPRAGAN TO MIAMI: As expected, the Broncos' signing of free-agent linebacker Ian Gold last week spurred veteran linebacker Donnie Spragan to move on. Spragan agreed to a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins that included a $500,000 signing bonus. Spragan did not play in a regular-season game in his first three years of trying to break into the league (1999-2001). But he spent the past three seasons with the Broncos, starting eight games in 2003 and 14 in 2004. He recorded 65 tackles and one sack last season. FAN FAIR: The Broncos announced they will stage their Fan Fair for a third consecutive year, June 4-5 at Invesco Field at Mile High. Ticket information and specific event times will be released later. Every player on the Broncos roster is scheduled to appear, as are the team's coaches and some former players. The Stadium Stampede family run/walk benefiting St. Joseph Hospital is scheduled for June 5, before the gates open that day for the Fan Fair. For Stadium Stampede details, visit www.StadiumStampede.org. ETC.: Expect the Broncos to complete a one-year deal soon to retain defensive tackle Luther Elliss . . . Cornerback Kelly Herndon began his visit at Kansas City and will remain there through today before heading to Seattle on Friday. San Francisco, Atlanta and Baltimore are believed to have some interest in Herndon. legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2359 http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_3609580,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Papi Green Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 they aint matching smizz, read MY thread instead of starting new ones , mr mod they just lost another starting D player and still haven't freed up any cap room and they have yet lost three defensive starters and have no cap space they cant match bro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted March 10, 2005 Author Share Posted March 10, 2005 they aint matching smizz, read MY thread instead of starting new ones , mr mod they just lost another starting D player and still haven't freed up any cap room and they have yet lost three defensive starters and have no cap space they cant match bro Well my article says they will and im willing to fight to the death for it's honor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spjets Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 is stephen alexander a good choice for us too...or just stick with dilger.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Papi Green Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Well my article says they will and im willing to fight to the death for it's honor. bear knuckas compton style? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted March 10, 2005 Author Share Posted March 10, 2005 bear knuckas compton style? I don't know any other way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted March 10, 2005 Author Share Posted March 10, 2005 http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_3609580,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 If they re-sign him then oh well, there are other TE's out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted March 10, 2005 Author Share Posted March 10, 2005 If they re-sign him then oh well, there are other TE's out there. Putzier lead all TE's last year in YPC,the kid has bright fiture and will ahve a huge breakout year next season...I just hope it's with the jets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Papi Green Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Putzier lead all TE's last year in YPC,the kid has bright fiture and will ahve a huge breakout year next season...I just hope it's with the jets. actually he was second to ALge Crumpler by less than 1/2 a yard something like 15.9 to 16.1 yards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted March 10, 2005 Author Share Posted March 10, 2005 actually he was second to ALge Crumpler by less than 1/2 a yard something like 15.9 to 16.1 yards In other words this guy would be an absolute steal at this price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Papi Green Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 In other words this guy would be an absolute steal at this price. absolutely, he's just emerging as well and our OC uses the TE as a weapon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaumerJet Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 I think the reason they intend to match is because the Jets have offered a contingency plan that Denver would get our 4th & 5th rounder in exchange for Jeb Putzier. JETS NOTEBOOK - Newark Star Ledger Which in layman's terms - THEY REALLY ARE NOT GOING TO MATCH - they need the picks. They have no 3rd-6th round picks this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Papi Green Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 I think the reason they intend to match is because the Jets have offered a contingency plan that Denver would get our 4th & 5th rounder in exchange for Jeb Putzier. JETS NOTEBOOK - Newark Star Ledger Which in layman's terms - THEY REALLY ARE NOT GOING TO MATCH - they need the picks. They have no 3rd-6th round picks this year! that would be a horrible trade for us no way do you give up 2 picks for this guy, but they must match in order for us to trade for him which doesn't make sense financially because it straps an even further strapped salary cap for Denver besides what the hell kind of GM would TB be if he has already told them what he will give them if they match, wtf is that???? the only benefit would be that we would get him for salary only which is a plus but 2 picks??? man I dont know about that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Papi Green Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 I think the reason they intend to match is because the Jets have offered a contingency plan that Denver would get our 4th & 5th rounder in exchange for Jeb Putzier. JETS NOTEBOOK - Newark Star Ledger Which in layman's terms - THEY REALLY ARE NOT GOING TO MATCH - they need the picks. They have no 3rd-6th round picks this year! that would be a horrible trade for us no way do you give up 2 picks for this guy, but they must match in order for us to trade for him which doesn't make sense financially because it straps an even further strapped salary cap for Denver besides what the hell kind of GM would TB be if he has already told them what he will give them if they match, wtf is that???? the only benefit would be that we would get him for salary only which is a plus but 2 picks??? man I dont know about that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YJF Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Report has it that The Jets are willing to give up a 5th and a 6th for Putzier. Broncos want a 3rd or a 4th rounder. If that's true and it's on the table.I'll give them the 4th round pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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