Broncos hosting Freeney, Abraham on Thursday

Douglas Lee Mar 20, 2013 4:17 PM

According to ESPN's Ed Werder and Adam Schefter, the Broncos are set to host Colts DE Dwight Freeney and Falcons DE John Abraham on Thursday.

Abraham has been characterized in recent days as Denver's fallback to re-signing Elvis Dumervil, with Freeney the next contingency.

John Elway announced yesterday that the team had presented an offer to Dumervil, but as we'd expected, it was apparently a lesser proposal than the one verbally agreed to by the two sides on Friday.

To that end, Klis writes today:

Elvis Dumervil underwhelmed by Broncos' latest three-year offer, according to two sources. He's planning to visit teams in next 48 hours.
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 20, 2013

This may get ugly at some point, and we wouldn't be surprised to see Elvis end up somewhere else on a one-year show-me deal...

Updated 4:22pm ET

Doug is IAOFM’s resident newsman and spelling czar. Follow him on Twitter @IAOFM

Why because someone is a dummy and can not follow the rules?

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-03-21 12:50:08

I was referring to the FUBAR word :)

Posted by Brian M. Jacobson on 2013-03-21 11:58:25

Doc, I agree that they are probably one and done in free agency. Of course, it's possible that they anticipate a guy like Ihenacho stepping up. I don't think they waste time developing players that they don't think have a legitimate chance one day. I haven't looked that closely at rush DEs in this draft because until a few days ago I didn't think we need one! I am also really worried about the OT depth. I also think that they need a backup SLB in case Von goes down. Stewart Bradley may be the man. He played SLB all four years at Nebraska. Overall, it sounds like you are hoping for Kawann Short or Sylvester Williams in the first round.

Posted by Broncos777 on 2013-03-21 11:55:58

Ok that is correct. Been a lot of years since I saw that.

But the concept is correct.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-03-20 22:31:19

I'm pretty impressed with Jones too...I think that two factors come in. One, Adams is a great teacher - we get caught up in stats at times and lose the other factors for or against a player. Mike's going to start next year unless Denver actually lets Carter play. They might get the charges plead way down as bradley, who's an attorney, believes. They might also get Carter's mess continued until next offseason - it happens. Either way, Adams was a good mentor for Moore and is expected to play. Carter did well for a rookie, tossed in w/o OTAs or camps. He might also be the answer, just still in development (if he stops acting so damned stupid). The FO only knows, but how they see that matters a lot.

Second - they have to be close to out of money, if not already there after this deal. We hear figures, but don't always know the cash vs cap accounting that Doug and Ted seem to have down. Adams had 2 million guaranteed - I don't know how much that would set Denver back, if anything, if they let him go. I don't see Adams as the difference in making or not making the Championship, either way, though. Rush DE they need right now. Since neither Freeney nor Abraham is young, when do you draft him?

A higher choice DE would likely be necessary IF they go that route. This could be a long article (which I can't do at this point) but one thing stood out as I did due diligence on the DEs, though - there's not a great crop as far as rush production. I do like Jones and Carradine, but most of those who are rusher seem destined for 3-4 systems. That doesn't mean they can't produce in Denver's scheme, just that scarcity can create less value, since you often reach on them. I'd rather go with a top safety and/or DT (and I always want an OT - it's Clark as the potential backup that scares me). If this means that Denver needs to find its DE next year, so be it. btw - David Bass could be a sleeper if he can make the leap.

Since it's a deep safety class there will be talent over the first 4 rounds, but it's highest at the top, as always. If Denver has any concerns with Carter, I think that safety becomes a true need. DT lacks a true rushing undertackle. I'd probably go with those first.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-03-20 22:14:13

Hmm - good question, Kell. I'd have to know the cap hit if Denver were to do it and I'd do the draft choice regardless, but that might affect whether I use that 1st pick on him or not. If I could have Woodson at the same money I'd take him over Adams on general principles but I think the FA money is gone after this DE deal, whoever it ends up being.

Draft is very deep - Vaccaro, Elam, Cyprien, Phillips of Fresno St., Bacarri Rambo, FSU's LaMarcus Joyner, Shawn Williams of Georgia (SS)...I liked what I saw from Shamarko Thomas, too. Very good year to find that missing SS.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-03-20 21:30:30

Wouldn't be surprised if we land someone like Duke williams from Nevada and he makes Adams expendable.

Posted by Orange_and_Blue on 2013-03-20 21:19:40

Forrest Gump: "Stupid is as stupid does."

Posted by Alaskan on 2013-03-20 21:13:19

Thanks Doc! Nice article today. Too busy to comment. Seems like they could also do it the other way... sign a safety and draft a DE. My concern about safety is that it seems like it takes at least a year to train them. Moore sat a year, and I think Pitt sat Polamalu a year. Elam and Cyprien do look good. Maybe Williams from Georgia later on. DEs seem to make an impact sooner, and a player like Datone Jones would sure look good in a Broncos uniform too.

Posted by Broncos777 on 2013-03-20 21:09:50

Doc, would you take Rhodes, Woodson, or Bush over Adams?

Posted by Kell_C on 2013-03-20 20:36:14

B777, my only comment is that safety is very deep in this year's draft. I'd rather see Denver draft well and develop the player in house. FA money has mostly been used - after they get a pass rusher, I don't expect to see anything else done.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-03-20 20:31:24

"dumb is as dumb does" IIRC is Forrrest Gump..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-03-20 20:21:55

how hard is it for a regime to get rid of a still productive fan favorite? see this saga. It never plays out well.

The offer Doom would have accepted was only going to be a one year deal in the end. It's best for all sides this ends up with each going their separate ways. I hope Doom goes somewhere and gets paid. I hope Denver signs Freeney and he gives us 13 sacks next yr.

Posted by Orange_and_Blue on 2013-03-20 19:48:24

It is a little off of topic of Elvis, but I didn't get this into the Lard earlier today. I haven't noticed anyone mention Safety Kerry Rhodes as a possible target for Denver. I was thinking that he might make sense. Despite Moore's big mistake, he does look to have a promising future, but next to him is an aging Adams who was 9th worst in the league in first downs and touchdowns allowed, Quinton Carter just got arrested and is coming off of an injury, and Ihenacho and Gideon are unknowns to us fans anyway. Rhodes is going to be 31 and supposedly coming off of an excellent year. I read one review that said he was better than Adrian Wilson who signed with the Pats. Anyway, I am interested in what the staff or anyone else has to say.

Posted by Broncos777 on 2013-03-20 19:17:22

I think the whole situation is just one of those things that happens - it's too bad.

I wouldn't be surprised if Dumervil told his (previous) agent well before the Broncos' deadline that he wanted to take the deal, but the agent tried to bluff the Broncos to see if he could get more money. He then accepted it too late to get all the details worked out properly.

From that point, Denver couldn't offer the same deal because of the cap hit they're taking from cutting him, and Dumervil doesn't want to take less than he accepted before. Nobody wins here.

Posted by billyricky on 2013-03-20 19:09:26

Very funny.

Posted by billyricky on 2013-03-20 19:02:05

RWC:

I'm with you. If you put the fax stuff aside for a moment, I can see Elvis not wanting the cut, yet the Broncos needing the cut. I can also see why he would want to shop it. In short, I can still appreciate Doom and his career as a Broncos and be comfortable with him walking away given his feeling about his market value.

Adding the fax stuff complicates the issue of course, but in general, I don't think the curb kicking has as much to do with disliking Dumervil as it does simply an acceptance that the circumstances are less than ideal for the Broncos taking the hit to the cap. It's essentially irritating.

Posted by TJ Johnson on 2013-03-20 18:28:43

I'd like to know what the offer to Elvis was.

Posted by Chad Jensen on 2013-03-20 18:27:23

I don't know why everyone is so quick to kick Elvis to the curb. The fax fiasco aside, Doom has been an ultra-productive pass rusher for years. He knows the system and he's years younger than the alternatives.

Put yourself in his shoes. You've just accepted a $4M pay cut, only to find out the deal didn't go through. Now, the same team that forced asked you to come back for $8M is probably asking you to resign for $4M. Wouldn't you want to shop around?

My (gut) feeling is that if the Broncos waited him out another three or four days, they could bring him back at their price. As it is, they may end up spending a good chunk of change on a pass-rusher who likely won't produce as well as they (or Doom) have in the past.

With Charles Woodson garnering little interest, and Ed Reed clearly not impressed by the Texans' offer, I'd rather they spent that money on a stop-gap safety, not an aging DE.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-03-20 18:09:08

Elvis has left the building...for good

Posted by babsonjr on 2013-03-20 17:59:52

good one :)

Posted by EttoreBugatti on 2013-03-20 17:42:52

Hopefully they will bring us as much production as Simeon Rice did!

Posted by NateDogg911 on 2013-03-20 17:38:11

Tango and Cash reference FTW!

Posted by Brian M. Jacobson on 2013-03-20 17:37:16

The NFLPA needs to sue the NFL

Posted by BRASO on 2013-03-20 17:34:59

Dumervil, BUH BYE.

Posted by Joshua Graham on 2013-03-20 17:25:56

he needs to sue his agent, not the broncos, sad, in this day and age of technology you cant fax a letter better than that.

Posted by EttoreBugatti on 2013-03-20 17:23:56

agreed

Posted by EttoreBugatti on 2013-03-20 17:23:12

This is really interesting. I still think Freeney is the best option. Just being a long time colts fan (well, Manning fan more), but Freeney is going to play with a chip on his shoulder. i live here in Atlanta and Abraham was good, no doubt, but the system helped him some as well. Hard to say, but from what I heard on the offer, why cant we get both for what we would have paid Dumervil. I would love to see the Broncos win 1-2 more for Peyton and what a defense that would be if we can add a safety in the draft, and add a road mauler for a RB, holy cow

Posted by EttoreBugatti on 2013-03-20 17:22:56

Let him walk!

Posted by akatom3565 on 2013-03-20 17:22:03

next man is right. To think he commands that kind of money when the market just isnt there, not good and he needs to sue his agent, not the Broncos, not their fault and he showed that when he fired his agent. Its almost like the marriage is over and its time to let it go. Lets get both Freeney and Abraham for the price of one Doom and then see that defense. WOW

Posted by Tim Johns on 2013-03-20 17:18:15

THUMBS UP on this one..

they were willing to let him walk he called their bluff and they cut him, costing them close to 5 mil in this years cap money..

only a Nimrod would think they would be offering him the same deal that DOOM left on the table when he FUBARED time deadline..

time is money and this time it cost him at least 3 million.. whether it was from us or someone else.. Dumb is as Dumb does..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-03-20 16:57:43

Wonder how bad he will feel about the Broncos when he finally signs with some loser for less than Elway offered...pretty clear Elvis isn't listening to the market, my guess: It will cost him millions...hell, it already has. Next man up...

Posted by denverkewl on 2013-03-20 16:57:03

Let the lawsuits begin!!!

Posted by BRASO on 2013-03-20 16:39:06

Still don't understand why everyone was acting like they would be offering him a 3 year, $30M deal. They were trying to get his number down and clearly were planning on cutting him next year because they wouldn't guarantee any money past this season. Now with the dead $5M why would they offer him anything close to the $8M they were offering him previously?

Posted by Bronco_JJ on 2013-03-20 16:23:05

Broncos hosting Freeney, Abraham on Thursday

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