Indianapolis – After bypassing the costly security of sticking the franchise tag on one of their top two free agents by Thursday’s deadline, the Broncos have a week to secure offensive tackle Matt Lepsis and defensive tackle Gerard Warren before they are set loose on the open market.
Perhaps that’s why Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist and Mike Bluem, the team’s director of football administration, zipped through downtown on the way to their first substantial face-to-face negotiations to retain Warren this offseason. The team met Thursday night with Warren’s agent, Joel Segal.
Sundquist didn’t have a scheduled meeting with Lepsis’ agent, Ethan Lock, but said he expected to meet with Lock as soon as today. Sundquist said Thursday night he hoped to get contracts completed with both players this weekend during the NFL scouting combine.
Sundquist said previous preliminary talks with Segal about Warren were productive.
“I think we can get something done,” Sundquist said.
Last year at the combine, initial trade talks with Cleveland to acquire Warren were initiated and Lepsis agreed to a restructured contract.
The free-agent period in the NFL begins March 3. The deadline to designate players as franchise or transition players – guaranteeing a large salary but also guaranteeing the player won’t leave – was Thursday.
After trying to reach contract agreements with Warren and Lepsis this weekend, Denver is likely to focus on restructuring the contracts of defensive ends Trevor Pryce and Courtney Brown along with the deal of running back Mike Anderson.
Chosen for China?
There have been league discussions about sending the Broncos to Beijing to play a preseason game in 2007. A potential opponent is Philadelphia. Talks still are in the preliminary stage.
No talk about T.O.
Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for receiver Terrell Owens, declined to comment on the potential for Owens to play for the Broncos or any other team.
The Owens issue could heat up soon. Philadelphia is expected to trade or release Owens before his roster bonus is due March 5. Owens and Rosenhaus met with Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on Jan. 30.
Williams pleads guilty
Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired in Arapahoe County Court on Wednesday, said Kathleen Walsh, spokeswoman for the 18th Judicial District.
Williams originally was cited Sept. 23 at C-470 and University Boulevard. He was sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation, 24 hours of community service, to attend a victim impact panel put on by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, plus court costs and fines.
NFL players convicted of alcohol-related driving offenses are entered in the league’s substance abuse program and are subject to suspension for multiple convictions.
Footnotes
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is in Indianapolis until Saturday, negotiating for the NFL with the players’ union in an attempt to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. The sides are meeting daily, trying to beat the beginning of the free-agent period. Free agency may be pushed back because of the negotiations. … Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer is scheduled to arrive at the combine today. He is recovering from a medical procedure designed to give him relief from his back problems. … San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said Denver assistant trainer Scott Trulock is one of three finalists to be the 49ers’ head trainer. … Colorado’s John Torp, a punter, said he has met with Cleveland and Chicago at the combine. … Former Denver defensive lineman Mike Lodish is an agent working the combine.
Staff writer Jim Kirksey contributed to this report.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
