There can be no misunderstanding. Nothing in sports may be more indiscriminate than the NFL salary cap.
Regardless of position or status, rare is the player who doesn’t one day become a cap victim.
The cap sacked veteran Broncos defensive line stalwart Trevor Pryce on Wednesday, along with Mike Anderson, the team’s leading rusher last season, and tight end Jeb Putzier.
They essentially were released to free agency to comply with the NFL salary cap, set Wednesday at $94.53 million.
Pryce has been a standout since the Broncos won their first Super Bowl in the 1997 season.
Anderson rushed for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie in 2000, and made an inspired comeback from injury last season to rush for 1,014 yards.
Putzier was the Broncos’ third-leading receiver the past two seasons, making a combined 73 catches for an impressive 14.4 yards per reception.
One Bronco who likely won’t be cut is Courtney Brown. The Broncos were closing in Wednesday on finalizing a restructured deal that would keep the veteran defensive end around for at least another year.
Broncos general manager Ted Sund- quist said it was not the breakdown in the league’s attempt to extend its collective bargaining agreement that terminated the team’s association with Pryce and Anderson, but the players’ unwillingness to accept a pay cut and restructure their contracts.
“They were willing to listen to us with regards to making some kind of cap room, but not a reduction,” Sundquist said. “The problem with that is extension or no extension, that did not work with us trying to put the team together going into ’06. It didn’t fit.”
Entering Wednesday, the Broncos were $13.866 million over the cap. The combined cap savings on Pryce ($8.534 million), Anderson ($2.55 million) and Putzier ($3.9 million) was $14.984 million.
Problem solved, if at a heavy, ahem, Pryce.
Denver is expected to gain more cap room today when a restructured contract for offensive tackle Matt Lepsis is finalized. That still leaves the Broncos with only a few million dollars to play with as they prepare for the free-agent signing period that opens Friday and the NFL draft in April, when they will have two first-round picks.
As for Pryce, Anderson and Putzier, don’t expect them to return to the Broncos at a reduced rate.
“Of course we’d love to stay, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen,” Putzier said. “I was watching this very closely and me getting cut kind of made sense, so it’s hard to be frustrated today. The hardest thing is my wife and I have met so many friends here and in the organization. It’s not just my teammates. It’s guys in the video department, equipment department, the trainers. There’s so many people around here that make it such a great organization.”
Pryce declined comment. His wife said he needed more time. Anderson could not be reached for comment.
“This is not a situation they asked for,” said Peter Schaffer, the agent for Pryce and Anderson. “It’s out of their control, and therefore we’ll find them new homes. The phone has been ringing off the hook today. Trevor clearly goes to the top of the available free agents in the NFL. … I’ve already got a bunch of good offers.”
The moves Wednesday made one thing certain: The 2006 Broncos will be different from the ones who finished their 2005 season in the AFC championship game.
“I’m shocked,” said Broncos running back Tatum Bell, who shared ball-carrying duties with Anderson this past season. “I can’t believe we cut Trevor. Well, we’ve been hearing it could happen, so maybe it wasn’t a complete shock, but Mike? I never expected Mike.”
Pryce had 13 sacks in 1999 and 12 in 2000, then totaled 28 1/2 sacks from 2001-05. He missed most of the 2004 season because of a back injury. Essentially, the Broncos put greater value on keeping defensive tackle Gerard Warren, who is expected to re-sign, than Pryce.
Anderson turns 33 in September, and the Broncos did not think he could remain a No. 1 tailback for another season.
Considering Putzier is among the NFL’s most gifted receivers at tight end, it’s obvious the Broncos didn’t think much of his blocking. And in the Broncos’ run-first system, receivers who can’t block don’t play.
Putzier’s agent, Joe Linta, said the Broncos could have restructured Putzier’s cap number to $1.4 million and kept him, instead of getting charged $800,000 by releasing him.
“Obviously there was some resentment from the team toward Jeb for them not to try to come back to us and try to redo his contract at a lesser amount,” Linta said. “But in the NFL scope of things, they are allowed to do that.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
