Quietly, slowly, but steadily, the Broncos are clearing salary cap room in anticipation of the ever-moving target that is the opening of the NFL free- agent buying season.
While the owners were discussing, if not debating, the merits of local revenue sharing at their day-and-night meeting Tuesday near Dallas, the Broncos finalized a newly restructured contract for defensive end Courtney Brown that will provide the team $2 million to $3 million in badly needed cap space.
Brown’s old deal would have counted $4.6 million against the salary cap for the 2006 season. By backloading a considerable amount of money that had been due this season, the Broncos are approaching $5 million of spending leeway from the NFL’s current salary cap of $94.5 million.
More spending power could be forthcoming. There have been reports that if the owners solve their internal disagreements regarding local revenues and reach a compromise with the players union on a collective bargaining extension, the 2006 salary cap could be lifted to about $105 million.
Somewhere, wide receiver Terrell Owens is doing sit-ups.
If the Broncos acquire a few marquee players who figure to be available via free agency or trade – such as Owens, defensive end John Abraham, running back Edgerrin James or running back Jamal Lewis – Brown can say he did his part.
Although a string of injuries has prevented Brown from reaching the level expected of the No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft, he seemed to fit well with the Broncos’ athletically designed front four last season.
This is the second consecutive year Brown took less money to stay with the Broncos. Cut loose by the Cleveland Browns before the 2005 season, Brown drew the interest of several clubs during free agency. He had a more lucrative offer from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Washington Redskins at least matched the Broncos’ proposal, but he chose Denver in large part because his family felt more comfortable here.
The Broncos announced Brown’s new contract as an extension through 2009.
“Courtney came to our team last season and helped solidify a defensive front that clearly became a strength of our football team,” Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said in a statement.
The next question is, when do the Broncos get to start spending some of that money Brown saved them? There is a decent chance the start of the free- agent signing period, already delayed twice as labor negotiations became entangled, could be pushed back again.
The deadline for teams to adhere to the league’s salary cap figure, whatever it may be, is 7 p.m. MST tonight with free agency set to open at 10 p.m. To meet those deadlines, however, the owners will have to start talking faster.
During their meeting Tuesday, the owners heard commissioner Paul Tagliabue present the latest proposal from the union. A vote on the union’s proposal, which calls for players receiving 59.5 percent of revenues that include locally generated funds, may come today.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
