Phoenix – Mike Shanahan is preparing for his 13th NFL season as the Broncos’ coach, and there is a strong chance there will be several more as he and the team work toward a contract extension.
So, Coach, just how long will you be in Denver?
“We’ll see. I’m just trying to get through this upcoming year without getting fired,” Shanahan said jokingly. “But we are talking about it.”
If there are no snags, the extension could be ironed out in the next week. Shanahan has two years remaining on his contract and is one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL. An extension would continue to keep him in that territory.
Owner Pat Bowlen twice has extended Shanahan’s contract. Sunday, Bowlen said talks were “progressing well.”
Lelie wins appeal
The Broncos lost an appeal Monday of a grievance won by receiver Ashley Lelie. United States District Court Judge David Doty of Minneapolis made the ruling.
“We are pleased for Ashley and other players that this ruling could help in the future,” NFL Players Association general counsel Richard Berthelsen said.
The appeal was more about the precedent the ruling set than the money the Broncos owed Lelie. The Lelie ruling changes the forfeiture provisions on option bonuses and gives teams much less protection in those contracts. Most contracts of first-round picks are based heavily on option bonuses, so the ruling was not popular in the league. Teams may have to adjust rookie deals beginning this year.
A special master ruled Nov. 16 that the Broncos would have to repay Lelie – who was traded to Atlanta in a three-way deal with Washington in August – $220,000 in option bonus money.
Denver has its own grievance against Lelie. It is based on signing bonus money and fine money Lelie amassed while holding out from training camp before he was traded.
Wilkinson update
The Broncos’ trade for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson is apparently close to being voided. If that happens, the Dolphins are expected to put him on the reserve/retired list. Wilkinson would then owe Miami more than $300,000, unless he returns to the team.
Denver agreed to send Miami a sixth-round pick March 3 for the run stuffer. But Wilkinson has not showed up and a deadline for him to pass a physical was extended until Friday.
Miami general manager Randy Mueller said he hasn’t been in touch with Denver on the situation and said the outcome is between the Broncos and Wilkinson.
Wilkinson has expressed concern with a knee problem. However, Wilkinson was healthy when the season ended.
Footnotes
The Broncos and Peter Schaffer, the agent for linebacker Al Wilson, are expected to talk later in the week about Wilson’s status. … While the Broncos would like to open the regular season at home for the first time in three years, television scheduling may make it tough. It appears the only way Denver opens at home is with an NFC opponent, Green Bay or Minnesota. The schedule is expected to be released in early April. The Broncos will not play in a Thanksgiving Day game for the first time since 2004. … Center Tom Nalen had a fine reduced on appeal from $25,000 to $15,000. Nalen was fined after a scrap with San Diego’s Igor Olshansky on Nov. 19. … The Broncos weren’t one of 16 teams to get one of 32 compensatory draft picks. The picks are based on free agents lost from the previous year.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
