The numbers are in on new offensive lineman Casey Wiegmann. Keeping with the Broncos’ budget-tightening ways, the exchange of Wiegmann for Chris Myers as a top reserve did save the team money.
To keep the restricted free-agent Myers, 26, the Broncos in hindsight likely would have needed to slap him with a second-round tender and $1.41 million salary. Instead, the team gave Myers only a sixth-round tender and he was snatched away last week by the Texans, who immediately made him their starting center.
To fill Myers’ role, the Broncos gave Wiegmann, 34, a $300,000 signing bonus, an $830,000 salary for 2008 and a $100,000 workout bonus. Add it up, and the Broncos are likely to pay $1.23 million to Wiegmann this season, or $180,000 less than what they would have paid Myers as a second-round tender.
