Upon further review
The contract extension Elvis Dumervil signed before the start of training camp does indeed protect him against injury beginning with this upcoming season.
There was discussion online and elsewhere around the league Thursday when the news of Dumervil’s injury surfaced and that the $43 million or so worth of injury guarantees built into the deal didn’t kick in until next season.
The talk went that the Broncos could wait, if they wanted to take a hard line, until Dumervil was recovered from his impending surgery to re-attach his pectoral tendon, and release him early in 2011 to avoid paying him the guaranteed money in the deal.
However, further discussion and review into all the nuances of the deal with people who have seen the paperwork have revealed Dumervil is indeed covered this season.
The Broncos have signed on the dotted line to pay out if Dumervil misses a season, like he might in 2010, because of injury.
In the end, a lot of discussion was moot, Broncos officials privately said, because Dumervil is a player they covet, the kind of guy they want in the locker room — plus his injury is not career-threatening.
Dumervil was in San Francisco Friday visiting with orthopedist Dr. Michael Dillingham, who is part of the medical team for both the San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Giants, to get a second opinion on his injury.
The Broncos’ medical staff has recommended surgery and Dumervil could have that surgery as soon as this weekend, once he returns from California.
But the effect of Dumervil’s injury has certainly rippled down the depth chart. Jarvis Moss, who was next in line at Dumervil’s outside linebacker spot, fractured a bone in his hand during Friday’s morning practice.
He will likely miss at least two weeks of practice time after having surgery to repair the fracture — usually with screws or plates — before returning to the practice field with some kind of cast over his hand.
Brian Dawkins practiced with a similar cast on a fractured hand in last year’s training camp.
The injuries have put Akin Ayodele, a nine-year veteran, into the mix. Ayodele was a late signing by the Broncos in free agency, but he knows his way around.
He has started at least 11 games in each of the last seven seasons and started 16 in three of those years — and 15 in one of those years.
He doesn’t have Dumervil’s pass-rush skills when he plays on the outside — few players do — but he is a reliable player, can get lined up and has the instincts to make plays from the weak side.
The Broncos have also lined him up at inside linebacker as well, which then moves Mario Haggan back to an outside linebacker spot, where he played last season.
The Broncos will also go to a few more 4-3 looks at times in Dumervil’s absence, especially on rundowns, when they can put both Ronald Fields and Jamal Williams into the middle of their defense at the same time.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
