The roller-coaster ride that carried the Broncos to Super Bowl 50 last season didn’t end when the confetti rained down at Levi’s Stadium. The car only sped up. More loops were added. More twists on the field. And many more turns off the field.
The Broncos’ offseason has been a drama-packed four months, with parties fit for a million, high-profile exits and arrivals, new contracts, restructured contracts, legal run-ins, an ongoing quarterback saga, a meeting with the president, the absence of a Super Bowl MVP from team workouts, and, oh, yes, some really, really big rings.
“I think if you’re in this league and you’re in this business, you’re going to deal with distractions,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “That’s part of it. I think the key is that you deal with them openly and honestly with your players, but you keep working. … Remember, our team dealt with a lot to start the season last year.”
It certainly did. And certainly itap expected that some sort of drama, some level of controlled chaos, would ensue after a Super Bowl-winning season.
But the offseason of 2016 was a wild one:
THE EXODUS AND OVERHAUL
The biggest domino fell March 6, when Peyton Manning announced his retirement from the NFL. After one of the most tumultuous seasons in his career, the future Hall of Fame quarterback told a packed crowd of reporters and teammates: “There is just something about 18 years. Eighteen is a good number.”
For Malik Jackson, 90 million was a good number. The free-agent defensive end, expectedly, left for riches in Jacksonville. Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan left for about $24 million in Chicago.
The offensive line was transformed with veteran cuts, free-agent signings and the arrival of Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung.
And then there was Brock Osweiler, once deemed the Broncos’ quarterback of the future, who received a $72 million reward from the Texans for his seven starts with the Broncos in 2015. The move, arguably the most shocking in free agency, left the Broncos with a gaping hole at the most important position on the field. But looking back, general manager John Elway believes the move was decided long before free agency hit, when Osweiler was benched for Manning in the regular-season finale.
“I think that had something to do with where he was,” Elway said earlier this month. “But Houston wanted him that bad to go ahead and pay him a whole heck of a lot of money.”
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
Miami was willing to pay running back C.J. Anderson a whole heck of a lot of money. The Broncos initially used a low-round tender on Anderson, worth $1.67 million for one season. So the Dolphins capitalized by signing him to a four-year, $18 million offer sheet that the Broncos later matched. Denver seemingly underestimated Anderson’s market value, but the team’s financial situation changed drastically when Osweiler left.
While Anderson was given a healthy pay raise, outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware agreed to a restructured contract to lower his salary and cap hit for 2016.
And, on the final day of organized team activities last week, inside linebacker Brandon Marshall, a restricted free agent who attended workouts without signing his second-round tender, agreed to a four-year contract extension that includes $20 million guaranteed.
“For them to see me as an integral part of this team and of the defense, that’s huge,” Marshall said. “It speaks volumes. It means a lot to me that they believe in me because there are so many people that didn’t.”
THE QB SAGA
The Broncos traded for veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez, giving them a bit of insurance after losing Manning and Osweiler. But the search for a third quarterback continued. But the search for a third quarterback continued. Elway hosted Colin Kaepernick at least once at his home in an effort to sway the quarterback to restructure his contract and join the Broncos. Elway also kicked the tires on Sam Bradford, the Eagles’ disgruntled quarterback who signed a hefty two-year extension. But April 28, after hours of calling and negotiating while the NFL draft was going on, the hunt for QB No. 3 was settled when Elway traded up to snag Paxton Lynch in the first round. The Post-Peyton Trio was set, but the drama ensued on the practice field, where Sanchez and Trevor Siemian vaulted to 1A and 1B in OTAs.
“I think they’re looking each other right in the eye throughout the whole course of the offseason, as far who is ahead and who is one or two,” Kubiak said of Sanchez and Siemian. “I think those two guys are right there with each other. I think it’s a very competitive situation.”
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Less than a week after winning Super Bowl 50, safety Shiloh Keo was arrested on a DUI charge in his home state of Idaho. In late May, receiver Cody Latimer was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant. And in early June, cornerback Aqib Talib suffered a gunshot wound by an “unknown” suspect outside a Dallas nightclub. Although he’s expected to make a full recovery, the incident forced him to miss the team’s trip to the White House. Depending on his involvement, he could face legal ramifications and a suspension from the NFL.
PARTIES AND RINGS
The Dom Perignon was flowing June 12, when the 2015 Broncos reunited at Sports Authority Field to receive their “really big” rings and, for one last time, celebrate their Super Bowl run. Osweiler, who cited Houston’s OTAs as reason for not attending the White House trip, sat out this one too. But Von Miller attended, pushing aside acrimony over contract talks — at least for one night.
THE MILLER TALKS
Miller parlayed his Super Bowl MVP award into a grand media tour, with stops on talk shows and a spot on “Dancing With the Stars.” While holding out of the offseason program, Miller has said repeatedly that he wants to be a Bronco for life. He loves his teammates and he loves his coaches, he says. He does not, however, love that franchise tag or that six-year offer the Broncos handed him in early June that includes $38.5 million fully guaranteed at signing.
Naturally, he has voiced his angst over the contract negotiations via Instagram and Chelsea Handler’s show on Netflix.
The sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement. If not, Miller has to the play on the tag. or not at all. Until then, may the drama continue.
A WILD RIDE
A timeline of the Broncos’ drama-filled offseason:
Feb. 8: The morning after winning Super Bowl 50, Von Miller anticipates with the Broncos.
Feb. 9: Broncos and a million fans celebrate the victory with .
Feb. 13: Safety Shiloh Keo charge in Idaho.
March 6: Peyton Manning .
March 8: G Louis Vasquez, TE Owen Daniels and LS Aaron Brewer . DE Malik Jackson agrees to a six-year, with Jacksonville. Broncos reach with OT Donald Stephenson.
March 9: Brock Osweiler agrees to with Texans. Danny Trevathan agrees to with Bears.
March 11: Broncos trade for QB for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2017.
March 12: DeMarcus Ware .
March 15: Broncos match Dolphins’ for C.J. Anderson after initially placing a low-round tender on the RB.
March 17: Broncos sign Russell Okung to a that includes no guaranteed money up front.
March 31: Elway makes Colin Kaepernick the day his $11.9 million salary for 2016 became guaranteed.
April 6: Broncos agree to with DE Jared Crick.
April 9: Broncos and a seventh-round pick to the Jets for a fifth-round pick.
April 28: Broncos at No. 26 in the draft. The move ends the Broncos’ search for a third QB, but uncertainty over who will start continues.
May 30: Cody Latimer after a domestic dispute.
June 5: Aqib Talib in Dallas.
June 6: Broncos without Talib (gunshot) and Osweiler (cited Texans’ OTAs). Von Miller joined, though.
June 7: Minicamp opens with , Trevor Siemian going No. 2 and Paxton Lynch No. 3.
June 10: . Miller crops John Elway out of a photo from their White House visit, a sign of his displeasure with contract negotiations.
June 12: Broncos in a private ceremony. Everyone but ,” that is.
June 14: ILB Brandon Marshall agrees to that includes $20 million guaranteed.
June 15: Broncos end OTAs. Miller tells Chelsea Handler he .
June 16: Via Instagram, Miller says there’s “” he plays on the franchise tag.
