Angel
03-23-2006, 06:30 AM
Broncos targeting McMahon
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
March 23, 2006
With their biggest off-season move in the books, the Denver Broncos have proceeded to their backup plan.
Mike McMahon, late of the Philadelphia Eagles, is scheduled to meet today with Broncos coaches at Dove Valley to discuss the possibility of becoming a No. 2 quarterback candidate behind starter Jake Plummer. McMahon, 27, is the second veteran QB to pique the staff's interest in the past couple of weeks, after a brief flirtation with Gus Frerotte, who instead signed with the St. Louis Rams.
Denver has competition for McMahon's services. The former Rutgers University standout was in Minnesota on Wednesday to meet with the Vikings. He spent the night in Minneapolis before his anticipated trip to Colorado this morning.
"These two teams are the most attractive to me," McMahon told Vikings reporters Wednesday.
The Vikings have begun contract talks with McMahon and plan to continue them this morning. They are hoping to prevent McMahon from making the trip to Denver.
McMahon has Minnesota ties: In 2005, he was the only free agent signed by Philadelphia, where new Vikings head coach Brad Childress was offensive coordinator. Also, the situation in Minnesota is more fluid and the opportunities for playing time possibly higher, given the recent trade of Daunte Culpepper and the installation of 38-year-old Brad Johnson as starter.
In Denver, Plummer has missed only four games in three seasons.
"He understands that," said McMahon's agent, Brian Mackler. "I just think he wants an opportunity to improve. And he believes both places afford him that opportunity."
McMahon is versed in the West Coast offense, and his mobility mirrors that of Plummer.
He also has more experience than current Broncos backup Bradlee Van Pelt. But, should McMahon sign, he likely will have to beat out Van Pelt in the preseason for the right to become Denver's first option off the bench.
The Eagles released McMahon on March 20 after signing Jeff Garcia to back up Donovan McNabb. Last season, McMahon was pressed into action in the final seven games after McNabb suffered a season-ending sports hernia, and he produced uneven results. McMahon completed only 94 of 207 passes with five touchdowns and eight interceptions, three of which were returned for scores.
ETC.: Denver officially announced its participation in a three-way deal with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets that landed the Broncos the 15th overall pick in the draft. Team officials still weren't commenting on the trade . . . The Broncos claimed defensive lineman Amon Gordon off waivers from Cleveland and released wide receiver Bill Flowers to make room. Gordon (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) missed the 2005 season because of a knee injury but appeared in six games in his rookie season, when current Denver defensive line coach Andre Patterson was in a similar capacity with the Browns . . . Linebacker Patrick Chukwurah, one of Denver's remaining free agents, visited with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday but left without signing a contract. Defensive tackle Monsanto Pope had the same scenario unfold as he completed his visit with Buffalo Bills officials . . . The three-year contract defensive end Kenard Lang signed with the Broncos included a $900,000 roster bonus and base salaries of $1 million (2006), $2 million (2007) and $1.7 million (2008). He also can earn $100,000 workout bonuses each season and an additional $1.2 million in each of the final two years in incentives.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_4563895,00.html
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
March 23, 2006
With their biggest off-season move in the books, the Denver Broncos have proceeded to their backup plan.
Mike McMahon, late of the Philadelphia Eagles, is scheduled to meet today with Broncos coaches at Dove Valley to discuss the possibility of becoming a No. 2 quarterback candidate behind starter Jake Plummer. McMahon, 27, is the second veteran QB to pique the staff's interest in the past couple of weeks, after a brief flirtation with Gus Frerotte, who instead signed with the St. Louis Rams.
Denver has competition for McMahon's services. The former Rutgers University standout was in Minnesota on Wednesday to meet with the Vikings. He spent the night in Minneapolis before his anticipated trip to Colorado this morning.
"These two teams are the most attractive to me," McMahon told Vikings reporters Wednesday.
The Vikings have begun contract talks with McMahon and plan to continue them this morning. They are hoping to prevent McMahon from making the trip to Denver.
McMahon has Minnesota ties: In 2005, he was the only free agent signed by Philadelphia, where new Vikings head coach Brad Childress was offensive coordinator. Also, the situation in Minnesota is more fluid and the opportunities for playing time possibly higher, given the recent trade of Daunte Culpepper and the installation of 38-year-old Brad Johnson as starter.
In Denver, Plummer has missed only four games in three seasons.
"He understands that," said McMahon's agent, Brian Mackler. "I just think he wants an opportunity to improve. And he believes both places afford him that opportunity."
McMahon is versed in the West Coast offense, and his mobility mirrors that of Plummer.
He also has more experience than current Broncos backup Bradlee Van Pelt. But, should McMahon sign, he likely will have to beat out Van Pelt in the preseason for the right to become Denver's first option off the bench.
The Eagles released McMahon on March 20 after signing Jeff Garcia to back up Donovan McNabb. Last season, McMahon was pressed into action in the final seven games after McNabb suffered a season-ending sports hernia, and he produced uneven results. McMahon completed only 94 of 207 passes with five touchdowns and eight interceptions, three of which were returned for scores.
ETC.: Denver officially announced its participation in a three-way deal with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets that landed the Broncos the 15th overall pick in the draft. Team officials still weren't commenting on the trade . . . The Broncos claimed defensive lineman Amon Gordon off waivers from Cleveland and released wide receiver Bill Flowers to make room. Gordon (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) missed the 2005 season because of a knee injury but appeared in six games in his rookie season, when current Denver defensive line coach Andre Patterson was in a similar capacity with the Browns . . . Linebacker Patrick Chukwurah, one of Denver's remaining free agents, visited with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday but left without signing a contract. Defensive tackle Monsanto Pope had the same scenario unfold as he completed his visit with Buffalo Bills officials . . . The three-year contract defensive end Kenard Lang signed with the Broncos included a $900,000 roster bonus and base salaries of $1 million (2006), $2 million (2007) and $1.7 million (2008). He also can earn $100,000 workout bonuses each season and an additional $1.2 million in each of the final two years in incentives.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_4563895,00.html