Angel
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,261
- Reaction score
- 1
Report: Lelie wins financial dispute with Broncos
DENVER (AP) The Denver Broncos must pay $220,000 to former receiver Ashley Lelie as part of their dispute over his ugly departure to Atlanta, The Denver Post reported Friday on its Website.
The newspaper said an arbitrator has ruled in favor of Lelie in his grievance against the team. Broncos officials declined comment at practice and Lelie's agent, Peter Schaffer, did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.
Lelie, who led the league in yards per catch the last two seasons, skipped the Broncos' offseason workout program, forgoing a $100,000 bonus. He said he wanted out of Denver because the Broncos were misusing him and weren't giving him the chance to be the featured pass-catcher with Rod Smith and Javon Walker on them roster.
He was sent to Atlanta as part of a three-way trade with Washington in August. At the time, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Lelie had agreed
to pay Denver a "hefty amount" to get out of the final year of his contract. The amount was believed to be somewhere around $1 million, made up of fines, lost bonuses and a prorated portion of his $3.3 million signing bonus.
Lelie argued he was forced into signing a document giving up some of the money. "It feels good to have that money back in my pocket," Lelie told the Post after the Falcons' practice Friday. "To lose that much money, cash, after taxes, is kind of tough, so it feels good to have that back in my pocket." The case isn't over. The Broncos also have a grievance that will be heard in coming weeks.
"I'm not out of the woods yet," Lelie said. "Most importantly, I've got to concentrate on football. Hopefully, my
agent and attorney will help me out with the rest."
Shanahan has said Lelie would have been better off competing for the top receiving spot in Denver, where Smith is now in his 12th season and Walker has put a severe knee injury behind him to become a star for the Broncos.
Asked at Lelie on Friday, Shanahan declined comment: "I've got more important things to talk about than that."
http://www.theredzone.org/news/showarticle.asp?ArticleID=4612
DENVER (AP) The Denver Broncos must pay $220,000 to former receiver Ashley Lelie as part of their dispute over his ugly departure to Atlanta, The Denver Post reported Friday on its Website.
The newspaper said an arbitrator has ruled in favor of Lelie in his grievance against the team. Broncos officials declined comment at practice and Lelie's agent, Peter Schaffer, did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.
Lelie, who led the league in yards per catch the last two seasons, skipped the Broncos' offseason workout program, forgoing a $100,000 bonus. He said he wanted out of Denver because the Broncos were misusing him and weren't giving him the chance to be the featured pass-catcher with Rod Smith and Javon Walker on them roster.
He was sent to Atlanta as part of a three-way trade with Washington in August. At the time, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Lelie had agreed
to pay Denver a "hefty amount" to get out of the final year of his contract. The amount was believed to be somewhere around $1 million, made up of fines, lost bonuses and a prorated portion of his $3.3 million signing bonus.
Lelie argued he was forced into signing a document giving up some of the money. "It feels good to have that money back in my pocket," Lelie told the Post after the Falcons' practice Friday. "To lose that much money, cash, after taxes, is kind of tough, so it feels good to have that back in my pocket." The case isn't over. The Broncos also have a grievance that will be heard in coming weeks.
"I'm not out of the woods yet," Lelie said. "Most importantly, I've got to concentrate on football. Hopefully, my
agent and attorney will help me out with the rest."
Shanahan has said Lelie would have been better off competing for the top receiving spot in Denver, where Smith is now in his 12th season and Walker has put a severe knee injury behind him to become a star for the Broncos.
Asked at Lelie on Friday, Shanahan declined comment: "I've got more important things to talk about than that."
http://www.theredzone.org/news/showarticle.asp?ArticleID=4612