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Still no contracts for Broncos' draft class
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
July 22, 2006
With only five days until players report for training camp, the Broncos have not signed any of their seven-member draft class to contracts.
But they hardly are alone. While there are exceptions such as the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles (who reported to camp Thursday) and Tennessee Titans who have most of their picks signed, the pace of things leaguewide has been slow.
According to documents filed to the NFL Players Association and the NFL before Thursday, only 12 first-day draft picks - Rounds 1 through 3 - had signed deals. Former North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, who was selected No. 1 by the Texans and signed before the draft, is the only first-rounder under contract.
Overall, before the start of business Friday, 86 draftees had signed deals. Agents around the league say it is as much a result of the new collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement, which pushed the salary cap to $102.5 million this season, resulted in roughly a 17 percent to 19 percent increase in base salaries across the board, but the "rookie pool" - total money allotted each team for picks - only increased about 5 percent, according to several agents and team cap managers contacted this week.
For example, the minimum salary for rookies went from $230,000 in 2005 to $275,000 in 2006. That means less cap space is available for signing bonuses - the upfront guaranteed money to the player - and that has made things more complicated in getting rookie deals done.
The Broncos also are known to have asked their middle- and late-round picks for at least four-year deals, and the majority of those deals leaguewide are usually for three years. That also has slowed things some.
PERSONNEL MOVES: In the wake of departures by assistant general manager Rick Smith and scout Dale Strahm to the Texans earlier during the offseason, the Broncos have reshuffled things some in their personnel department.
Pro personnel scout Chris Truelove, who is set to enter his 13th year with the team, has been promoted and will have his responsibilities increase as he assumes many of Smith's pro personnel duties.
Jeff Goodman, son of Broncos' director of player personnel Jim Goodman, will replace Strahm, scouting the Southeast, including the Carolinas.
Cal McCombs, who was the coach at Virginia Military Institute for seven years before being relieved of his duties in November, will scout the Northeast for the Broncos, replacing Dan Rambo.
McCombs also formerly was an assistant at the Air Force Academy for 15 years.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS: A limited number of single-game tickets will go on sale July 29.
The total includes mostly singles - one seat without an open seat next to it - but seats in all price ranges are available, including some half-price tickets. There is a limit of four tickets per household per game.
Full-price tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. July 29, while half-price tickets go on sale at 1 p.m. the same day.
Full-price tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, area Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 303-830-8497 or at the Invesco Field at Mile High box office.
Broncos officials, though, have recommended that fans use the Internet or phone options to avoid lines at the stadium.
No lines will be allowed to form at the stadium until 90 minutes before the sale begins, then numbers will be drawn to set the order of the line.
The 2,000 half-price tickets are available through Ticket master.com or by phone at 303-830-8497.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_4863144,00.html
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
July 22, 2006
With only five days until players report for training camp, the Broncos have not signed any of their seven-member draft class to contracts.
But they hardly are alone. While there are exceptions such as the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles (who reported to camp Thursday) and Tennessee Titans who have most of their picks signed, the pace of things leaguewide has been slow.
According to documents filed to the NFL Players Association and the NFL before Thursday, only 12 first-day draft picks - Rounds 1 through 3 - had signed deals. Former North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, who was selected No. 1 by the Texans and signed before the draft, is the only first-rounder under contract.
Overall, before the start of business Friday, 86 draftees had signed deals. Agents around the league say it is as much a result of the new collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement, which pushed the salary cap to $102.5 million this season, resulted in roughly a 17 percent to 19 percent increase in base salaries across the board, but the "rookie pool" - total money allotted each team for picks - only increased about 5 percent, according to several agents and team cap managers contacted this week.
For example, the minimum salary for rookies went from $230,000 in 2005 to $275,000 in 2006. That means less cap space is available for signing bonuses - the upfront guaranteed money to the player - and that has made things more complicated in getting rookie deals done.
The Broncos also are known to have asked their middle- and late-round picks for at least four-year deals, and the majority of those deals leaguewide are usually for three years. That also has slowed things some.
PERSONNEL MOVES: In the wake of departures by assistant general manager Rick Smith and scout Dale Strahm to the Texans earlier during the offseason, the Broncos have reshuffled things some in their personnel department.
Pro personnel scout Chris Truelove, who is set to enter his 13th year with the team, has been promoted and will have his responsibilities increase as he assumes many of Smith's pro personnel duties.
Jeff Goodman, son of Broncos' director of player personnel Jim Goodman, will replace Strahm, scouting the Southeast, including the Carolinas.
Cal McCombs, who was the coach at Virginia Military Institute for seven years before being relieved of his duties in November, will scout the Northeast for the Broncos, replacing Dan Rambo.
McCombs also formerly was an assistant at the Air Force Academy for 15 years.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS: A limited number of single-game tickets will go on sale July 29.
The total includes mostly singles - one seat without an open seat next to it - but seats in all price ranges are available, including some half-price tickets. There is a limit of four tickets per household per game.
Full-price tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. July 29, while half-price tickets go on sale at 1 p.m. the same day.
Full-price tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, area Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 303-830-8497 or at the Invesco Field at Mile High box office.
Broncos officials, though, have recommended that fans use the Internet or phone options to avoid lines at the stadium.
No lines will be allowed to form at the stadium until 90 minutes before the sale begins, then numbers will be drawn to set the order of the line.
The 2,000 half-price tickets are available through Ticket master.com or by phone at 303-830-8497.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_4863144,00.html