With Broncos’ contingent watching, Phillip Lindsay stars in CU’s Pro Day By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 8, 2018

Phillip Lindsay burst from the white line and flew upfield, his arms swinging by his side, his cheeks puffing and braids bouncing as the eyes of dozens of NFL scouts followed his path to the finish.

Standing alongside the middle of his runway inside the University of Colorado’s indoor practice facility was a Broncos contingent that included general manager , senior personnel advisers Gary Kubiak and Matt Russell and coach Vance Joseph.

As Lindsay whisked by in a blur, the four glanced at one another and smiled coyly while a chorus of “oohs” and round of applause erupted from the cluster of fans and teammates behind them. Lindsay, the smallest player on the field at 5-foot-7, had just recorded a 4.39-second 40-yard dash — a follow to his 35 1/2-inch vertical leap, 14 reps on the 225-pound bench press and 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump.

Wednesday afternoon at CU’s pro day, the group of Broncos evaluators and the crowd watching alongside them received a lesson many have learned over the past four years during Lindsay’s record- setting run with the Buffs.

They saw what Lindsay had hoped to show the nation at the NFL scouting combine last week in Indianapolis.

The kid has speed (his 40 time would have ranked second among all running backs at the combine) to go with power and versatility. He’s not just Colorado’s all-time second-leading rusher, but also potentially a viable slot receiver and shifty returner. Though Lindsay couldn’t star in Indianapolis, he made sure he was THE star in Boulder, turning heads from representatives of 29 NFL teams who arrived to see 17 prospects at work.

“I felt like personally he should have been at the combine just based on what he did here,” said Isaiah Oliver, a former Colorado and a projected first-round selection in the upcoming draft. “The numbers he had and things like that. I’m not really worried about him at all. I knew that combine invite, when he didn’t get it, it just added more fuel to his fire. Which is a dangerous thing.”

The combine rejection came as a surprise to many — including some NFL personnel at his pro day — after Lindsay set of slew of records at CU, including career all-purpose yards and yards from scrimmage. Then again, NFL coaches and executives don’t get to hand pick the prospects they’d like to see at the combine. If the did, Lindsay’s pre-draft process would have taken a different path.

So instead Lindsay used the snub to stoke that fire that has burned since he first took to a football field.

“It (ticked) me off, I’m gonna be real with you,” he said. “I guess it wasn’t meant to be. That’s what it comes down to. God had other plans for me. But you don’t go and have the years you have at a great university and just get overlooked because of what? My size? … That’s something I can’t control. God gave me this ability for a reason.”

In December, at the close of CU’s season, Lindsay began working with Loren Landow, the owner of Landow Performance in Centennial and the soon-to-be-named Broncos strength coach, to improve his times and prepare for his moment in front of NFL scouts.

A strong showing at the East-West Shrine Game in February earned the praises of both analysts and NFL personnel, and although it wasn’t enough to land Lindsay a shot at the combine, Landow made a bold claim.

“I will say this,” he said of Lindsay last month. “He’s going to have an awesome pro day. I think he’s going to showcase very well, and I think NFL teams are going to be very surprised and very excited with what they’re seeing.”

The two set the bar high. Lindsay’s goal for the 40 on Wednesday was 4.37 seconds. But he’ll take the 4.39.

“Coach Landow has high expectations for us, and that’s what I was going for,” Lindsay said. “I knew all along that I was going to run a low time. Some people thought that I wasn’t fast.”

But it wasn’t the only goal. In addition to his speed, Lindsay hoped to show his pass-catching ability to give NFL teams the visual of using him in the slot — a position the Broncos have been looking to fill for years. He hoped to show his strength, so maybe they’d acknowledge the blocking in which he takes great pride. He wanted to show he could and would help on special teams.

So as NFL scouts, players and fans slowly filtered out of CU’s facility Wednesday evening, Lindsay stayed behind to field punts. When the crowd cleared, Lindsay stayed behind for a football test. And when the doors closed, one opened for Lindsay and his father, who were among the last two to leave the building.

Monday morning, Lindsay will be back at Landow Performance. Back at work.

“They didn’t get to see me in Indianapolis,” he said. “So I need to make sure they see me now.”

John Elway to compete in U.S. Senior Open sectional qualifying at The Broadmoor By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 8, 2018

Broncos general manager John Elway will compete in the U.S. Senior Open sectional qualifying at The Broadmoor Golf Club’s East Course in Colorado Springs on May 28, the United States Golf Association announced Wednesday.

Elway, 57, filed an entry for the 39th U.S. Senior Open Championship (June 28-July 1) that was received Wednesday morning. To be eligible, players must be 50 years or older at the start of the tournament and have a Handicap Index that doesn’t exceed 3.4, or be a professional.

Elway was named the honorary chairman of the 2018 U.S Senior Open in November 2016. He’s played in two Colorado Senior Opens and was previously the president of Cherry Hills Country Club, a three-time host of the U.S. Open.

Broncos actively shopping Talib but cornerback wants say By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 8, 2018

Bronco fans won’t be surprised by this but Aqib Talib is going out battling.

The Broncos are actively shopping Talib, a team source told 9NEWS. But as a cornerback who was named to the each of his four seasons with the Broncos, Talib is communicating just enough resistance to have a say in where he is traded.

Broncos’ general manager John Elway and general manager John Lynch were engaged in trade talks about Talib, according to the source.

It’s unclear how close to an agreement on compensation had been reached, but the parties appeared to be making progress until the cornerback balked.

ESPN first reported the possible Talib trade to San Francisco but that he declined and stated a preference of returning to the – where he played before signing a six-year, $57 million contract with the Broncos in March 2014.

Talib has been a great Bronco and he’s still one of the league’s top but perhaps he could benefit by taking a longer-termed view. The 49ers are an up-and-coming team with a hot, young, Patriot-trained in Jimmy Garoppolo and a hot, young coach in Kyle Shanahan.

The Patriots have arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time in but he will play at 41 years old this season and there has been speculation head coach is getting close to retirement.

Still, New England is one of several teams the Broncos have engaged in Talib trade talks. Although the Broncos hope to deal Talib by the start of free agency next Wednesday, there is no rush to move him because none of his remaining contract is guaranteed until 53-man rosters are set on September 1.

The trade market appears strong enough for Talib that the Broncos are not expected to release him, as he may hope. Officially, Talib has no say in whether he is traded or to whom.

But as a practical matter, Talib has leverage because no team would want to surrender a player or draft pick as compensation unless the player they are trading for is happy with the arrangement.

Besides stating a team preference, Talib may also be seeking a new contract. He currently has a non- guaranteed $11 million salary in 2018 and $8 million in 2019 for an average of $9.5 million per year.

There are 13 cornerbacks who make more with Josh Norman topping the list with $15 million a year. Then again, those 13 corners are between two and six years younger than Talib so it's no certainty he would get a more lucrative deal than what he has left on his current one.

Elway, Cousins' agent attend CU Pro Day By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 8, 2018

John Elway and ’ agent were in the same building at the same time.

Yet, Elway, the Broncos’ general manager, and Mike McCartney, the agent for the NFL’s most prized free-agent quarterback, never talked during the Pro Day at the school’s Indoor Practice Facility on Wednesday.

Didn’t shake hands. Didn’t even wave.

Apparently, McCartney and Elway were mindful of NFL tampering rules. McCartney will not talk money with teams until Monday, when the negotiating period for free agents opens. The Broncos are expected to be among the teams who will make an offer for Cousins.

With Elway and McCartney not talking to the media, CU outside linebacker Derek McCartney, who had a strong performance before 44 scouts representing 29 NFL teams, was asked if his uncle Mike told him where Cousins would play.

“I don’t know,’’ Derek McCartney said with a smile. “You’re going to have to wait and see just like me.’’

Besides Elway, the Broncos’ braintrust included head coach Vance Joseph, personnel consultant Gary Kubiak, former CU standout and director of player personnel Matt Russell and college scouting director Brian Stark.

Oh, and Trevor Siemian, the Broncos' quarterback who was there as a guest of his agent -- Mike McCartney.

The main player the Broncos' officials were interested in was CU cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who will be a first-round draft pick.

“I did have a formal meeting with them,’’ said Oliver, who had suffered a dislocated finger during the Combine gauntlet drill on Monday, yet performed all drills except the bench press and 40-yard dash here Wednesday. “Mr. Elway and everyone was in there. Coach Joseph. So, I thought it went really well. It would be an exciting place to be.’’

NFL teams work two lanes this time of year.

The Broncos used part of their day scouting future stars like Oliver. And they are also getting ready to place their bids for Cousins on Monday. Why talk now when there should be plenty of discussion Wednesday.

Broncos Mailbag: Fans not feeling Case Keenum for Plan B By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 8, 2018

An overflowing mailbag where the consensus is fans aren’t thrilled about paying big money to Case Keenum.

But if the Broncos don’t get Kirk Cousins, their first choice, they probably must overpay option B, whether that’s Keenum or AJ McCarron or Josh McCown.

Klis, can you imagine a world where Denver signs Kirk Cousins and moves up to #1 to draft !?! That would be one very impressive offensive duo. Keep D.T. and Sanders at WR. It certainly seems like the type of splash Elway would make. Thoughts?

– Edward Nalder

Edward, Cousins and Barkley would double-handedly transform the Broncos from 5-11 to 11-5. Cousins, Barkley and Nate Solder would make them a worst-to-first LIII contender.

There’s no way the Broncos could afford Cousins at, say, $28 million a year, Solder at, say, $13 million a year, and keep Von Miller for $19 million next season. That’s $60 million, or better than 33 percent of the $177.2 payroll, on three players.

But I think the Broncos will take another swing at trying to sign a right tackle in free agency. If this time they hit and Cousins and Barkley meet hype, the Broncos should have playoff expectations at minimum.

What happens if the Broncos miss out on Cousins, balk at Keenum's price, head into the draft and then Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield and Allen all get swooped up in picks 1-4 with Denver still sitting at 5?

– Tommy Morris, Broomfield

Tommy, whoa, now. This is a serious worst-case scenario. But, I like the way you think. Every good boss runs through worst-case scenarios. You don’t want to be surprised with, say, loud opponent crowd noise at Super Bowl 48.

Maintain a positive veneer. But fret inside about what could go wrong and plan accordingly.

Given your gloomy scenario, Tommy, you left a silver lining for AJ McCarron, Saquon Barkley and trade back into the late part of the first round for Mason Rudolph.

Or Josh McCown, Barkley// and Mason Rudolph.

That’s still not bad. But, that’s what you and I do, Tommy. We think the worst and come out smiling.

I understand Elway is going to go hard at a free agent QB but I am intrigued with what they may have with Chad Kelly. He seems to be very hungry and Bill Polian even praised his potential. I understand maybe his best shot is a backup QB for Denver but are the Broncos high on him at all? I think a lot of fans are curious about his potential.

– Matt Padilla

Matt, when they selected Kelly with the very last pick in the 2017 draft, the Broncos’ brass thought he had a chance to become their starting quarterback in 2019 or 2020. And that was knowing he would probably have to redshirt his rookie season because of his right wrist and knee injuries.

So, he’s still got a chance. If the Broncos sign Cousins, his odds of starting here would become longer. If they don’t sign Cousins, this will be a big year for Kelly. He will have to impress during practices and preseason.

Hey Mike, can you please clear up the reports that Case Keenum is the Broncos "plan B" if they don't land Cousins. Please say this isn't so. The thought of giving a guy $18-20 million a year after only one good season in the NFL is too Brockesque for me. He's played seven seasons and only the last one was successful. His ratings, completion percentages, etc. were below average the first six seasons, so why would Elway think 2017 was Keenum’s new normal? I hope these "rumors" aren't true. If the Broncos don't land Cousins, they'd be better off with a cheaper option to hold the fort down while the draft pick gets ready, if he's not ready from Day One. Just say no to Scott Mitchell, err, Case Keenum.

– Jim Dillon, Copley, Ohio

Jim, the Broncos are interested in Keenum. I’m not sure he’s Plan B. He might be, but from what I understand, the Broncos had not settled on Plan B as of a few days ago.

There’s still time. The market’s negotiating window opens Monday. The market opens next Wednesday.

The Broncos want Cousins. If they don’t get him, I personally think Keenum is the second-best option.

He’s smart, poised, accurate. But because he doesn’t have the strongest arm, his best fit may be either back with Minnesota and the dome or the .

I’m not sure where the Broncos stand with McCarron. I’m not sure he’s better than what they just had in Trevor Siemian, and Paxton Lynch. Maybe he is, but how do you know?

Josh McCown and one of the big four with the No. 5 draft pick could be Plan B.

If you were to sign and draft a QB, which two would you prefer? A Bridgewater/Mayfield combo or a Keenum/Allen type which would fit best with Broncos offense?

– Christopher Moulton

Christopher, I go option B, Keenum and Allen. I think Keenum is the better of these free-agent presented in your scenario and I think Allen is the best quarterback prospect in years.

Bridgewater will likely sign a one-year, make-good contract, which would be great for Mayfield playing in his second season. This is a good option, too. But I like your Keenum/Allen option better.

Are the Broncos considering signing and possibly overpay Keenum, if they lose out on Cousins, just to be a bridge QB? And is John Elway convinced that he could be long-term solution at QB? I don’t see it.

– Jay Lariosa

Jay, you have to pick one quarterback to overpay. You won’t get Cousins ($28 million to $30 million a year), Keenum ($18 million to $20 million) or AJ McCarron ($15 million to $17 million) if you don’t overpay.

Cousins is your franchise QB for five years (providing you sign him to a five-year deal).

I think Keenum is your franchise QB for two years. Not five, two.

Can you compare and Paxton Lynch's game and tell Broncos Nation why he's not the same guy?

– Robert Huston

Robert, Lynch has a good fastball. But Allen has a Nolan Ryan fastball. Lynch can move. Allen moves better. Lynch has good size (6-foot-7, 245 pounds). Allen has perfect size (6-5, 237).

Lynch struggles to process NFL defenses on the fly. But that either will come with reps or play-calling adjustment with quick-striking throws.

Not sure about Allen’s ability to process because he hasn’t done it, yet. But he is a smart kid.

Lynch struggles with accuracy. Allen struggles with accuracy.

Allen could be the next Paxton Lynch – who is not a bust, but incomplete. Or he could be the next .

Much of Allen’s development will depend on the coaching and system he is drafted into.

Hey Mike, I love how you stuck up for Broncos Country and put to rest all the rumors that excluded Broncos from the Cousins sweepstakes! My question is why is Keenum plan B for Elway? Besides the obvious answers that he’s an upgrade from the current QB stable in Denver and that Kubiak knows Keenum more than anyone, I want to know why Elway would pay 20 million a year for a QB that got blown out in the most important game of his life against backup Foles, and that he would probably won’t be as good in Denver as we he was in Minnesota. Why not just make drafting a QB and starting him from Day 1 be plan B instead?

– Josey Astorga

Josey, I’m not saying Keenum is Plan B. I’m saying he is an option. How far behind the Cousins’ option, I don’t know.

Keenum is a good quarterback. He just went 11-3 for a Vikings team that was 8-8 the year before. He threw 22 passes against only 7 . He just turned 30.

He could be the next Jeff Garcia, who had three consecutive great seasons from 30 to 32 years old.

Keenum just had a great year in 2017. I think he’s got two more great years in him.

Hey Mike, you do an awesome job covering our Broncos. My question is why don't the Broncos try to draft a Josh Allen in the first and a Mike White in the fourth. If we are really as done with our current QB's as seems to be reported daily wouldn't a scenario like this give us a better chance at hitting on the QB front.

– Adrian Watson

Adrian, if they don’t sign a free-agent quarterback, Allen and White would make sense, but that would Make Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly the Broncos’ two most experienced quarterbacks.

That’s a ton of youth. Too much youth. Lynch and Kelly mean the Broncos don’t really need any more young quarterbacks. Which is why signing a free agent with starting experience is their offseason priority.

Hey Mike, I've been reading recently that Miami is looking to cut Ja’Wuan James. Am I the only one who thinks he could solve our right tackle position long term? I'm thinking flipping C.J. Anderson and a 4th for him should get it done. Seeing as he’s under contract this year on his fifth-year option. It would allow us a year to figure out his long-term worth.

– Adrian Watson

Adrian, not a bad second thought you had there. The Broncos will be in the market for a starting offensive tackle in free agency. They’d prefer a right tackle like James, who has a $9.34 million fifth-year option due next Wednesday.

With Anderson due to make $4.5 million in 2018, the money difference might force the Broncos to throw in one of their extra third-round picks instead of their extra fourth.

But if James is released, the Broncos would be interested in signing him as a free agent. If Anderson is released, the Dolphins would be interested in him as a free agent. So, a trade makes some sense.

Broncos looking for plenty of cover (corners) in this year's draft By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com March 8, 2018

Call it the sign of the times, but this year’s NFL scouting combine featured the biggest of finishes.

When the annual workout festival wrapped up in Indianapolis earlier this week, it was believed to be the largest group of defensive backs ever assembled at the event -- 70 in all.

In a pass-first league that just featured the highest-scoring Super Bowl in history, things have reached a threat level of red for defenses. And consider the search on, more than ever, for more players who can cover the pass-catchers flooding the field.

“It’s a bunch of corners that can play,” said Broncos coach Vance Joseph, a former defensive backs coach. “I want guys that can play press-man. That is what we do. We want guys with great long speed and great length so they can press and run with guys. It’s a draft full of those guys this year.”

Consider the Broncos one of those teams in a position of need, especially if they part ways with cornerback Aqib Talib to get the $11 million in salary-cap space his departure would create. However, the gap left behind in the defense would be significant given in his four seasons with the Broncos Talib has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of those years, has had six returns for and he has been at least tied for the team lead in interceptions in three of those seasons.

Talib is the player who allowed the Broncos to consistently move Chris Harris Jr. into the slot – where many in the league consider him the best in the league – and to use Bradley Roby on No. 2 and No. 3 receivers on the outside when the Broncos went to their five- and six-defensive back packages. Talib was then matched on the opposing offense’s biggest receiver or top pass-catcher on the outside.

But even with Talib, the Broncos are also coming off a season when they struggled to keep opposing receivers out of the end zone, especially when the defense was asked to deal with subpar field position as it tried to respond to the bevy of Broncos’ turnovers on offense.

Or as president of football operations/general manager John Elway put it at the scouting combine: “I’d like to see us respond a little better after turnovers. I don’t think we responded very well. ... Because it happened so many times, that probably had a lot to do with it.”

Overall, despite yet another finish among the league’s top five in total defense – they were No. 3 – only four teams surrendered more touchdown passes this past season than the Broncos’ 29, a big reason Denver finished 22nd in scoring defense, having allowed 23.9 points per game. Opponents scored 142 points – 8.9 per game – on drives immediately following the Broncos’ turnovers on offense.

It has the Broncos with an especially keen eye directed toward the defensive backs in this draft. They believe Roby, a first-round pick in the 2014 draft, is ready to be a full-time starter should they release or try to trade Talib. That would put Roby and Harris as the starters in the base defense with help needed, as in rookies who can compete to play, when they go to their situational personnel groupings.

At the top of this year’s board are potential rookie starters with plenty of chops in coverage in Alabama safety/cornerback , Ohio State cornerback , Florida State safety , Central Florida cornerback Mike Hughes, Louisville cornerback , Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson, LSU cornerback Donte Jackson, Colorado cornerback Isaiah Oliver and Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison just to get started among the draft's top 50 players or so.

With 10 picks, the Broncos might even have to use more than one of those picks on potential fits in the secondary. In Elway’s tenure – seven previous drafts -- the Broncos have used two picks in a draft class on defensive backs three times, but have not used three or more picks in one draft class on the position.

“That’s where the league is,” Joseph said. “ ... It’s now a league where you’re playing in space with receivers who line up anywhere in the formation. You’re always going to want those cover guys to give you solutions.”

Todd McShay looks beyond QB for Broncos in latest mock draft By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com March 8, 2018

In his third mock draft of the pre-draft season, ESPN’s Todd McShay diverted from the quarterback-for- the-Broncos scenario with the No. 5 pick.

In his first two mock drafts, McShay had the Broncos selecting Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen and Oklahoma quarterback , respectively. But in his third, McShay considers the possibility the Broncos use free agency to repair their quarterback issues, which would leave the No. 5 pick open to some other possibilities.

In this case he sees Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson as the best possibility because Nelson is one of the best players on this draft board. It’s rare for teams to consider guards this high on the draft board -- select company in the top five picks of the draft that has included Leonard Davis at No. 2 in 2001 and Hall of Famer John Hannah at No. 4 in 1973 -- but Nelson is a rare player.

Nelson is a walk-in starter for any team that picks him. His game video is highlighted by double-take blocks and a physical presence that is impossible to ignore, especially when he's clearing whole sections of the field in the run game. He was also a team captain who started 36 games in his three seasons in the Irish lineup.

The Broncos certainly have a need in the offensive line, given it has been an unsettled position group for each of the last four seasons. Nelson does project as a left guard in the NFL, so the Broncos would have to decide if they would play him there or move Nelson to the right side to move Ron Leary back to left guard.

Leary was signed in free agency a year ago to play left guard, but was moved to right guard before the season so Max Garcia could play on the left, where he was more comfortable.

ESPN's Todd McShay breaks down top QBs at the Combine, 's personality By Ben Swanson DenverBroncos.com March 8, 2018

In his newest mock draft for ESPN, NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay picked guard Quenton Nelson to go to the Broncos, but noted that prediction could change, particularly if the Broncos don't sign a new starting quarterback in free agency.

Discussing the quarterbacks commonly in the conversation for the top 10 picks, McShay broke down each player's Combine performance for a Wednesday conference call.

" didn't do much at the Combine, so I don't think anything really comes of that," McShay said. "Josh Rosen didn't have his best day throwing the ball. From varying people in the league I talked to, he didn't get any negative reports about his interviews. I got a lot of reports that said he was really good, but it's a 15-minute interview — it's tough to gleam a lot from that — and I got some that said he was OK. Nothing really negative there.

"Baker Mayfield, I thought was really consistent throwing the football and, from most people I talked to, was really good in meetings. And Josh Allen, I think of any of them, Josh Allen seemed to surprise some people with how good he was on the board and how effective he was just interacting and just getting to know him a little more. There's some people who kind of came around on him, if you will, and were impressed by what he did at night when the cameras weren't on. His throwing session was an impressive throwing session, but he couldn't have performed a whole lot better than he did on the field that day."

Recent NFL reports have discussed Rosen's personality, and how it would fit in on a football team. In Sports Illustrated's MMQB, Peter King wrote that "what I was led to believe listening to the proverbial NFL grapevine" was that Rosen is "too smart."

McShay didn't think that term was accurate, but noted that teams' understandings of his personality depends on their own viewpoints and their leadership.

"I wouldn't say 'too smart,'" McShay said. "… I think that's one of his strengths is that he's highly intelligent. I think what you've got to sift through, and some teams seem to be a little bit more concerned than others, but what you need to sift through is how does he treat his teammates? Can he be a good teammate? There's been some talk that he can be condescending when they don't run the right route or if they're not at the right place at the right time. And then he's a wise guy, too — which, again, depending on how he handles that, that can be a good thing or a bad thing. And by 'wise guy,' I mean if you tell him to adjust his footwork on this seven-step drop, he's going to ask you 'Why?' and 'What's the benefit of it?' If they're going to put in a new installation and run some different plays, he's going to want to know why and what the purpose is. "What are we trying to accomplish here?" For some coaches that's a great thing. For other coaches it becomes daunting. 'Just do your job. Just do what I say.' It's very much viewed differently through the prism that you're viewing it.

"I think the biggest thing for Rosen is to me he's the most polished pure pocket passer in this class. I think he can have a lot of NFL success. Does he want to be an NFL player? Does he want to put in the time and work? If he does, that's great. Do you like him enough that you're going to bring him in your building and he's going to make it work from a personality standpoint? That kind of varies from one organization to the next depending on who's in charge and who your leaders are. I think it's going to be really important to go to a place that's accepting and embraces who he is, rather than fighting to try to put him in a box that doesn't fit for him."

Will John Elway, honorary chairman, qualify to play in U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor? By Paul Klee Colorado Springs Gazette March 8, 2018

So now we have the ideal spring itinerary for Broncos boss John Elway.

Lure a stud quarterback to Colorado.

Nail the Broncos' 10 selections the NFL draft.

And...

Qualify for the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor.

Simple, right?

Elway already was the honorary chairman for the U.S. Senior Open that will unfold on the fabled East Course from June 28-July 1. Now the 57-year-old (players must be 50-plus to play in the Senior Open) is scheduled to compete in sectional qualifying on May 28. Elway filed his entry Wednesday morning.

How does a Senior Open threesome of CU alum Hale Irwin, John Daly (at altitude) and John Elway sound?

Eligible players must have a USGA handicap index of 4 or below. Elway's played in a pair of Colorado Senior Opens and is a past president of Cherry Hills Country Club. Hopefully his short game's in shape; it's shaping into a banner spring for No. 7.

John Elway files to play in 2018 Senior Golf Open at The Broadmoor By David Ramsey Colorado Springs Gazette March 8, 2018

John Elway filed an entry at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday to compete in the 39th U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor’s East Course June 28-July 1. Elway is the Open’s honorary chairman.

Elway spent his youth in California playing football and baseball. He seldom played golf.

That changed when he moved to Colorado in 1983 to play quarterback for the . In offseasons, he retreated to golf courses to escape the pressure of leading the Broncos. He soon got hooked.

Elway boasts a scratch handicap, but he has no plans to triumph at this summer’s Open.

Why?

His putting stroke.

“The key thing, as with all amateurs, is the putting,” Elway said in 2016. “That’s the biggest difference.”

The greats, Elway said, “putt well every day.”

Elway suffers from a wide variety of football-related calamities, but he can still rip a soaring drive. He’s done throwing touchdowns. He will long find solitude and challenges on the golf course.

“As an athlete, it’s the one game that you can play forever,” he said. “It’s a game that is different every single day. It’s a game that you can’t ever get your arms around. It gives us ex-athletes a chance to compete, and I love the challenge of it.”

Elway, 57, is scheduled to compete in the Open’s sectional qualifying May 28.

AP source: Jerry Jones to pay NFL $2 million for legal fees By Barry Wilner Associated Press March 8, 2018

Jerry Jones has agreed to pay the NFL more than $2 million in legal fees resulting from two disputes the owner had with the league, a person with direct knowledge of the settlement tells The Associated Press.

The amount to be paid was resolved Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL did not announce details.

Commissioner Roger Goodell held an appeal hearing with Jones on Monday. That came a few days after Goodell assessed the financial penalties for Jones' lawsuit to overturn the suspension of Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott, and for a lawsuit Jones threatened to stop Goodell's newly approved contract.

Many owners were consulted on seeking restitution, including members of the finance committee. Some finance committee members are on the compensation committee that was at the center of what became a legal back-and-forth over Goodell's deal.

The restitution is rooted in a 1997 resolution that states owners can seek repayment for legal fees if a fellow owner is responsible for getting them involved in legal action.

Jones' attempt to derail Goodell's extension, which came after Elliott was suspended over domestic violence allegations, led to a volley of threatening letters from lawyers for both sides.

After eventually relenting, Jones said after the owners meetings in December that he got what he wanted with an agreement to consider changes to the power of the commissioner's role through the league's constitution. Jones denied that his attempt to scuttle the contract was tied to Elliott's suspension, but made repeated references to Goodell's power to punish players.

Jones and the Cowboys were supportive of Elliott's lawsuit, which was led by the players' union and resulted in federal court hearings in three states over a span of two months. The suit eventually failed and Elliott served the suspension.

AFC free agency preview: Advice for every team on players to target By Nate Davis USA Today March 8, 2018

NFL free agency officially begins March 14. Here's an early look at how AFC teams might approach the market. (Each club's projected cap space is noted in parentheses, courtesy of overthecap.com as of March 7.)

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills ($24 million)

Free agents: LB Preston Brown, CB E.J. Gaines, LB , WR Jordan Matthews, WR Deonte Thompson, FB Mike Tolbert, DT Kyle Williams

Advice: They'd obviously like to upgrade at quarterback, but it makes sense to pay Tyrod Taylor's $6 million roster bonus given there's no assurance Buffalo can do better in free agency or the draft. Coach Sean McDermott loves Williams' leadership, but he'll be 35 this year. Limited cap space might be better used on Brown, Gaines or perhaps a No. 2 receiver.

Miami Dolphins ($8M over the cap)

FAs: S Nate Allen, OL Jermon Bushrod, QB , TE Anthony Fasano, QB Matt Moore, K Cody Parkey

Advice: Given QB 's injury history, Miami needs to consider a quality alternative, and bringing Moore back might be the answer. But the cap doesn't offer a lot of options, especially as long as WR Jarvis Landry's $16M franchise tag eats into it.

New England Patriots ($15M)

FAs: WR Danny Amendola, RB , CB Malcolm Butler, LB James Harrison, RB Dion Lewis, ST/WR , LT Nate Solder

Advice: Tough choices for the AFC champs, who also have to start pondering QB Tom Brady's next deal. With WR (ACL) on the mend, keeping Amendola seems wise unless another team swoops in with a huge offer. Brady would surely like to see Solder back, too, though the Pats tend not to overpay linemen (or running backs).

New York Jets ($90M)

FAs: K Chandler Catanzaro, CB , ILB Demario Davis, DE Kony Ealy, QB Josh McCown, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Advice: Quarterback remains the priority, and a run at Kirk Cousins appears inevitable given New York's cap resources. If that fails, the Jets are better served to re-sign McCown and target their next franchise passer with the sixth pick of the draft. Whoever is under center will need help at the skill positions, and GM Mike Maccagnan needs to acquire corner help (Malcolm Butler?) while also rebuilding the defensive line.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens ($5M)

FAs: OL James Hurst, C Ryan Jensen, WR Mike Wallace, TE Benjamin Watson, RB

Advice: Jensen, 26, developed into a player worth keeping. But Baltimore will have to do major restructuring in order to pursue top-line receivers like or .

Cincinnati Bengals ($35M)

FAs: C , TE Tyler Eifert, RB , QB AJ McCarron, LB Kevin Minter, OL Andre Smith

Advice: It would be nice to have Eifert back, though his injury history will deter any team from giving him a huge guarantee. But Cincinnati really needs help on the O-line and would be wise to recruit Nate Solder even though doing so would cut against the franchise's general avoidance of outside free agents.

Cleveland Browns ($114M)

FAs: RB

Advice: No team has more cap space, though few need more help than one coming off an 0-16 campaign. GM John Dorsey can set up the next two generations of Kirk Cousins' family, though Cleveland doesn't check the quarterback's block for joining a contender. AJ McCarron, a favorite of coach Hue Jackson's from their time together in Cincinnati, would be a more affordable bridge to DeShone Kizer or the quarterback Dorsey is expected to draft. Crowell should be easy enough to replace in a back-heavy draft, but Cleveland might also look at Solder if LT Joe Thomas retires. CBs like Trumaine Johnson or Malcolm Butler and a mid-tier wideout like Paul Richardson would fill significant holes.

Pittsburgh Steelers ($1M)

FAs: OL Chris Hubbard, LB Arthur Moats

Advice: With RB Le'Veon Bell carrying the franchise tag again, this time for $14.5 million, Pittsburgh has plenty of work to do to free some funds beyond restructuring WR Antonio Brown's contract. A long- awaited multi-year deal for Bell remains an objective both sides seem to want.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans ($67M)

FAs: T Chris Clark, T Breno Giacomini, S , CB , P Shane Lechler, QB Tom Savage, G Xavier Su'a-Filo

Advice: Their first- and second-round picks belong to Cleveland, so new GM Brian Gaine will be compelled to devote his ample cap space to rebuilding the offensive line and secondary. Solder, who played for Bill O'Brien during his rookie year in New England, also makes sense here. Houston could also target Panthers all-pro G Andrew Norwell in a bid to buy protection for franchise QB .

Indianapolis Colts ($72M)

FAs: LB Jonathan Bostic, DB Darius Butler, RB Frank Gore, G Jack Mewhort, LB , WR Donte Moncrief

Advice: Name a position, and the cap-flush Colts probably need help — especially on defense, where a game wrecker like DL Sheldon Richardson or corner like Malcolm Butler are made to order. It's also imperative they shore up the blocking in front of recuperating QB , so count Indy among teams that should try to woo Norwell, Ryan Jensen and maybe Justin Pugh.

Jacksonville Jaguars ($35M)

FAs: CB Aaron Colvin, QB Chad Henne, WR Marqise Lee, G Patrick Omameh, LB Paul Posluszny, WR Allen Robinson

Advice: QB needs receiving help. It would be nice to bring Robinson back, but his knee rehab apparently prohibited the Jags from franchising him. Big targets like WR Terrelle Pryor or TE Jimmy Graham might be helpful and more affordable. Even if the Jags draft a developmental quarterback (?), they should keep a familiar vet like Henne.

Tennessee Titans ($48M)

FAs: WR Eric Decker, WR Harry Douglas, DE DaQuan Jones, G Josh Kline, LB Erik Walden, LB

Advice: Jones, Kline and Williamson are reliable players it would be nice to keep in order to maintain continuity without breaking the bank. A deep threat like Seattle WR Paul Richardson could really open up the offense.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos ($25M)

FAs: OL Allen Barbre, RB , DE Jared Crick, LB Todd Davis, TE Virgil Green, QB Brock Osweiler, T Donald Stephenson

Advice: GM John Elway will surely have to find more cap space if he's going to lure Cousins. Pursuing Case Keenum or AJ McCarron would be an easier route to addressing the quarterback conundrum while keeping most of the roster intact. Crick and Davis, both starters, can be replaced internally.

Kansas City Chiefs ($3M over the cap)

FAs: OL Zach Fulton, LB Derrick Johnson, DL Bennie Logan, S Ron Parker, WR/KR De'Anthony Thomas, WR Albert Wilson

Advice: They've already been active, with QB and CB Marcus Peters set to be traded. Most holes can probably be addressed during the draft, though one more veteran corner, say Prince Amukamara or Morris Claiborne, would help.

Los Angeles Chargers ($22M)

FAs: S Tre Boston, QB Kellen Clemens, TE Antonio Gates, OL Matt Slauson, LB , G Kenny Wiggins

Advice: Boston played well in 2017 but seems to be seeking a major payday. GM Tom Telesco might be wise to first bolster one of the league's worst run defenses. And what about locking up a fairly reliable kicking option like Sebastian Janikowski or even Cody Parkey?

Oakland Raiders ($16M)

FAs: LB NaVorro Bowman, CB T.J. Carrie, DT Justin Ellis, K Sebastian Janikowski, QB EJ Manuel, S Reggie Nelson

Advice: It probably makes a lot of sense to re-sign Bowman, who made an impact after coming across the Bay midway through last season. Otherwise, start pushing money into the 2019 cap while Jon Gruden evaluates this roster.

Sorting out the truth from the gibberish as draft and free agency chatter explodes By Jason La Canfora CBSSports.com March 8, 2018

It's that time of year in the NFL when rumor, innuendo and outright BS sometimes merge with the truth. It's silly season, when all the pre-free agency and pre-draft chatter can lead to outlandish proclamations and bizarre reports. It's a time when anything might be possible and when teams and agents have myriad reasons to plant or posit concepts or half-truths, all to accomplish a particular result.

Sorting our truth from gibberish can be difficult, to say the least, and the amount of time that will be spent in an attempt to obscure, conflate or outright smear certain individuals (especially in the run up to the draft next month) cannot be overstated. With that in mind, here are a few items I've been asked about recently with the combine now behind us, and how I'd sort through them. Some of these theories/reports/guesses I would buy, and quite a few, well, consider me a seller (doesn't pass the sniff test):

Josh Rosen is a mix between Jay Cutler and Buying or selling? Selling

Some people in the scouting and/or agent community have it in for this kid. There's no doubt about that. The UCLA quarterback is the subject of off-the-record character assassination to be sure, but I don't see this the way, say, Connor Cook fell deep into the draft a few years back because of similar assertions (with him not being a team captain and all). Everyone I've ever talked to at his campus raves about Rosen, and while he is certainly smart and somewhat worldly and might have an opinion or two about things outside of football (heaven forbid!) he's not this locker-room pariah some would make him out to be. He'll click with more than enough decision makers and be at worst the second quarterback off the board.

Saquan Barkley will be the first-overall pick Buying or selling? Selling

Everyone loves this kid and for good reason. He checks almost every box you could ask for (except, well, some scouts think he should have been better in the biggest games against the best competition). But he is still a running back and there is still an abundance of backs who will be taken on the second day of the draft (and probably a few on the third) who can provide immediate returns, as well. And there are too many teams desperate for a quarterback or a generational pass rusher for a running back to go at the top of the draft, even with the Browns holding two of the first four picks. Perhaps Barkley is the first non-quarterback selected. He won't have long to wait to hear his name called, regardless, but I don't see John Dorsey using his first-ever pick in Cleveland in this manner.

Josh Allen will be the first-overall pick Buying or selling? Buying

It's always been under consideration, even before his strong combine both on the field and in meetings with teams. Yes, there are accuracy concerns, but he didn't have much around him at Wyoming and every week he went into games having to carry his team and more times than not he came up big. He can make all the throws, and that arm talent he displayed in Indy will resonate with execs and scouts for quite some time. The fact that his metrics align with Carson Wentz makes it all the better, and this kid is team-first, no diva, and plays a rough and rugged style (there are cut-ups of some of his more devastating blocks floating around). Small school or not, I believe he will end up leading the quarterback pack.

Teams see Lamar Jackson as a Buying or selling? Selling

Way too much is being made about what a select few evaluators (past or present) may think about this highly-decorated college passer. And for every team that might want to see him work out at receiver drills (because, you know, those teams are not in the market for a QB themselves) there are plenty more QB-needy teams who want to see nothing else but Jackson throwing the ball. He's going to be selected in the first round and will be given every opportunity to play quarterback for a living, and I like his chances of proving his loud detractors quite wrong. It's a waste of breath and column space to opine about what other positions this exceptional athlete can play because he'll be drafted with the expectation of being a franchise quarterback one day.

Six quarterbacks will be among the first 32 picks Buying or selling? Buying

Count me in on this one. The rush on passers will start at the very top of the draft and will dominate the first day. There's too much need at a time when the cost of doing business even on a potential low-tier starter (, Brock Osweiler, Blake Bortles) is ridiculous. There are too many teams that need a QB right now, and too many that know they are a year or two away from needing one, for teams to be passing on potential starters. And this group is deep enough to entice them. Allen, Rosen, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Jackson should be seen as first-round locks, and I expect Mason Rudolph to join them as day-one selections. Some team that has an aging starter (New Orleans, New England) could jump into the late first round to complete the flurry via trade.

The Eagles won't take less than a 1st- and a 4th-round pick for Buying or selling? Selling

Howie Roseman has swung a lot of great trades and his team-building in Philadelphia has been exceptional. And landing those two high picks for always-injured Sam Bradford was a masterstroke … but that was an anomaly. A team with Super Bowl hopes (Minnesota) lost its talented but young and very cheap starter () just before the season, coming off a playoff run, and their GM, Rick Spielman, was in a uniquely desperate situation just before the season began. That's not likely replicable in this instance for many reasons, and Foles is not a former first-overall pick who scouts salivated over back in college. Add in the fact six QBs are about to be drafted very high, with another handful on the second day of the draft, and the fact this is the deepest quarterback free-agent class perhaps in history, and that kind of demand won't be there for Foles, Super Bowl MVP or not. All 32 teams have had a shot at Foles several times in the past, and most passed repeatedly. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see that sort of value coming in return, even after a splendid playoff run.

The Vikings will sign Kirk Cousins to a three-year, $91M deal, fully guaranteed Buying or selling? Selling

Cousins may get $90M guaranteed … but if he does it would come along with much more term for the team. Anyone putting that kind of commitment up would want to secure the asset for more than three years. And if the Jets put, say, $50M payable in the first 10 months of Cousins' contract – hardly out of the question given the abundant cap room – as part of a six-year deal, which is the better play? Carrying Cousins at a $30M cap figure wouldn't be the ideal structure for the Vikings and spreading the hit over more than three years would make more sense. For Cousins, yeah, this would be a no-brainer, able to play for a very good team for three years and be primed to hit the market again in his early 30s. But that structure for a team? Color me dubious.

The Bills will pay Tyrod Taylor $16M to possibly hold a clipboard in 2018 Buying or selling? Selling

The Bills have been attempting to move on from Taylor in various ways over the past two years in two different coach/GM regimes, and no one in the NFL I've talked to believes they will pick up a $6M option on him later this month and then keep him around to compete with Nathan Peterman and whatever quarterback they draft for a total of $16M. They benched him in the heat of a playoff race, if you recall, and while a trade would be ideal, they aren't dealing from a position of great strength here. It's time to move on for all parties, and there will be a nice market of teams waiting to pounce if/when Taylor is out of Buffalo.

NFL free agency preview: Ranking which teams to watch in free agency, from 1-32 By Frank Schwab Yahoo.com March 8, 2018

Every NFL fan base wants their team to sign every big-name free agent this month. That won’t happen.

Some teams are positioned well to make a huge splash in free agency. Other teams have tended to their roster in other ways and don’t have much cap space left. A few teams have some cap space but generally don’t heavily invest in free agents.

But there’s plenty of money to be spent and every team has needs. Here’s our rundown of all 32 teams, with their cap space (based on the NFLPA’s public salary cap report as of Wednesday morning — keep in mind those figures will change as teams make cap-related cuts) and biggest needs, ranked by how interesting they will be to watch as we head into what should be a fun free-agency period:

32. Cap space: Over the cap by $9.8 million Biggest need: Offensive tackle

The Eagles will have virtually no cap room, so don’t expect any major additions. The good news is they don’t have a lot of pressing issues. Some depth at tackle is important if isn’t back.

31. Cap space: Over the cap by $8 million Biggest need: Guard

The Dolphins line has been bad for years, and they still need upgrades at guard. A new tight end would be nice too, but it’ll be tough to find the cap space for that.

30. Cap space: Over the cap by $11.4 million Biggest need: Cornerback

The Chiefs moved on from cornerback Marcus Peters, and they weren’t very good opposite Peters last year. So they practically need two cornerbacks. While (acquired in the Alex Smith trade) helps in the slot, they still need better options on the perimeter. The problem is, they don’t have the cap space to land any of the top cornerbacks on the market.

29. Cap space: $13.2 million Biggest need: Defensive tackle

The Falcons still have most of the same deep roster that made the Super Bowl two seasons ago. The interior of both lines is a need, especially with defensive tackle Dontari Poe’s one-year deal expiring.

28. Cap space: Over the cap by $8.5 million Biggest need: Inside linebacker

It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but the fact is the Steelers don’t know if will ever return and they struggled without him. Shazier has already been ruled out of 2018. They’ll need to work on inside linebacker this offseason, and there will be a few options in free agency.

27. Cap space: $22.8 million Biggest need: Safety

The Chargers got a nice season out of Tre Boston, but he’s going to be a free agent. The Chargers don’t have a ton of glaring needs, but safety is one.

26. Dallas Cowboys Cap space: $467,000 Biggest need: Wide receiver

Dez Bryant’s down season exposed a fairly big flaw. Whether or not Bryant is back, the Cowboys need more weapons for . Tight end could be a need too because Jason Witten can’t play forever, but maybe Rico Gathers can develop.

25. Oakland Raiders Cap space: $16.5 million Biggest need: Cornerback

The Raiders hope 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley has an impact after a lost rookie season. Even then, Oakland needs to add a cornerback or two for depth. The Raiders also need cap space for Khalil Mack’s extension.

24. Cap space: $35.2 million Biggest need: Linebacker

The Jaguars have Telvin Smith and Myles Jack, but Paul Posluszny is a free agent and depth is an issue whether the 33-year-old Posluszny is back or not. The Jaguars should be in the mix for a guard too.

23. New England Patriots Cap space: $15.4 million Biggest need: Cornerback

We got a glimpse at life after Malcolm Butler when Nick Foles threw for 373 yards in the Super Bowl while Butler mysteriously didn’t play a snap. The Patriots will also need a tight end if retires.

22. Cap space: $32.6 million Biggest need: Edge rusher

The Saints have defensive end Cameron Jordan, who is outstanding. They could use a rusher opposite Jordan, though they likely don’t have the cap space to spend big at that position (remember when you see that cap number that it doesn’t include ’ anticipated new contract).

21. Cap space: $5.4 million Biggest need: Wide receiver

The Ravens have little at receiver or tight end. It’s hard to even put together a depth chart at either position for them. They’ll be linked to every big-name receiver and tight end, and in trade talks for Jarvis Landry too. They just don’t have a ton of cap space to make huge moves, so it will be curious to see how they fix the offense.

20. Cap space: $35.5 million Biggest need: Offensive line

The Bengals lost Kevin Zeitler and Andrew Whitworth last offseason and did little to replace them. It showed, especially early in the season. Fixing offensive line issues in free agency is expensive, but the Bengals — who typically aren’t very active in the high end of free agency — need to try.

19. Cap space: $26.5 million Biggest need: Safety

Guard also needs some depth if Andrew Norwell is not retained (and there are no signs he will be), and receiver is still a bit thin. But after veteran safety was released and then signed by the Saints, that position looks perilously thin.

18. Cap space: $48.4 million Biggest need: Guard

The Titans’ strength the past couple seasons has been offensive line, but the guard position is shaky heading into the offseason, especially with Josh Kline set to hit free agency. There’s enough cap space to address both guard positions.

17. Arizona Cardinals Cap space: $21.1 million Biggest need: Quarterback

The retirement of quarterback created an urgency at quarterback. The Cardinals have other weaknesses, like every team, but nothing else matters before they settle their quarterback situation. They have no quarterbacks under contract.

16. Cap space: $29.6 million Biggest need: Edge rusher

Acquiring Marcus Peters in a trade helps mitigate the anticipated loss of free agent Trumaine Johnson, though the Rams haven’t closed to door on trying to re-sign him too. Edge rusher is an issue, especially after the Robert Quinn trade. The good news is they have the cap space to find one, though they still have to pay Aaron Donald.

15. Cap space: $24.8 million Biggest need: Receiver

Tight end could have also been listed as the biggest need. The Bills need players who can make something happen in the passing game. LeSean McCoy has to carry too much of the offensive load, and he’ll turn 30 this year. He needs some help.

14. Cap space: $72.8 million Biggest need: Offensive line

For about the 12th straight year, the Colts’ O-line needs help. They couldn’t protect Jacoby Brissett and they can’t risk Andrew Luck taking that abuse (if he returns from shoulder surgery).

13. Cap space: $15.4 million Biggest need: Tight end

The Packers signed Martellus Bennett last year, and that didn’t work out. A great tight end might make the offense unstoppable. If not tight end, an edge rusher or some defensive line help would work. It will be interesting to see how aggressive the Packers get with a new general manager. Old GM Ted Thompson rarely dabbled in free agency.

12. Cap space: $24 million Biggest need: Offensive line

The Giants need to overhaul the line. They’ll have to make decisions on free agents Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg, and should invest heavily on the line whether either one is back. It seems too obvious that GM Dave Gettleman, formerly of the Panthers, will make a run at guard Andrew Norwell, who was named All-Pro with the Panthers last season. That would help tremendously.

11. Cap space: $28.1 million Biggest need: Running back

The last time the Lions had a 100-yard rusher was Reggie Bush on Thanksgiving in 2013. The Lions need to invest in a good back. Maybe that comes in the draft, allowing Detroit to use its cap space on the defensive line.

10. Cap space: $18.5 million Biggest need: Defensive line

The Seahawks still need offensive line help, but the defensive line is showing some wear and tear too. Michael Bennett has been in trade talks, might have to retire and Sheldon Richardson could leave via free agency. The Seahawks have been strong up front for years, but might need to retool this offseason.

9. Washington Redskins Cap space: $49.1 million Biggest need: Receiver

Terrelle Pryor didn’t work out, to say the least. is a nice slot receiver and the Redskins need to hope Josh Doctson continues to develop in the offseason. Even if Doctson can be a reliable No. 1, Washington still needs more playmakers for new quarterback Alex Smith.

8. Cap space: $68.1 million Biggest need: Offensive tackle

The Texans need to be smart in free agency, because they don’t have a pick in the first two rounds of the draft due to trades. They have to make sure Deshaun Watson is protected, especially coming off his knee injury. They could sign a tackle and a guard.

7. Cap space: $71.8 million Biggest need: Defensive end

The Buccaneers were very thin at defensive end by the end of the season and the pass rush was anemic. Tampa Bay can’t be a playoff contender without a pass rush, so that’s where the offseason needs to start. Tampa Bay had a ton of money last season and their free-agent additions didn’t pan out well; hopefully for them this offseason goes better.

6. Cap space: $42.9 million Biggest need: Wide receiver

It was embarrassing how poorly the Bears managed the receiver position last year. Mitch Trubisky had few reliable targets to throw to. It won’t be easy to add multiple receivers in one offseason, but getting Trubisky help has to be the top priority. They need to at least make a run at Allen Robinson or Sammy Watkins.

5. Denver Broncos Cap space: $25.9 million Biggest need: Quarterback

The Broncos will be in on Kirk Cousins. If Cousins doesn’t sign with them, it seems likely they’ll go after Case Keenum. If Keenum doesn’t sign, they’ll go after … you get the point. The Broncos have to address quarterback, though they could do so with the fifth pick of the draft.

4. Cap space: $84.2 million Biggest need: Quarterback

While it seems the Jets could have Josh McCown back, they want an upgrade. They’ll be players for Kirk Cousins. However, you could list almost any position but safety as a need. The Jets need a lot of work, and have the cap room to add multiple pieces. If Cousins doesn’t take their money, they’ll have even more to spread around.

3. San Francisco 49ers Cap space: $70 million Biggest need: Cornerback

Jimmy Garoppolo got all the headlines during a fun winning streak to end the season, but the 49ers still have a long way to go. Cornerback is the most pressing need, but they need an edge rusher, some receivers and maybe a running back if leaves and perhaps an inside linebacker depending on Reuben Foster’s future.

2. Cap space: $114.4 million Biggest need: Quarterback

There are seeds of an interesting team here. But the Browns still need to find a competent quarterback before there’s a turnaround. They’ll likely address quarterback in the draft (though I’m still not sure whey they’re not in on Kirk Cousins, it’s not like they don’t have the cap space for him), which leaves a lot of money for every other position. The Browns will presumably get an answer from left tackle Joe Thomas on his retirement plans before free agency, and if Thomas walks away then Cleveland will be spending on the offensive line. Let’s put it this way: The Browns could theoretically sign the top five free agents, not counting quarterbacks, and still have cap space left over.

1. Cap space: $54 million Biggest need: Quarterback

The Vikings have a good, deep roster without many deficiencies. However, they have one enormous hole if Case Keenum signs elsewhere. They need a backup too if Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater leave. If the Vikings have the right quarterbacks, the rest of the roster is championship caliber. It seems like the NFL world will be put on pause next week as we wait to see if the Vikings and Kirk Cousins can work out a deal.

The 2018 Free Agency Crop Isn’t All That Great. Here’s Why It Will Be The Start of League Trend By Albert Breer MMQB.com March 8, 2018

No offense to any of the impending free agents out there. This isn’t personal.

But you don’t need to rip off Bill Belichick or Howie Roseman’s free-agent board to know the truth. The new league year opens next Wednesday. And there simply isn’t a whole lot to be had on the market.

Yes, guys will get paid. There’s a good chance Carolina’s Andrew Norwell eclipses Kevin Zeitler’s benchmark of $12 million per to become the game’s highest paid guard. Ravens center Ryan Jensen has a chance of beating the record $10.34 million average Jags center Brandon Linder is getting. Patriots tackle Nate Solder could move into the Top 5 or so paid left tackles, if he chooses to bolt Foxboro.

And by now, you know soon-to-be ex-Redskin Kirk Cousins will at least have offers that will blow away what Jimmy Garoppolo got just last month from the Niners.

So the NFL is desperate for offensive linemen and quarterbacks. Past that? Good luck finding much. Jags receiver Allen Robinson is coming off a blown ACL. By his own admission, Patriots corner Malcolm Butler had a bad year, then got benched for the Super Bowl. Sammy Watkins? Trumaine Johnson? Carlos Hyde? Justin Pugh?

Yeah. Lots of teams have cap space, and there’s not much here to spend it.

“I think it was Carl Banks who said it, talking about the Giants free agents,” recalled one AFC personnel exec this week. “You’re not just buying the free agent, you’re also buying the reason he’s a free agent.”

That point’s always been a good one this time of year, but it’s more applicable than ever now. Almost no high-end players without strings attached make it to the market anymore. That’s why, if you look at any free-agent list this month, you may not exactly be pushing aside plans to track the madness on March 14.

In this week’s Game Plan, we’re going to give you a fun anecdote about one of the draft’s top quarterbacks that explains why teams love him; pass along the name of a position coach who could be a real difference maker on a new staff; look at the value of skill position players; break down the spot Seattle’s in after all the movement on Wednesday; and go through a ton of rumblings heading into next week.

We’ll start with the next phase of the player acquisition process, and that starts with the open of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET next Wednesday. And if you want overriding reasons on why the group, on the whole, kinda stinks, there really are two: the cap keeps rising, and teams are getting smarter in how they approach it.

“That’s definitely the case, it’s been a trend and it makes sense,” said the lead negotiator for one NFC team. “It certainly fits with the logic that more teams are being more proactive in locking up their own players. I don’t know that there’s even another side to it.”

That’s the first part: More money to spend, more intelligent ways to disperse it. But there are different levels to this, so let's get into those now...

• Good players are signed earlier. More teams are getting in front of big contracts, and the world champions are a good example of it. The Eagles gave $11.25 million per coming out of his third year. Some scoffed at that price for a right tackle. Two years later, there are guards paid more. They also locked up at that point, before Washington’s Jordan Reed and Kansas City’s got theirs.

The rule now holds that teams can’t do deals until drafted players complete their third year, and teams are acting quickly at that point.

• More trades. We’ve certainly seen it this week. And it plays into why there are fewer cap casualties, and fewer good young players making it to the market. If you’re sick of a guy or deem him too expensive, you’re more likely than ever before to be able to find a viable trade partner.

Bills defensive lineman Marcell Dareus was on his way to being a 2018 cap casualty before the Jaguars dealt for him, for next to nothing, in October. Ravens defensive tackle was headed for free agency this spring, and then the Eagles traded for him in April and signed him to a four-year, $48 million deal in November.

The bottom line is a new aggressive breed of NFL executive is out there on the trade market. And so if a talented player isn’t a fit somewhere, chances are his employer will be doing more, and finding more help, to get him to a place where he is.

• A reliance on younger players. Analytics data says it’s smart to play guys early, and that loading up on mid-round picks is a more effective way to fill out the middle of your roster than to spend $6 million or $7 million on a middle-class free agent.

The result? Teams have answers on players earlier, so they’re less likely to be caught off guard by a bushel of guys coming of age at the end of their rookie deals, making for decisions to let some go to market. Those mid-round picks who grow up fast, because the roles are there early, get contracts before they expire. And teams put more value in comp picks, and to get those you have to do less in free agency.

The Vikings are carrying upwards of $50 million in cap space (hello, Kirk) with a loaded roster in part because they’ve crushed it in this area. Adam Thielen, a former college free agent, was a big contributor as a minimum salary guy in 2016, then did a four-year deal with a base of less than $20 million last March. Likewise, defensive end Danielle Hunter and receiver Stefon Diggs were middle-round picks.

• Cap space means teams can use the tag, if need be. So what happens when you do have a late bloomer? More teams than ever have the room now to accommodate using one on a player who they might want to see another year of production from, before signing that guy long-term.

It’s how we got here with Cousins, and there are two good examples of it this year. was just a nickel corner for the Rams in 2017. Then Wade Phillips arrived, moved him to safety, and, in the new scheme, they really had something. So they tagged him. Ditto for Dallas and DeMarcus Lawrence, who broke through in 2017 after being dogged by injury and off-field issues earlier in his career.

Years ago, the Cowboys and Rams were tight to the cap annually. This year, Dallas was fine allotting $17.143 million to Lawrence, and Los Angeles was cool putting aside $11.287M for Joyner.

• Matters of job security. If you feel like the turnover in positions of power with NFL teams comes up in a lot of different areas, you’re on to something. It does here, in a very interesting way.

In the past, the free agent market was drive largely by GMs and coaches on the hot seat. The 2016 Jaguars would be one example: Gus Bradley made it to a fourth year, and the team signed Malik Jackson, Tayshaun Gipson, and Chris Ivory. But coaches getting such a stay of execution has become the exception, not the rule.

With fewer teams taking this sort of urgent, short-term focus to drive the market, there’s less incentive for players to get there and fewer guys whacked on the back end.

So with more cap space, and more perspective, teams have wound up following what conventional wisdom has always held—buying high on the veteran market isn’t the wisest way to build a team.

It can help to supplement already good teams, like Denver’s 2014 splash (Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, Emmanuel Sanders) did. But you won’t find your foundation in the middle of March.

“Teams are much more adept at seeing the whole cycle,” said one NFC team president. “More focus on comp picks, a lot more trades, it all plays into it.”

That, of course, isn’t to tell you not to get excited about what’ll happen over the next several days. The quarterback movement alone will be compelling enough to keep everyone’s attention. But it is to say that the pickings are slim, and that really isn’t just a one-year thing.

FIRST AND 10 1. We’ll have more on the Michael Bennett trade later in the column, but I wanted to address first what the Eagles are getting from the Seahawks: A player who isn’t quite what he was and picked his spots more than he has in the past, according to the three offensive coaches I asked about him. He was also a pain in the ass for the Seattle coaches. The good news? With the depth of the Eagles defensive line, Bennett will be more of a spot player there, and Philly’s locker room, on paper, is a good fit.

2. Two other points on the Eagles’ position here. One, Bennett will be replacing in the defensive line rotation, and the move will open up more snaps for 2017 first-rounder . Curry played 56.1 percent of the snaps last year. Barnett played 44.1 percent. In Seattle, Bennett played 84.7 percent of the snaps. And at 32, like we said, playing less could make him more effective. Two, Bennett is set to be $3.5 million cheaper than Curry for 2018.

3. The Rams trading Alec Ogletree just five months after giving him a four-year, $42.75 million deal isn’t Los Angeles saying he can’t play. He wasn’t always the most consistent player, but this is more about the value that Wade Phillips puts in inside linebackers in his defense. As it’s set up, resources are better allocated in perimeter players—edge-rushing outside linebackers and corners. So maybe a change of scenery, and back to a 4-3, will help Ogletree.

4. And if it does, the Giants just fixed a hole that’s been there on their roster forever. Some teams don’t value off-ball linebackers at the level that Ogeltree is being compensated. But new Giants GM Dave Gettleman does, and his willingness to pay both Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis in Carolina is proof positive of that.

5. Slot receivers are tough to value. Aging slot receivers have a tough time getting paid. But my sense is that Danny Amendola’s going into a pretty decent market. I’d keep an eye on Kansas City, a team that can compete now and could use another security blanket for its new starter, and Amendola’s fellow ex- Texas Tech Red Raider, .

6. When Teddy Bridgewater went down just before the 2016 season, one quarterback the Vikings kicked around as a trade possibility was Cincinnati’s AJ McCarron. And a couple years ago, Broncos GM John Elway put in a call to wrangle Case Keenum from the Rams. Today? I’d say it’s more likely that Keenum lands with the Broncos than McCarron landing with the Vikings. But that sort of history can provide clues as to these teams’ contingencies, should Cousins spurn them.

7. Widespread perception continues to hold that McCarron is likely to end up in Cleveland and it makes sense. Hue Jackson was a champion for the Alabama product before the 2014 draft, helped develop him, and then pushed for Cleveland to trade for him in October. And signing him wouldn’t preclude the Browns from drafting one high. It’s perfect, in a number of ways.

8. I think the Rams’ success in signing Andrew Whitworth to a three-year, $36 million deal last year, at 35 years old, is helping Patriots free-agent LT Nate Solder build a market. Solder is easily the top left tackle on the market, and could provide a quick-fix answer for the Broncos or Texans in an era when there are few sure-thing offensive linemen coming out of college.

9. Lots of people saw selling his interests in Papa John’s and connected it to the league dropping the company as its official pizza. I’m more inclined to see it as Manning liquidating assets—and wonder if the time’s coming where, as long rumored, the Manning family sidles up to buy a piece of a team.

10. Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh’s personality hasn’t always been peachy, but I’m told he wasn’t a problem for the staff in 2017. So if the team moves on from him, it’s strictly about the money. He’s due $19 million in cash for 2018, and Miami can save $15.8 million on its cap by cutting him. Remarkable, too, that three years after doing his deal, he’s still the highest paid defensive player in NFL history.

FOUR DOWNS 1. Darnold has a ways to go. Sam Darnold’s decision not to throw at the combine puts pressure on him to light it up at USC’s pro day later in the month, and reviews of his board work in Indy have come back mixed. My belief is that he went into the process as the leader to be the first quarterback taken, and very clearly he has work to do now to hold the top spot. (Both Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield shone last week.) That said, my feeling is the more people get to know him, the more they’ll like him, and feel comfortable handing the keys to their operations over to him.

And what his college coach, Clay Helton, told the Bull and Fox show in Cleveland on Wednesday explains it perfectly: “No situation is too big for that young man. He does it the right way. He doesn’t come in talking or shootin’ his mouth off. … I’ll never forget when he first took over the starting job, one of our great receivers that was here at the time was JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has a dynamic personality and was an older kid at that time. We’re in a 7-on-7 drill and Sam and JuJu hook up. JuJu does a great celebration right afterwards and I’ll never forget Sam walking up to him just one-on-one, not in front of the whole group, one-on-one and just saying, ‘You know what, we don’t need that. Let’s focus on our job, let’s get this practice and really continue to focus.’ I was like, ‘Wow’. For a young kid to be able to do that to a guy that’s older, a guy that was already established, to have that type of confidence to lead right off the bat in the exact, correct way, he does a great job of that. He’s such a dynamic one-on-one leader and that’s why everyone respected him.”

It speaks to Darnold’s sense for every situation as a leader, and I had my own brush with it in August. I was doing a story with Norv Turner on the ex-NFL coach’s first summer out of football and we stopped by a USC fall camp practice, which was just ending. We caught Helton and Darnold coming off the field as the rest of the team went in for dinner and to get ready for meetings. After about five minutes, Norv said to Darnold, “Well, I don’t want to hold you up, I know you got to get to dinner and meetings.” Darnold quickly responded, “Coach Helton’s right here. As long as he’s here, I’m good, and I’ve got some questions for you about Troy Aikman and Drew Brees and .” Same as it was in the Smith- Schuster story that Helton told, Darnold was thinking on his feet and trying to get the most out of the situation. He had questions ready, and came away with stories on what made the quarterbacks Norv had coached great. And I left thinking that’s what a young Tom Brady or Peyton Manning would do.

That’s not to say Darnold will make it. I don’t know if he, or any of the others, will. But I do know being comfortable with a quarterback is a big part of picking one high—you’re tying your job security to the guy. And so I think if a team like the Browns or Giants or whomever likes Darnold as a player, this part of him will make them feel very good about picking him.

2. The offseason’s underrated hire. We don’t talk much about position coaches here. But I’m going to give you one that I believe has a chance to be a big-time difference-maker for his first-time head coach: new Bears line coach . did incredibly well to poach Hiestand, who’d been a target for a number of guys interviewing for jobs in January, from Notre Dame. And his star guard of last year, Quenton Nelson, reminded me of that last week at the combine.

I asked Nelson how, as an elite offensive line talent, he wound up playing guard and not tackle. Nelson answered, “Left tackle, we had . Right tackle, we had Mike McGlinchey. Center, Nick Martin. Right guard, Steve Elmer, who was a very good player. And there was a hole in the left guard spot that I competed for and I ended up playing there.” Think about that. Stanley was the sixth pick in the 2016 draft, and is now Baltimore’s left tackle. Martin was the 50th pick that year, and is the Texans’ center. McGlinchey is likely to join Nelson in the first round of this year’s draft. And Elmer actually decided to forgo his final year of eligibility at Notre Dame, after starting for two years, to pursue a career in politics. Of the five, only Nelson was a Top 100 recruit coming out of high school.

That’s a staggering record of development, and doesn’t account for (Nick’s older brother), who left Notre Dame the year that Nelson arrived, and has grown into the NFL’s best guard. We’ve seen the importance of line coaches the last few years, of course. Jeff Stoutland’s work last year in Philly— remember the Eagles lost Jason Peters for the year—helped the Eagles win it all and earned the ex- Alabama assistant a promotion to run-game coordinator. The difference makes in New England is well-documented, and Tony Sparano was huge in helping the Vikings meld new piece to fix their front last fall. Likewise, it looks like the Bears got a good one.

In fact, I hit up Nagy on this on Wednesday. He and Hiestand didn’t know each other before Nagy assembled his staff, and as first impressions have gone, the new Chicago boss put it like this: “He impresses me more and more every day.”

3. The value of Bell and Gronk. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has been contemplating retirement since the Super Bowl, and Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell brought up the idea to my buddy Jeremy Fowler as Pittsburgh was getting ready to hit him with a second straight franchise tag. The common thread? The latter is clearly a contract play, while the former could be construed as one. And know what? Good for those guys. I’m not sure it’ll work, but it’d be the only way either would achieve their true worth, dollar for dollar.

It’s simple. Bell and Gronkowski are every bit as valuable as any skill-position player in the NFL. But they’re prisoners of their positions. Leverage points in the NFL are dictated by franchise tag figures, and the running back ($11.866 million) and tight end ($9.846 million) numbers lag badly behind the tag for receivers ($15.982 million). As a result, Gronkowski’s current deal, on a per-year basis, ranks below those of 20 different receivers for 2018. Similarly, the NFL’s highest-paid running back (it’s , since Bell hasn’t signed his tag) is beat out in average per year by 21 receivers. And this if before the start of free agency.

How can the elite beat the system? They can do what Bell did and force their teams to keep tagging them—a risky proposition at a position, like tailback, with a short shelf life. Or they can withhold services, a fancy way of positioning a holdout. With Gronkowski, my sense is that he’s truly considering walking away, which could prompt the Patriots to try and sweeten the pot. With Bell, it’s obvious that this is more of a strike at the Steelers to try and get what he wants. It’ll be interesting to see if either can, now or later, bust the market at their position.

4. Roger gets his pound of flesh? The way the fight over the reimbursement of legal fees waged this week has been framed as Jerry Jones vs. Roger Goodell. And that, folks, is the wrong way to look at it. This is, and always was, Jones vs. the larger body of owners, the same way Deflategate was Robert Kraft vs. the larger group. In each case, the backdrop was a single owner gaining too much power for the others’ liking.

Kraft’s transgression, according to his peers, was growing too close to Goodell and, in turn, gaining too much influence at 345 Park. With Jones, it was how he commandeered the NFL’s selection of a project to back as the league planned its return to Los Angeles, then steered the Raiders towards a new stadium project in Las Vegas. And the links are easy to put together.

Members of the league’s L.A. committee felt like Jones tried to big foot them, and five of the six members of that committee (New England’s Robert Kraft, Kansas City’s Clark Hunt, Pittsburgh’s Art Rooney, Houston’s Bob McNair and the Giants’ Hunt) also serve on the league’s compensation committee. The compensation committee, of course, is responsible for doing Goodell’s deal, and so they were the one’s scrapping with Jones over the commissioner’s contract last fall. And four members of the compensation committee (Kraft, Hunt, McNair and Atlanta’s Arthur Blank) are also on the finance committee, which was responsible for handling the penalties levied against Jones. So Jones hacked off the L.A. committee in playing the role of off-the-books director, then got some of those guys angry all over again in leading a very public fight against the league’s public face. And now we have the endgame—those owners sticking Jones with a bill in excess of $2 million for all the money the league needed to fight him over Goodell’s contract and Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension.

The lesson? Sometimes one owner may seem to be a bigger deal than the next. But in the end, they’re all pretty rich, and most of them are wildly successful, and none want the next guy to ever have too much power.

LESSON OF THE WEEK The Seahawks offseason always was going to revolve around five guys.

Defensive end Michael Bennett became, to some degree, a problem for the coaches last year and his play was less consistent with a lower top end at 32. Safety and defensive end Cliff Avril are dealing with career-threatening neck injuries. And safety and Richard Sherman (who’s also hurt) are going into the final year of their contracts.

So what GM John Schneider and coach decided to do with that quintet would tell us what we needed to know about the direction of the franchise. And today, we got a much better idea with Bennett dealt off to the Eagles and Sherman clearly on his way out, barring the way outside chance that he’d accept a pay cut.

As always, there’s a lesson here: Follow what a team does, not what it says, to figure out where it is. And Schneider hinted at it at the combine last week. The start of the overhaul flat out screams it. The Seahawks are retooling.

NFL The ‘Legion of Boom’ Seahawks Go Quietly Into the Night The aforementioned five players were on the books for $48.625 million for 2018, a tick over 27 percent of the team’s cap space. What’ll be interesting now is how the room the Seahawks clear here will be used going forward, with plenty around the league speculating that the image of the franchise could be in flux.

“There’s not noticeable decline (with all those players), but they had a lot of money allocated to defense and the offense has struggled,” said one rival NFC pro scouting director. “They have the core, those two linebackers ( and KJ Wright) that they can build around, and now they can get a lot younger at spots where they had expensive pieces.

“And then they could allocate money to the offense, get Russell (Wilson) some help and some protection. And maybe get it to where doesn’t have to be 90 percent of their offense.”

New England went through this over a decade ago. The Patriots won three titles in Tom Brady’s first four years as starter, with a stout defense, and workmanlike offense. That team got old, and in its place, during a dramatic 2007 offseason, Bill Belichick stocked his young quarterback’s arsenal, and Brady responded with his first MVP and the touchdown pass record. And Brady hasn’t looked back.

Just as that was when New England became more Brady-centric, you wonder if now a Seahawks team that won it all with Wilson riding shotgun to a defense-and-run-game-driven operation will lean towards making the offense as prolific as the defense once was. What we do know is that, one way or another, Seattle’s going to look a lot different in 2018. Their actions are foreshadowing that now. And it should be interesting to see not just who else from the current team is gone, but exactly what kind of team will be taking its place.

Report: Broncos have had discussions with 49ers about Aqib Talib By Charean Williams Pro Football Talk March 8, 2018

The 49ers are discussing a trade with the Broncos for cornerback Aqib Talib, Dianna Russini of ESPN reports. But the trade appears unlikely, Russini adds, which would suit Talib as he prefers his release so he can return to the Patriots.

Talib, 32, is due to make $11 million in base salary and count $12 million against the cap. The Broncos would save $11 million with his trade or release.

Talib recently responded to a tweet from the NFL about the possibility of the Broncos moving him, asking, “Who’s coming to get me?”

In 10 seasons, Talib has 34 interceptions, 10 touchdowns and 117 pass breakups. He played 19 games with the Patriots over two seasons after they traded for him during the 2012 season.

Broncos “actively shopping” Aqib Talib, including to Patriots By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk March 8, 2018

If Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib is on the trade block, he wants some degree of say in where he’s going.

And it seems that where he wants to go is New England.

According to Mike Klis of KUSA, the Broncos are actively shopping Talib, talking to a number of teams including the Patriots. And while he theoretically has no say in the process, he could also offer enough resistance to make another team hesitant to acquire him if they think he isn’t going to play along.

Talib has two years left on his contract, at $11 million this year and $8 million in 2019.

The 49ers were the first reported suitors, and John Elway and 49ers General Manager John Lynch were reportedly making progress until Talib balked at the idea.

Apparently he’d rather play with Tom Brady than his understudy, and return to the team he played with for two seasons (2012-13).

The Broncos are hoping to move him by the start of the league year next Wednesday.

DeMaurice Smith: Ban the team that asked the Derrius Guice question from the Combine By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk March 8, 2018

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith has a simple solution to the problem of teams asking players inappropriate questions at the Scouting Combine: Keep the teams that do it from participating.

Smith said on PFT Live that he thinks the team that asked running back Derrius Guice if he likes men should not be permitted to participate in the Scouting Combine going forward.

“Find out what team did it and ban them from the Combine,” Smith said. “The question is inappropriate. Questions along these lines are always inappropriate.”

Smith said he doesn’t like the whole way the NFL treats players entering the league, although those players are not yet union members and so there’s only so much he can do for them.

“I’ve never been a fan of the Combine,” Smith said.

The players themselves are in an awkward situation because if they push back against inappropriate questions, they risk getting labeled a problem, hurting their own draft stock and earning potential. So it’s on the NFL to force teams to knock it off.