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http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_5521429
Al Wilson's stock plummeting
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 03/25/2007 11:38:51 PM MDT
Once Wilson understood he was trade bait, he switched agents.
Phoenix - A new set of unpalatable options could be confronting Al Wilson.
Now that the football world knows Wilson failed his physical with the New York Giants, the chances of the Broncos dealing their middle linebacker have been drastically reduced.
If the Broncos can't deal Wilson, he could return to the Broncos, although most likely at a pay cut from his listed $5.2 million salary. If Wilson doesn't like the pay cut, he could accept his release and become a free agent.
Yes, the NFL is a cold-hearted business, even for players as popular and accomplished as Wilson.
"I like Al," Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said here Sunday. "The defensive coaches didn't think his play made it worth what we were paying him."
Once Wilson understood he was trade bait, he switched agents from Norm Nixon, the former Los Angeles Lakers guard, to Peter Schaffer, who has extensive experience in moving high-profile Broncos who have fallen out of favor.
Schaffer's clientele includes Trevor Pryce, Mike Anderson and Ashley Lelie to name a few.
The Broncos and Schaffer had Wilson traded to the Giants on Friday in exchange for what sources confirmed was a third-round pick in the upcoming draft. That deal was nixed, however, when the Giants' medical team flagged the condition of Wilson's neck and back.
Although Schaffer will continue to seek a new team for Wilson, his task is considerably more challenging than it was a week ago. He said his first step is to gather more information.
"I'm not a doctor, and I don't question doctors," Schaffer said. "But I haven't talked to the Giants' doctors. The Broncos' doctors said he's fine."
Schaffer must then find a team willing to take a risk on a talented, if reputedly battered, linebacker who is about to enter his ninth season.
"I'm confident we're going to get something done that will make Al happy not only for next year, but for the rest of his career," Schaffer said.
Does that mean staying in Denver?
"I don't know," Bowlen said. "That's a question for Al and the head coach."
As Jake's world turns
A league source says Tampa Bay will put serious pressure on retired quarterback Jake Plummer to at least participate in training camp, or the Buccaneers will go after the $5 million to $7 million in a prorated signing bonus he may owe for not fulfilling his contract.
The source said Plummer would not have to pay back any bonus if he is released during camp.
What's in it for the Bucs to have Plummer report with his heart not in it? At most, the Bucs believe once Plummer shows up, his competitive instincts will take over and he'll wind up outperforming current quarterbacks Jeff Garcia and Chris Simms.
At worst, Plummer would provide insurance in case Garcia or Simms get hurt.
And if none of those scenarios work out, the Bucs believe they'll get up to $7 million.
Who's your Big Daddy?
The Broncos likely will nix a second trade. It doesn't appear defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson will be donning an orange or blue Nike swoosh next season.
Wilkinson, 34, was acquired this month from Miami in exchange for a sixth-round pick but concerns about his knee and desire to play have put the deal on hold.
Even if Wilkinson agrees to play, the Broncos no longer want to surrender a draft pick for him - a condition the Dolphins may not accept. Knowing this, the Broncos already moved to replace Wilkinson by signing former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Alvin McKinley last week.
Soliciting Fox's wisdom
People have it wrong. It's not NFL commissioner Roger Goodell who is about to revise the players' off-field conduct policy. It's the NFL players who want a new players' policy.
And should Goodell announce the new policy here Tuesday as expected during the NFL owners meetings, the league and fans can thank the Broncos' Domonique Foxworth, among a few others, for the revisions.
Foxworth, the Broncos' assistant player rep to Rod Smith, was part of a players' advisory council that met with league officials in Indianapolis and Hawaii the past month to discuss player conduct.
"We proposed a lot of things to the owners and Mr. Goodell," Foxworth said. "What they put together I have no idea. But I would expect it to be aggressive because they recognize how bad our industry can be hurt by the action of a few."
Al Wilson's stock plummeting
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 03/25/2007 11:38:51 PM MDT
Once Wilson understood he was trade bait, he switched agents.
Phoenix - A new set of unpalatable options could be confronting Al Wilson.
Now that the football world knows Wilson failed his physical with the New York Giants, the chances of the Broncos dealing their middle linebacker have been drastically reduced.
If the Broncos can't deal Wilson, he could return to the Broncos, although most likely at a pay cut from his listed $5.2 million salary. If Wilson doesn't like the pay cut, he could accept his release and become a free agent.
Yes, the NFL is a cold-hearted business, even for players as popular and accomplished as Wilson.
"I like Al," Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said here Sunday. "The defensive coaches didn't think his play made it worth what we were paying him."
Once Wilson understood he was trade bait, he switched agents from Norm Nixon, the former Los Angeles Lakers guard, to Peter Schaffer, who has extensive experience in moving high-profile Broncos who have fallen out of favor.
Schaffer's clientele includes Trevor Pryce, Mike Anderson and Ashley Lelie to name a few.
The Broncos and Schaffer had Wilson traded to the Giants on Friday in exchange for what sources confirmed was a third-round pick in the upcoming draft. That deal was nixed, however, when the Giants' medical team flagged the condition of Wilson's neck and back.
Although Schaffer will continue to seek a new team for Wilson, his task is considerably more challenging than it was a week ago. He said his first step is to gather more information.
"I'm not a doctor, and I don't question doctors," Schaffer said. "But I haven't talked to the Giants' doctors. The Broncos' doctors said he's fine."
Schaffer must then find a team willing to take a risk on a talented, if reputedly battered, linebacker who is about to enter his ninth season.
"I'm confident we're going to get something done that will make Al happy not only for next year, but for the rest of his career," Schaffer said.
Does that mean staying in Denver?
"I don't know," Bowlen said. "That's a question for Al and the head coach."
As Jake's world turns
A league source says Tampa Bay will put serious pressure on retired quarterback Jake Plummer to at least participate in training camp, or the Buccaneers will go after the $5 million to $7 million in a prorated signing bonus he may owe for not fulfilling his contract.
The source said Plummer would not have to pay back any bonus if he is released during camp.
What's in it for the Bucs to have Plummer report with his heart not in it? At most, the Bucs believe once Plummer shows up, his competitive instincts will take over and he'll wind up outperforming current quarterbacks Jeff Garcia and Chris Simms.
At worst, Plummer would provide insurance in case Garcia or Simms get hurt.
And if none of those scenarios work out, the Bucs believe they'll get up to $7 million.
Who's your Big Daddy?
The Broncos likely will nix a second trade. It doesn't appear defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson will be donning an orange or blue Nike swoosh next season.
Wilkinson, 34, was acquired this month from Miami in exchange for a sixth-round pick but concerns about his knee and desire to play have put the deal on hold.
Even if Wilkinson agrees to play, the Broncos no longer want to surrender a draft pick for him - a condition the Dolphins may not accept. Knowing this, the Broncos already moved to replace Wilkinson by signing former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Alvin McKinley last week.
Soliciting Fox's wisdom
People have it wrong. It's not NFL commissioner Roger Goodell who is about to revise the players' off-field conduct policy. It's the NFL players who want a new players' policy.
And should Goodell announce the new policy here Tuesday as expected during the NFL owners meetings, the league and fans can thank the Broncos' Domonique Foxworth, among a few others, for the revisions.
Foxworth, the Broncos' assistant player rep to Rod Smith, was part of a players' advisory council that met with league officials in Indianapolis and Hawaii the past month to discuss player conduct.
"We proposed a lot of things to the owners and Mr. Goodell," Foxworth said. "What they put together I have no idea. But I would expect it to be aggressive because they recognize how bad our industry can be hurt by the action of a few."
