DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos are shopping four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trevor Pryce for a trade, his agent said.
"The Broncos came to us, and this is what they want to do," Peter Schaffer said.
Broncos spokesman Jim Saccomano declined comment on Monday.
The NFL trading period begins March 2.
Pryce had back surgery in September and played only in the first and last games of the regular season last year. He did not play in Denver's 49-24 first-round playoff loss to the Colts.
Schaffer said Pryce's health would not be an issue in a trade. He turns 30 in August and is entering his ninth season.
Schaffer said he's looking for the best place for Pryce to play "for 2005 and beyond."
"The only issue here is the uncertainty of where he will be," he said.
Pryce is best suited to the 4-3 defense Denver used last season, with four defensive linemen and three linebackers, but the Broncos are considering a 3-4 alignment next year.
Pryce has the highest salary cap number on Denver's roster for next season, $9.2 million. The Broncos are about $2 million under the cap and are restructuring some veterans' deals to create more room.
If Pryce is traded, he would be the second big-name player to be swapped by the Broncos in two years. In March, Denver sent running back Clinton Portis to Washington for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round pick.
Fowler agrees to buy Vikings, would be NFL's first black owner
By DAVE CAMPBELL, AP Sports Writer
February 14, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler agreed to buy the Minnesota Vikings in a deal that would make him the NFL's first black owner.
Fowler declined to say how much he would pay for the team. Published reports and a rival bidder, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, put the price at about $625 million.
Owner Red McCombs had the team on the block since 2002. Taylor had offered about $600 million, though some of that money was contingent on a new stadium being built. If the league approves the deal, McCombs will make a huge profit -- he paid $246 million for the team in 1998.
Asked about becoming the league's first black owner, Fowler said Monday in a seeming contradiction that he thought it was ``a great thing'' and not that big a thing. He said race didn't figure in negotiations with McCombs.
``He did not discount the price because of that,'' Fowler said, laughing.
NFL owners are to meet March 20-23 in Hawaii. League rules require 24 of the 32 owners to approve a sale. The NFL also mandates that a general partner must put down 30 percent of the cash portion of any franchise purchase.
The league said Fowler met Saturday with commissioner Paul Tagliabue and will meet with the league's finance committee in Florida on March 9-10. The committee's report will then go to all the owners, who could vote during the Hawaii meetings.
Fowler's ownership group -- he said he had three limited partners -- faces the same problem that McCombs did: the Metrodome doesn't generate as much revenue as other NFL stadiums.
Fowler brushed aside questions about pressing for a new stadium and rejected any thought of moving the team.
``We want to focus today on just acquiring the team,'' he said at a news conference.
Fowler's ownership group faces the same problem that McCombs did: The Metrodome doesn't generate as much revenue as other NFL stadiums.
Opposition to a publicly funded stadium has been strong. And with the Vikings' Metrodome lease running through 2011, the Minnesota Twins and University of Minnesota football team are thought to be higher priorities with the Legislature.
State Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson said Monday that Taylor, a former state legislator, would have had a better shot at money for a stadium.
``Fowler would have to start in first grade,'' Johnson said before the deal was announced.
Fowler is a former University of Wyoming football player. He now owns Spiral Inc., a company that supplies grocery stores with bags, cups, containers, labels and janitorial supplies. The Arizona Republic reported Saturday that Fowler's personal net worth is estimated at more than $400 million -- far less than Taylor's $1.9 billion.
A survey of NFL team values by Forbes magazine last fall estimated the Vikings worth at about $604 million.
As for the purchase, Fowler could borrow up to $125 million from the NFL's own leaguewide credit consortium. If the purchase price is near the reported $625 million, that would leave a balance of $500 million; Fowler's share of that would be about $150 million.
Fowler sidestepped questions about his personal worth and ability to pull off the deal.
``My kids think I'm worth a lot,'' he said.
During McCombs' run, the Vikings have sold out every home game and made the playoffs four times in seven seasons -- twice advancing to the NFC championship game. But his popularity waned as he pushed harder for a new stadium, especially when he talked about moving the team to Los Angeles.
The Vikings spent five years pushing for a new stadium to be built in part with public money, before recently deciding to scale back their lobbying effort in the current legislative session. Because dozens of other clubs have either opened new stadiums or refurbished existing structures since his 1998 purchase, McCombs said the Vikings couldn't generate enough revenue in the 22-year-old Metrodome to compete.
On Monday, McCombs said he would ``always be a Viking'' and regretted that he wasn't able to get a new stadium.
``I loved it,'' he said, referring to his ownership. ``I think I did a very good job at it. But the fact of the matter is it was never going to work.''
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:53 pm Posts: 20537 Location: The City Of Trees
And, as posted in another thread:
CLEVELAND (Feb. 14, 2005) -- Quarterback Jeff Garcia was released by the Cleveland Browns, who cut ties with the three-time Pro Bowler after one bad season and with three years left on his contract.
Garcia signed a four-year, $25 million free agent contract with the Browns last March after spending five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. But almost from the time Garcia arrived in Cleveland, there were problems.
During the exhibition season, the 34-year-old complained he wasn't getting enough playing time and that he was having trouble adjusting to new teammates and a new offense. Garcia made things worse by openly criticizing former Browns coach Butch Davis and offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie, complaining that they weren't using him properly.
After rallying the Browns (4-12) to beat Baltimore in Week 1, Garcia threw three interceptions the next week in a loss at Dallas and recorded a 0.0 quarterback rating -- only the fifth NFL quarterback since 1970 to do so.
Garcia's season also was hampered by injuries. He strained his shoulder on a sack against the New York Jets on Nov. 21 and tore a knee ligament on Dec. 12 in Buffalo.
That's the only thing that needs to be said to players released by general manager Bruce Allen, who has to trim $14-million from the payroll in about 14 days.
Where does he begin?
Like most teams, at quarterback.
Veteran Brad Johnson, who has an $8.55-million salary-cap value in 2005, will move on.
This isn't a situation like the one that developed for Mark Brunell in 2004, when a trade market developed for the former Jaguars quarterback before the start of the free-agent signing period.
When Johnson is released, he will save the Bucs about $4.5-million. Easy enough.
Next up: Brian Griese. The Bucs want him back, but they may not view him as a long-term answer. Allen and agent Ralph Cindrich have swapped several proposals and more talks are planned.
If the Bucs are successful in reworking the deal for Griese, who is owed a $6-million roster bonus in March and a $2-million base salary, they easily could reduce the cap space taken up by their starter. If the whole deal falls through, that's about $7-million erased from the cap and an enormous problem for the Bucs.
Griese likely doesn't want to play for his fourth team in four years, and having crawled from No. 3 to a starter in the league again, he isn't anxious to leave Jon Gruden.
It's inevitable that Allen will release players.
Cornerback Mario Edwards looks like a certain cap casualty. He's owed a $1.6-million roster bonus on March 1, which would increase his value to more than $3.3-million, too much for a player who couldn't secure the nickelback position, having lost it at one point to Torrie Cox.
The player everyone asks about is fullback Mike Alstott. He is owed $2-million, and given his ever-diminishing role, looked like a certain goner.
The Bucs, however, remember the beating they took for cutting safety John Lynch, who made the Pro Bowl as a Bronco. And they don't want to repeat it with Alstott, perhaps the most popular player in team history.
Second, Alstott is willing to take a pay cut to finish his career in Tampa Bay. He likely will get just over the veteran minimum, say $1-million, to stay. If he has a good preseason and makes the team, great. If not, he retires a Buccaneer.
It's hard to see the Bucs keeping linebacker Ian Gold. He fired his agent, Karl Poston. He proved his surgically repaired knee is sound, but he wants to return to weakside linebacker, his natural position. By keeping Gold, a large bonus after the '05 season kicks in.
Eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks will have to restructure his contract eventually because his cap figure exceeds $9.5-million next season. The Bucs can find another strongside linebacker.
Defensive end Greg Spires is on the books for $3-million next season. But he and agent Drew Rosenhaus believe Spires has a verbal agreement with the Bucs that he can become an unrestricted free agent if a restructured deal cannot be worked out. If he hits the market, there's some more room for Allen.
He's going to need to cut a lot of those million-dollar babies.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:03 pm Posts: 26481 Location: virginia Gender: Male
awsome, thanks much, it accually kinda promiseing to me because i would accually like to see some of the older guys heading out(even though i like brad johnson) and makeing cap room so that they will be able to sign all their draft picks this year, and rookies might mean another not so great season next year, but they can also be potential for the future. i really cant wait for draft day to see what they do with 11 picks(if they keep them all)
_________________ what is that a titleist..............Hole in one
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:53 pm Posts: 20537 Location: The City Of Trees
jlvsprljam wrote:
i really cant wait for draft day to see what they do with 11 picks(if they keep them all)
Yeah, the Bucs haven't had that many picks in a long time.
If the Bucs cut Mike Alstott, and I run an NFL team, I'd love to bring him in for a reasonable price. If he can still gain an almost guaranteed 3rd and short, he'd be valuable.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:03 pm Posts: 26481 Location: virginia Gender: Male
Green Habit wrote:
jlvsprljam wrote:
i really cant wait for draft day to see what they do with 11 picks(if they keep them all)
Yeah, the Bucs haven't had that many picks in a long time.
If the Bucs cut Mike Alstott, and I run an NFL team, I'd love to bring him in for a reasonable price. If he can still gain an almost guaranteed 3rd and short, he'd be valuable.
that one thing im definatly hopeing they dont do, he wants to be paied as little as possible to stay a buck, and i think if nothing else he would be a great leader in the locker room for all the young guys comming in, he is the type of guy that rookies should try to be like
_________________ what is that a titleist..............Hole in one
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:03 pm Posts: 26481 Location: virginia Gender: Male
just wondering what some peoples thoughts are on cadilac williams? it was probably all just BS but like a month ago on cold pizza someone from the bucks and cadilac were on at the same time and they told him that if he was still there when their pick was up that he would be a buck. so anyway incase it wasnt BS, would cadilac be a good pick up?
_________________ what is that a titleist..............Hole in one
Bills reportedly to cut Bledsoe
Buffalo will go with second-year QB Losman
Image: Bledsoe
Gary Wiepert / Reuters
Drew Bledsoe went 23-25 in his three seasons with the Bills.
NBCSports.com news services
Updated: 8:32 p.m. ET Feb. 15, 2005
The Buffalo Bills appear to be the latest team preparing to jettison a veteran quarterback.
The Bills will release Drew Bledsoe on Wednesday, Fox Sports reported, and plan to announce the move at a press conference.
Because of NFL rules, the Bills won't officially cut Bledsoe until Feb. 22. But the team already has informed the former Pro Bowl quarterback, Fox Sports reported.
The Bills will go with JP Losman, last year's first-round pick, at quarterback next season, Fox Sports reported.
Bledsoe, acquired from the New England Patriots in 2002 for a first-round draft pick, went just 23-25 with the Bills. Buffalo never reached the playoffs with him as quarterback.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 5:57 pm Posts: 941 Location: Buffalo
Green Habit wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6976433/
Bills reportedly to cut Bledsoe Buffalo will go with second-year QB Losman Image: Bledsoe Gary Wiepert / Reuters Drew Bledsoe went 23-25 in his three seasons with the Bills.
NBCSports.com news services Updated: 8:32 p.m. ET Feb. 15, 2005
The Buffalo Bills appear to be the latest team preparing to jettison a veteran quarterback.
The Bills will release Drew Bledsoe on Wednesday, Fox Sports reported, and plan to announce the move at a press conference.
Because of NFL rules, the Bills won't officially cut Bledsoe until Feb. 22. But the team already has informed the former Pro Bowl quarterback, Fox Sports reported.
The Bills will go with JP Losman, last year's first-round pick, at quarterback next season, Fox Sports reported.
Bledsoe, acquired from the New England Patriots in 2002 for a first-round draft pick, went just 23-25 with the Bills. Buffalo never reached the playoffs with him as quarterback.
Ya beat me too it!
I wonder if he'll be picked up by Dallas...
more importantly, I wonder who the Bills will sign as a backup...surely they won't stick with shane matthews....will they?
_________________ So we finish the 18th...And I say, 'Hey, Lama, how about a little something ,you know, for the effort.' And he says...when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.'
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