MIKE ANDERSON? TREVOR PRYCE? JEB PUTZIER? What's Shanahan Thinking?

[DenWu]

Wow, I usually agree with Mike Shanahan on his decision making, I mean who am I to argue with one of the winningest coaches in the game today. But to waive Trevor Pryce!?!? Why? He was the leader of our fearsome foursome last year. Mike Anderson was a great committee running back with Tatum. Jeb Putzier has had solid hands. Stephen Alexander sucks balls. So why cut Putzier and not Alexander? Mike Anderson and Trevor Pryce are leaders in the locker room and on the field. These moves just don't make much sense to me. Especially Trevor Pryce, it's not like he's done playing football. I figure it's all about money and salary cap, but man we should've cut some different players before these three. If anyone can shed some light on this, please let me know. These are good quality players that I hate to see go. Tatum Bell is good, I think he should be the starter, but who's his backup now. I'm not as worried about that as I am about the DE because I know that Shanahan will get some great rookie that fits with the system, but what about the DE? Engelberger is no Trevor Pryce. We were one game away from the Super Bowl, I don't think that a drastic overhaul is really necessary. Hopefully not too much else changes. I know that about a third of the tream has to change every season, but I never thought Trevor would be let go like this. And if we get rid of Alexander and Putzier, now we have no TE? Maybe our first draft pick will be a tight end, but Putzier is proven. Alright, I'll stop there.

[BroncoFanCam]

Ok, in case you have failed to read any of the 145 threads on the subject....

What would you rather him have done? We had to get under the cap, it was get rid of underachieving, overpaid players past their prime. Or make massive cuts to lower paid players with youth and potential on their side (probably 10-12 of them to cut that kind of money).. wake up people, if you didn't see this coming you are/were in denial.

Trevor's fate was sealed when he REFUSED to take a pay cut... .lol @ the masses that think he was worth anything close to 10 million a year. He wasn't even worth half of that.

[HORSEPOWER 56]

He's thinking that they were all overpaid. Pryce's four sacks weren't worth the $10 mil cap hit. MA was a team player, but by no means irreplaceable and he was like the fifth highest paid RB in the league...let that sink in for a minute. Putzier was making starting money and was a backup, plain and simple. He was a decent receiver, but he couldn't bock and therefore, didn't start. The big thing is, all three refused to restructure their contracts to get under the cap. This is also a facet of being a team player. Rod, Plummer, Al Wilson, and others have done it before, these guys wouldn't. Oh well, we aren't gonna miss them...I'd put money on it.

[Archimedes Owl]

Well, to start off, Trevor Pryce wasn't just a bit expensive. He was going to cost us $10 million dollars against this years cap. By cutting him, the Broncos saved $8 million Dollars. Cutting Anderson saved also saved a couple of million and the same with Putzier.

Now, Trevor was a pretty good DT in years past and was also a pretty good DE for us, but he was by no means dominant last year. In fact, our entire defensive line was wildly overrated.

After all, we had the third fewest sacks this year despite facing more pass attempts than any other team by a wide margin. The only teams to have fewer sacks faced over 100 fewer pass attempts than us. It is true that their sack numbers may have been lower due to teams throwing the ball away, but it is also true that the amount of pressure that they got was overrated.

Beyond that, they allowed a mediocre 4.0 yards per carry.

Last year, they allowed 3.8 yards per carry. In other words, our run defense actually regressed slightly this year. The only reason that we ranked so well in overall yardage rankings was because we faced the fewest rushes in the league.

Now, as for Anderson, he was pretty damn good this year with his 4.2 yards per carry average and showed good running skills, but he is nowhere near as fast and explosive as Tatum Bell and his per carry average was significantly lower than the 5.1 yards per carry average of Ron Dayne. Couple that with his age and it becomes clear why he was expendable.

As for Putzier, he was a hot commodity last year. The Jets offered him a decent deal to pull him away from us and we actually matched the offer. He was second amoung tight ends in yards per catch with 15.9. This year, his per reception average was quite a bit lower and he never really improved his blocking ability.

Losing him was an acceptable loss. This is particularly so if Wesley Duke pans out as we all hope he will.

In the end, Putzier was the biggest loss, but it isn't like his loss will doom the team. He's replaceable.

[West]

What was Shanny thinking? Hmm let's see.


The 3 cuts are a mystery for a lot of people. But not me and a lot others. He was thinking that for the past 2 years Pryce has had a total of 4 sacks. Pryce was due 8 million dollars this year and that hurts the cap obviously. Does the production of Pryce equal out to the contract he signed after coming off a string of years where he was very productive? Of course not. Pryce has not produced and was a lock for being cut. Hell we tried to get rid of him last year but no teams showed much interest(gee wonder why?). So why not, Shanny gives him one more shot to prove himself. So he stays healthy and is the starting lineup for all 16 games and everyone(including me) were expected big things. Things that could solve our pass rushing problem from the year before, things that could solve our troubles in the secondary. But did he live up to expectations? Of course not. So Pryce would not take a pay cut and he got the boot. Smart move by Shanny.

Putzier, where do I begin. I have never been to fond of this kid. Putzier is not tough. He can not take a hit and get right up and shake it off. Hits effect him and his play. Putzier is probably more inconsistent than Lelie. Sure he goes on his streaks of good catches, but then he will just shut himself off from the rest of the world and go into hiding. He can not seem to get open. He doesn't have that attribute under his belt that many good TEs in the league have. You know its bad when Stephen Alexander starts over you. Shanny shouldn't have matched the Jets offer last year when he was a RFA. Good move Shanny.

Mike is the only one that confuses me to an extent. Here Mike is coming off a season that nobody could have ran better in the situation he was in. Sharing carries with a young back, battling age and other stuff. This season was Mike's first season where he has finally got his chance since his rookie season. Coming off a huge rookie year, he shared carries with TD. The next season the team wanted to move him to FB while rookie Portis carries the load and rushes for 1500 yards. Next season he does the same. The next season he was suspended. And then this season. Mike ran very well this year. BUT the fact that Shanny has 2 capable backs behind him and considering Mike's salary, it was apperent that something had to be done. And it did. Mike left his reigns to a young up and coming Tatum Bell who has a lot of up side to his talent and Ron Dayne who was once thought as a bust but has found a home in Denver. Good move Shanny.


I have no problem with any of these cuts.

[dogfish]

nice answers everyone!!

Wow, I usually agree with Mike Shanahan on his decision making, I mean who am I to argue with one of the winningest coaches in the game today. But to waive Trevor Pryce!?!? Why? He was the leader of our fearsome foursome last year. Mike Anderson was a great committee running back with Tatum. Jeb Putzier has had solid hands. Stephen Alexander sucks balls. So why cut Putzier and not Alexander? Mike Anderson and Trevor Pryce are leaders in the locker room and on the field. These moves just don't make much sense to me. Especially Trevor Pryce, it's not like he's done playing football. I figure it's all about money and salary cap, but man we should've cut some different players before these three. If anyone can shed some light on this, please let me know. These are good quality players that I hate to see go. Tatum Bell is good, I think he should be the starter, but who's his backup now. I'm not as worried about that as I am about the DE because I know that Shanahan will get some great rookie that fits with the system, but what about the DE? Engelberger is no Trevor Pryce. We were one game away from the Super Bowl, I don't think that a drastic overhaul is really necessary. Hopefully not too much else changes. I know that about a third of the tream has to change every season, but I never thought Trevor would be let go like this. And if we get rid of Alexander and Putzier, now we have no TE? Maybe our first draft pick will be a tight end, but Putzier is proven. Alright, I'll stop there.

you just answered your own question. . .

like who? we needed to clear about 15 mil in cap space, you don't do that by cutting no-names-- some people were going to be upset no matter WHO was cut, if it had been other well-known players you would have been just as upset! you'll feel better if we get john abraham though. . .

as BFC suggested, there are several lengthy threads already going in the GD forum. . .

[Cugel]

Shanahan made a good start at clearing out the dead-wood with these moves!

Frankly, he didn't go far enough! He should have cut Courtney Brown and John Engleberger as well, and I think re-negotiating Gerrard Warren might also prove to be a mistake too, but we can live with it, since you can't cut everyone.

But Pryce has been vastly overpaid for years now. He was due $10 million and was worth about $2 million. Cutting him saved $8 million, which means his salary cap hit was about $2 million. He refused to take a pay cut -- even though it would definitely leave him as one of the most overpaid DEs in football at about $3-$4 million per year.

Normall, a guy who gets 4 sacks in 2 years and is nearing the end of his career and has had serious back surgery the year before and missed the entire season, doesn't get paid $4 million a year.

Good luck Trevor finding anyone to pay you that kind of money!

Anderson is 34 years old and for a RB that's old. He also wouldn't take a pay cut. He'll now find out that RBs are a dime a dozen in this league and that he'll be lucky to find work at any price. Especially since most teams will conclude that his success was largely due to the Broncos blocking system and OL and not due to any special skill on Anderson's part. He'll be lucky to start anywhere else and he probably will never get 1000 yards again.

He was a good player, but he can easily be replaced. We replaced Portis, who has twice the talent that Anderson does.


Jeb Putzier. He was expected to blossom this year into a real threat. Instead he had 37 receptions for 481 yards. That's not a breakout year.

Shanahnan was unhappy with his blocking ability and failure to improve his performance. Goodbye Jeb!

None of these losses will hurt the Broncos any. They can pick up better players than those guys and will.

[DURANGO BRONCO]

Cugel - very good analogy

[trick83]

Anderson is 34 years old and for a RB that's old. He also wouldn't take a pay cut. He'll now find out that RBs are a dime a dozen in this league and that he'll be lucky to find work at any price. Especially since most teams will conclude that his success was largely due to the Broncos blocking system and OL and not due to any special skill on Anderson's part. He'll be lucky to start anywhere else and he probably will never get 1000 yards again.

He was a good player, but he can easily be replaced. We replaced Portis, who has twice the talent that Anderson did.


I beg to differ about the system. look at ruben droughns he ran for 1241 in 04-05 and what did he just do he ran for more 1200 yards last seeason for the cleavand browns

[The Dark Knight]

Anderson is 34 years old and for a RB that's old. He also wouldn't take a pay cut. He'll now find out that RBs are a dime a dozen in this league and that he'll be lucky to find work at any price. Especially since most teams will conclude that his success was largely due to the Broncos blocking system and OL and not due to any special skill on Anderson's part. He'll be lucky to start anywhere else and he probably will never get 1000 yards again.

He was a good player, but he can easily be replaced. We replaced Portis, who has twice the talent that Anderson did.


I beg to differ about the system. look at ruben droughns he ran for 1241 in 04-05 and what did he just do he ran for more 1200 yards last seeason for the cleavand browns

We have quote buttons you know.

This is a full featured message board.

[xX-Bronco-Xx]

Anderson is 34 years old and for a RB that's old. He also wouldn't take a pay cut. He'll now find out that RBs are a dime a dozen in this league and that he'll be lucky to find work at any price. Especially since most teams will conclude that his success was largely due to the Broncos blocking system and OL and not due to any special skill on Anderson's part. He'll be lucky to start anywhere else and he probably will never get 1000 yards again.

He was a good player, but he can easily be replaced. We replaced Portis, who has twice the talent that Anderson did.


I beg to differ about the system. look at ruben droughns he ran for 1241 in 04-05 and what did he just do he ran for more 1200 yards last seeason for the cleavand browns

Cleavand never heard of it .

Same thing posted by every other Broncos fan here but a good post anyways.

[TXBRONC]

Wow, I usually agree with Mike Shanahan on his decision making, I mean who am I to argue with one of the winningest coaches in the game today. But to waive Trevor Pryce!?!? Why? He was the leader of our fearsome foursome last year. Mike Anderson was a great committee running back with Tatum. Jeb Putzier has had solid hands. Stephen Alexander sucks balls. So why cut Putzier and not Alexander? Mike Anderson and Trevor Pryce are leaders in the locker room and on the field. These moves just don't make much sense to me. Especially Trevor Pryce, it's not like he's done playing football. I figure it's all about money and salary cap, but man we should've cut some different players before these three. If anyone can shed some light on this, please let me know. These are good quality players that I hate to see go. Tatum Bell is good, I think he should be the starter, but who's his backup now. I'm not as worried about that as I am about the DE because I know that Shanahan will get some great rookie that fits with the system, but what about the DE? Engelberger is no Trevor Pryce. We were one game away from the Super Bowl, I don't think that a drastic overhaul is really necessary. Hopefully not too much else changes. I know that about a third of the tream has to change every season, but I never thought Trevor would be let go like this. And if we get rid of Alexander and Putzier, now we have no TE? Maybe our first draft pick will be a tight end, but Putzier is proven. Alright, I'll stop there.

It's about the cap. I like MA and I like Pryce but both were way to expensive.

[I'm a Good Fan]

Wow

I think that the Broncos are stupids for waving Anderson, Pryce, and Jeb, but it was nessary. You have to realize that it was somthing that we had to do...Lets just hope that come monday we can run through the draft and free agency and build the best F#%@ing team we can...I really don't think that they will matter as much as we make it seem. We are still going to be a damn good team...

[Firstwave64]

Wow, I usually agree with Mike Shanahan on his decision making, I mean who am I to argue with one of the winningest coaches in the game today. But to waive Trevor Pryce!?!? Why? He was the leader of our fearsome foursome last year. Mike Anderson was a great committee running back with Tatum. Jeb Putzier has had solid hands. Stephen Alexander sucks balls. So why cut Putzier and not Alexander? Mike Anderson and Trevor Pryce are leaders in the locker room and on the field. These moves just don't make much sense to me. Especially Trevor Pryce, it's not like he's done playing football. I figure it's all about money and salary cap, but man we should've cut some different players before these three. If anyone can shed some light on this, please let me know. These are good quality players that I hate to see go. Tatum Bell is good, I think he should be the starter, but who's his backup now. I'm not as worried about that as I am about the DE because I know that Shanahan will get some great rookie that fits with the system, but what about the DE? Engelberger is no Trevor Pryce. We were one game away from the Super Bowl, I don't think that a drastic overhaul is really necessary. Hopefully not too much else changes. I know that about a third of the tream has to change every season, but I never thought Trevor would be let go like this. And if we get rid of Alexander and Putzier, now we have no TE? Maybe our first draft pick will be a tight end, but Putzier is proven. Alright, I'll stop there.

He was thinking...we are over the cap

[BroncoFanCam]

He was thinking...we are over the cap

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