Like a Von Miller blind-side pass rush, the 2016 offseason has arrived rather rapidly for the Denver Broncos.
No sooner did John Elway finish yelling “This one’s for Pat!” on Super Bowl 50 stage when the free-agency and offseason to-do list questions started arriving via social media and talk radio:
“How big of a payday awaits Miller?”
“What other teams are interested in Brock Osweiler?”
“Will Denver be able to afford Malik Jackson?”
Even several “Who-will-the-defending-champs-play-in-the-Thursday-night-season-opener?” pieces appeared long before the lead fire engine started up 17th street in the memorable Mile High City victory parade.
In short, the last shreds of confetti hadn’t fallen on the 2015 champs when we were already turning the page to 2016.
Blame it on our no-patience/can’t-wait on-demand society. And point the finger at the 24/7/365 entity the NFL has become as the end of one season seemingly blends seamlessly in with the start of the next.
A quick glance at some of the upcoming items the league’s off-season calendar:
- Nine – nine! – days after the Super Bowl, we have the first day (Feb. 16) to designate franchise and transition players.
- 16 days after the Big Game (Feb. 23), the league will gather for up-close-and-personal six-day look at the next wave of incoming of collegiate standouts
- 31 days after the celebration in Santa Clara, the new league year begins, and free-agency signings officially can commence at 2 p.m. MT. (We say officially, because the negotiations can begin two days earlier, and most everyone familiar with the NFL knows the unofficial negotiating begins at the Scouting Combine itself)
It’s a high-stakes, crazy-competitive business, and there’s little wonder why the questions started flying fast and furious late Super Bowl Sunday.
And there’s also little wonder why the Broncos didn’t hesitate to look ahead, signing defensive end Derek Wolfe to a four-year extension on Jan. 15 two days before their first playoff game.
That’s one free agent off a lengthy list of 26 as Elway and Co. attempt to keep a championship squad largely intact.
That in mind, don’t believe all that you hear about the Orange & Blue putting off decisions or waiting to begin negotiations with certain players. If the Broncos have true designs on re-signing a player for 2016, the time is now – or at least it was eight days or a month ago.
So, Broncos Country, hope you enjoyed your Super celebration and welcome – belatedly – to an offseason of uncertainty and angst.
