Denver Broncos treading a fine line with DeMarcus Ware renegotiations

DeMarcus Ware’s name doesn’t appear on the Denver Broncos’ lengthy list of 2016 free agents due to the simple fact that he isn’t one.

The soon-to-be 34-year-old pass rusher has one more year left on the 3-year, $30 million deal he signed when coming over from the Cowboys two offseasons ago and is due to earn a $7 million salary and a cool $3 mil roster bonus this season.

Add in the prorated portion of his $5 million signing bonus and he’s due to count $11,666,668 against the Orange & Blue’s 2016 salary cap – which right now projects to be the third highest figure on the team behind Demaryius Thomas ($15.2M) and whatever kind of deserving deal Von Miller bags.

But that’s the projection as of right now – pre-free agency – and it also brings us to the crux of this DeMarcus Ware situation. Ideally, general manager John Elway and the Broncos would like to re-sign free agents Brock Osweiler and Malik Jackson and push Ware down the 2016 salary scale with a renegotiated deal.

How can that be done with one year remaining?

Look no further than Peyton Manning’s 2015 salary which was slashed from $19 million to $15 million, but included $4 million in postseason incentives/bonuses which wound up bringing the aging QB back to even.

Other numbers back the Broncos up here.

This past regular season, Ware only played 399 defensive snaps – 36.4 percent of the defensive plays – and notched 7.5 sacks, 25 total tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He missed five games due to a slightly scary bulging-disc issue in his back, and entering the playoffs, more than a few analysts and fans were certain we were watching Ware’s final season in Denver.

But then came the postseason itself, and Ware was able to play – and play rather well – in all three contests, contributing 3.5 sacks, 10 total tackles and a fumble recovery.

Ware will be a year older – he turns 34 on July 31 – and given his health concerns, he’s clearly best situated for a situational role on pass-rushing downs while also keeping him fresher for any postseason action.

There’s clearly more – much more – though to Ware’s worth than simple snap counts and sack statistics, and this is where the tricky fine line comes into play here.

Just answer these quick questions:

Who has played one of the leading roles in mentoring Miller into Super Bowl MVP form and a player in the running for the title of the NFL’s highest-paid defender?

Who was asked to give emotionally-charged, inspiring team speeches the nights before the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl?

Who, along with Manning, was the player most of his Broncos teammates cited they were most happy to help win a world championship for?

The answer is an aging player with real health concerns who, while the raw numbers say is a candidate for a pay cut, still remains an inspirational veteran team leader and a produce-in-the-clutch performer.

It’s tough – awfully rough – to place a pricetag on those last two qualities.

And that’s precisely why the Broncos are walking quite the fine line in their negotiations with one DeMarcus Ware this offseason.

The Orange & Blue must tread carefully.