Horse Tracks: Finally hitting the reset button

The Denver Broncos are largely cleaning house as they made a flurry of moves to open up cap space and help reboot the locker room.

Sean Payton is firmly pressing the reset button and I love it.

After a fun season with a much-improved team that had us interested until the end of the season (for a pleasant change), I hoped Payton would be taking the path we’re seeing.

Payton benched Russell Wilson in preparation for getting out from under that awful contract. We’ve now seen a huge effort to clean house and get a real start on revamping a losing locker room.

Players who aren’t making enough of an impact on game day have hit the road (Russell Wilson, Chris Manhertz, Jerry Jeudy, Josey Jewell).

There are a slew of unrestricted free agent names the Denver Broncos haven’t resigned that were recognizable names: Cameron Fleming, Mike Purcell, Lloyd Cushenburry, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey to name a few.

Players that were getting paid too much to make sense on a losing team were either released or restructured (Justin Simmons, Mike McGlinchey, Zach Allen, and Ben Powers).

Welcome to the start of a true rebuild, Broncos Country.

Look forward to a new, shiny quarterback in the draft. Look for a youth movement for this team with plenty of opportunities for players to achieve stardom if they are hungry enough and can show the goods on game day.

Broncos News

‘It’s just a great honor’: Randy Gradishar tours Pro Football Hall of Fame with fellow electees
Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar reflects on his career and on touring the Pro Football Hall of Fame while on a visit to Canton, Ohio.

Broncos re-sign K Wil Lutz to two-year contract
Lutz connected on 30-of-34 field-goal attempts in his first season in Denver.

Broncos re-sign their leading tight end from 2023 – Denver Sports
Adam Trautman will return to the Broncos after agreeing on a two-year contract with the team on Tuesday night.

The No. 3 of Russell Wilson appears to be back in circulation – Denver Sports
The No. 3 jersey of Russell Wilson may already be on the move, if a video posted by the Broncos on Tuesday is any indication.

Did the Broncos get the best run defender in the NFL by adding Malcolm Roach? – Denver Sports
Malcolm Roach was a dominant run defender for the Saints last year … and he should help a Broncos run D that was anything but in 2023.

Other NFL News

Panthers acquiring Steelers WR Diontae Johnson for CB Donte Jackson; teams swapping picks
The Carolina Panthers are acquiring wide receiver Diontae Johnson and the No. 240 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft from the Steelers in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and the No. 178 overall pick, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per s

Browns, QB Jameis Winston finalizing one-year contract
Cleveland has its backup to Deshaun Watson, and it isn’t the reigning Comeback Player of the Year. Jameis Winston is finalizing a one-year deal to join the Browns.

Source – Texans add star pass-rusher Danielle Hunter on $49M deal – ESPN
Star pass-rusher Danielle Hunter and the Texans have agreed to a two-year, $49 million deal, including $48 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Sources — Patrick Mahomes to restructure Chiefs contract – ESPN
Patrick Mahomes was scheduled to count more than $58 million against the Chiefs’ salary cap before the restructure. His redone deal will create $21.6 million of cap space for the team.

Ravens to sign ex-Titans RB Derrick Henry, sources say – ESPN
Free agent running back Derrick Henry agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Sauce Gardner on Mecole Hardman – ‘Never earned his stripes’ – ESPN
Appearing on “The Pivot,” Sauce Gardner called out Mecole Hardman, saying the wide receiver “never earned his stripes” with the Jets.