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Broncos' Ekuban weighs whether to stay or go

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 21, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.
Updated February 21, 2008 at 8:17 a.m.

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Ebenezer Ekuban, right, missed the 2008 season because of injury and now is weighing whether to enter the free-agent market.

Photo by Chris Schneider © The Rocky

Ebenezer Ekuban, right, missed the 2008 season because of injury and now is weighing whether to enter the free-agent market.

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Ebenezer Ekuban has a decision to make before month's end.

Ekuban has been offered a contract to return to the Broncos, but the veteran defensive end must weigh that option vs. the possibility of hitting the free-agent market Feb. 29.

"We're unsure what we're going to do right now," Ekuban's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Wednesday. "We're going to take the next week and think about it. The Broncos have extended him an offer and we have to evaluate that. We haven't made any decisions yet."

Ekuban, 31, was placed on the reserve/injured list Aug. 20 after tearing his right Achilles' tendon in a preseason game at Dallas. His presence was missed as the Broncos struggled against the run all season.

Rosenhaus said Ekuban is fully healthy and would be ready to go full-bore in an offseason conditioning program. Ekuban started 31 of 32 games in 2005 and 2006.

"He's ready to play," Rosenhaus said.

RE-DO: A revised contract for Broncos cornerback Dre Bly will turn a $9 million option bonus into a guaranteed signing bonus, allowing the team to prorate the money during the final four years of the deal. Bly's salary-cap number will be $4.55 million.

It leaves the current deals for receiver Javon Walker and running back Travis Henry as the biggest pieces of unfinished business in terms of big-money contracts that still could be addressed. Both players also could be cut.

EVALUATION TIME: The late-season releases of Todd Sauerbrun and Paul Ernster leaves the Broncos with untested Sam Paulescu as the sole punter on the roster.

While Paulescu had a solid workout and showed his talents during joint workouts in August with the Cowboys, he can expect some competition in the summer.

Punters eligible for April's draft work out at the scouting combine today.

"We've done free agency. We've done the draft and evaluated college. This is another step with that, the combine. Then we'll talk about it, work it out and go from there. But you've got to have a punter," Broncos special teams coach Scott O'Brien said.

"Right now, we've got one that's not proven, and the decision is always the option of going with a guy who you know has done it that's available or going with a young guy who's proven himself in college and hasn't done it in the league and go that way if you feel good about it.

"But the best two guys will come in and battle it out."

THINNING: Arguably the Broncos' biggest need position will be more difficult to address in free agency after Tennessee and Green Bay applied the franchise tag to defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth and Corey Williams on Wednesday.

Williams' inclusion on the list that essentially restricts open- market movement was more surprising given the Packers' depth at defensive tackle, but he's a capable interior pass rusher and only 27 years old.

Comments

  • February 21, 2008

    6:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncos4Life writes:

    Looking at free agency again? Did you clowns(Broncos GM) learn anything in the last couple of years? No depth? Sound familiar? Quit looking for the quick fix, build for the future and do it through the draft. You're wasting cap space and fans are losing patience! Do it the right way!

  • February 21, 2008

    8:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    crushon77 writes:

    broncos don't have enough draft picks to address all of their needs. they've got to use both the draft and free agency. they missed on several free agents last year, but they did well to acquire travis henry, daniel graham and brandon stokley.

  • February 21, 2008

    9:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    We need defensive linemen! Unless we can get Moss healthy and sign Ekuban, we're screwed on the D-line yet again. I'm so sick of watching teams run all over us. Having the 2 best corners in the business doesn't help when teams don't have to throw against us! Also, revamp the special teams! They have been horrible for about 10 years now. You'd think they might get a clue...

  • February 21, 2008

    9:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Patriot writes:

    No, it's obvious they have no clue at all, to hear Shanny say the team only needs a little tweaking is as ridiculous as me thinking I could play d line for the Broncs. He is so far from reality, it will be another losing season and another, "we just need to tweak a couple of areas" from Shanny again, when is Bowlen going to look at his post Elway era numbers and realize this guy has nothing. Time for a new young coach who is in turn with todays game and actually knows how to motivate players.

  • February 21, 2008

    9:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    MiamiMike writes:

    I have a question for all. This is just a question and a way to get your views. We all know D. Graham is a great blocking tight end and a good receiver. We all know many teams wanted him before he came to Denver. What if we could get A Crumpler who was cut( I believe)He is a stud receiver which could be a great target and would help us in the red zone.There has not been much talk of teams going after him yet. We could then trade Graham for a D-line or package him with a lower end trade pick and move up. We still get a great tight end and they are only 1 year apart in age. Again I am just making conversation. I was born in Denver and a die hard fan so please do not let the MiamiMike fool you. I am a Miami Hurricane fan and live in Orlando Florida that is why the name. I get people thinking I am a Dolphin fan. NOT TRUE I am A Bronco for life. Thanks for the input.

  • February 21, 2008

    10:07 a.m.

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    Copperhead writes:

    You are all missing the biggest deficiency on the team......a QUALITY middle linebacker. DJ Williams destined for the outside and is not it, and with out it, no matter how good the D-line plays, we will continue to get run over and have a porous middle open for short passing routes. The defense flows through that position and it MUST be addressed first.

  • February 21, 2008

    11:06 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    crushon77 writes:

    no need for crumpler, scheffler will have a huge year in 2008. cutler, scheffler, and marshall are already working out together in atlanta. broncos need to get bernard berrian or bryant johnson to replace walker, and sign a vet to compete with ryan harris.

    broncos have started rebuilding their d-line the "right way", through the draft. i like dumervil and the potential of crowder, moss, and thomas. too bad the seahawks beat them out for patrick kerney last year. veteran presence of ekuban would be nice. team is still thin at defensive tackle.

    am i the only person who noticed that dj williams was 2nd in the nfl in tackles? i'm not so ready to move him out of the middle, but i'm not opposed either. there doesn't seem to be a patrick willis in this year's draft. anybody think zach thomas has a few good years left in him a la john lynch?

    i am done with ian gold. broncos need linebackers badly. and a safety. i wouldn't mind if the broncos drafted all defense.

  • February 21, 2008

    12:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mike writes:

    Shanny says we need to tweak the team...Ya think! Shanny needs the tweaking. He can't get his players to perform as a team. He has no control over his players. He has too many "look at me" players. They play for the name stitched on the back of their jerseys and not for the name stitched on the front. If I was a Bronco and had a chance to leave .....I would. As long as Shanny is coach the team will just be average, no matter who he drafts. This year Shanny will be sitting in the same chair he sat in last year watching the playoffs. Why Bowlen keeps him around is anybody's guess. Stupid is-stupid does.

  • February 21, 2008

    12:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spider writes:

    I'm with crushon. No need to get Crumpler, Broncos are not week at the TE position. I think the Bears are probably going to throw a franchise tag on Berrian though. At this point the only way I would switch DJ from the middle now would be if I could replace him with a real stud ala the Al Wilson mode. What does everybody think if the were to pick up Lorenzo Neal for the right price?

  • February 21, 2008

    1:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    redfive777 writes:

    Lorenzo Neal would be outstanding, we haven't had a great FB since Griffith. Stop blaming DJ, he played great in his first year at Mike. Gold and Webster (who likes to make the big hit but should take pointers from Champ on how to make tackle) played terrible. We'd have to find someone outstanding to make DJ go back outside.

    No offense to all the Shanahan haters but is it really his fault that his two best O-linemen,his best/seasoned DE, former #1 WR, a running back a week and both safeties were injured for most of the year. I would like to have seen Belicheat deal with that.

  • February 21, 2008

    2:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spidey writes:

    Broncos didn't retain lot of draft choices from between 2000 to 2005. Traded away awfully draft choices last year--should have had kept couple extra picks for other defense lineman. In 2000, did you know Broncos picked Mike Anderson (later Rookie of the Year for offense that year) at 189th pick then 10 spots later, New England picked Tom Brady??? Jeez, back then Brian Griese were on Broncos team and he should have requested Broncos to pick Tom--Brian and Tom were teammates for University of Michigan. Broncos needs to quit juggling away too many draft choices!!!

  • February 21, 2008

    3:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CMoney writes:

    My family has had Bronco season tickets since 1965. Being a Bronco fan was not a choice for me, it's coded in my DNA and I am proud of that. I have been reading these forums for the last year or so and I enjoy reading everyones' perspectives on the State of Bronco Nation.
    Obviously, work needs to be done and both free agency and the draft, so it is hard for me to fathom comments about avoiding free agency and building through the draft, both strategies need to be utilized to infuse the team with both youth an leadership. The Shanny bashing should end. We have suffered in mediocrity but we have always fielded a fairly competitive franchise. Remember the fire sales that some teams have had to endure. Spend, spend, spend make your run and then turn over the whole roster because you are in serious cap trouble. Remember the Ravens, the Titans, the Raiders, the 49ers, etc. All these teams made Super Bowl appearances and then spent up to the next decade trying to get out of cap trouble, sometimes paying up to seven or eight players that weren't even on their rosters anymore. Mike has tiptoed the salary cap line and made some questionable personnel decisions, we have never had the "fire sale" other reputable franchises have had to endure. Each new season in Denver offers us hope and I think it is time to give Shanny some credit along with the CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
    OK, now that I have gotten that off of my chest here are some of my thoughts on "football operations".

    1)Say NO to Z.Thomas leave DJ in the middle, he'll be fine and should make the Pro Bowl barring injury. I think Webster can play the WILL and I REALLY like the idea of adding Briggs, this could tie our hands financially for the rest of this years free agency. Al was great but he can't pass a physical ANYWHERE. (or maybe J. Walker for J.Trotter the Eagles are always looking for a WR)
    2)Crumpler, please we are fine at TE Scheffler will be good enough (if not great) along with Graham.
    3) It would be a coup to land L. Neal, but I believe this would tie up financial resources at a position we don't utilize that much.
    4)Alan Faneca would be free agent choice number 2 if we couldn't get Briggs. Our pass blocking is weak and I would hate to see Cutler go down the David Carr path.
    5)Pray Lynch decides to play at least one more year to groom his replacement (someone that can play in the box, Phillips(the U) in the first round?)
    6)We need a QB coach to buffer the Shanny-Cutler relationship ala Kubiak.
    7)I really think our mix at DE has a very promising future but we do need to address DT some more, part of our problem has been a lack of patience on the D-line some of the best d-lines have been kept together long enough to "gell". (Should we consider a 3-4 like in the R.Jones, K.Mecklenburg days?)
    8)Need a receiver opposite Marshall to keep Stokely in the slot, going to have to be frugal here maybe a P. Price type. (I can't stand G.Martinez he seems lost and tired all the time)

  • February 21, 2008

    5:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    millertime3852 writes:

    CMoney, wow, finally, someone in here that gets it. Why are the readers here so much different the the post readers...or commentors. There are twice the haters here than on the other paper's comments section.

    Oh well, I guess it just seems pointless to me to sit and complain about everything under the sun.

    Denver has some options with their high draft pick this year. Funny how more than half the people I talk to want us to trade down to try to acquire an addition pick. Yet, potentially, part of the reason we are here is because we never have the luxury of a top 10, or close to it, draft pick. When looking at the top 10 players in the league, almost inevitably, more than half were top 10 picks in the draft.
    Where would San Diego be today without LT, Phillip Rivers or Shawn Merriman?
    Where would Indy be today without Peyton Manning?
    Cinci without Carson Palmer
    Houston even without Mario Williams last year...

    The list goes on and on. Since we have a pick as high as we do this year...the highest we've had in 15 yrs, why trade down to pick where we pick every year. Take a chance, maybe even trade up to #8 if we can land Sedrick Ellis. Or a franchise player on the defensive side of the ball for the next decade. Most of the leagues very best players were top 10 picks...obviously with quite a few exceptions.

  • February 21, 2008

    7:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DEMON writes:

    Ummmm...C-Money you made real good points, except the fact that J.Throtter hasent been with the eagles since last year he went to florida, and Al Wislon has been cleared to play in case you missed it, And Zach Thomas could be GREAT addition until we find a long term solution, And i LOVE the idea of BRIGGS in denver, The first round definetly needs to be either LB Keith Rivers, or the Safety from the U Phillips. Alan Faneca would be a dream come true right now. And although id be awesome to have Asante Samuel, Were kinda set at CB. My final answer, Bring BRIGGS to denver, try to get hands on Alan Faneca, Draft the Safety from the U, Musin Muhammad wouldnt be too bad right now, Us having issues with Walker and all, Stokely and Marshall cant do it all alone. And focus on the lines after that. If that dont work.......Good luck my broncos...

  • February 21, 2008

    8:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brain writes:

    At least bring Z. Thomas in (take a look) then draft a linebacker/s. otherwise Briggs would be great but not very likely. (price??) We need a Saftey in 1st round Phillips may be the man as long as he is the best player available, we need a safety in early rounds; Alan Feneca would be nice. I hope Javon Walker will stay and have a good attitude; Travis Henry I believe was leading the NFL before getting hurt we should keep him at least another year; Ekuban would be nice to keep.

  • February 22, 2008

    10:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    CMoney writes:

    Thanks DEMON, my fault on free agent J.Trotter being a Buc last year, but his speed and tackling ability would be an asset on the strong side. I didn't miss anything on Al, he has been cleared to play by doctors, and did pass a physical (barely) in Arizona, but is he on a team yet? NO. Lets remember him as being a great Bronco, but it is time to move on. Good news is Z. Thomas won't be a Bronco, he had a great career and probably does have a couple three years left, but with our youth movement on offense I think we need more of that on the defense. Also, this talk about D. Morgan the former Panther needs to end, we need players that actually suit up on Sundays (he missed 28 out of 32 games in the last two years) and has a terrible concussion problems. Thanks to Travis Henry (I think he REALLY wants to prove he can be the man) for restructuring saving us roughly $6M and giving us the opportunity to pursue a Briggs or Faneca, and maybe resign both Foxworth and Paymeh.