Elam far from DENVER >> The Denver Broncos are getting closer to signing wide receiver and first-round draft pick Ashley Lelie, but there are problems in negotiations with free-agent kicker Jason Elam.
deal, but Lelie close
The Denver kicker is reportedly
considering a lengthy holdoutStar-Bulletin wire services
Lelie and Elam are former University of Hawaii standouts.
The Rocky Mountain News reported yesterday that Lelie, who left UH as a junior to enter this year's draft, has been offered a five-year deal with a voidable sixth year, but there are still some issues to be resolved, including the total financial package.
Green Bay's Jevon Walker, who was picked after Lelie in the draft, stands to make $9.5 million over six years with $4.3 million in bonuses, according to the Denver publication, which also reported that the Broncos are looking for ways to eliminate most of the "barriers" standing in the way of the deal.
Denver's training camp starts today.
According to The Associated Press, the Broncos and Elam's agent Jack Reale have had no discussions about a long-term contract extension since February, when the team designated Elam its franchise player with a $1.465 million contract tender offer.
The sides are prohibited from discussing a long-term extension until the one-year franchise tender is signed. Otherwise, the Broncos would risk a fine and loss of draft picks.
It was unclear whether Elam, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, would sign the franchise tender before players reported to training camp today.
"I'd rather not talk about it until I speak further with the Broncos," Reale said. "I'm cautiously optimistic that Jason's numbers do speak for themselves. The Broncos will have some perspective, and it'll probably all wind up getting done."
If Elam signs the one-year tender and reports to training camp, he will have to hope the team will bargain in good faith. If he signs the tender and then walks out of camp if there is not sufficient progress in talks for a long-term deal, he would subject himself to a $5,000 per day fine. Or he can decide not to report to camp at all.
Elam asked the team not to fine him for missing days at training camp, but the team refused.
The Broncos' rejection of Elam's request could cause the kicker to go on a lengthy holdout, according to the Rocky Mountain News, which cited a source close to Elam.
The team has promised Elam they will not place the franchise tag on him again next offseason.
Elam was already irked after the Broncos slapped him with the franchise tag, restricting his ability to field offers on the open market.
"I cannot assure that he won't be fined. I can't do that," Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said. "Because if he signs the tender, he's subject to the same rules and regulations that all the veterans are. The thing that we can do is say that we will negotiate in good faith a long-term (contract) upon the signing of the franchise tender."
Elam, currently in Hawaii, attended both of the Broncos' off-season minicamps.
The Broncos have offered Elam a seven-year package averaging $1.75 million, including $1.75 million up front. But that signing bonus was well below the $2 million or more secured by other NFL kickers, such as Miami's Olindo Mare, Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski and Green Bay's Ryan Longwell.
The Broncos yesterday signed place kicker Ola Imrin, who played two seasons for the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, leading the team in scoring both years. The signing, apparently, was just in case Elam holds out.
"There's always concern when a player of Jason's stature (is unhappy), but we've got a season to get ready for and we've got to press on," Sundquist told the Rocky Mountain News. "If he doesn't want to sign the franchise tender and he's going to wait it out, we need to know that and we've got obligations to try and put together the best team."