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SPORTSFriday 11 March 2016
Broncos hurting, Panthers healing in early free agency
BARRY WILNER Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray, left, speaks at a news conference with head Tampa Bay’s Martin, the
AP Pro Football Writer coach Mike Mularkey Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans acquired Murray in top running back on the
The Super Bowl champions, a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. market, will get more than
the Denver Broncos, lost $35 million, with $15 million
their second quarterback Associated Press guaranteed, from the Buc-
in less than a week when caneers. Martin has had
the NFL free agency began Osweiler started the last you if I said anything else. with Dallas, spent a fruitless two outstanding seasons
on Wednesday. with the Buccaneers and
With Peyton Manning re- seven games of the regular I had a tremendous four season in Philadelphia and two injury-filled years.
tired, his supposed succes- “I’ve always saw myself as
sor Brock Osweiler headed season when Manning was seasons there in Denver was traded to Tennessee. a Buc. I didn’t think I was
to Houston. Broncos de- going anywhere else,”
fensive end Malik Jackson injured, but was benched and those are four years Carolina’s Charles Johnson, Martin said.
went to Jacksonville and Indianapolis released veter-
linebacker Danny Treva- in the playoffs when Man- that I’ll always hold close to cut last week, received a an receiver Andre Johnson.
than to Chicago. Johnson was a mainstay in
Denver clearly has been ning returned. my heart. But bottom line one-year contract worth $3 Houston for 12 years, mak-
weakened although at ing two All-Pro teams, but
least Super Bowl MVP Von “It was very difficult,” Os- coming to Houston was an million to return to the NFC was a disappointment with
Miller was franchise tagged the Colts in his only season
and won’t be going any- weiler said about leaving opportunity that I couldn’t champions, according to in Indy with 41 catches for
where. 503 yards and four touch-
“We’ve stayed true to Denver. “I’d be lying to pass up.” his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. downs.
our philosophy of build- Mack opted out of his deal
ing a team of players who with Cleveland and gets
want to be Denver Bron- five years from the Atlanta
cos and want to be here. Falcons, who have had
That’s been a successful instability at center since
approach for us,” general longtime starter Todd Mc-
manager John Elway said. Clure retired following the
“While we did offer a very 2012 season.
competitive and fair long- Headed to Miami was de-
term contract to Brock, we fensive end Mario Williams
ultimately had to remain and his signing after being
disciplined while continuing released by Buffalo led to
to assemble a roster that the Dolphins removing the
can compete for champi- transition tag from Olivier
onships.” Vernon, who then agreed
to terms with the Giants.
The Carolina Panthers, He said Johnson turned The transition tag was for
$12.734 million; Williams got
which fell 24-10 to Denver down an offer in excess $17 million over two years
from Miami.
in the Super Bowl, retained of $6 million from another The 2006 No. 1 overall pick
struggled last season in Rex
All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert team. “My heart was in Ryan’s defense with Buffalo
and even criticized how he
and re-signed defensive Carolina,” Johnson said. was used.
The Dolphins released cor-
end Charles Johnson to a “Once you put all that en- nerback Brent Grimes and
finalized a trade to acquire
lower salary. ergy into it, I feel like I would cornerback Byron Maxwell
and linebacker Kiko Alonso
Among other moves, All-Pro have been wasting all that from the Eagles.q
running back Doug Martin work had I gone some-
re-signed with Tampa Bay where else for some dollars.
for five years, while center I’d rather be happy doing
Alex Mack chose Atlanta what I’m doing around
over Cleveland. people that I know and I’m
DeMarco Murray, the 2014 comfortable with. I can’t
Offensive Player of the Year wait to get back to work.”
