The Denver Broncos released their star defensive end Elvis Dumervil on Friday because his signature was faxed to the Broncos 6 minutes after the deadline. Dumervil had agreed to reduce his salary for 2013 from $12 million to $8 million, but the Broncos needed confirmation. They needed to receive a signature from Dumervil by 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Since they hadn’t received his signature by 3:59, they released him, rather than having to pay him the original $12 million contract value. At 4:06 the faxed signature was received in Denver.
So the Broncos saved the $12 million in Dumervil’s contract, but will still have a $4.8 million salary cap hit this season. Dumervill has averaged over 10 sacks per year, during his 7 year career, not counting 2010, in which he missed the entire year due to injury. This paperwork situation brings up a few questions. Since I’m sure Dumervil and his agent knew that his signature needed to be sent before 4:00, why didn’t they do it in time? Was Dumervil and his agent trying to stall, so he would get paid $12 million, instead of $8 million? Which of course dares the Broncos to release him. Another question is why did they use a fax machine at all? Even I have the ability to scan and email my signature immediately. Also, wouldn’t you think the Broncos would have been in constant contact with Dumervil and his agent as the 4:00 deadline approached?
If Denver is not able to re-sign Dumervil, that could hurt not only their defense, but their shot at winning a Super Bowl. After signing receiver Wes Welker away from the New England Patriots, the Broncos are considered the favorite to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLVIII. Last year, with the addition of quarterback Peyton Manning, the Broncos were the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs, but were upset by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, after letting receiver Jacoby Jones get past their secondary to score a late game winning touchdown.
It will be interesting to see where Dumervil ends up this season. Could he end up with an AFC playoff-caliber team? Or even an opposing team in the AFC West? Wouldn’t it be ironic if Dumervil ended the Broncos’ playoff run this season with a key sack, or a turnover? All because of a paperwork problem in March, the Broncos are kept from winning a Super Bowl. I know that’s a reach, but so was Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco declaring himself the best quarterback in the NFL before last season? Now he’s the highest paid player in the NFL, after becoming the MVP of the Super Bowl. Dumervil says he wants to return to the Broncos, but that might not be so easy now. The $4.8 million counting against the salary cap sure complicates the situation. Maybe Dumervil or his agent will buy themselves a new copier/scanner and learn to email, or use another method that could send a signature over faster in future contract negotiations.
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