Look at all the Free Agents making plays for the Broncos

[pbmax]

Maybe they thought they could get comparable production/a better fit for their football team for less money? Maybe this also is an example of a non complacent, savvy GM? Your initial post is completely misleading....consolation prize implies they went after Decker and he chose NYJ....so Sanders was the backup/stopgap/,bailout move.
Looks pretty smart now doesn't it?
The homerism spin is funny....trying to minimize Elway's influence on the Broncos success. He built a spectacular defense, and his offense is far from decimated. The line needs work, but two pro bowl caliber receivers, solid rb tandem, and flexibility with Peyton likely to retire. Elway has done a great job Pretending he hasn't is beyond silly.

Maybe they thought a Unicorn would make a perfect TE.

However, we do not need to speculate about the plan. They were already cap compressed (that was the genesis of the Dumerville issue) and Decker had such a monster year that the press was talking about how he was playing himself out of Denver during the season unless he took a hometown discount. Everyone knew before the end of the season that they couldn't afford all their FAs and Decker was one of the most expensive by year's end. They didn't need to chase because they knew he was gone.

The contract tells you all you need to know about their relative value.

Now Sanders has been good. And their pro personnel dept and Elway deserve credit for choosing him. But the Broncos offense has not been the same. Its not all Decker, but even terrible basketball teams have a 20 point per game player.

The point is, as Patler has been saying, that not all UFA signings are upgrades. And sometimes street FA signings work out just as well.

[yetisnowman]

Maybe they thought a Unicorn would make a perfect TE.

However, we do not need to speculate about the plan. They were already cap compressed (that was the genesis of the Dumerville issue) and Decker had such a monster year that the press was talking about how he was playing himself out of Denver during the season unless he took a hometown discount. Everyone knew before the end of the season that they couldn't afford all their FAs and Decker was one of the most expensive by year's end. They didn't need to chase because they knew he was gone.

The contract tells you all you need to know about their relative value.

Now Sanders has been good. And their pro personnel dept and Elway deserve credit for choosing him. But the Broncos offense has not been the same. Its not all Decker, but even terrible basketball teams have a 20 point per game player.

The point is, as Patler has been saying, that not all UFA signings are upgrades. And sometimes street FA signings work out just as well.

Ok that's the point. Got ut. Well I agree. It doesn't always work out this way. The point is it can. And a lot of recent champions have had significant contributions from fa signings. And a lot of us feel TT is so married to the draft/develop/resign/sign an impact free agent every 7 years model that at times it could hold us back.

[Bretsky]

If Aaron Rodgers retires and we're Ron Wolf's fart in the wind I wonder if members in here will look back and question is TT should have shot for the moon once or twice

[Patler]

If Aaron Rodgers retires and we're Ron Wolf's fart in the wind I wonder if members in here will look back and question is TT should have shot for the moon once or twice

Funny thing is, Ron Wolf didn't do much in the FA market after the SB win either. I have argued Wolf didn't really accomplish a lot after the SB; so I guess I would argue the same about TT if they don't make another run.