I for one am glad TT is being quiet

[Spaulding]

Worth is all relative. Each team has their own idea. If the Pack see Hodge step up and has faith he can replace Barnett then obviously to the Pack, Nick's value is less than other teams in the league.

Given the fact TT let Green walk suggests as many other posters have noted one of two possibilities:

A) TT and M3 have another FA running back they like better and are going to pursue that player
B) Feel comfortable with the backs on the roster for the ZBS and will draft one or two running backs and see who steps up

Then again, as Tank/Lost/Retail guy are leaning, option C would be that TT is showing his same diplomacy that lightly regarding the guard position and left us with Klemm and O'Dwyer as the supposed starting guards in 2005.

I'm hoping for option A and wouldn't mind seeing Chris Brown signed and Michael Bush snagged in the 2nd round if available.

[Tony Oday]

Worth is all relative. Each team has their own idea. If the Pack see Hodge step up and has faith he can replace Barnett then obviously to the Pack, Nick's value is less than other teams in the league.

Given the fact TT let Green walk suggests as many other posters have noted one of two possibilities:

A) TT and M3 have another FA running back they like better and are going to pursue that player
B) Feel comfortable with the backs on the roster for the ZBS and will draft one or two running backs and see who steps up

Then again, as Tank/Lost/Retail guy are leaning, option C would be that TT is showing his same diplomacy that lightly regarding the guard position and left us with Klemm and O'Dwyer as the supposed starting guards in 2005.

I'm hoping for option A and wouldn't mind seeing Chris Brown signed and Michael Bush snagged in the 2nd round if available.

I think TT had an idea what he was willing to pay to keep Green and over 5 million a year wasnt it.

They keep telling us that the ZBS is a system where you can get a good back in the later rounds. If we go the route of the Broncs it wont matter, I mean remember Olandis Gary

[HarveyWallbangers]

I seriously doubt you can just throw a RB in the ZBS, and he'll automatically work. Duckett didn't exactly blossom in Atlanta in the ZBS. I think it speaks more the ability of the Broncos to scout RBs and determine whether they fit their system or not. The negative is that more teams are moving to the ZBS (Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Minnesota uses the ZBS quite a bit), so more teams are looking for one-cut RBs. That means they'll be harder to find.

[Tony Oday]

I seriously doubt you can just throw a RB in the ZBS, and he'll automatically work. Duckett didn't exactly blossom in Atlanta in the ZBS. I think it speaks more the ability of the Broncos to scout RBs and determine whether they fit their system or not. The negative is that more teams are moving to the ZBS (Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Minnesota uses the ZBS quite a bit), so more teams are looking for one-cut RBs. That means they'll be harder to find.

I was jsut trying to look on the bright side hehe

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

ya Bennett is worth 4.5 a year give me a break not even in this NFL is he worth that. Green prolly got his 5 million a year which he isnt worth anymore. Dont get me wrong I love the guy and how he runs but he isnt worth that price.

I have a feeling this is Barnett's last year on our team.

[retailguy]

I seriously doubt you can just throw a RB in the ZBS, and he'll automatically work. Duckett didn't exactly blossom in Atlanta in the ZBS. I think it speaks more the ability of the Broncos to scout RBs and determine whether they fit their system or not. The negative is that more teams are moving to the ZBS (Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Minnesota uses the ZBS quite a bit), so more teams are looking for one-cut RBs. That means they'll be harder to find.

and, more importantly, TIME to train. We saw 13 weeks of training to get the OL steady. While a good RB should go quicker, we also saw what an "early season" training loss will do to playoff chances too.

Will he find someone? Sure. But how long will it take for that "someone" to get up to speed and contribute? Now THAT is a question I'd like all the "experts" here to answer.

[the_idle_threat]

Running back is not like offensive line ... many rookies can contribute at a very high level right away. In fact, the offensive rookie of the year is usually a running back (30 out of the last 40 times), and even in years where a different position wins it seems there is at least one rookie who rushes for 1000 yards.

I wanted Green back too, but if we need to replace a position with youth, running back is the postition to do it with.

This is especially true of the zone blocking scheme, where Denver has gotten 1000 yards out of a rookie maybe 5 times in the past decade or so?

[the_idle_threat]

Running back is not like offensive line ... many rookies can contribute at a very high level right away. In fact, the offensive rookie of the year is usually a running back (30 out of the last 40 times), and even in years where a different position wins it seems there is at least one rookie who rushes for 1000 yards.

I wanted Green back too, but if we need to replace a position with youth, running back is the postition to do it with.

This is especially true of the zone blocking scheme, where Denver has gotten 1000 yards out of a rookie maybe 5 times in the past decade or so?

*Edit* After doing the research, it's 4 times in 12 years:
Terrell Davis in 1995 (6th round pick, Rookie of the Year candidate),
Olandis Gary in 1999 (4th round pick),
Mike Anderson in 2000 (another 6th round pick, A.P. Rookie of the Year), and
Clinton Portis in 2002 (2nd round pick, A.P. Rookie of the Year).
The fifth guy I was thinking of was Rueben Droughns in 2004, but he was a 5th-year vet, drafted in 2000 in the 3rd round by Detroit. His best year out his first four was 72 yds rushing for a 2.4 avg., however, which made him less productive than Noah Herron.

There's a pattern here, though ... they haven't had to spend high picks on running backs to get production.

This makes me feel a little better about Vernand Morency, because although I don't think he's as good as Ahman Green, he is young and can improve. He's probably better already than Rueben Droughns or Olandis Gary were.

[LL2]

I agree with the logic here and glad TT isn’t throwing big bucks at the players out there. The only players worth anything is Adalius Thomas and Clements, after that you have to wonder what these teams are thinking. Listening to ESPN’s Len Pasquerelli this morning and he didn’t think Leonard Davis was worth 50 mil or Ahman Green worth the money he got. Obviously money and Sherman played a role there, but can’t see Green changing the dynamics of that team. I liked Green but he wasn’t worth keep for over 5 mil a year. Also, the guy made me nervous every time he carried the ball because he had the tendency to fumble to ball too much.

[woodbuck27]

TT had to weigh the cost VS. the asurance thast Ahman would give us over a certain period of time.

In two seasons Ahman will be 32 years old and possibly or certainly broken down based on many factors.

I believe the reason that TT didn't bite on Ahman is the length of contract that his agent wanted for him. Four years was too long. It's this and not the fact he may get $5.75 Million per season that factored the most in Ted Thompson's decision to allow Ahman to get what the market would bear.