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Good news, bad news Broncos likely to re-sign Griese, lose tackle Jones
DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos are likely to offer quarterback Brian Griese a one-year contract that will make it more costly for other teams to entice the restricted free agent. The Broncos say they will offer Griese the NFL-maximum one-year $1.488 million on Thursday, which means any team pursuing Griese would have to give Denver draft choices in the first and third rounds. Denver would also get right of first refusal. Griese has said he doesn't want to leave Denver. He is expected to re-sign with the Broncos, and both sides describe negotiations as amicable even though no deal has been reached. Griese was selected for his first Pro Bowl last year despite a shoulder injury that kept him from playing for much of the season. He had reconstructive surgery in January. The Broncos also re-signed linebacker Keith Burns, one of their top special teams players. Burns signed a three-year contract with the Broncos on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed. Burns, who played with the Broncos in 1994-98, came from the Chicago Bears in September and finished the season with 24 special-teams tackles, more than any other Bronco. However, it doesn't appear offensive tackle Tony Jones, who won two Super Bowl rings for Denver, will be back because he is upset by the way the team has treated him. Jones, 34, had said he was interested in playing another year for the Broncos, and was surprised when the only offer he got included a pay cut. Instead he's likely to become a free agent by March 1. One of the biggest problems was coach Mike Shanahan, Jones said. He said he tried to contact Shanahan several times to discuss his career, and Shanahan was ambivalent when they finally talked. "When I talked to Mike and told him I wanted to play another year, I got a bad feeling from him," said Jones, a 13-year veteran. "Mike said, 'Are you positive you want to play another year?' I told him yes, but he said he'd have to see where the team was on the salary cap. I thought he'd be happy to have me back." Speaking from his offseason home in Cleveland, Jones said he doesn't see himself ever coming back to the Broncos, though he will explore his options elsewhere. He said he feels better than he has in years, but that the Broncos appear to be reshaping their team for younger players. Losing Jones means another major change for Denver's line. Offensive line coach Alex Gibbs is stepping down and will be replaced by former special-teams coach Rick Dennison. Veteran left tackle Mark Schlereth is expected to officially announce his retirement soon, while Trey Teague, Jones' heir apparent, is coming off reconstructive knee surgery to rebuild the anterior cruciate ligament he tore early last season. Shanahan, who does not usually comment on contract negotiations, was unavailable for comment.
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