Sportsmanship and Team Loyalty Award goes to Elvis Dumervil

This guy, Elvis Dumervil, is the only veteran Denver Bronco who is not under contract at this point in the preseason. He has been at the mini-camp this week seemingly unaffected by the lack of a working contract and a money deal. It all speaks well of him as a team guy, going on faith.

He has until Monday to sign his restricted free agent tender for 3.168 million, and the suspense around that issue is that if he does not sign, his salary could be reduced to about 630,000 for the 2010 season. We are all thinking that management will offer him a much better deal, but so far nothing has emerged from the head office. Waiting game on!

In a Denver Post Article Champ Bailey had this to say:  "I'm trying not to bite my tongue and trying not to say too much at the same time, but he's a guy that we need," Bailey said. "And I wish things would work out a lot faster than they are. Hopefully by the time when it counts, the season, we'll have it done. Because we need him."

Remember it is Bailey who went public a few weeks ago to speak for Kyle Orton. Now he is speaking in a very professional manner to inform the Bronco management that key players and fans are getting concerned about the deal that still seems to be elusive. The team needs Elvis and he obviously wants to play for the Broncos. 

So many sports writers were wondering if he would be a hold out for mini-camp, but it is not his character type to do that, and certainly if he had done it, McDaniels would have gone in and ripped his picture off the wall.  So, the wise thing was to show up and be positive, which he did and is.

It is the understanding that Xanders is working with Dumervil's agent on a long term contract, and the tender should be a non-issue. I think the real deal is for a little more money, and in terms of football necessity, he is darn well worth it. How much is anyone's best guess, and for how long is kinda uncertain. 

McDaniels is being very vague about it all, except to say in general that he is hopeful a deal can be worked out.  His comments are fairly positive, but not with enough detail to be certain they are going to get it done.  My take is that they have to make it work, but for us outsiders it is sure a mystery about how much he is wanting to abstain from signing the 3.168 million tender.

I am not losing any sleep over it, but it is one of those funny situations where it could go either way, and not coming up with a good and acceptable deal is hardly an option for this team. These guys do some pretty crazy stuff though, so who knows?  Elvis deserves an award for being a good sport and showing up just to hang around and wait. 

His teammates respect him, and they all want him to come out good on this one.  The management is laying low on it so as to not draw more negative press.  Lets root for Elvis, the team needs him!