The Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills are both holding mandatory minicamps this week as their offseason schedules heat up and each team is expected to be missing one of its top players, as offensive lineman Ryan Clady and safety Jarius Byrd will be absent from their respective camps.
According to Pro Football Talk and ESPN.com, Clady has been vocal about his plans on skipping minicamp workouts and now he is following through with it. NFL.com reports that the Broncos and the left tackle have started up contract talks again after putting the franchise tag on him and he said on the radio that he was not planning to attend camp, although he said training camp would be a possibility and would be likely.
Clady is coming back from offseason surgery and rehab and while he has not worked out with the team this spring, he expects to be back in camp for the summer. The two sides have been working on a new contract since last season and the team appears to be waiting to see how the surgery went and how he recovers. Even if he attends training camp, he may not be well enough to participate.
John Elway said the team wants to keep Clady, as he has turned into one of the best left tackles and went to the Pro Bowl three ties after being selected 12th in 2008. He has yet to miss a game in the league and if he signed his tender he could come into camp, but he wants to get a new deal. Byrd will also be sitting out as he is looking for a long term deal.
"He's also rehabbing an offseason surgery, so he technically or physically would not be able to participate in the practices anyway," coach John Fox told Broncos season-ticket holders on a conference call Monday, via the team's official website.