The Denver Broncos are currently in the midst of another dominating season and have no intentions of letting anything become a distraction. So with several players in need of new contracts, the team is tabling all talks until the offseason. The Broncos have to sign several of their big offensive weapons to new contracts after failing to do so last summer, but nothing will happen until March at the earliest.
According to ESPN.com, the Broncos have ended contract talks with both Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas until the offseason. The wide receiver and tight end have both tried to get new deals inked during the offseason, carrying negotiations into training camp, but nothing was finalized and they are both left with expiring deals and free agency on the horizon. Negotiations could get complicated. The Broncos have just one franchise tag to use meaning that if both players cannot agree to a deal, they can only retain one of them for the following season. While Denver has stressed deals for both players are very close to being agreed upon, nothing has been put on paper.
Demaryius Thomas had a slow start to his season, struggling to begin the year and the wide receiver was forced to note that a lack of a contract was not the reason he was not blowing people away with numbers. Instead, he made note that defenses are simply targeting him more.
"Nah, the contract is not part of it. The contract is going to work out by itself. I can't really do nothing about it," Thomas said . "Either you play well or you don't. There's no dollar signs involved when I'm playing football. All I care about is winning. So when I can't make the play, the reason I'm upset is I'm not helping the team win."
Julius Thomas has done his part to prove that he deserves a marquee contract next summer. The tight end has 304 yards on the season while leading the team with nine touchdowns. Demaryius has 662 yards to his name and six touchdowns. They have combined to create one of the best units in the league.
The odd man out when it comes to contracts could be Wes Welker. The wide receiver's deal is also coming to a close and his contract season has not gone as well as everyone else's. Welker has dealt with a suspension after violating the league's drug policy and concussion issues to start the year while having just 176 yards on the season and one touchdown. The Broncos could attempt to trade him, but that is pointless right now. Instead, they will simply let Welker walk away into free agency while Demaryius and Julius remain the priorities.