The Denver Broncos could have an issue on their hands with Demaryius Thomas. After failing to negotiate a long-term contract, the Broncos were forced to put the franchise tag on the wide receiver, a move that is not very pleasing to Thomas. As the team kicks off voluntary workouts, Thomas is nowhere to be seen and team vice president John Elway is not thrilled about it.
After losing Julius Thomas to free agency, the Broncos could not afford to let Demaryius walk way as well. However, getting a contract negotiated has not been easy as the wide receiver falls into the same boat as Julio Jones and Dez Bryant who are also waiting on new deals. While the Broncos let the market set itself for these players, Thomas is not thrilled over the weighting game and is sending a message by holding out of practice.
"To be dead honest with you, I see absolutely zero value with him being away from here," Elway said, via the Denver Post. "Him being away from here there is zero value not only to us, but to him. To me it makes no sense.' As far as negotiations ... we'd like to get something done. But by him being away from here, there is zero value, not only to us, (but) to him. To me it makes no sense. That actually has no effect to anything we're talking about, trying to get a contract done with him, because that's ultimately what we'd like to do. But for him not to be here it has zero effect. It makes no sense to me."
Peyton Manning did not seem bothered by the absence, photoshopping Thomas' picture into the group shot after the Duke workouts. The absence of Thomas does not pair well with the early struggles of Cody Latimer who is expected to play a big role with the team this year. After losing Wes Welker and Thomas, Latimer will step in as a starter. However, the young receiver admits he is having trouble keeping up with Peyton Manning in early workouts as the quarterback returns healthy. However, he admits he is really ready to take on a bigger role with the team.
"He showed a lot of flashes from me watching (film of) him in practice," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "A lot of times being a rookie can be over- whelming. I think it's time for him to make a big jump, not just a little jump. Obviously his playing time is fixing to pick up, and it needs to pick up. We need him."
Meanwhile, the lack of bodies could force the Broncos to make a move in the draft for a tight end or receiver. The Denver Post reports that Maxx Williams could be a first-round target while the team is also looking at running back help with Ameer Abdullah and TJ Yeldon. Late-round receivers like Jaelen Strong, Phillip Dorsett or Devin Smith might help the offense move forward as well.
