Denver to franchise tag MLB Al Wilson

[inmate running the asylum]

Broncos want Wilson to tag along

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

February 20, 2004

INDIANAPOLIS - Al Wilson isn't going anywhere, at least in the short term.

The Denver Broncos intend to place the franchise tag on Wilson by Tuesday's deadline, with talks at a standstill toward a long-term agreement with their pending free-agent linebacker, general manager Ted Sundquist said Thursday.

"At this point, based on where we are today and what I've gotten back from them now, that's the only direction I have to go," Sundquist said.

The franchise tag would pay Wilson $5,834,000 on a one-year contract - culled from the average of the top-10 salaries at his position last season. Yet it seriously restricts his ability to change teams. The league-mandated compensation is two No. 1 draft picks to sign franchise players from their respective clubs.

Wilson's representative, Norm Nixon, was scheduled to attend an agent's seminar here Friday, which could rekindle face-to-face negotiations and avoid the last-ditch scenario neither side wants. But no talks are scheduled, and the situation has remained in limbo since about 10 days ago, when Denver's previous proposal was rejected.

Sundquist, who is negotiating for the team, said the team has "pretty much" reached the financial ceiling on any offer to Wilson.

"The last time I talked to them, basically I took it off the table because that was our offer. That was it," he said. "So, really, where I am right now with them is we intend to franchise him on Tuesday."

A long-term deal still could be forged even if the Broncos follow through and apply the franchise designation. The tag triggers an exclusive two-week negotiating window in which a long-term deal could be hammered out.

Should that then fail, a negotiating blackout essentially would follow until at least July 15.

The team has applied the franchise tag twice before during football operations head Mike Shanahan's 10-year tenure with the club, on safety Steve A****er (1995) and kicker Jason Elam (2002).

Asked if he expected a counteroffer from Nixon in the next few days, Sundquist said, "I don't know what to expect," adding, "If he calls me and there's something to talk about it, we'll talk."

Sundquist has no complaints about the tenor of negotiations. Communication between the parties has been "outstanding" and have lacked rancor.

But the general manager believes at this point his hands are tied, even though the sides were "very, very, very close" to an agreement before the Feb. 8 Pro Bowl, a game in which Wilson was a participant for the third consecutive year.

"We felt with regards to our evaluation of Al once the season was over and what he meant to the team and the deal we were willing to put forth was a really good, very fair deal for Al . . . and the club," Sundquist said.

Since that offer was rejected, the team has turned its attention to other matters, such as paring a salary- cap overage of about $4.2 million before March 2, its other free agents in waiting and the NFL scouting combine workouts here this weekend.

Wilson earned $1,095,000 last season in the final year of his original 1999 rookie contract. A defensive captain from his middle-linebacker spot, he led Denver in tackles with 128 (99 solo), the second consecutive season he set the pace in that category.

Should he sign for the long term - and a seven-year deal is most likely in his case for cap purposes - he is expected to receive guarantees of at least $10 million. That figure is comparable to the up-front payments to fellow linebackers who recently negotiated new deals, such as Atlanta's Keith Brooking ($10.6 million) and Buffalo's Takeo Spikes ($10.5 million) and the $10.5 million in bonuses awarded to Miami's Zach Thomas the past two seasons under his renegotiated contract.

Nixon was unavailable for comment but said recently he hoped to avoid the franchise tag.

"It can always be avoided," he said.

But the agent also wanted to make sure Wilson was taken care of financially to the fullest extent possible because this probably is his best career shot at a rich payout. Though he is aware the Broncos have to be mindful of 53 players on their roster, Nixon stressed his responsibility is to one - Wilson.

"It's his time now," Nixon said earlier this month. "And I think his contract should be reflective of what he's done, and not only what he's going to do in the future but a little bit of what he's done in the past."