September 6, 2008 10:23 PM
Broncos ink Williams
Broncos assistant general manager Brian Xanders briskly walked into the Broncos locker room Friday afternoon, earnestly searching for linebacker D.J. Williams.
After a spin past Williams' empty locker and a lap through the training room, Xanders located Williams down the hall.
But the two have had plenty to talk about as the Broncos have agreed to terms with their starting weak-side linebacker on a five-year extension. The deal, which is expected to be formally signed before the team leaves for Oakland Sunday, includes roughly $13 million guaranteed and could be worth as much as $31 million to $32 million.
The Broncos open the season Monday night against the Raiders in McAfee Coliseum.
Williams is currently in the fifth year of his original six-year deal with the team, but the sixth year had been voided because of his playing time -- this is his fifth year as a starter -- and he would have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. The Broncos have been looking to finish a deal with Williams before the team got too deep into the regular season having had several discussions with Williams representatives as training camp opened.
Williams has started at all three linebacker positions for the Broncos before being moved back to the weak-side linebacker spot this year.
Williams, whose base salary is $850,000 this season and counts $1.626 million against the salary cap.
--Jeff Legwold, ,
September 7, 2008
3:40 AM
RaiderNation951 writes:
Your going to need him come Monday Night.
September 7, 2008
6:21 AM
BV Ranger writes:
Good move.