www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3774437
Lelie won't accept drop to No. 3 role
By Bill Williamson and Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writers
If the Broncos want to mend fences with wide receiver Ashley Lelie, he says no offense, but he's not interested.
"Me coming back is definitely out of the question at this point with me being the No. 3 receiver," Lelie said Monday night from Arizona. "There's nothing to mend. There's no solution. ... Let me go somewhere where I can compete."
At this point, Lelie - who has forgone Denver's entire offseason workout program - knows there are three possibilities for him: be traded, show up for training camp in late July or hold out for the entire season.
"The odds are the worst scenario is the most likely scenario," Lelie said. "I think holding out is the best odds with me being traded next and then me coming back next. But I don't think I'm coming back. ... The situation has gotten worse. It's gotten a lot worse."
Lelie, of course, is talking about his place on Denver's depth chart at wideout. When Lelie asked to be traded, it was because he was wanted the chance to be a No. 1 receiver elsewhere instead of being the No. 2 in Denver. Saturday, he slid to No. 3 when Denver acquired Pro Bowl wideout Javon Walker from Green Bay.
Thus, Lelie, who has one season remaining on his contract, is behind Walker and veteran Rod Smith.
"I'd much rather sit out than be No. 3," Lelie said. "I'm prepared for the money hit I'll take. It's not about monetary issues. I love to play, and I want the chance to play. When the game is on the line with two minutes to go, I want to be on the field, not the bench. We just don't use three receivers much. We're a running team. I don't see this working."
Said Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer: "I don't see any positives coming from ever holding out. Very rarely does it happen where you get your way."
Lelie insisted he is not upset with anyone in particular, that it's simply the situation.
"My reaction to Ashley is he's under contract," Broncos general manager Ted