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Warren agrees to six-year deal with Broncos
March 11, 2006
DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos re-signed defensive end Gerard Warren, running back Ron Dayne and long snapper Mike Leach in a flurry of deals Saturday.
Warren signed for six years, Dayne for three and Leach for four.
Warren joined the Broncos last season and had 44 tackles, three sacks and three pass breakups. He helped Denver rank second in run defense at 85 yards a game, the third-best mark in franchise history.
"Gerard joined our team in 2005 and made an immediate impact on the defensive front," general manager Ted Sundquist said. "Players of his ability are very difficult to come by, and ensuring that Gerard remained a Bronco was one of our top offseason priorities."
Warren played his first four seasons in Cleveland, which selected him with the third overall pick in 2001 out of Florida. He has played 76 career regular-season games (75 starts) and totaled 289 tackles (187 solo), 19 1/2 sacks (125 yards), 13 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
A third-stringer last year, Dayne will get a shot at the lead running back role with the recent departure of Mike Anderson, a salary-cap casualty.
"Ron showed us in 2005 that he certainly has the skills to be a productive part of the Broncos' rushing attack," Sundquist said. "His contributions should only be greater in 2006, and we feel he has finally found a place where he can showcase his talent."
Dayne, who won the 1999 Heisman Trophy when he set the career college rushing record at Wisconsin, is entering his seventh NFL season. He spent his first five years with the Giants but after a rookie season in which he rushed for 770 yards and five scores for a team that advanced to the Super Bowl, he never lived up to his college credentials.
Dayne played in 10 games for Denver last season and averaged 5.1 yards on 53 carries with one touchdown. Although his carries were limited while backing up Anderson and Tatum Bell, he played a significant role in two crucial victories.
Leach, a part-time tight end who joined the Broncos as a free agent in 2002, has handled Denver's long-snapping duties in every game for the last three seasons and served as the team's long snapper for the final eight games in 2002 after signing as a free agent.
Updated on Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 8:29 pm EST
Warren agrees to six-year deal with Broncos
Warren agrees to six-year deal with Broncos
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