Not so fast on the Brian Griese front. While it's true that the Broncos have offered him a seven-year, $42 million contract, he has not accepted it. Griese's agent, Ralph Cindrich, is expected to do some serious fine-tuning to the deal that could meet some resistance from the Broncos.
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Griese, a restricted free agent, is having dialogue with the Kansas City Chiefs but has been slow to accept an invitation to visit Denver's AFC West rival.
The Chiefs would have to surrender first- and third-round draft picks to Denver, in addition to giving Griese a bundle of money that would discourage the Broncos from matching the contract.
The Denver Post reported Friday that sources close to Griese
said that a seven-year, $42 million deal could be completed in the next week.
The contract would be the richest given to a Broncos
quarterback, exceeding the five-year, $29.5 million agreement
reached with longtime franchise standout John Elway before the 1996
season.
Broncos spokesman Jim Saccomano on Friday said contract
negotiations were ongoing.
"We haven't signed Brian to a new contract. Of course, it's
widely known this is a very strong desire on the part of ours,"
Saccomano said.
The Chiefs visited with ex-Carolina quarterback Steve Beuerlein this week, but coach Dick Vermeil is reluctant because of Beuerlein's recent health problems. Beuerlein's most recent surgeries have been on his right elbow and non-throwing shoulder.
The Chiefs' most likely scenario continues to rest on the two Trents – Green and Dilfer.
However, Kansas City appears adamant that it will not surrender its first-round pick (No. 12) in the St. Louis deal. The Rams are just as adamant that it won't budge – a first- and a third-rounder. Compromise doesn't appear possible -- both sides remain bunkered down by emotions still lingering from Vermeil coming out of his one-year retirement from the Rams to coach the Chiefs. The Rams were awarded the Chiefs' second-round pick, and Vermeil has been ordered to pay back the $500,000 he got from the Rams as a "consulting" fee.
