praying for some miracles in Atlanta !!!!!
Lelie Had to Pay a Hefty Price for His Departure
Aug 24, 6:57 PM (ET)
By ARNIE STAPLETON
DENVER (AP) -Ashley Lelie's departure from Denver was a costly one.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan confirmed Thursday that in order to be free from the final year of his contract, the recalcitrant receiver agreed to pay the Broncos a hefty sum.
The amount is believed to be $982,000.
Not counting players' days off, Lelie skipped 23 days of training camp, making him liable for $14,000 in daily fines totaling $322,000.
The Broncos also wanted Lelie to repay a prorated portion of his $3.3 million signing bonus, which would amount to $660,000 if divided by five (because his sixth year was voided when he reached certain incentives).
In speaking Thursday for the first time about the three-way deal that sent Lelie to Atlanta, T.J. Duckett to Washington and a conditional package of picks from the Redskins to Denver, Shanahan said at least as important as the draft day compensation was the money Lelie owed the Broncos.
"It wasn't really the pick as much as I just wanted to make sure that they knew whatever the prorated signing bonus was and whatever the fines were that that was going to be a hefty amount. That's a lot of money to pay back," Shanahan said. "And when that was agreed to, then we talked about compensation relative to what we should get for his services and we were able to do that."
Shanahan added: "We would not have released him unless he agreed to it and signed a contract to do it."
Lelie, who led the league in yards per catch the last two seasons, skipped the Broncos' offseason workout program, forgoing a $100,000 bonus to work out on his own in Arizona. He said he wanted out of Denver because the Broncos were misusing him and weren't giving him the chance to be the featured pass-catcher with Rod Smith and Javon Walker on the roster.
Shanahan reiterated his stance Thursday that Lelie would have been better off competing for the top receiving spot in Denver, where Smith is 36 and entering his 12th season and Walker is coming off a severe knee injury that cost him almost all of last season in Green Bay.
"I really believe somewhere down the line he got some bad advice," Shanahan said. "I don't think that was coming from Ashley. Ashley wasn't like that. He wasn't like that the four years here. I don't know why, to be honest with you. This happened even before we started talking to Javon.
"So, I just really can't figure out why he went in that direction, but I wish him well."
The Broncos acquired Walker in a draft-day trade with the Packers but earlier in the year they flirted with signing Terrell Owens and it was that dalliance that sparked Lelie's trade request.
"I'm glad it's behind us," Shanahan said. "I think it worked out hopefully good for both parties."
