Last off-season, the Broncos added Peyton Manning in an attempt to transform a team with a a good defence, and a just barely there offence into a Superbowl Contender. The regular season wins followed, with Manning’s MVP caliber season as a catalyst. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough as the Broncos lost an exciting playoff game to the eventual Superbowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. Now this year the Broncos are looking for more.
However, the injury issues with Manning are well documented. Multiple neck surgeries cost him the entire 2011 season, and is the reason he was available to the Broncos to begin with. Protecting Manning and keeping him upright, and giving him the time to throw touchdowns is extremely important to the Broncos success. The key to that is a strong offensive line, and the key to any good offensive line, is a strong left tackle. The Broncos have recognized this and locked up their left tackle Ryan Clady to a new five year contract.
Clady, who was given a franchise tag by the Broncos in order that he would not become a free agent, had until 4:00 pm Monday to sign a long-term extension or would be forced to play out the year under the franchise tag (or not play at all). Clady and the Broncos have agreed to a 5 year deal with a base salary of $52.5 million. Clady can earn an extra $5 million in bonuses if he can play at All-Pro level in two of those five years. $33 million of the contract is guaranteed money.
And so Clady will be in Denver and given the job of protecting the Broncos biggest asset for the foreseeable future, and for that, he will be extremely well compensated. In fact many might say that Clady himself, has become a rather big asset to the Broncos organization.
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