Elvis Dumervil signs tender

On Monday, Elvis Dumervil, the Broncos star pass rusher who had a league high 17 sacks last season, signed his $3.168 million dollar tender, which puts him back under contract with the team. He had previously signed an injury waiver to be able to work out with his teammates while not being under contract.

In the mean time, the Broncos keep working Gary Wichard, Dumervil's agent, to try and negotiate a long term deal that would keep him in Denver well beyond the 2010 season. Dumervil had refused to sign his tender until the deadline as a form of protest against not receiving a long term deal. However, by participating in offseason workouts and signing his tender, he has taken a much more positive approach than fellow Restricted Free Agents Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill (both San Diego Chargers) who have threatened with a long hold out, and Patriots guard Logan Mankins, who has requested a trade from the team.

With Dumervil now signed for at least 2010, it is likely that the Broncos front office will first focus on getting the rookies under contract to avoid having any hold outs when training camp starts. Once they have signed, the Broncos will hopefully get a long term deal done that would keep Dumervil in Denver for the next few years. He is the example of production and good character that McDaniels values so much, and the front office will have to show that those people get rewarded when time comes for a new contract.