"Around the League" is taking a look at each team's salary-cap situation heading into training camp. Next up: The Denver Broncos.
Adjusted Cap Number: $147.236 million
Cap Room Remaining: $11.719 million
Best Bargain:Jacob Tamme. The last time Tamme caught passes from Peyton Manning was when both were with the 2010 Indianapolis Colts. After not having a pass thrown his way during the first six weeks of the season, Tamme stepped up for an injured Dallas Clark and finished the season with 67 receptions for 631 yards with four touchdowns. Tamme tied with Jacksonville's Marcedes Lewis for 10th in Football Outsiders' DYAR metric (DYAR gives the value of the performance on plays where the player caught the ball, compared to a replacement-level player in the same game situations and then translated into yardage.)
Tamme's production predictably plummeted when the law firm of Collins, Painter & Orlovsky took control of the Colts' quarterback position, leading to a three-year, $8 million contract to reunite with Manning-led Broncos. Just $2.5 million of that contract is due this season, which ranks 25th in cash compensation among NFL tight ends and is $200,000 less than what Clark is scheduled to earn from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Potential Camp Casualty: Ty Warren and Kevin Vickerson both agreed to restructured contracts this offseason. With ample cap room, no player appears to have a salary or cap number that would put his roster spot in jeopardy.
Contract Issue Looming In 2013: The biggest issue next offseason will be Manning's March physical, which -- if he passes -- could fully guarantee an additional $40 million of his five-year, $96 million contract. Left tackle Ryan Clady is No. 2 on the list. Clady was an All-Pro or Pro Bowl player his first two seasons in the NFL (2008, 2009) but suffered a knee injury in 2010. Despite leading the NFL in holding penalties, Clady returned to the Pro Bowl in 2011 and could head back now that he's blocking for a quarterback (Manning) who won't be running around to extend the play the way Tim Tebow did last season.
