Tag: Frank Clark

Broncos coach Sean Payton comments on additions of Frank Clark, Brett Maher

Sean Payton said the Broncos were pleased and happy to get Frank Clark and Brett Maher signed before the start of training camp.

The Denver Broncos brought in two veterans before training camp started, signing pass rusher Frank Clark and kicker Brett Maher to one-year contracts.

After the team’s first practice last week, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about the two new arrivals.

“It’s good to have him here,” Payton said of Clark. “We were pleased we were able to sign him to help us with the pass rush. It’s good to have additional players like him, especially with his experience.”

Clark, 30, has 58.5 career sacks and 88 starts on his resume.

Denver also brought in a 33-year-old Maher.

“Yeah, we worked him out in the spring,” Payton said of the kicker. “At that time, we were a little bit off contract-wise. We like his talent.

“Obviously, he had a tough game [in the playoffs last year], but when you look at his body of work, it’s been pretty impressive. We’re happy we could get it done in time for the start of camp.”

Maher went 29-of-32 on field goal attempts with the Dallas Cowboys last season. He will compete with Elliott Fry for the kicker job this summer.

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Bizarre Frank Clark statement on Chiefs-Broncos history: ‘I wouldn’t call it a rivalry’

Frank Clark denied decades of history on Saturday, telling reporters that there is no rivalry between the #Broncos and #Chiefs

Frank Clark’s departure from the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason was painful for fans in Western Missouri, and salt was added to the fresh wound when they saw that he signed with the division-rival Denver Broncos.

Clark spoke to the media on Saturday after practice at Broncos training camp, confidently addressing reporters for one of the first times in his new orange and blue uniform.

Asked about the storied AFC West rivalry between Denver and Kansas City, and what he plans to do to end the Broncos’ 15-game losing streak against the Chiefs, Clark issued a statement wherein he denied that any bad blood exists between the two teams.

“I wouldn’t call it a rivalry,” He inexplicably said. “A rivalry is competitive, true or false? I’m on the Broncos now, and I’ve been on the other side, and we didn’t call it a rivalry then. I’m with the Broncos now. Until we become competitive enough, we have to beat the team.

“We have to win our division. [It is] not just about the Chiefs. [There are] things that we have to do here, we have to get our own ball together here in order for us to go out there and compete, in order for us to become one of those [inaudible]”

While Clark is certainly entitled to his opinions, he was a bit off the mark with these comments, which deny decades of history between these two storied franchises.

Perhaps he is still coping with the prospect of going from a Super Bowl contender to the dog house in the AFC West, but Clark is sure to get a taste of the Broncos’ rivalry with the Chiefs twice next year as Denver looks to get their first win against Kansas City since 2015.

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Broncos Wire podcast: Suspensions, Dalvin Cook, injuries and more

On the latest Broncos Wire podcast, Ryan O’Leary and Jon Heath discuss whether or not Denver should try to sign RB Dalvin Cook. Listen in!

As the slowest part of the NFL offseason drags on, the Broncos Wire podcast has returned for a mid-summer catchup episode.

The Denver Broncos have cut and signed several players since our last episode, so I joined host Ryan O’Leary to discuss the big news items that have happened since we last talked, including running back Dalvin Cook becoming a free agent.

You can listen to episode No. 81 below:

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Our unedited notes for this week’s pod can be seen below. 

Eyioma Uwazurike suspended indefinitely for gambling 
  • Name: E-yoh-mah Ooh-WHA-zah-REE-kay (He’s fine with “Innie”)
  • Innie was a 4th-round pick last year and played in eight games. He was a rotational defensive lineman and would have had a chance to compete for a larger role this summer.
  • He will miss at least the entire 2023 season and can’t apply for reinstatement until next year.
  • The Broncos were already thin on the defensive line.
Injury update: Good news for Javonte Williams, Tim Patrick
  • Broncos put WR KJ Hamler and DL Mike Purcell on non-football injury list
  • Denver put OLB Baron Browning and WR Kendall Hinton on PUP list
  • Javonte Williams (ACL) and Tim Patrick (ACL) were NOT placed on an injury list, a sign that they’ve been cleared for the start of training camp.
Brandon McManus was cut in May
  • McManus, 31, ranked 29th among kickers in field goal percentage (77.8%) last season. He was set to have the sixth-highest cap hit among kickers in 2023. Denver saved $3.75 million in salary cap space by releasing him.
  • McManus will be remembered for going a perfect 10-of-10 on field goal attempts during the 2015 playoffs, including 3-of-3 in Super Bowl 50. He was the last remaining player from the Super Bowl roster and he ends up second on the team’s all-time scoring list (946 points), only trailing Jason Elam.
  • It’s sad to see team legends get cut, but it’s understandable that the Broncos wanted to save salary cap space after McManus’ disappointing 2022 season.
So what’s the plan at kicker now?
  • Elliott Fry was signed in May, then the team added vet Brett Maher this month.
  • Fry had a good season in the AAF but he has only appeared in three NFL games in his career. Maher went 29-of-32 on FGs last season but got the yips in the playoffs and went 1-6 on extra point attempts in two postseason games.
  • Sean Payton has shown little patience for poor kicker play in the past — he burned through nine different kickers in his first ten years with the Saints before landing on Wil Lutz. (Maher kicked for Payton in 2021.)
OLB Frank Clark was signed and OT Cam Fleming was re-signed 
  • Fleming started 15 games last season. He will now serve as the team’s top backup swing tackle behind Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey.
  • Clark spent the last four years with the Chiefs, totaling 23.5 sacks and winning two Super Bowls. He’s a big-game player with 13.5 sacks in 13 playoff starts, including 2.5 sacks in the playoffs last year.
  • In an ideal world, Clark, 30, would be an excellent rotational pass rusher. With all the injuries Denver has had at OLB, though, he might start a bunch of games this season.
  • Randy Gregory is currently healthy, but Baron Browning underwent offseason knee surgery and will begin training camp on the PUP list. If Browning misses time early in the season, Gregory and Clark will start at OLB.
Dalvin Cook was cut by Minnesota — should Denver sign him?
  • Cook, 27, was drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2017 draft when George Paton was serving as Minnesota’s assistant GM and VP of player personnel.
  • George Payton likes to add RBs and Sean Payton has invested in the position in the past as well. If they can afford him, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Broncos try to sign Cook., but reports have downplayed the possibility.
  • Denver has the fourth-best odds to sign Cook behind the Pats, Dolphins and Jets.
  • Of note: Cook is set to go to trial next year for domestic abuse allegations from 2021.
We will return later in the offseason with new podcast episodes as news pops up. If you enjoy this podcast, you can check out previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your podcast service of choice. Please consider giving the podcast a positive rating and review!

You can listen to every past episode below or at this link.

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Broncos aim to generate pressure with waves of pass rushers in 2023

“[We need] enough of those guys that can affect the quarterback, especially in our division,” Sean Payton said of a pass-rush rotation.

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The Denver Broncos plan to use a frequent pass rush rotation to affect opposing quarterbacks in 2023.

The team’s outside linebackers will be primarily responsible — but not solely responsible — for providing Denver’s pressure this fall.

“Hopefully, our outside linebacker position are guys that we look at as pressure players,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said on June 13. “You don’t have to be an outside linebacker to be a pressure player. You can be an interior lineman that is exceptional, but there are some traits. … We use that term when evaluating talent. ‘Does this guy have the potential to be a pressure player?’

“I think Frank [Clark] does. I think there are a number of players on our team that have those traits, but if you lack those traits in your lineup, then you are forced by scheme to create pressure. Then, you get into a whole other game. I think that it’s evolved to more of a passing game. You have to be able to sub guys in and out. It’s a hard position to play 60-70 snaps.”

Clark just signed with the team earlier this month and he will join an OLB depth chart that already includes Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto, among others.

“That depth is important because it’s a constant fight,” Payton said. “It’s like wrestling. If you have ever wrestled with somebody, it’s exhausting. [It’s about] having enough of those guys that can affect the quarterback, especially in our division.”

Typically, the Broncos will only have two outside linebackers on the field at a time, but Gregory, Browning, Clark, Cooper and Bonitto could all see snaps in the same game as Denver rotates through pass rushers to keep them fresh.

The Broncos recorded just 36 sacks last year, tied for the ninth-fewest in the NFL (the Philadelphia Eagles led the league with 70 sacks). With Clark added to the rotation, Denver will hope to generate more pressure in 2023.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton confirms Frank Clark will play OLB, not DE

After spending the first eight years of his career as a defensive end, Frank Clark will transition to outside linebacker with the Broncos.

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Frank Clark spent the first eight years of his career playing as a 4-3 defensive end, first with the Seattle Seahawks (2015-2018) and then with the Kansas City Chiefs (2019-2022).

After the pass rusher signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos, some fans and pundits speculated that Clark would remain a defensive end (as opposed to transitioning to outside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 defense).

When the Broncos wrapped up minicamp last week, coach Sean Payton confirmed that Clark will play OLB, not DE, in Denver.

“He’s an OLB,” Payton said. “He’s an edge player.”

In their base defense, the Broncos have OLBs line up on the edge with DEs lining up as interior defensive linemen.

Of course, these position names could prove to be semantics given that Clark — and many of the team’s defenders — are versatile players who can line up at various spots. Even as an OLB, Clark could spend time at a traditional 3-4 DE spot. The Broncos will have the personnel to get creative with their pass rush this year.

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Here are Frank Clark’s creative contract details with the Broncos

If he maxes out incentives, Frank Clark can earn up to $7.5M in one year with the Broncos, but his initial salary cap hit will be $2.27M.

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If he maxes out the incentives in his contract, Frank Clark could earn up to $7.5 million on a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos.

His initial salary cap hit will be much lower than that, however.

The Broncos gave Clark a creative contract that includes three void years, giving the team some cap relief in 2023. This season, the 30-year-old pass rusher will have a base salary of $1.21 million, according to Spotrac.com.

Clark also has a signing bonus that will be prorated into a $1.06 million signing bonus this year, plus three more void years at the same total. His base salary and prorated signing bonus will give Clark a 2023 salary cap hit of $2.27 million.

The outside linebacker can also earn $510,000 through per-game roster bonuses, according to OverTheCap.com.

Because of the way Denver has structured the contract, Clark will have a bigger cap hit next year — $3.18 million — despite being out of contract. That total represents the remaining prorated signing bonus.

It’s a creative way the Broncos can save some cap space this season while pushing some of Clark’s cap hit into 2024 when the cap will be higher. Following the Clark signing, Denver still has more than $9 million in 2023 salary cap space going into the summer.

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Sean Payton comments on Broncos signing OLB Frank Clark

“It’s good to have him joining us,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of new pass rusher Frank Clark.

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The Denver Broncos officially signed pass rusher Frank Clark earlier this week, adding more depth to the team’s outside linebacker rotation following Baron Browning’s knee surgery.

Broncos coach Sean Payton described the 30-year-old edge defender as a “pressure player,” a valued position in today’s NFL.

“[He is] a pressure player and someone that I remember doing a lot of work on when he was coming out in the draft,” Payton said after Tuesday’s practice. “We followed him, obviously, in Seattle first and then in Kansas City. It’s one of the areas that we paid close attention to.

“We’ll find a role within what we are doing and where he can help us. I think it’s always a challenge to find those guys who you can say are pressure players, but he is one of them. Certainly, he’s excelled in the postseason, both in Seattle and in Kansas City. That’s the vision.”

In addition to his 58.5 regular-season sacks in 120 career games, Clark has also recorded 13.5 sacks in 17 career postseason games. That kind of production will be a welcomed addition to Denver’s defense.

First things first, though, Clark has something to finish up with the Chiefs, his former team, before reporting for training camp with the Broncos.

“He will be starting at the start of training camp,” Payton said. “We knew that going in. He has a [Chiefs Super Bowl] ring ceremony coming up. That will be a little awkward. But anyway, it’s good to have him joining us.”

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George Karlaftis shows appreciation for former Chiefs stars Frank Clark, Tamba Hali

#Chiefs DE George Karlaftis spoke about his relationship with Frank Clark and provided insight into working with Tamba Hali this offseason.

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The Kansas City Chiefs 2022 rookie class played a significant role in the team’s championship run. Contributions from both sides of the ball, with rookies seeing impactful minutes throughout the postseason and making game-winning plays.

One of the many first-year standouts was George Karlaftis, who proved quickly he could be a force on the defensive line. He played spot moments primarily as a reserve but was a critical component of the Chiefs’ pass rush toward the end of the regular season. After the Chiefs parted ways with veteran Frank Clark at the start of the offseason, it immediately opened up more potential opportunities for Karlaftis in 2023.

Karlaftis discussed the impact of Clark with reporters on Tuesday during their one season together, as the veteran has since signed with the Denver Broncos.

“I love Frank,” said Karlaftis. “He meant the world to me. Great person; you got to do what you got to do. You know, it’s his business, but I love him. And he just taught me so much that I’ll take not only with me for this as a professional football player but in life too.”

Karlaftis has also been in touch with Chiefs legend Tamba Hali to improve his technique heading into the new year.

“I knew there were some Chiefs players and guys that had been a part of the organization that lives in town,” said Karlaftis. “I reached out to him (Tamba Hali) to get some knowledge, and it turned out to be a great mentorship.”

Karlaftis finished the 2022 season with 33 tackles, six sacks, and two fumble recoveries. He showed that he could do more damage with more time on the field and consistent opportunity.

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Broncos officially sign OLB Frank Clark to 1-year contract

The Broncos officially signed outside linebacker Frank Clark to a one-year contract on Tuesday.

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The Denver Broncos officially signed outside linebacker Frank Clark to a one-year contract on Tuesday, the team announced.

Denver agreed to terms of a $5.5 million deal with Clark last week and he arrived at the team’s facility this week to put pen to paper. Following Baron Browning’s offseason knee surgery, Clark will give the Broncos another starting-caliber edge defender to play across from Randy Gregory.

Clark won a pair of Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. Before that, he played with the Seattle Seahawks.

“He has a [Chiefs Super Bowl] ring ceremony coming up. That will be a little awkward,” Denver coach Sean Payton joked after Tuesday’s minicamp practice.

Clark (6-3, 272 pounds) is a three-time Pro Bowler with 58.5 career sacks on his resume. He recorded five sacks in 15 games last year and 4.5 sacks in 14 games in 2021. He also totaled 30 quarterback hits over the last two seasons, and he recorded 7.5 sacks in Kansas City’s two postseason runs that ended with championship wins (six games).

Payton confirmed that Clark will play as an outside linebacker in the Broncos’ 3-4 defense. The 30-year-old pass rusher previously played as a defensive end in the 4-3 defenses of the Seahawks and Chiefs.

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Broncos cut WR Nick Williams, presumably to make room for OLB Frank Clark

The Broncos cut WR Nick Williams, presumably to make room for OLB Frank Clark.

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Story update: The Broncos officially signed outside linebacker Frank Clark to a one-year deal on Tuesday. See our original post below. 

The Denver Broncos cut rookie wide receiver Nick Williams on Tuesday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Williams was presumably cut to make room for new pass rusher Frank Clark, who agreed to terms on a one-year deal last week. Clark has not yet officially signed — coach Sean Payton said after Tuesday’s minicamp practice that the team is still tying up a few loose ends and Clark will be officially signed before the start of training camp in July.

Williams (6-4, 220 pounds) is a local prospect who grew up in Aurora and played high school football at Cherry Creek High School. He started his college career at CSU-Pueblo (Division II), totaling 107 receptions for 1,428 yards and nine touchdowns in three years (35 games).

Ahead of his senior season last year, Williams transferred to UNLV. He totaled 28 catches for 435 yards and two scores in 12 games with the Rebels last fall. Williams will now become a free agent.

In other transaction news, former Broncos offensive lineman Hunter Thedford, who was cut in May, has signed with the Cleveland Browns.

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