The Denver Broncos are transferring on from veteran huge receiver Tim Patrick.
And fairly frankly, it doesn’t make an entire lot of sense.
When that information dropped on Monday afternoon, it caught Broncos Nation abruptly. Denver will both attempt to commerce Patrick earlier than Tuesday’s 2:00 p.m. cutdown deadline or inform him goodbye.
He gained’t be on the crew this coming season.
Why?
Patrick’s story is inspiring. He was carted off at coaching camp every of the final two years, his seasons ending earlier than they even began with an ACL harm and an Achilles harm. Some guys may need simply retired, however not Patrick.
The previous undrafted free agent who’s been an underdog his complete profession did what he is aware of finest. He battled like heck to return to the sector and did every thing the Broncos requested.
Patrick ran with the No. 1 offense for an important elements of camp and seemed like himself in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the second preseason recreation. The “gown rehearsal” was handed with flying colours because the Broncos smacked the Cheeseheads and Bo Nix discovered Patrick for a landing.
That was the second everybody thought Patrick was again and had formally made the crew. When he didn’t swimsuit up in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals this previous Sunday, that appeared like the ultimate formality he’d be on the 53-man roster. Apparently, one thing modified.
Sure, Brandon Johnson seemed good in opposition to the Cardinals, however was that basically sufficient to get Patrick out of city? Everybody’s enthusiastic about rookie Devaughn Vele, however come on now, he was a seventh-round draft decide for a purpose. Give him a while to develop.
And fourth-round decide Troy Franklin has been M.I.A for a lot of the summer time. Denver was by no means going to chop a man who performed with Nix at Oregon and Sean Payton traded as much as draft, but it surely’s not possible to say he’s extra deserving of a spot on the roster than Patrick.
Frankly, this resolution sends an odd message to the Broncos locker room. How can Patrick work all the way in which again, show he’s nonetheless an efficient participant, roll with the No. 1 offense and nonetheless not get a spot on the crew?
One of many largest issues Denver has going for them is a powerful chemistry. Guys like Russell Wilson, Jerry Jeudy, Frank Clark and Randy Gregory had been all proven the door. For a wide range of totally different causes, they didn’t match on a 2024 Broncos crew that wanted a tradition reset.
Patrick definitely wasn’t a part of that downside.
Nobody is predicting this yr’s squad will go to the Tremendous Bowl, however they’ve seemed hungry all summer time. An ideal 3-0 preseason, Nix turning heads and a crisp coaching camp are large the reason why.
Reducing or buying and selling Patrick isn’t going to fully derail that, however it is going to put a dent within the good vibes this crew constructed up collectively. Patrick did nothing fallacious, but he’ll be enjoying for a unique crew this season.
Certainly Payton and GM George Paton have their causes for making this resolution. They’ll be grilled about them the following time they meet with the media. However you’ll be able to wager at the very least a couple of veterans on the crew are sad the way it went down.
The Broncos gave Patrick one other shot, and he seized it. It seems from the surface wanting in that he’s getting a uncooked deal.
Plus, Payton and Paton are taking away a strong choice from Nix on offense. Perhaps Franklin turns into a bit down the highway, however he’s not serving to Denver win extra video games this yr than Patrick would have.
Cuts occur. Trades occur. Modifications occur within the NFL.
However this looks like a change that didn’t have to be made. Tim Patrick has performed his final snap in a Broncos uniform. And that doesn’t look like it was the suitable name.