Stokley: Hope Shane Ray makes Broncos ‘pay’ for no 5th-year option
May 3, 2018, 8:28 AM
As multiple reports indicate, as the 2 p.m. deadline passes Thursday the Denver Broncos intend not to exercise the fifth-year option on former first-round pick Shane Ray, much to the chagrin of Brandon Stokley.
The “Stokley and Zach” co-host said Wednesday that he’s “completely shocked” the Broncos wouldn’t pick up the fifth-year of Ray’s contract, afforded to the team because of the pass rusher’s first-round draft pick status.
“I thought it was a no-brainer. I thought it was a layup,” Stokley said. “You have some wiggle room there if you do pick it up, just as long as he doesn’t get hurt. You protect yourself against him going out and having a great year and then him being a free agent and you losing him.”
Stokley continued, calling it an “awful move” and a “bad decision,” saying that he hopes “Shane Ray make them pay for it.”
“What did John Elway say? You can never have enough pass rushers. And they’re just going to let one walk out of the door in a year and not give themselves the ability to keep him for $9 million if he has a really good year?” Stokley said. “I’m confused by it.”
“Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Cecil Lammey said on Wednesday the Broncos have just “created a monster,” especially if Ray earns a big payday with strong production in 2018.
“If he gets 12 sacks this year, great. And that’s good news for the Broncos. It is,” Lammey said. “If Shane Ray gets 12 sacks, great. He leaves and goes to Kansas City. That’s where he wants to play. That’s where he’s from.
“You’ve just created a monster that now gets to haunt you in your own division.”
Aside from losing Ray, however, Lammey said Denver would “lose leverage” in future negotiations with fellow outside linebacker Shaq Barrett — a point in which Stokley agreed.
“If you want to try to get a deal done early, like around now or training camp, I think you’re going to have to pay him. If I’m Shaq, I’m not taking a big discount like Wolfe and Chris Harris because he has a lot of leverage in this whole situation now,” Stokley said.
“Do the Broncos want to be heading into 2019 with only two pass rushers? With Von and Chubb? Because Shane Ray is gone. So, Shaq has a lot of leverage in this situation now.”
