GM Paton: Broncos wanted to “do right” by Phillip Lindsay

Denver’s GM said he wanted to let the hometown favorite hit the market and “maximize his value”

Mar 18, 2021, 5:28 PM Updated: 5:36 pm

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Broncos Country got its answer as to why hometown favorite running back Phillip Lindsay and the Denver organization agreed to part ways on Thursday, though there’s no guarantee it’ll be to their liking.

Speaking to the media at UCHealth Training Center, Broncos general manager George Paton said Denver let one of its most popular players walk because they “wanted to do right by Phillip.”

“He’s been a great player here. He’s been great in the community. He’s one of the more popular players for the Broncos the past couple of years,” Paton said. “We wanted to let Phillip hit the market and maximize his value, and so that’s what we did. He deserved that.”

The comments come after a few up-and-down days regarding the Pro Bowl running back’s future in Denver, the city in which he first made his mark as a standout at Denver South High School before turning into a star at the University of Colorado.

On Monday, the Broncos placed an original round tender on Lindsay, meaning that the likelihood of him leaving Denver via free agency for a better offer elsewhere significantly increased.

However, early Thursday, Lindsay’s agent, Mike McCartney, tweeted that both sides had come to an agreement to rescind the tender, allowing his client to hit the open market.

In a series of tweets earlier in the day, Lindsay thanked his fans, teammates and coaches, saying, “I’m very appreciative for my time with the Denver Broncos.”

“As a Colorado kid, I was able to fulfill my dream of playing for my home team,” Lindsay said.

and allows me to do what’s best for my family. Thank you Broncos country you will always hold a special place in my heart. https://t.co/7aIfsc713E

— Phillip Lindsay (@I_CU_boy) March 18, 2021

In a statement posted to Twitter early Thursday, the Broncos thanked Lindsay for his time with the organization.

“From a college FA to the first undrafted offensive rookie to make the Pro bowl, you made an incredible impact in the orange and blue,” the statement read.

An undrafted free agent out of Colorado, Lindsay rushed for 1,037 yards for nine touchdowns in 2018, earning a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie season. And he would follow up that season with another 1,000-yard campaign in 2019.

However, injuries and competition with Melvin Gordon III for reps hampered Lindsay’s 2020 campaign. In 11 games (eight starts), Lindsay rushes 118 times for 502 yards and one touchdown.