Elvis Dumervil released by Broncos after contract faxed too late

Dumervil’s contract with the Ravens is reportedly worth up to $35 million over five years, including $8.5 million in 2013, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Appearing in all 16 of Denver’s games in 2012, Dumervil recorded 54 tackles, 11 sacks and forced six fumbles. In the last three seasons, Dumervil recorded 37.5 sacks, and established himself as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers in the NFL.

The last we heard, Dumervil -- the best free agent available, per SB Nation’s Adam Stites -- was visiting other teams when the Broncos’ offer reportedly underwhelmed the 29-year-old pass-rusher. Friday, Denver Post reporter Mike Klis had this to say:

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Dumervil expressed an interest in playing for the Dolphins, due to the fact that he’s from Miami, though the Dolphins haven’t reached out to the defensive end. The Ravens, though, have expressed a desire to sign Dumervil, though no deal has been reached.

Now that the annual league meeting has come to an end, a second round of free agency will begin as coaches and general managers make their way back to work. Dumervil will likely be one of the more sought after players in this second round of free agency and likely won’t be available for much longer.

While Dumervil’s agent blames the Broncos for not sending the correct contract until 1:33 p.m., Dumervil may blame his agent. It seems that he is going to be represented by someone else soon:

According to Aaron Wilson, the Ravens hope to meet with Dumervil in the upcoming week to discuss a deal that would land him in Baltimore.

Dumervil’s $12 million contract for the 2013 season was set to become guaranteed at 4 p.m. ET Friday. The two sides had been involved in negotiations in the restructuring of that contract. The Broncos, ironically, told Dumervil and his agent they wanted him to accept their new contract offer of $8 million for the 2013 by 3 p.m. ET so they would have time to file the paperwork.

Dumervil’s agent, Marty Magid, says they received the contract at 2:45 p.m. ET, signed the contract and faxed it back.

The Broncos wished to change the financial terms of Dumervil’s contract, which he ultimately accepted, but the signed contract arrived after the 4 p.m. ET hard deadline for free agents.

Dumervil’s agent Marty Magid claimed the Broncos made last-minute changes to the contract offer, which accounted for the delay. Elway countered in his statement, saying that Dumervil’s camp was well aware of contract changes and imposed a personal deadline of 3 p.m. ET to ensure that the paperwork was in order.

With a 4 p.m. ET hard deadline to beat, the Broncos were forced to act to avoid paying Dumervil a $12 million contract fully guaranteed for the 2013 season, and every minute mattered. Deadlines spur action, but in the case of Dumervil’s agent, Marty Magid, the action came too late.

It was the Broncos that set a deadline for Dumervil’s camp at first, as they made their final contract offer at 1 p.m. and gave Magid and Dumervil two hours to decide whether to accept the deal or not, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Two hours later at 3 p.m. ET, the Broncos had not heard back and were forced to write up termination papers.

A last-minute change to the contract delayed its arrival until 3:33 p.m. ET, Dumervil’s agent Marty Magid said, which left his client less than a half hour to sign and fax the contract back.

From USA Today’s Mike Garafolo:

Dumervil’s new base salary comes out to about $8 million per season, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network. Despite the big pay cut, Dumervil will still be paid among the better defensive ends in the league. For example, the transition tag number set at the average salary of top ten highest paid players at his position came out to just under $9 million this offseason.

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