Joe Mays released by Denver Broncos 7/23
By Mike Klis The Denver Post
In a move expected because of financial considerations, the Broncos released former starting middle linebacker Joe Mays on Tuesday.
Mays was due to earn a $4 million salary this season, although the Broncos will save only $3.5 million as $500,000 of his salary was guaranteed.
Either way, the money was too rich for a player who lost his starting position last season after the Broncos' fifth game against the New England Patriots.
Just because a transaction lacks surprise, though, doesn't mean it's easy for the player or the team. Mays was one of the leaders in the Broncos' locker room, a popular teammate and active in the community.
Mays started 21 of 24 games at middle linebacker for the Broncos. His career hit a series of unfortunate events, though, starting with a vicious hit on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub during Week 3 last season. Although Schaub appeared to duck at the last second, Mays was given a one-game suspension for his helmet hit that made all the highlight shows.
Mays returned the next week at New England, but the Patriots NASCAR-tempo offense often caught the Broncos' defense napping. It was Mays, as the defensive signal-caller, who took the brunt of the blame. He was replaced in game 6 by Keith Brooking at inside linebacker. In game 7, Mays suffered a season-ending broken leg while blocking on a punt return.
Mays, 28, doesn't figure to be unemployed for long as he was known as an exceptional special teams performer before he started playing regularly at middle linebacker.
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