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Englewood, CO - The Denver Broncos have signed free-agent safety John Lynch to a three-year deal worth $9 million. The deal also has a $2.5 million signing bonus involved.
The Broncos also signed veteran defensive end Raylee Johnson and agreed to terms with defensive tackle Luther Elliss.
The 33-year-old Lynch has played all 11 years of his career with Tampa Bay, helping the Bucs to a Super Bowl title during the 2002 season.
Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowl safety was informed by the Bucs that he was not in their plans for the 2004 season. The veteran offered to restructure his contract that would have paid him $4.1 million in 2004 and $5 million in 2005.
However, the proposal was turned down by the club.
After Tampa general manager Bruce Allen rejected his request, Lynch was given permission to talk to other teams. Denver and the New York Jets were major suitors that were pursuing the hard hitting safety.
Lynch chose Denver over New York in what can be viewed as a difficult choice.
Lynch is the godfather of Jets head coach Herman Edwards' only child and he is very close with Edwards.
"We're really, really excited to get a guy of this caliber," Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said. "He's been a champion; he knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl." Lynch, a veteran out of Stanford, has 787 tackles (545) solo with 23 interceptions in 132 games started in his career.
He was bothered by a shoulder injury last season that required him to have off-season surgery.
Johnson, who spent the first 11 years of his career with San Diego, inked a three-year deal worth a reported $3.3 million. The Chargers released him earlier this month.
The 33-year-old Johnson had four sacks this past season, but missed the last seven games with a foot injury, and has 46 sacks in his career.
Elliss, who spent the first nine years of his NFL career with Detroit, has also had injury problems of late. The two-time Pro Bowl selection missed 11 games in 2003 with a chest muscle injury and a concussion.
The Broncos also signed veteran defensive end Raylee Johnson and agreed to terms with defensive tackle Luther Elliss.
The 33-year-old Lynch has played all 11 years of his career with Tampa Bay, helping the Bucs to a Super Bowl title during the 2002 season.
Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowl safety was informed by the Bucs that he was not in their plans for the 2004 season. The veteran offered to restructure his contract that would have paid him $4.1 million in 2004 and $5 million in 2005.
However, the proposal was turned down by the club.
After Tampa general manager Bruce Allen rejected his request, Lynch was given permission to talk to other teams. Denver and the New York Jets were major suitors that were pursuing the hard hitting safety.
Lynch chose Denver over New York in what can be viewed as a difficult choice.
Lynch is the godfather of Jets head coach Herman Edwards' only child and he is very close with Edwards.
"We're really, really excited to get a guy of this caliber," Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said. "He's been a champion; he knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl." Lynch, a veteran out of Stanford, has 787 tackles (545) solo with 23 interceptions in 132 games started in his career.
He was bothered by a shoulder injury last season that required him to have off-season surgery.
Johnson, who spent the first 11 years of his career with San Diego, inked a three-year deal worth a reported $3.3 million. The Chargers released him earlier this month.
The 33-year-old Johnson had four sacks this past season, but missed the last seven games with a foot injury, and has 46 sacks in his career.
Elliss, who spent the first nine years of his NFL career with Detroit, has also had injury problems of late. The two-time Pro Bowl selection missed 11 games in 2003 with a chest muscle injury and a concussion.