Broncos sign Evan Mathis

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 25, 2015, 6:19 PM EDT
AP

Peyton Manning’s protection just got a lot better.

Free agent guard Evan Mathis has signed with the Broncos. It’s a one-year deal worth $4 million if he meets playing-time incentives.

That’s less money than Mathis was slated to make this season before he was cut by the Eagles, but a league source tells PFT that Mathis didn’t choose the Broncos for the money: Another team offered him $5.5 million but he turned it down because he wants to win a ring and thinks playing for the Broncos gives him a good chance to do that.

So after missing training camp and half of the preseason, Mathis will now try to get up to speed quickly, and to provide a big boost to the line in Denver.

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95 responses to “Broncos sign Evan Mathis”

  2. As a Pats fan I hate to admit that this makes sense for the Donkeys. They need better guard play and his style fits what Kubs likes to do. A solid pick-up for the Donkeys.

  5. No team offered him more money. That’s just Drew being Drew and trying to save face so it doesn’t look as bad as it does. Dude goes from a two year 11m to a one year 4m. He lost.

  6. What a crock. A Gary Kubiak coached team ain’t bringing home a ring. Mathis signed with Denver because that was the only or best offer on the table.

  8. Great signing. Very good player at a position of need. Denver’s window is closing so the ring may not be as close as with some other teams but definitely closer than with the other teams he has been linked to lately. Including the Giants I wanted to see him sign with

  12. Also, I think the Broncos and Eagles currently have the same odds to win the Super Bowl.

    He pretty much switched conferences and lost out on 7m.

  13. Actually Mathis is one of the best zone blocking guards in the league.. I don’t think the Broncos run a zone blocking scheme so it may not be a good match.. He really never excelled at any other scheme.

  16. Quote me on this: the Denver Broncos will NOT win the Superbowl in 2015-16 not with 39 year old noodle arm Manning at QB, his arm is done and Osweiler isn’t taking you to the bowl either. Enjoy your $4 million Mr Mathis !

  17. Can’t wait for all the Dolphins fans responses. LMFAO. Miami is a place for players to go for there career to die. Great signing Bronco fans. Philbin and Tannenbaum will have 50 excuses why they passed and in reality? Mathis had no desire to buy into the shoe salesmanship version of madness at South Beach

  18. One would think Seattle would be closer to a superbowl than denver since, you know, they beat Denver in one and at least got to the next. But I guess the difference in Seattle’s offer and Denver’s one was just the right amount to make winning a slightly less important factor. Interested in the guarantees and what the incentive thresholds are.

  19. Great signing for Denver. Makes the left side that much better. Hoping to see Evan and Ty form a good tandem. This greatly helps Denver running game.

  21. Denver’s window closed when they blew a touchdown lead to the Ravens in the 2012 playoffs. That was the only team with an actual shot at winning the big one with Manning.

    Seattle was not going to be denied the following year and Manning was running scared from before the first snap had made it through the end zone for the opening safety.

    The Broncos will not win another Super Bowl until they have another quality quarterback and another Terrell Davis type stud in the backfield.

  22. ” a league source tells PFT that Mathis didn’t choose the Broncos for the money: Another team offered him $5.5 million but he turned it down because he wants to win a ring and thinks playing for the Broncos gives him a good chance to do that.”

    Please… First, the source is clearly Drew Rosenhaus, and second, Rosenhaus has to claim that someone offered $5.5 million and that it’s all about the ring to save face for costing Mathis a lot of money.

    Regardless, a fine pick up by Denver.

  24. distracted9 says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:30 PM
    Actually Mathis is one of the best zone blocking guards in the league.. I don’t think the Broncos run a zone blocking scheme so it may not be a good match.. He really never excelled at any other scheme
    ~~~~~~~
    Huh? Denver/Kubiak are the kings of the ZBS. They ran it when Kubiak was Elway’s backup QB, won a couple Super Bowls with it under Shanahan and Kubiak has used it everywhere he went (usually with great success)

  26. What? No comment from Joe Toronto trashing Manning? I’m shocked! He never misses a Bronco post. Lol

  28. This is bad news for Peyton Manning and his legion of jock sniffers in the media.

    All preseason, the media have been getting a jump on their excuses for Manning’s inevitable playoff choke by harping on the inexperience of the Broncos’ offensive line.

    Now they’ll have to come up with something else. I guess that explains today’s story about how poor Peyton allegedly can’t feel his fingers anymore.

  29. Once again Philbin, Ross & Tannenbaum sat too long as usual & lost out!!! That’s why Tannenbaum got FIRED from the junk jets & Philbin WILL be fired from the Fins when they didn’t get protection for the $20 million QB!!!

  31. I’m jealous. Nice signing for the Broncos… After watching the Patriots O line (especially in the 1st pre-season game when Garoppolo was running for his life) I was thinking I would love to see him sign here. I knew BB wouldn’t pay 5.5 mil but Denver signed him to a good contract.

  34. Seattle probably offered him the Veteran’s minimum as they need to save every penny they can t0 get Kam “BAMBAM” back to camp when they capitulate and redo his contract next week like they did Marshawn last year.

  35. Wow let’s hope Evan didn’t have a lot of money in the market the last 2 days because he just got killed on that contract.

    He would have made 11/ 2yrs vs 4/1

    #SueDrew

  36. Hate to say it but a good signing by the Broncos. Although I still think they won’t win the Super Bowl because Manning doesn’t have it in him anymore but we’ll see.

  38. jonbeck316 says:

    If he really wanted a ring he would have signed with the Patriots.
    ———————————————————
    LOL funny. Seahawks.

  40. Colts have a hot mess of an offensive line. Why couldn’t Grigson have pulled the trigger on Mathis for $4M, one year. He seems to be afraid to think outside the box. We could have had Randy Gregory sted Philip Dorsett and La’el Collins on the the Oline with Mathis. Now we’re talking SB favorites. Sted, our Dline has question marks and our Oline has AC and not much else.

  41. It’s my understanding Mathis’ first day with the Broncos will be entirely in the classroom:

    Class 1: The History of the Chop Block

    Class 2: Chop Block 101

    Class 3: Chop Block Psychology

  42. Denver’s defense and running game will give the Broncos 10 wins to start. If Manning can stay upright (Mathis helps) then the Broncos can be looking at another bye going into the playoffs. Difference this year than in the recent past is Kubiak will feature the run in the playoffs and not allow PM to sabotage the offense with his playoff mental breakdowns. Anyone who thinks PM is still calling the shots on offense now doesn’t know Elway/Kubiak.

  43. With what they have in cap space the Seattle and NE rumblings were little more than window dressing and Rosenhaus smoke and mirrors. IF it came down to Miami, NYG and Denver then he made the right call. Big IF there with Rosenhaus involved…

  44. I am disappointed that Miami did not sign him. Would of been a huge upgrade for the Fins. On another note I am glad nobody including the media is saying anything positive about Miami. As long as they remain healthy miami will quietly win the AFCE this season and surprise everyone. Hate all you want but this team is solid this season.

  47. I want to hear from all the bs patriot fans saying he should sign with them because you treat your players so well. Like say Logan Mankins. Liars, cheaters, scumbags.

  51. Another team offered him $5.5 million but he turned it down because he wants to win a ring and thinks playing for the Broncos gives him a good chance to do that.
    ===============

    Uhh, no it doesn’t.

    Obviously the Hawks didn’t offer him if he really wants to win.

    Salute.

  52. Bizzareslantpass says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:38 PM

    He must have meant Seattle for the 5.5 million.
    _______

    I hope this comment was just an attempt to slam Seattle by saying they’re not as likely to win a championship as Denver is. Because there’s absolutely no way Seattle would ever have offered that much considering their current cap situation. They likely offered league minimum, if anything at all. My question is, how much did Rosenhaus pay the Seahawks to set up his “visit” to Seattle in order to get another team to pull the trigger on signing him?

  53. If he wanted to win the SB, why sign with Denver?

    It’s Green Bay (even with JN out) or Seattle’s SB to win.

    The AFC doesn’t have a chance (unless Jeremy Lane breaks his leg after an interception, Sherman has a dislocated elbow, Earl Thomas has a separated shoulder, Kam Chancellor has a stretched mcl & pass rushing specialist Cliff Avril doesn’t get a 3rd qtr concussion and had to leave the game) All that happened.

    And Patriot fans are so arrogant about winning a SB that was gift wrapped by injuries and poor play calling at the 1 yd line?

    All cheating NE SB’s are assigned an asterick **** Pathetic fan base Patsies

  54. Should have signed with the Falcons. They run the ZBS now and will be back in contention this or next season. Dont sleep on them. Que the hate now.

  56. That’s a huge signing for Denver! No doubt he will help out that line. Denver just got a whole lot better. Peyton must be happy.

  57. distracted9: Zone blocking (in it’s current format) was brought back to the NFL in 1995 by Denver where Gary Kubiak was the OC. Kubiak used it as Broncos OC from 1995-2005, took it to Houston with him, and then to Baltimore last year.

    Given his coaching track record, I think a guard the excels at zone blocking will be okay in a Kubiak coached offense.

  58. as an eagle fan, i know evan mathis to be an intelligent and articulate man. always said and did the right thing. don’t know if he and chipper had a personality conflict but the approach he took with the eagles made no sense. i wouldn’t have taken him to be a guy to let rosenhaus (pft’s version of a league source) play him like that…

    but i hope his decision to play elsewhere for less works out for him (not)

  60. iamkillerfin says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:40 PM
    Once again Philbin, Ross & Tannenbaum sat too long as usual & lost out!!! That’s why Tannenbaum got FIRED from the junk jets & Philbin WILL be fired from the Fins when they didn’t get protection for the $20 million QB!!!
    ~~~~~~
    If you paid attention, you might understand this is good for the Dolphins future. They don’t need Mathis. A healthy Albert is much more critical. This allows the carryover of cap space to keep some of the guys next year rather than overpaying for Mathis and then losing guys like Vernon or Miller.

  61. Makes you wonder what was going on with the seahawks. Were they the team that offered him money when he visited? And if so does he really believe that the broncos give him a better shot at a ring?

  64. He wants to play for a SB contender. You know, until they actually play a playoff game and then realize why did they make the playoffs in the first place. Unfortunately, the Broncos dont get to play the Raiders in the playoffs. Its usually a pretty good team that doesnt fold when they here….Omaha! Omaha! No Broncos, you wont be storming the beach this year.

  65. iamkillerfin says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:40 PM
    Once again Philbin, Ross & Tannenbaum sat too long as usual & lost out!!! That’s why Tannenbaum got FIRED from the junk jets & Philbin WILL be fired from the Fins when they didn’t get protection for the $20 million QB!!!
    ——————————————————-
    No. Philbin will be fired because he’s not a very good coach and signing all the high profile FAs the 3 seasons will not make him any better. Your $20 million QB (lol) will be on his back 50 times and the Fins will see another 8-8 if lucky.

  66. All the offence has to do is be mediocre. Our defense will carry this team. Good signing regardless, but this D is going to get after people. No more bend but don’t break, this defense will punch teams in the mouth…

    GoDenBroncos

  67. A lot of Seahawk fans hatin on here. Must have been hoping to get some extra help on an O Line that can’t even block the sun from their eyes.

  68. And Patriot fans are so arrogant about winning a SB that was gift wrapped by injuries and poor play calling at the 1 yd line?

    All cheating NE SB’s are assigned an asterick **** Pathetic fan base Patsies
    ==================================
    I bet you get knocked out a lot?

  70. sweetnlow44 says:
    Aug 25, 2015 7:26 PM

    Bizzareslantpass says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:38 PM

    He must have meant Seattle for the 5.5 million.
    _______

    I hope this comment was just an attempt to slam Seattle by saying they’re not as likely to win a championship as Denver is. Because there’s absolutely no way Seattle would ever have offered that much considering their current cap situation. They likely offered league minimum, if anything at all. My question is, how much did Rosenhaus pay the Seahawks to set up his “visit” to Seattle in order to get another team to pull the trigger on signing him?

    ________________

    Of course it was.

  71. To the Seahawk fans out there, your O-line is a mess and you know it. Sure Seattle will win 11 maybe 12 games but the Seahawks are going on the road this year in the playoffs and that O-line will be the downfall come January. If Beastmode gets hurt its over for the Seahawks. Finding a replacement for Lynch and settling the O-line is a must over the next 12 months.

  72. Mathis isnt going to be an upgrade in pass protection. that will have to be Mannings first read before he looks for a receiver. Chip Kelly has to protect a bad knee QB, and he cut this guy already signed.

  73. religionforidiots says: “He’s no Patriot, but I’ll still say a prayer. Pray people for the Bronco’s, they’ll need it”

    —

    Based on your embarrassingly poor command of English, I am betting from your screen name that you must be extremely religious.

  74. The impending start of the season is the only reason why this signing took place and why he took such a low contract.

    After seeing how well the entire Eagles roster is playing during pre-season, Mathis may well regret his demands to be overpaid, if the Eagles go deep into the playoffs.

  75. Have to admit when i heard it announced on radio. And they said ” Mathis to D… was hoping it said Dolphins. I’m guessing Denver had injuries on the o-line. Or they are planing to use the run more.

  76. Mathis base salary in this deal is 2.5m and his base salary if the Eagles was going to be 6m before Kelly had enough with his whining for more money. At minimum the moron lost 2m so him and Rosenhaus come up with a BS story that some team offered him 5.5 m. Seattle ain’t that dumb so who is left? Name the team Evan or shut up.

  79. They could have signed a rookie free agent to the league minimum and done just as good. Mathis is 34 years old finesse guard that was a journeyman in his prime.

  80. milehighmike7 says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:43 PM
    John Elway is the best executive in all of football. BOOM!
    ————-
    Elway is a fantasy football GM that thinks if he buys all the big name player it’ll work out…despite 20 YEARS worth of examples to the contrary. All the good young talent that winning teams develop…well, those guys won’t be long in Denver because the old expensive FA signings get the starting jobs and almost all the salary cap space.

    This formula has never worked in the NFL and it never will. Elway is driving Denver straight into a brick wall. He’s already got his first super-expensive superstar who’s going downhill fast playing QB. Forget the playoff window, the winning season window is closing on the Broncos.

  81. No way did this dude pass up an extra 1.5 million. He took what he could get, and waited to get the most he could get. He just wants to say somebody offered him what he would have made with the eagles this year. Did he fire his agent yet? He has 1.5 million reasons why he should.

    He is a good ZBS guard, but I will take road graders , and maulers any day of the week, over ZBS guys. Good pick up for the mules. Osweiler will need protection this year…lol

  82. birdgang says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:24 PM
    No team offered him more money. That’s just Drew being Drew and trying to save face so it doesn’t look as bad as it does. Dude goes from a two year 11m to a one year 4m. He lost.
    __________

    Not true. Now he has a chance of winning a playoff game.

  86. Broncs could be rockin it this year. Pats, too many distractions. Colts, no manhood. Ravens………..nah! Look out for the Orange Express. And, preseason notwithstanding, how bout them 12 sacks in two games??

  87. This was the only real spot for Evan to go. He just doesn’t have the functional strength to be great in any other system. The Broncos run the exact same system up front the Eagles do allowing Mathis to use his skills fully.

    Still think he got worked by drew and will end up losing money both this year and next. If he had just shut up and come to camp he may still be an eagle. Eagles and Denver both have about the same shot at winning a superb owl.

  90. ….great lesson for the young players…KNOW your worth before u shoot off your mouth. Evans lost out on millions because of this. He should fire his agent for making him look through rose colored glasses.

  92. Broncos fans are going to be disappointed with this guy. He wasn’t good last year and has been replaced in philly by a journeyman (who teammates and coaches see as an upgrade).

  93. Mathis will help that running game! It only took until Peyton’s last season for him to realize that a running game and defense wins championships.. lmao!!!

  94. bullogne says:
    Aug 25, 2015 6:55 PM
    Denver’s defense and running game will give the Broncos 10 wins to start. If Manning can stay upright (Mathis helps) then the Broncos can be looking at another bye going into the playoffs. Difference this year than in the recent past is Kubiak will feature the run in the playoffs and not allow PM to sabotage the offense with his playoff mental breakdowns. Anyone who thinks PM is still calling the shots on offense now doesn’t know Elway/Kubiak.

    It only took 17 years for a coach to figure this out for Peyton Manning.. geez…

  95. Out of the 4 teams in their division please tell me who “seriously” can challenge the Broncos. I think no one. Now getting into the Super Bowl is an entirely different question.

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