ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The Denver Broncos have thrown corner AJ Bouye.
The play is the first of several that will have to be made in the corner, as the Broncos rebuild their depth chart in the position after a season in which four corners, including Bryce Callahan, finished the year in the injured reserve. Bouye also missed the last four games of 2020 due to the suspension of six games for non-compliance with the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The 29-year-old will continue to be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season.
The move will release $ 11.7 million against the Broncos ’salary cap and the team will now have just under $ 31 million in overall salary cap space when they start working through their low-season plan.
George Paton, who was hired as the Broncos’ new general manager last month, had promised that “difficult decisions” about the future of some players would begin after meeting with the team’s team and staff. professional as well as coaches. the decisions to be made are years of choice in the contracts of defender Von Miller and safety Kareem Jackson, as well as the short-term future of quarterback Drew Lock in the team’s offense.
The Broncos sent a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars last March in exchange for Bouye. At the time, the Broncos were hoping Bouye and Callahan would give them a veteran set of corners to help their defense find the Kansas City bosses in the AFC West.
Bouye’s game, however, was uneven, as he lost four games with a shoulder injury, as well as another game in the concussion protocol before missing the last four games with the suspension.
He finished with 21 attacks and no interceptions in seven games.
At the time of his suspension, coach Vic Fangio said: “I was disappointed by him. Players have to make very, very good judgments with people they trust with their professional careers and their finances. Viouslybviament , something went wrong with this person he treated. with and confidence. It ‘s a disappointing situation for everyone. “
Bouye, an eight-year veteran, has 14 interceptions, 72 assists and 338 runs in his career.