Daryl Gardener: Looking at homes in Denver.

[Taco John]

So what can you tell me about this guy...








Gardener planting hopes on Broncos
By Adam Schefter
Denver Post Sports Writer

Sunday, March 02, 2003 - The first two free agents scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos' training facility will be Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer and Washington defensive tackle Daryl Gardener.
Each will be at the complex Monday, and each is expected to stay a lot longer in the long run.

"Let me do defense, let Jake do offense, and we'll get to the big dance," Gardener said Saturday after arriving in Denver. "When (Broncos coach) Mike Shanahan considers signing me, it's clear he's looking for another big trophy."

Gardener is so confident he will wind up signing with the Broncos, he already has begun scouting real-estate properties in Castle Pines.

Once the Broncos agree to hand over the $5 million average per year Gardener had been seeking from the Redskins throughout the past month - and it could happen as early as Monday - the defensive tackle will agree to buy his new home.

"When I look outside and see the mountain range, I'm in awe," said the 30-year-old Gardener, Jimmy Johnson's first first- round draft choice as coach of the Miami Dolphins in 1996. "It's beautiful. This is where I want to be. I'm not here for a short period of time. I'm looking to retire here."

Though the Broncos have contacted a handful of free-agent defensive linemen, Gardener is the one atop their free-agent board. Last summer, the Broncos chased Gardener but failed to land him. Instead, he opted to sign with Washington, where much of his family lives.

But in recent weeks, the Redskins had been offering $4 million per year. Finally, Gardener informed Redskins owner Daniel Snyder he would be leaving Washington. Denver quickly moved to the forefront of Gardener's thinking, and the feeling is mutual.

The Broncos see Gardener as free agency's premier defensive tackle, a player capable of replacing the recently released Chester McGlockton and complementing Pro Bowl defensive end Trevor Pryce.

"I don't know that I've ever seen a specimen like this guy," former Dolphins and current Broncos guard Steve Herndon said recently. "When I first got into the league and I was down there, Daryl was the first guy I saw and I said, 'Oh, my goodness, if everybody in the league looks like this guy, this is going to be rough.'

"He's almost 6-foot-8 (officially 6-6), weighs 320 pounds (officially 295), and he's chiseled. You don't see that very often. If he comes here, that would be great. Because this guy is a creature. He's a big man. And he's a very powerful human being."

During the 2001 season, Gardener underwent back surgery and missed the Dolphins' final five games. Questions followed him to Washington, but Gardener insisted he answered many of them last season.

"If my back were such a problem, then how come I was playing 70, 80 plays a game?" said Gardener, who finished last season with four sacks and has 19 in seven NFL seasons. "I was never out, I was always in. If the Redskins were so concerned about my back, maybe they should have given me some rest during the season.

"I was out there playing. When you turn the tape on (of Gardener's performances last season), you tell me if a person could play like I did and have back problems."

Apparently former Redskins defensive coordinator and new Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was unconcerned. Throughout this weekend, the Bengals have been pushing hard, trying to persuade Gardener to rejoin his former defensive coordinator and play for them. Yet Gardener rebuffed the Bengals' advances in favor of Denver's.

"I have to have a place that is economically and geographically good for me," Gardener said. "Denver is definitely a good fit for me, and I truly believe this deal will be done fairly soon. I wouldn't be here wasting my time if that weren't the case."

Quick hits
The Broncos nearly made an enormous splash on the first day of free agency. Denver had a multimillion-dollar offer on the table for Dallas free-agent offensive tackle Flozell Adams. For a brief time, it appeared Adams might accept it. But when the Cowboys discovered Denver was nearing a deal for their prized left tackle, they stepped up with a five-year, $25 million contract, which Adams accepted. ...

The Broncos did not tender contract offers to wide receivers Scottie Montgomery and Phil McGeoghan, making both players unrestricted free agents.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,...214577,00.html

[minus]

Gardner plays at probowl level whenever he is healthy so he will be a good signing for Denver..

[Taco John]

Thanks...

[gottahavefootba]

He plays great when he is healty.. he also has a BIG mouth, which you could probably tell from the article. Quite a few times he pissed off the next team we were playing, and he always predicted a win.

[t2thejz]

I think he could fit in well in denver anither big guy to go next to trevor price

[inFINSible]

19 sacks in seven years.......4 last year...not much of a pass rusherbut,...his run stopping ability is only slightly smaller than his mouth which is huge and often times runs w/out any help from the brain.

[Sofa_King_Drunk]

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT ever, under any circumstances look directly at D.G.'s head when he takes his helmet off. He is a huge frightening man, but the sight of his wrinkly, tripe-like scalp has left me scarred for life.

[inFINSible]

Good point jack.....I still can't eat hot dogs w/out thinking of those jumbo size franks on the back of his head.

[Bodzilla29]

when motivated gardener is damn near unblockable......the man is a beast.....his sack numbers could have been much higher here if he "didn't do his job".....his job was to eat up blockers and boy oh boy can the man eat up blockers......

there are questions as to how motivated gardener will be when he gets a big contract again......guess we will find out this year.....but there are rumors floating that when he has a big contract his back "acts up" a lot more then when he is not getting a lot of money....if u see where i'm coming from....

i was a huge supporter of DG....one of my favorite players when he was here.......and wish him all the luck if he signs in denver......just hope he doesn't play well against us!

[Prime Time]

Daryl said he would like to end his career here..why don't we see if he wants to come back?

[Platinum]

He is expensive is my guess, he counts like 6 million agianst our cap this year and even more if he came back. We dont really need him either, we let him go for having a bad attitude and not coming to camps.

[VanDolPhan]

I wouldn't touch Gardener with a 10 foot pole. He tends to get lazy and he's prone to using his back injury as an excuse sometimes. Nobody on your team will like him as he's quite a flake. Big ole attitude problem.

Honestly he's a 50/50 risk of being a bust. He's a good solid DT when he wants to be. Key word is "wants". Lets put it this way. We replaced him with a 5 year $9 million contract in Larry Chester and I doubt you'll find any fan here upset with that.

[Prime Time]

I meant cheap that is

[Samphin]

Even if he were to come back cheap this time around, d2k2, he would still count for over 6 mil off of his previous contract. I hope DGardner does land in Denver. I think he could flourish there if he stays healthy. Again, the key word is IF. He will miss a few games but the key is to try and get him to miss the minimal amount. If he winds up in Denver chelapy, it is a good pickup.

[Prime Time]

I don't think he is worth 6 mil...I am glad we cut him..Chester perfoormed just as well for just as less.