49ers OLB Randy Gregory Breaks Silence on Divorce With Broncos
Rush linebacker Randy Gregory's disappointing failure to produce as a member of the Denver Broncos might strangely lead all the way to the 31-year-old winning a Super Bowl ring with the San Francisco 49ers.
Sometimes a simple change of scenery can work wonders for all involved, and Gregory has moved on with nothing but good vibes for what went down in early October.
"I've got a lot of guys in that locker room and on that staff that I really do care about," Gregory said from Las Vegas via Denver Sports' Andrew Mason. "My time in Denver, I really enjoyed it... So, nothing bad I can say about that, but business is business, and the league is what it is. It was something that needed to be done — probably on both sides."
Parting with Gregory was a rare case of divorce without all the nasty fallout and recriminations. Broncos GM George Paton will have to live with the expensive failure of signing Gregory as a free agent in 2022, but he recovered some late-round draft value for a player he was going to release anyway.
Shifting nearly $11 million of the former Dallas Cowboys pass rusher's remaining salary onto the shoulders of the Niners was a classic case of a contending team being able to absorb some luxury taxes.
It was less so for the listing Broncos, but beyond the nuts and bolts of dumping Gregory, head coach Sean Payton sent a vital message that he wouldn't be carrying unnecessary veteran dead weight. Payton's bold decision to go with inexperienced edge rushers Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, and Baron Browning ushered in a more vibrant youth movement that is likely to gain even more momentum during the upcoming draft.
Should the early run on quarterbacks really heat up, heaven knows, stud edge rushers like Jared Verse from Florida State, or Dallas Turner of Alabama might end up falling into Payton's lap. Although, the Broncos are in desperate need of a quarterback themselves.
As for Gregory, his situational pass-rushing gig with the Niners yielded 2.5 regular-season sacks and will probably come to an end after the final gun sounds in Super Bowl LVIII. Gregory can be grateful Denver traded him to a contender, and now he gets that coveted shot at winning a Super Bowl ring.
Meanwhile, the Broncos' financial and personnel reset means they will pursue more youthful edge rushers and leave the more costly veteran ones alone. Sometimes the most valuable lessons are learned the hard way.
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