JOHN CLAYTON

Clayton: Hamilton suffers same fate as James with latest injury

May 14, 2021, 3:27 PM | Updated: 4:15 pm

Broncos players were the first to announce they were going to boycott voluntary offseason program. You can’t say that decision is going well for them.

Ja’Wuan James blew out his Achilles away from team headquarters and was originally placed on the non-football injury list; he was released on Friday. That gives the Broncos the opportunity to get out of the $32 million remaining in the final three years of his contract.

On Friday, it was also revealed that wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton suffered an ACL injury away from the facility. Like James, his season is over.

The 2018 fourth-round pick had been shopped around in a trade of late. If a deal couldn’t be struck, the Broncos were expected to release him. Now, expect Hamilton to go on the NFI list and get released.

This is rookie minicamp weekend for 29 team, including the Broncos. The Jets, Colts and Raiders had theirs last week. As much as the NFLPA keeps telling veterans and rookies to boycott, the rookies are showing up. Not only are they showing up, but they are getting money.

Draft choices are signing at one of the fastest paces I can remember. On Thursday, the Washington Football Team reached agreements with all 10 of their picks. The Chiefs have already signed all six of their choices.

The union was upset with the NFL because it thought the league was using the James’ injury to get the players to report. Now that two Broncos suffered season-ending injuries away from the facility, the NFL’s points because firmer.

The Broncos have more than $22 million tied up with these two players this year. The James’ injury forced them to go out and spend money for two tackles – Bobby Massie and Cameron Fleming.

Both sides, the NFL and the NFLPA, need to sit down and work out an agreement to end the boycotts. That would be best for everyone involved.

Ten on-the-field OTA are probably too much. Maybe they could work out something when veterans participate in maybe half of the OTA or some number less than 10.

The rookies need the work and the training. Many didn’t have full college seasons last year and so many didn’t play any games since 2019.

According to reports, the Broncos were close to getting a trade for Hamilton. Now, the Broncos and Hamilton suffered big losses.

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