Let Russ Pay? Broncos OK with QB picking up meal checks
Sep 1, 2022, 2:28 PM | Updated: 2:29 pm
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Russell Wilson, the Broncos’ $296-million man, is now going to be the man looked at to pick up the tab for dinner.
It’s understandable. Wilson’s guaranteed money alone exceeds the collective guarantees for the six free agents or potential free agents currently on the roster who the Broncos signed to multi-year deals in the last 18 months: Justin Simmons, Ronald Darby, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Randy Gregory and D.J. Jones.
Put those numbers together and you’re still $9.9 million short of Wilson’s $165-million guaranteed largesse.
That’s a lot of team-building dinners at any of the myriad local steakhouses — including those owned by Broncos Ring of Famers — for Wilson and his fellow Broncos.
It’s not that any of Wilson’s teammates can’t afford the tab. But when you shatter the team record for largest contract …
“Oh, yeah, he’s gotta do that for sure,” running back Melvin Gordon said.
“He’s definitely going to be picking up the checks,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton added.
Of course, Sutton received $34.9 million in guaranteed money when he re-signed in 2021. It’s a little different for tight end Eric Saubert, whose salary-cap number is just below $1.05 million.
“You know, we’re gonna definitely have a talk about that,” said Saubert, who quickly found an on-field rapport with Wilson during training camp.
“Dinner — at least drinks, you know? Something.”
But the truth is that Wilson wouldn’t do what he hasn’t done before.
“I mean, he usually do be picking up the checks,” Gordon said, laughing. “So, it’s nothing new to him if we go do something. He’s definitely going to get some jokes around the locker room today.”
And not every teammate is going to alligator-arm the bill.
“If I’m out to dinner with Russell, I’m going to pay for it if he doesn’t say anything,” Risner said.
“But knowing Russell, he’ll probably be the guy.”
And surely, a night is coming on which Russ will let someone else cook … one for which he’ll foot the bill.
“We’re probably going to be getting us a nice little dinner here pretty soon courtesy of Young Russ,” Sutton said.
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