Based on first impressions, Broncos Country is going to like Case Keenum.
He’s poised, down to earth. He’s not afraid to answer a question truthfully. And he’s not afraid to bet on himself.
The biggest surprise about the Broncos deal with Keenum was that it was only for 2 years.
“First of all, we want to be here long-term,’’ Keenum said. “My wife and I love it already. We want to play the rest of my career here. There’s no doubt about that. I think the two years is an opportunity to prove myself as a starting quarterback. As a franchise quarterback. As somebody a team, a franchise can count on.
“For me, I’ve earned everything I’ve got. Nothing’s ever been handed to me. And I want to continue to earn everything from this point out.’’
There are good reasons why a team ordinarily wants a longer-term commitment from its quarterback. Starting with: he needs time to impose his will on his teammates, to steal a phrase from former University of Colorado coaching icon Bill McCartney.
Players and fans want to invest in their quarterback knowing he’s going to be around for a while. Broncos customers won’t be happy shelling out $99.99 for a new, No. 4 orange-and-blue jersey today at team stores today if it’s going on the discount rack in a year or two.
The best case for Keenum: He has a terrific first season in Denver, and people start pushing for an extension.
9NEWS obtained details of Keenum’s two-year, $36 million contract. He gets a fully guaranteed $18 million this year ($6 million signing bonus, $4 million roster bonus, $8 million salary). In 2019, Keenum has $7 million of his $18 million salary fully guaranteed with the other $11 million guaranteed against injury-only.
This is not like most two-year contracts in the NFL where only the first year is promised. This is an ironclad two-year commitment to Keenum as the Broncos' starting quarterback. The contract says the Broncos would be wasting their No. 5 overall pick if they selected a quarterback. They're going to have a No. 5 pick sit for two years? That's not what No. 5 picks are for.
Keenum also has $1 million worth of incentives each year based on the greatest of reasons: playoff wins. Not Pro Bowls, or passing-yard thresholds. Wins when it matters. Now that’s an incentive the Broncos would not mind paying.