Terrance Knighton Frustrated With Denver Broncos

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive tackle Marvin Austin Jr. (76) and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton (98) against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton has been making overtures that he is on his way out of Denver for much of the offseason since defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was fired along with head coach John Fox and the free agent hasn’t changed that in his recent comments to the media.

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Knighton began 2015 by claiming that he could see himself linking up with Del Rio for his third NFL spot after playing for the coach in both NFL stops in Jacksonville/Denver, making it appear that he would be testing the open market with Oakland as a frontrunner for his services. The move was also looked at as a potential leverage play with the Broncos, who were still negotiating with their starting nose tackle to retain his services.

It appears that the negotiations between the two sides haven’t been going on as Knighton expected with the Broncos lagging in getting something done with their defensive tackle, who has been trying to get an extension with the AFC West contenders dating back to before his contract year as well as during the season. A lack of communication between Knighton’s camp and the Broncos front office frustrating the defensive tackle.

Knighton voiced his annoyances with the Broncos to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, claiming that he feels disrespected by the Denver front office led by John Elway not sharing the same interest that he had in getting a deal done to stay with the Broncos.

“I think I’ve made it very clear to them that I want to be a Bronco,” said Knighton to Anderson. “My agent tried to get something done before the year, during the year, immediately when the season was over, and they just haven’t had the same interest”

“To be quite honest with you it’s frustrating and it’s somewhat disrespectful just knowing how important I was to the team and what the defense could’ve been without somebody like me. It’s almost like, the longer they wait the worse it is going to be.”

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It appears that a frustrated Knighton will be hitting the open market on March 10, likely as the second most coveted defensive tackle in free agency and one who could provide value to teams who can’t get into the Suh sweepstakes. If the Lions retain Suh, Knighton then becomes the biggest name amongst defensive tackles, something that would only increase his free agency value as it appears the Broncos will come to regret not locking up their interior presence when he was interested.

Knighton’s anger towards the Broncos also could play into the hands of the Raiders, who already have an in with the defensive tackle through Del Rio and have the opportunity to offer him a chance to get back at his former team with two games a year against Denver. It appears that Knighton is heading out the door bitter with how he has been treated as an expiring contract, the next few weeks may just determine if that anger will drive him to a team like Oakland with revenge in mind as the wheels keep spinning towards March 10 with the defensive tackle looking like a lock to hit the open market.

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