ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The business side of the NFL.
Players and coaches have come to know it's the aspect of the game that they cannot control.
"I don't know that business is my favorite part or anybody else's favorite part, but it's that part of football and it usually occurs in the offseason," Head Coach John Fox said at March's owners meetings.
This offseason, it reared its ugly head when the team was forced to release defensive end Elvis Dumervil due to a missed deadline.
Though the team made numerous efforts to re-sign the three-time Pro Bowler, Dumervil eventually signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent.
"I hate to lose Elvis," said quarterback Peyton Manning, who called the business side of the NFL his "least favorite part of football." "What a great player and great teammate. Once again, that business side of the NFL comes into play. I've experienced it many a time with many a great teammate. Elvis is no different. I texted him as well, and wished him the best of luck and he said the same thing back. That was just the way that worked out."
Bailey said he respected and even understood Dumervil's decision. The seven-year NFL veteran needed to do what was best for him and his family.
But now the Broncos need to do what's best for the team -- move forward.
"I want to play with guys who want to be here," Manning said.
Bailey said it's not fair to compare the upcoming season with the last campaign the Broncos played without Dumervil -- 2010, when the defensive end missed the year with a torn pectoral.
"Obviously back then I think we didn't have a lot of good players like we have now," the team captain said. "I think we have way more capable players than we did then. But there's nobody else like Elvis. He was one of our captains. So we obviously lose one of our leaders. It (stinks), but we've got to move forward."
One step in that process was Monday's start of the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program. Broncos new and old returned to the team's Dove Valley headquarters to work with strength and conditioning coaches in the first phase of the program.
The goal, as always, is to end the season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
"Last year was good, but it wasn't great, and we're looking for that great season and to finish off with a championship season," Manning said. "We have so much work that we have to do. Today was the beginning of it."
