ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Defensive end Elvis Dumervil has officially been released.
On Friday, the three-time Pro Bowler and the Broncos agreed on a restructured contract to keep him in Denver, but the paperwork was not filed in time for the league's waiver deadline.
"At 1 p.m. MDT, we were informed by Elvis' representative that he declined our offer," Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway said in a statement. "We then prepared Elvis' termination notice to officially file his release with the NFL office.
"At approximately 1:25 p.m. MDT, however, we were informed that Elvis changed his mind and accepted the same contract we proposed nearly two-and-a-half hours earlier. Although we expressed our concern regarding the time constraints, we were assured that the signed documents would be submitted to us before the league's waiver deadline."
But the Broncos did not receive a fax with Dumervil's signature on it by the 2 p.m. MDT deadline, and the team was forced to release the seven-year veteran.
Now, the team will assess all of its options in free agency, including the possibility of re-signing Dumervil.
"Due to this situation, there are now salary cap implications associated with this transaction that we must consider with regard to potentially re-signing Elvis," Elway said. "At this moment, we are discussing all of our free-agency options to determine what's best for the Denver Broncos."
Dumervil ranks seventh on the Broncos' career sack list with 63.5 quarterback takedowns, including a league-leading 17 in 2009, which was the franchise's single-season record until linebacker Von Miller surpassed the mark in 2012.
The defensive end and Miller combined for 29.5 sacks during the 2012 campaign, the most of any two teammates in the league. Among players with at least 40 sacks, Dumervil has averaged the fourth-most sacks per game -- .70 -- since he entered the league in 2006.
In 91 regular-season games with 75 starts, the seven-year veteran also amassed 264 tackles, 17 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, 12 passes defensed and an interception.
He now joins the free agent market alongside such defensive ends as Dwight Freeney, Richard Seymour, John Abraham and Osi Umenyiora.
