The Sports Xchange

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway said he disagrees with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas’ decision to skip the team’s offseason program while angling for a new contract.

“To be dead honest, I see absolutely zero value in him being away from here – zero value for him,” Elway said during a press conference Thursday. “There is no value for him not to be here with his teammates.”

The Broncos placed the franchise tag on Thomas, guaranteeing him $12.8 million next season. The sides can continue to negotiate on a long-term deal, but Thomas’ absence does not help the installation of a new offense under new head coach Gary Kubiak.

Thomas has said he will play under the franchise tag if necessary, so it’s unclear if he plans to hold out long-term should a new deal not get done. He also skipped quarterback Peyton Manning’s annual passing camp at Duke earlier this month.

“As far as negotiations and his new deal and what’s going on, we’d like to get something done,” Elway said. “By him being away from here, there is zero value not only to us, but also to him. To me, it makes no sense. That actually has no effect on anything that we’re talking to about trying to get a contract done with him, because that’s what we’d ultimately like to do. For him not to be here has zero effect.”

Thomas set career highs with 111 receptions for 1,619 yards while scoring 11 touchdowns last season, his third with Manning. The Broncos lost star tight end Julius Thomas to the Jacksonville Jaguars during free agency, with wide receiver and tight end Jacob Tamme also gone from last year’s offense.

Elway said he is not concerned about the offense getting up to speed with the change in scheme and personnel.

“Whether it be Peyton and what he’s done and what Gary and (offensive coordinator) Rick Dennison have done, they’ve been very successful,” Elway said. “It’s about blending the two together. I don’t think there will be any problem with that happening. I really don’t. You’re talking about very smart people putting their minds together. They’ll come out with the right solution.”