Denver Broncos release punter Britton Colquitt
Aug 30, 2016, 2:20 PM | Updated: Sep 3, 2016, 7:15 pm
Punting behind two quarterbacks (Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch) who’ve combined for just one NFL regular season snap (a kneel-down) will be another rookie: Riley Dixon.
Dixon, a seventh-round (228th overall) pick by the Denver Broncos this offseason, will take over punting duties from eight-year pro Britton Colquitt, who the team released Tuesday afternoon.
Colquitt, who had a standout postseason punting despite a below average regular season, was set to make a base salary of $3.25 million in 2016.
According to 9News Broncos Insider Mike Klis, Colquitt was willing to take a $1 million pay cut this season after trimming $1.6 million from his $3 million 2015 salary.
Colquitt willing to take $1M cut from $3.25M. Took cut last yr from $3M to $1.6M. Rep Paul Sheehy: “We thought we were more than reasonable.
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) August 30, 2016
Colquitt reportedly had been on the trading block following Saturday night’s preseason tilt with the Los Angeles Rams, wherein Dixon took all punt snaps and held on all field goal attempts.
Through three preseason games, Dixon’s punted 13 times for a net average of 41.2 yards and 4 downed inside the 20-yard line.
Coming out of Syracuse, the Ray Guy Award semifinalist (given to the nation’s top punter) was brought in as competition for Colquitt this offseason.
Dixon is slated to make a base salary of $450,000 in 2016, according to Spotrac.com.
Colquitt ends his Broncos tenure as the franchise’s all-time leader in gross (45.2) and net (39.1) punting average.
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