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5 messiest divorces in Broncos team history

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver Colorado. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver Colorado. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
DENVER – MARCH 6: Defensive tackle Daryl Gardener #99 speaks to the media after signing with the Denver Broncos as a free agent at the team’s headquarters on March 6, 2003, in Denver, Colorado. Gardener previously played for the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Messiest divorces in Broncos history: The Daryl Gardener experience

Just ahead of the 2003 season, the Broncos signed Daryl Gardener to a huge seven-year deal as a free agent.

A first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 1996, Gardener came to the Broncos with 19 career sacks and over 300 tackles. But his Broncos career was just a total train wreck.

That summer, he got into a fight at a restaurant that caused damage to his wrist which forced surgery and caused him to miss all of training camp. He tried to come back after the season began but he never got into a rhythm in Denver and quite frankly never looked in playing shape.

He was quickly relegated to a backup role and played in just five games for the team. He was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team and missed almost all of the 2003 season, his only season in Denver.

The Broncos never seemed to get past the irresponsibility he showed in the fight that basically ended his Broncos career before it ever began. He then tried to come back with the Cincinnati Bengals but he failed to make the team and his career was over.

He also tops my list of the team’s worst free-agent signings ever.

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