Nine-year veteran defensive lineman Kenard Lang signed a three-year $4.7 million deal with Denver Broncos on Monday. Just a year ago, Lang’s former Cleveland Browns teammates Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, Ebenezer Ekuban and Michael Myers joined the Broncos.
The former Browns defensive linemen helped produced pressure that created 36 turnovers, 16 more than the previous season, for a Broncos team that was one win away from a Super Bowl appearance in 2005.
Although Lang says that things in Cleveland seemed to be improving with the hiring of head coach Romeo Crennel, he is thrilled to be in Denver.
“It’s not that things (were bad in Cleveland). They’re getting better with Romeo over there, don’t get me wrong. But when you get tired of losing, it starts eating at your soul,” Lang said. “I can see that light at the end of the tunnel for me. Football is not forever, and I’d rather be with a team that knows what’s best to do, and that’s what coach Shanahan does.”
“Now I’m here in Denver, where it’s beautiful; I love it. The weather is always nice. It’s not cloudy; it’s not raining. The whole atmosphere is different. Nothing against Cleveland, they have great fans and everything, and I know Denver does, also, but it’s just the atmosphere,” Lang said.
Lang was a first round selection of the Washington Redskins in 1997 and played four seasons with the Browns starting in 2002. His best statistical season was set in 2002 when Lang recorded a career-high 79 tackles and six sacks.
Lang dropped 25 pounds to play in Crennel’s 3-4 defensive scheme last season, but will return to his more natural position of defensive end for Denver. He was cut this offseason for salary cap reasons.
The way things are turning out for the Browns and Broncos, I wonder if first round selection Kamerion Wimbley (also a defensive lineman/linebacker) should just bypass the Cleveland stop and sign with the Broncos too.
