John Elway, center, executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos, takes a courtside seat to watch Colorado host Arizona in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Boulder, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Peyton Manning can rest easy: his blindside protector isn't going anywhere.
Denver Broncos boss John Elway is planning to put the franchise tag on his All Pro left tackle Ryan Clady as early as Tuesday.
A franchise tag would mean a salary of just under $10 million for Clady in 2013, about three times what he earned last season, when he surrendered just one sack in more than 1,100 snaps.
Elway told the Denver Post on Friday that the Broncos still hope to work out a multi-year extension with Clady, who is recovering from a recent operation on his right shoulder that kept him out of the Pro Bowl.
Clady rejected a five-year, $50 million offer last summer that included $28 million in guarantees.
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