ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Peyton Manning's blindside protector will get a big pay raise next season.
The Denver Broncos placed their franchise tag on All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady on Friday, ensuring the three-time Pro Bowler a salary of $9.828 million in 2013.
That's almost triple the $3.5 million Clady made last season when he allowed just one sack in more than 1,100 snaps during Manning's bounce-back season in Denver.
The Broncos are hoping to work out a long-term deal with Clady before training camp, though. Last summer, he rejected a five-year, $50 million offer that included $28 million in guarantees.
Clady has started every game in his five years with the Broncos but will miss offseason workouts while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder that kept him out of the Pro Bowl.
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