“This One Hurt”: Patrick Surtain Dejected as Broncos Release Justin Simmons

The Denver Broncos are making some big decisions ahead of the upcoming season. Suffering a $85 million loss after releasing Russell Wilson, it seems like the team is going the extra mile to save up some money. The Broncos announced that they’ll be releasing their safety Justin Simmons, much to the surprise of fans.

Fans weren’t the only ones shocked at the bold decision, as fellow teammates have come in support of the player. Simmons had been with Denver since being drafted by the team in 2016 and had proved himself to be a valuable part of their roster. While letting go of the safety helped Denver save $14.5 million in their cap space, cornerback Patrick Surtain isn’t happy with this move.

Players surprised at Justin Simmons’ release

The Broncos’ decision to release Simmons after eight years has come as a blow to many. The team released a statement in which they thanked the safety for this “legacy” in Denver. Simmons had three interceptions and 53 solo tackles in 2023. Pat Surtain, visibly distressed by the decision, took to social media and expressed that the news “hurt” him.

One of the major reasons speculated behind Denver’s move is to free their cap space. Cutting Wilson eventually will cost them a dead salary hit of $85 million. According to Adam Schefter, Simmon’s departure from the team helps them save around $14.5 million in cap space, and team might be looking to use that to acquire new players for their roster.

Linebacker Nik Bonitto also expressed his shock and heartbreak at the sudden decision with a post on X reading, “Tf did I just wake up to,” along with a broken heart emoji. Former running back CJ Anderson called him a “great teammate” and encouraged Simmons to “keep rolling,” acknowledging that “the business side sucks always.” Cornerback Surtain had been close with the tight end since getting drafted in 2021. The two had made a formidable defense combination on-field. Even off the field, the duo always stood up for each other in times of crisis.

When Simmons called out Surtain’s All-Pro snub

In 2023, Denver chose not to include their cornerback in their All-Pro lineup, which had his fellow teammates rush to his defense. The strongest voice in his support was Simmons, who called out the team and people online for undermining Surtain. While himself being named to the All-Pro team, he expressed his strong feelings against the ones claiming that Surtain “isn’t a top 4 cornerback.” While he chose not to call them out by their names, he promised that they would be “addressed” later.

While the duo was named in the first-team AP lineup, Surtain was snubbed for the second-team while Simmons had made it in. Surtain had 69 tackles, one interception, and 12 pass breakups to his name in the season, which was close to Simmons’ stats. Several former players had appreciated Surtain’s trajectory on the team despite having joined recently in 2021. Eagles’ cornerback had even labeled him as “the best corner in the league,” according to the team’s official website. He also echoed Simmons’s views about the cornerback’s snub from All Pro, saying, “He should have been an All-Pro again, in my opinion. But yeah, he’s one of the best — he is the best corner in the league. Not one of the best, he is the best.”

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As Simmons prepares to take his leave from Denver, the offseason grows more interesting. With multiple options in front of him and an impressive record to his name, the safety is bound to find a new home soon.