A communication breakdown with the advanced technology known as the fax machine resulted in the Broncos being forced to cut pass rusher Elvis Dumervil last week. The most likely scenario has Denver bringing him back with a new contract, and its defense desperately needs him.
In the past four seasons since Dumervil's 2009 emergence, he's been available for three of them: 2009, 2011, 2012. (He missed the 2010 season with a torn pectoral muscle.) He averaged 12.5 sacks in those three seasons, and the Broncos pass rush, and fantasy defense (1 point for sacks, 2 points for all turnovers, 6 points for D/ST touchdowns) was at least a top-15 unit.
In the year Dumervil was sidelined, things were much worse, for the pass rush and in fantasy terms. Dumervil isn't the whole story (Denver's leading pass rusher a year ago was Von Miller), but he's a big part of the success of that defense.
Dumervil and the Broncos, 2009-2012
Year   Sck FF Rk Dumervil
2009 39 6th 17
2010 23 31st 0
2011 41 15th 9.5
2012 52 3rd 11
--Andy Richardson