PHOENIX - When Mike Shanahan said Tuesday he expected cornerback Dré Bly to be happy in Denver, he meant it.

Wednesday, the Broncos certainly put a smile on Bly's face when the team agreed in principle to a five-year deal with the cornerback worth about $33 million with an expected $16 million in guaranteed money.

Shanahan, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday, steadfastly had said Tuesday that he expected Bly to be in Denver and happy with the Broncos for the long term.

There had been reports, reports Shanahan had labeled as "not close to what was happening," that Bly was upset about his trade to Denver and that he wanted to be traded to the Washington Redskins, closer to his offseason home.

"We think he brings a lot to the table," Shanahan said Tuesday. "And I have talked to Dré a few times. I've had some great conversations with him. He should be ready to go."

Bly, who will turn 30 in May, is a willing tackler who usually is around the ball, and the Broncos were looking for that kind of experience and confidence to line up opposite Champ Bailey in the wake of Darrent Williams' death.

In 2003, Bly recovered a fumble, forced a fumble or intercepted a pass in 10 of the 14 games he played, led the Lions in interceptions in each of the past four seasons and was the first Detroit cornerback selected to the Pro Bowl since Lem Barney in 1977.

Bly has 31 career interceptions, has forced 17 fumbles and has turned eight returns (five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one punt) into touchdowns.

SHARING THE WEALTH: The league's new revenue-sharing plan, which takes money from the NFL's top 15 teams in revenues and distributes it to lower-revenue teams, is something Broncos owner Pat Bowlen always has supported, but he'll have to put some of the team's money where that support is.

The Broncos are about in the middle of the 15 teams and, as a result, will contribute slightly more than $3.5 million to the fund for the 2006 season and about $5 million each for the '07, '08 and '09 seasons.

"Certainly, it's a significant business expense," Broncos executive vice president of business operations Joe Ellis said. "But we pay it in the best interests of the National Football League."

SO FAR, SO GOOD: Bowlen, with the team having signed several veteran free agents including Bly, tight end Daniel Graham and running back Travis Henry, said he likes the direction the team has taken in the offseason.

"I like what we've done," Bow- len said. "It's been expensive, but that's the price of playing poker; it's not getting any cheaper."

ETC.: Shanahan said Wednesday he didn't expect defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson to report to Denver for a physical by a Friday deadline. That would rescind a trade with the Miami Dolphins made earlier this month and would return a sixth-round pick to the Broncos in the draft next month. . . . NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he will meet with Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry at the NFL's New York offices Tuesday. Goodell said the meetings were part of his efforts to finalize the league's new discipline policy. Henry and Jones are expected to be two of the first players facing suspension under the new guidelines. Goodell said he would have a decision on the two in "no more than 10 days." Goodell added that he expects to have the new discipline policy in effect leaguewide before the draft. . . . Also on Wednesday, owners approved adding a five-yard penalty for players who spike the ball in the field of play after finishing a play. Spikes still are allowed after touchdowns, in the end zone. . . . A proposal to move the kickoff from the 30-yard line to the 35- yard line in overtime was tabled and not voted on. The competition committee co-chairman, Falcons general manager Rich McKay, said he expects the proposal to be brought back to a vote in the future.