The 16-year NFL safety met with coach Mike Shanahan on Wednesday and told Denver's KCNC-TV that Shanahan gave him permission to explore other opportunities.

That could be playing for another team, or retiring to perhaps go into the broadcast booth.

Lynch skipped a team meeting Tuesday night and was excused from Wednesday's workouts for what Shanahan termed personal reasons.

Lynch was told he'd compete for a starting safety job when he took a pay cut this offseason. With the emergence of Marlon McCree, Lynch didn't play a single snap in the nickel or dime packages during the first week of training camp.

Play FOX FANTASY FOOTBALL TODAY!