Denver Broncos president John Elway called on defensive end Elvis Dumervil to accept a salary reduction or face the possibility of being released.

Ahead of Friday's deadline when Dumervil's 2013 salary of $12 million would become guaranteed, Elway urged Dumervil, 29, to restructure the six-year, $61.5 million contract he signed in 2010.

"It's not all about dollars. But when it's way out of whack? Then it's so out of whack that you've got to say: That (salary) can't be it," Elway said Thursday, according to the Denver Post. "Especially when you look at the market and what's out there now. It's so far out of whack. Hopefully, he realizes that."

Dumervil had 11 sacks last season and in 2009 led the league with 17 sacks.