Is wide receiver Ashley Lelie running an "out" — as in gone — pattern with the Denver Broncos?

You have to wonder — and many in Denver are — especially given the pre-draft state of affairs with he and the Broncos miles apart. About 585 miles at the moment.

Lelie, the first University of Hawai'i player chosen in the first round of an NFL draft (2002), could be on his way out of Denver even before the kickoff of the final year of his five-year, $7.1 million contract.

While the Broncos have been working out in Colorado for three weeks, media reports have Lelie at a performance center in Tempe, Ariz. And, since they say there is a $100,000 bonus provision in his contract if he is on hand for the off-season strength and conditioning program, you figure it wasn't just something that slipped his mind.

More likely — though his agent wouldn't comment immediately — is that he'd like to either have the Broncos make him a more prominent part of the offense, or force a trade someplace where he could become the top receiver.

Such is the published suspicion in Denver where the Broncos already have the established Rod Smith and their winter romancing of Terrell Owens and trade rumors apparently struck a nerve with Lelie, who reports say, would like to become the go-to guy.

With Lelie coming off a 42-catch, one-touchdown season, coach Mike Shanahan told the Denver Post in February, "Ashley is a guy who made some tremendous plays this year, some big-time plays. Some of the best catches I've ever seen ... He's a guy who has so much talent, I think some of the talent is still out there ... "

This isn't a new theme. Shanahan publicly challenged Lelie after his second season — a year in which his catches went up by just two from his rookie year (37 from 35). and Lelie responded with his most productive season yet, 54 catches, 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in 2004 — all career highs.

Of course, for all the head-butting and posturing, things can change. Two years ago, another UH alum, placekicker Jason Elam, appeared headed out of Denver, too. But after 16 months of limbo, including a year with the franchise tag for salary purposes, Denver forked over a five-year, $9 million deal that will allow Elam to finish his career there.

Whether the 26-year-old Lelie will even finish the year in Denver is problematic. The Broncos could trade him or draft high another wide receiver. You'd like to think Lelie might finish out his first contract in Denver with a prominent role heading into free agency, but what comes out of draft week may have a lot to say about that.

From the time he came to UH as a walk-on, Lelie has played his best when there was something to prove. This year, wherever he ends up, he will be in that situation again.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.