Broncos’ Emmanuel Sanders Drawing Interest
Teams are calling on Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. The Broncos would prefer to unload Demaryius Thomas‘ bloated contract, but Thomas wouldn’t net them much (or anything) in a trade that would effectively be a salary dump. 
This jibes with a previous report from Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who hears that the Broncos are willing to part with Thomas, but not Sanders. The Broncos are understandably reluctant to part with Sanders, who is on pace for nearly 1,300 yards this season. Thomas, meanwhile, has just 372 yards through seven games, making him more than expendable.
Teams could be intrigued by the possibility of Thomas getting back to his old form, but his contract is a major barrier. The 31-year-old is signed through 2019 with cap numbers of $12MM and $17.53MM in the next two years. Even teams with ample cap room would be wary of that obligation and would be unwilling to sacrifice much in the way of draft capital for the aging receiver.
Teams are also reportedly interested in cornerbacks Bradley Roby and Chris Harris, but it’s unclear as to whether the Broncos are willing to part with either player.
Browns’ Hue Jackson To Get More Involved In Play Calling?
After the Browns’ 26-23 overtime loss to the Buccaneers, head coach Hue Jackson did not rule out the possibility of taking play-calling back from offensive coordinator Todd Haley (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). Jackson later walked back his comments and said that he would not resume play-calling duties, but he indicated that he might take on a larger role within the offensive staff. 
“It’s not going to be about butting heads,” said Jackson when asked about the possibility of clashing with Haley. “I’m the head coach of the football team. I will do what I feel I need to do to get this team where it needs to be….I’m the head coach of the football team, period. Period. There’s nothing else that needs to be said. Nothing. I’m the head coach of the football team.”
Jackson may be the head coach of the team, but GM John Dorsey is the new boss in Cleveland, and he hired Haley for a reason. If Jackson tries to pull play-calling responsibilities from Haley this season, he could face pushback from team brass.
Sunday’s loss dropped the Browns to 2-4-1 on the season and 1-2 in overtime games. Next up is a divisional showdown against the Steelers, a game in which Haley may have some extra motivation.
Fallout From Raiders’ Trade Of Amari Cooper
After looking at the Amari Cooper trade from the Cowboys’ perspective, let’s take a look at things from the Raiders’ side:
- Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie insists that Cooper’s contract situation, or the fact that he is represented by the same agent as Khalil Mack agent (Joel Segal) had nothing to do with his desire to make a deal (Twitter link via Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area).
- McKenzie said the trade “was an opportunity I couldn’t pass on, to get a first-round pick. … I love Amari but I just felt it came down to getting the pick,” (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of The Athletic).
- The Raiders are now in a full rebuild mode, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) doesn’t think they’re done yet. Safety Karl Joseph is another first-rounder who could be available, giving the Raiders a chance to add even more to their 2019 draft haul. As Rapoport understands it, quarterback Derek Carr and cornerback Gareon Conley are unlikely to be dealt, but many other players could be had for the right price.
- Head coach Jon Gruden did not immediately address the trade with his team (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the Review-Journal). Some players saw Cooper pulled off of the practice field on Monday but didn’t know why until they checked their phones in the locker room.
Fallout From Cowboys’ Trade For Amari Cooper
On Monday, the Cowboys pulled off a blockbuster trade by acquiring multiple-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper from the Raiders. Many were surprised to hear that the Cowboys gave up a first-round pick for the wide receiver, but the Cowboys had their reasons for splurging. Here’s a look at the fallout from the Cooper deal from the Cowboys’ perspective:
- Before the trade, the Cowboys were committed to taking a wide receiver high in the 2019 draft, likely in the first round (Twitter link via Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.) By dealing for Cooper instead, the Cowboys believe they have secured a star wide receiver who is already proven and can contribute right away.
- Cooper knows he doesn’t have the leverage to land the sizable extension he will eventually seek, and the Cowboys were sold on the deal upon learning that he was OK with holding off on extension talks (Twitter link via Robinson). Cooper, who hasn’t done a whole lot in his last 20 games, is willing to play through his 2019 fifth-year option, which will pay $13.9MM.
- Gil Brandt of NFL.com (on Twitter) doesn’t have any wide receivers in his top 25 for the 2019 draft. Therefore, if the Cowboys drafted around No. 20, they’d be reaching for a wide receiver less capable than Cooper and wouldn’t have him for the second half of this season. The Cowboys had a similar evaluation of things, Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram tweets.
- “[Cooper is] a younger veteran receiver – only 24 tears old – who can do lot of things in our offense and we don’t have to wait for him to learn how to play in NFL,” said a high-ranking Cowboys source (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen).
- In giving up a first-round pick for Cooper, the Cowboys are further casting their lot with Dak Prescott as their quarterback of the future, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. His reasoning is that the Cowboys would have had to use a first-round pick in order to be in the QB market in next year’s draft.
Free Agent Terrelle Pryor Drawing Interest
Free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor says he is close to 100% healthy and could be ready to play as soon as Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Pryor has already been contacted by several interested teams, and Schefter says he may be an option for those that missed out on Amari Cooper.
Cooper, of course, is now a member of the Cowboys after shipping a first-round pick to Oakland for the former No. 4 overall selection. Five other teams, including the Jets and Eagles, were in on the bidding until the Raiders pulled the trigger.
The Jets cut Pryor over the weekend with an injury settlement. Gang Green is reportedly interested in a reunion, but they’ll face competition from other clubs.
Pryor has not returned to his Browns form, but he has caught touchdown passes in each of the past two games. In the Jets’ Week 6 win over the Colts, he hauled in five passes for 57 yards. Pryor should hold plenty of appeal for contenders, especially if he is healthy.
Latest On Dolphins, DeVante Parker
Over the weekend, DeVante Parker‘s agent lashed out at the Dolphins and accused coach Adam Gase of lying about his client’s health. Now, the wide receiver is distancing himself from his agent’s comments, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets. 
Parker claims that he did not know Jimmy Gould would make those remarks, which included accusations of “incompetence.” For his part, Parker says that he has a good relationship with Gase, and doesn’t believe that things will be awkward between them.
With the trade deadline roughly one week away, Parker will be a name to monitor. Before the Cowboys shipped a first-round pick to the Raiders for Amari Cooper, they were reportedly “monitoring” the 25-year-old receiver. The Dolphins are said to be seeking for a third round pick to part with Parker, though Gould’s comments could compel the Fins to lower their asking price.
On the flipside, the Dolphins may have reason to keep Parker in the wake of injuries to Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills. It’s admittedly hard to see the Dolphins eagerly moving forward with Parker, but they might not have much of a choice if Stills and Wilson are in for extended absences.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/22/18
Here’s a rundown of today’s NFL workouts. Each workout comes from Howard Balzer’s (on Twitter), unless noted otherwise:
Arizona Cardinals
- G Oday Aboushi, TE John Phillips, TE Gavin Escobar, G Austin Pasztor, S Rolan Milligan, S Fish Smithson
Cleveland Browns
- RBs Charcandrick West, RB Devante Mays, LB Corey Nelson, CB Jalen Myrick (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
Houston Texans
- CB Tony Lippett
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Jace Billingsley, WR Chad Hansen, WR Austin Proehl
Seattle Seahawks
- DE Damontre Moore (Twitter link via Caplan)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: FB Dan Vitale
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Josh Keyes
- Waived/Injured: LB Tyrell Adams
New York Jets
- Signed: WR J.J. Jones, C Jon Toth
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB James Cowser
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB Jeremy Reaves
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: CB Deatrick Nichols
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed off waivers: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee (from Chargers)
- Placed On Exempt List (left team): S T.J. Green
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Riley Bullough
- Placed on IR: LB Kwon Alexander, LB Jack Cichy
49ers Place S Adrian Colbert On IR
49ers free safety Adrian Colbert will go on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. It’s a 6-to-8 week injury, but coach Kyle Shanahan says he is “probably not” a candidate to return this season.
[RELATED: 49ers To Re-Sign QB Tom Savage]
Colbert, 25, was forced out of Sunday’s game against the Rams with a right ankle injury. Colbert was hoping to return, but it sounds like his season is over after compiling 20 tackles and one pass deflection in seven games (six starts).
The 2017 seventh-round pick was surprisingly effective last year after taking over the starting job in Week 10, but he wasn’t playing at the same level this year. Colbert had a slow start out of the gate and briefly lost the top job in Week 4 to D.J. Reed. He was re-inserted into the starting lineup in Week 5, but surrendered a 75-yard touchdown due to a costly mental error.
Now that Colbert is out of the equation, Reed figures to take over as the Niners’ starting free safety. The club may also explore options i traden free agency and the trade market.