Latest On Emmanuel Sanders
- Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders provided an update on his contract situation Thursday, revealing that extension negotiations between his agent and the club are going “back and forth,” according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. Sanders, 29, is set to earn $5.6MM in 2016, which is the third and final year of the somewhat modest accord he signed as a free agent in 2014. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has since totaled 177 receptions, 2,539 yards and 15 touchdowns in 31 regular-season games, thus setting himself up for a significant raise. Sanders insisted Thursday that money isn’t his top priority, however. “I said it from Day One — I’m not trying to break the bank. I want to be here. But I also want a fair deal, and I want a fair deal for the production I’ve been putting out, so we’ll see how it goes,” said Sanders, who hauled in 16 passes for 230 yards during the Broncos’ three playoff wins – including Super Bowl 50 – last winter.
Three Teams In Lead For Nick Foles?
7:14pm: There are approximately 10 teams, including the Vikings, doing their due diligence on Foles, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). Foles is “laying low” and could take a few days to make a decision, per Wolfson, who adds that a deal isn’t close.
1:47pm: Foles is eyeing a one or two-year deal, according to Cole (video link).
10:10am: Despite reports to the contrary, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter) hears that the Bills aren’t among the teams interested in signing Foles.
7:53am: Nick Foles became a free agent on Wednesday and his market emerged pretty quickly. Foles is likely to sign with the Vikings, Bills, or Cowboys, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears. Cole adds that the Jets also expressed interest in Foles, though it’s not immediately clear if there is still room for the veteran after Ryan Fitzpatrick re-signed with the club on Wednesday night. 
The Vikings currently have veteran Shaun Hill and rising sophomore Taylor Heinicke behind starter Teddy Bridgewater. Hill, 36, offers plenty of experience, but Minnesota may prefer Foles as their veteran backup. Alternatively, they could add Foles and likely sneak Heinicke, a UDFA out of Old Dominion, on to the practice squad.
The Bills drafted Cardale Jones this year as a backup for starter Tyrod Taylor and although E.J. Manuel has been bumped from the No. 1 role, the team has been high on him as an understudy.
“I’m not done with EJ Manuel, either (as a backup to Taylor),” coach Rex Ryan said in February. “I think EJ’s got the talent, the size and all that stuff. Sometimes, guys just take a little bit longer to develop, so we’ll see how that goes.”
The Cowboys surprised some observers this offseason when they did not address add a veteran backup quarterback, opting instead to stick with Kellen Moore, draft Dak Prescott out of Mississippi State, and add 2015 UDFA Jameill Showers. Last year, Dallas rolled out Moore, Matt Cassel, and Brandon Weeden while Tony Romo was sidelined and they had a 1-11 record to show for it. Of the four teams mentioned by Cole, the Cowboys arguably make the most sense for Foles.
The Broncos, meanwhile, have no interest in adding Foles, coach Gary Kubiak said in a radio interview (Twitter link via James Palmer of NFL.com).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Broncos have waived tight end Manasseh Garner with a non-football illness designation and signed free agent tight end John Phillips to take his place, writes Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post. Primarily a blocker, Phillips has 95 appearances (32 starts), 45 catches and four touchdowns on his six-year resume with Dallas and San Diego.
- The Bengals announced that they have signed safety Jimmy Wilson. Wilson, who turns 30 on Saturday, appeared in 13 games with San Diego last season before the team released him in December. Earlier this year, he hooked on with KC, but that stint was short lived. Since entering the league as a seventh-rounder in 2011, Wilson has played in 73 regular-season games, logged 28 starts, and amassed five interceptions.
- The Lions announced the signing of linebacker Dominique Tovell as well as the release of wide receiver Damian Copeland and linebacker Jerry Franklin.
- The Jets announced that they have cut rookie punter Tom Hackett. With Hackett out of the picture, fellow rookie Lachlan Edwards has presumably won the team’s punting job.
- The Falcons announced the signing of defensive end Efe Obada. In a related move, Atlanta waived wide receiver Daje Johnson.
Broncos, Emmanuel Sanders Discussing Deal
- The Broncos and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders remain in discussions about a new deal, GM John Elway stated Wednesday (Twitter link via Troy Renck of Denver7). The reigning Super Bowl champions would like to lock Sanders up before the season, according to Elway, who said in June that extending Sanders and two of his teammates – linebackers Von Miller and Brandon Marshall – by mid-July would be “ideal.” Denver has since secured Miller and Marshall, leaving the 29-year-old Sanders as the lone straggler of the group.
Broncos Waive Cyrus Gray
- The Broncos have waived running back Cyrus Gray to make room for newly signed receiver Marlon Brown, per Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
Broncos To Sign Marlon Brown
The Broncos have agreed to sign Marlon Brown to a one-year deal, Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post tweets. The speedy wide receiver has history with coach Gary Kubiak thanks to their time together in Baltimore. 
Brown, who turned 25 in April, spent the last three seasons in Baltimore, though he saw his role in the offense decline since making his debut in 2013. In his rookie season, the Georgia product caught 49 balls for 524 yards and seven touchdowns. He has failed to reach the end zone since then, and recorded just 14 receptions and 112 yards in 2015.
While Brown contributed occasionally on special teams, wasn’t a key piece of that unit in Baltimore last year. When taking into account his reduced role on offense, it was no surprise that the team opted not to extend him an RFA tender earlier this offseason. The Ravens re-signed Brown to a lesser salary in mid-March, but dropped him from the roster in May.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Sign Darnell Sankey, Waive Nathan Theus
- The Broncos announced the signing of rookie linebacker Darnell Sankey. To make room, Denver has waived long snapper Nathan Theus.
NFL: No Evidence Of Peyton Manning PED Use
After a seven-month investigation, the NFL determined that Peyton Manning did not use HGH nor any other performance enhancing drug. Manning, of course, was named in a documentary about PEDs by Al Jazeera America late last year. The NFL released the following statement on Monday morning:
“Following a comprehensive seven-month investigation into allegations made in a documentary by Al Jazeera America, the NFL found no credible evidence that Peyton Manning was provided with or used HGH or other substances prohibited by the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, it was announced today. The Mannings were fully cooperative with the investigation and provided both interviews and access to all records sought by the investigators.
Initiated in January, the investigation was led by the NFL’s security and legal teams with support from expert consultants and other professionals. The investigation involved witness interviews, a review of relevant records and other materials, online research, and laboratory analysis and review.
Separately, the NFL’s investigation continues into the documentary’s allegations made against other NFL players, which involve different lines of inquiry and witnesses”
Shortly after the documentary aired in December 2015, Manning went on the offensive and pronounced to the world that he would sue Al Jazeera for defamation. Months later, however, Manning backtracked from plans to bring legal action. Manning’s lawsuit flip-flop raised eyebrows in the football world, which may have motivated him to cooperate with the NFL’s investigation.
Manning retired from the NFL following his Super Bowl 50 win, leaving the sport as a two-time champion and a shoe-in Hall of Famer. No. 18 left the game as the league’s all-time leader in total wins by a QB (200), passing yards (71,940), and passing touchdowns (539) and also left the sport as the highest-paid player in league history. Over his career, Manning netted roughly a quarter-billion dollars, and that’s before considering his sponsorship deals.
Manning evened the score with brother Eli Manning when he secured his second Super Bowl ring, but the elder Manning had a tumultuous year to say the least. Peyton struggled to open the season but many didn’t notice as the Broncos came out of the gate 7-0 thanks to their defense. Soon after that, however, Manning’s decline became quite apparent to all observers. The Broncos eventually installed Brock Osweiler as their starting QB and it wasn’t until Week 17 when they put the Sheriff back in the starting role.
While the league’s investigation into Manning is now closed, today’s press release makes it clear that the NFL will continue to look into the allegations raised against Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews, James Harrison, and Mike Neal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
West Notes: Broncos, Lynch, Sanchez, 49ers
The Broncos appear to want rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch to play at some point during the upcoming season, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. While it would still be an “upset” if veteran Mark Sanchez doesn’t win the starting job, Denver management would like to see Lynch see live action when the regular season begins. As Klis suggests, Lynch is thought to be relatively raw developmentally and his learning curve might be steep, so it would behoove the club to let Lynch take some snaps during the year. However, the Broncos aren’t likely to turn to Sanchez if the team is playing well, so the only chance for Lynch to see the field might be if Denver starts the season slow.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two West divisions:
- The best contract on the Broncos‘ roster belongs to cornerback Chris Harris, opines Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, who adds the Harris will earn $6.5MM over a five-year period than will teammate Aqib Talib (and Harris is probably the better defensive back). Denver pulled a “con job” on Harris and his camp, writes Fitzgerald, tagging on option years at the end of the deal, while employing a bonus structure that would allow the club to earn a salary cap credit if the options aren’t exercised. On the flip side, the worst contract in the Mile High City is that of offensive tackle Donald Stephenson, who agreed to a three-year, $14MM deal over the offseason. Clearly (given those terms), this pact isn’t very onerous, and Fitzgerald notes that general manager John Elway has become so adept at financial negotiations that the Broncos simply aren’t carrying many poor contracts.
- After struggling against opposing quarterbacks in 2015 (and ranking 30th in defensive passing DVOA), the 49ers didn’t use any of their ample cap space to pursue outside additions to their secondary. But as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, San Francisco has used seven draft picks on defensive backs over the past three years, so the club has made a significant investment in improving its back end. Tramaine Brock looks like he’ll grab hold of one starting corner job in 2016, while former first-round safety Jimmie Ward is nearly a lock to serve as the Niners’ nickel corner, and could compete for time on the outside as well. Meanwhile, third-rounder Will Redmond, who tore his ACL last October, is a candidate to open training camp on the non-football injury list, and is unlikely to see much playing time during his rookie season.
- Earlier today, Troy Renck of Denver7 suggested that safety Omar Bolden — recently released by the Bears — could wind up back with the Broncos, noting that his release was not injury related. At the very least, Bolden could help out on special teams in Denver, as he was one of the club’s primary kick returners over the past four years.
Omar Bolden Could Land in Denver
- Safety Omar Bolden was released by the Bears yesterday, but Troy Renck of Denver7 ABC tweets that the 27-year-old “will land on his feet.” Renck notes that the former Broncos draft pick could wind up in Denver, and he adds that his release from the Bears was due to the team’s “logjam” at defensive back.
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