Earlier this year, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said that the team wasn’t going to trade quarterback Jay Cutler.
And then the Broncos traded quarterback Jay Cutler.
On Sunday night, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels told NBC’s Andrea Kremer that the team won’t be trading receiver Brandon Marshall.
And rumors persist that the Broncos are shopping him.
But there are mixed signals on this one. One source has told us that multiple teams are negotiating with the Broncos regarding Marshall. Another source has heard talk of such discussions, too.
But a couple of teams that would be potential candidates to trade for Marshall haven’t been contacted.
So what gives?
Based on what we’ve heard and the folks from whom we’ve heard it, we think that the Broncos discreetly are talking to a small handful of teams about Marshall, but that they are not engaged in a full-blown auction (yet) with the highest bidder getting him.
The timing of the talks couldn’t be worse. Marshall’s actions last week surely did nothing to increase his trade value. And with Marshall wanting a big contract and having injury issues and teetering on the edge of a significant suspension if he gets in any trouble off the field, it’s unlikely that anyone would give up much in order to get Marshall.