If anyone could have commiserated with Cam Newton last night, it would have been Rams quarterback Case Keenum, who was left on the field with a concussion last year.
They were nearly out there at the same time, or at least the Broncos tried to get them there.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Broncos called the Rams to see if Keenum was available this offseason.
They were turned away by the Rams when they wouldn’t part with a “huge pick or player compensation,” which seems appropriate for a team to trade their starter (especially in light of what the Eagles got for Sam Bradford from the desperate Vikings).
The discussions continued into the preseason. Broncos coach Gary Kubiak worked with Keenum in Houston, so he knew well what he’d have been acquiring.
But eventually, they saw enough of Trevor Siemian in the preseason to abandon the pursuit, and after winning last night’s regular season opener, it’s justified for the moment on their end.
The Rams are going to continue to start Keenum, while they groom top pick Jared Goff for his eventual promotion.