Quote:
Matt Russell makes first NFL trade
Heads up, Ted Thompson. Don’t look behind you, A.J. Smith.
Matt Russell is on the board.
The trade that sent Broncos backup cornerback Cassius Vaughn to the Indianapolis Colts today in exchange for seldom-used fullback Chris Gronkowski may seem trivial at first glance. The significance is that it was the first trade executed by Matt Russell since he essentially replaced Brian Xanders as head of the Broncos’ football personnel department.
This is the Broncos’ second transaction since football operations boss John Elway and general manager Xanders parted ways two weeks ago. Besides the acquisition of Gronkowski, the Broncos signed free-agent cornerback Drayton Florence to a two-year contract.
Russell is a former University of Colorado star who was the Butkus Award winner as the best linebacker in the country in 1996. He had a decent rookie year for the Detroit Lions in 1997 but then knee injuries curtailed his playing career.
He had been a long-time NFL scout, making his mark when he discovered a never-used quarterback named Matt Cassel at USC’s Pro Day in 2005. With the Broncos since 2009, Russell was promoted in January from director of college scouting to director of both pro and college personnel.
And now Matt Russell is making trades. Elway and Broncos head coach John Fox are always the point men in such trades. But it was Russell who executed the deal along with Colts’ general manager Ryan Grigson.
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http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/...l-trade/13567/
MOTHER**** YOU MATT RUSSELL
