WR Emmanuel Sanders signs with Denver - Executives cry foul

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Executives crying foul over Emmanuel Sanders deal

By Ian Rapoport NFL.com
NFL Media Insider
Published: March 16, 2014 at 12:05 a.m. Updated: March 16, 2014 at 12:19 a.m. 8 Likes | 2 Comments
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Emmanuel Sanders is expected to sign with the Broncos tomorrow, but the process that led him there left the other teams involved fuming and crying foul. One team official claimed Sanders' agent broke "every rule in negotiations."

Agent Steve Weinberg, on behalf of the receiver, accepted a deal with the Chiefs in principle, according to one team source. Weinberg then engaged in negotiations with the Tampa Bay Bucs, according to another source involved in the process.

While shopping the Chiefs offer to the Bucs, Weinberg never explained that he had already accepted the terms of Kansas City's offer. Later in the night, Sanders' agent had agreed to terms with the Broncos, which is where he is currently headed. Sanders and Weinberg also rankled the 49ers by agreeing to visit, then blowing it off.

"This was one of the worst situations in modern football negotiations," one executive involved said. "Totally wrong. This needs to be stopped."

Reached at his home late Saturday, Weinberg declined to comment on the record when informed of the allegations.

The Dallas-based agent was recently reinstated by the NFL Players Association, which had barred and decertified him in 2003 because it had reportedly found he diverted assets to an offshore account during a dispute with a partner and collecting a fee from a client prematurely. Weinberg later filed suit against the NFLPA and its top officials, alleging they illegally took away his certification for eight years, along with past, present and future income of clients.

Weinberg has two clients currently on NFL teams, not including Sanders. He had 42 before he was barred.

While Weinberg broke no laws in accepting a deal, the entire situation infuriated those he dealt with. It is commonly accepted in the league that once two sides agree to a deal -- in writing or in handshake form -- that's the end of the story. Instead, by Weinberg shopping the Chiefs deal and then not informing the Bucs that a deal had been reached showed another side of the business. It is unclear if the Broncos were aware of the previous actions.

"When a man gives you his words and pulls out," one executive said, "then gives another team your word and pulls out, then gives another team his word ... Not proper."


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Denver is giving former Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders a 3-year, $15M contract. Team announced agreement.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Our best option is to cut Hemmingway.

Don't make me post a gif to show my displeasure with your comments...

[Mugsy]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

You're a true hero, Bob. A crusader for truth and justice.

On Internet message boards.

I'm no hero. That's for sure. I'm just Mugsy. I say what I think. Sometimes it's controversial. Sometimes it sucks. Sometimes the sun shines on a dog's ass. Sometimes I'm wrong. Sometimes I'm right. I just want to talk about football and stick to football.

Back to the conversation....

The reason I brought up Decker is to argue this isn't totally a buyer's market as far as WRs go. He was overpaid by the Jets. He is a #2 or #3 WR who has been paid to be a #1 imo. The reason I cited the Broncos forum is because I try to do my homework. The beat of the fans is part of the way to understand why homegrown guys don't get re-signed. I don't watch every Donks game and I'm not going to pretend to.

As far as Sanders goes, he's not the same as Decker. He's a #3 borderline #2 WR imo. I'm fine with giving him a contract like the one McCluster got ($2.5 - $3.0 million range). He's better than McCluster at doing similar things and more productive. We need a player more specialized like Sanders imo (a true WR). However, I have a pretty good understanding of personnel and how the money works and I don't want to end up going all in now. I want to give Dorsey a chance to build through the draft and hold him to his word. If they want him to come in and be a nice piece that is great. If they want to lock him up for five years as the second WR I'm not OK with that. He hasn't earned that yet in his career imo.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Don't make me post a gif to show my displeasure with your comments...

Don't make me post a gif to show my displeasure with Junior Hemmingway.

In all seriousness, Hemmingway has an issue between the ears. Half the time, he doesn't even know where to line up.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

You're a true hero, Bob. A crusader for truth and justice.

On Internet message boards.

He's like the Internet Police.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Cutting Avery would free up like $750K. He was productive last year despite the drops.

I'd still cut him to rid the team of AIDS.

I didn't see anything special he brought to the team that some trash pickup like Jenkins couldn't bring.

Plus, 750k is enough to go shopping in Canada again.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

If someone knew nothing about football and read this board's archives they would come to the conclusion that Junior Hemmingway, Geoff Schwartz, and Mike Catapono are better football players than Branden Albert, Brandon Flowers, and Dwayne Bowe

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If someone knew nothing about football and read this board's archives they would come to the conclusion that Junior Hemmingway, Geoff Schwartz, and Mike Catapono are better football players than Branden Albert, Brandon Flowers, and Dwayne Bowe

Troof.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by jd1020

I'd still cut him to rid the team of AIDS.

I didn't see anything special he brought to the team that some trash pickup like Jenkins couldn't bring.

Plus, 750k is enough to go shopping in Canada again.

Avery brings more to this team than Junior Hemmingway and Westin Dressler put together.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Avery brings more to this team than Junior Hemmingway and Westin Dressler put together.

Meh.

If the Chiefs are serious about getting a #2 WR then I don't see a reason to keep Avery.

He's bounced around his whole career and 40 catches for 570 yards is nothing to keep him from bouncing again.

[ct]

Sanders is a pretty good returner, can function very very well as WR2, far better than Avery, and for this reason he is worth paying. Sanders will get decent $, and he's worth it.

I don't in any way think that rules us out of WR @23, since I don't believe this FO truly believes in DBowe long term. Draft a top prospect now, train them across all formations this year, and by 2015 you've got potentially 3 quality playmakers if Bowe will restructure, if not dump him and draft another prospect.

Sanders was my #1 FA WR option already. Think he can produce as well as Decker for half the price, and return kicks!

[L.A. Chieffan]

Sanders is a good receiver, perfect for number 2. And for the record I like Hemingway

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by ct

Sanders is a pretty good returner, can function very very well as WR2, far better than Avery, and for this reason he is worth paying. Sanders will get decent $, and he's worth it.

I don't in any way think that rules us out of WR @23, since I don't believe this FO truly believes in DBowe long term. Draft a top prospect now, train them across all formations this year, and by 2015 you've got potentially 3 quality playmakers if Bowe will restructure, if not dump him and draft another prospect.

Sanders was my #1 FA WR option already. Think he can produce as well as Decker for half the price, and return kicks!

If the front office didn't believe in Bowe, they wouldn't have given him a $10M per year contract.

[ct]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

If the front office didn't believe in Bowe, they wouldn't have given him a $10M per year contract.

I have no inside sources or anything, but I just wonder if they'd like to have that one back is all i'm sayin. Looking at the situation last year, what choice did they really have?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by ct

I have no inside sources or anything, but I just wonder if they'd like to have that one back is all i'm sayin. Looking at the situation last year, what choice did they really have?

Not give him a massive contract?

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by ct

I have no inside sources or anything, but I just wonder if they'd like to have that one back is all i'm sayin. Looking at the situation last year, what choice did they really have?

Sign Albert and trade Bowe, not waste #1 pick on Eric Fisher????