49ers coach Mike Nolan denies that he's interested in sending TE Eric Johnson to Denver, who's reportedly send WR Ashley Lelie to New Orleans, who'd send WR Donte' Stallworth to San Fran.
Denials mean nothing - see Shefter's report about Portis being traded a few years ago. Unlike to the Patriots, Lelie to the 49ers makes perfect sense as they have nothing whatsoever at WR.
I think you are going to see a lot more of this going forward because of the new CBA. And I think that it is great for football to have trades and trade rumors back in the mix. Most of these leaks come from the organizations themselves and not fans because this way they can get the word out that they might be in the mood to deal or have something of value to offer and yet retain deniability. When you call 31 GM's looking to trade someone deniability goes out the window and someone usually drops a dime on your guys agent which can lead to all sorts of rancor.
And while Nolan may not be interested in this particular trade, it's likely Denver and NO are interested in moving their guys for something and likely Nolan could be talked into trading somebody for something he could use.
Bethel was said to be on the trading block for several weeks and most scoffed at the thought. And once the draft passed the assumption was he either makes the team or gets cut with no compensation. These are like the baby steps in reacquainting the NFL with trading players. It will take HC's and GM's a little time to get used to the dance. Figures Belioli would be ahead of the curve.
The "people" are often "people" associated with NFL teams - who have any number of agendas and reasons to float names as tradebait.
Denver has a keen interest in showing that there's interest in Lelie - other teams may have interest in letting their players think they might not be as valuable to them as they'd like to think... or to generate additional interest from other NFL teams in the players mentioned, in the hopes of getting better offers than those mentioned in rumors
...you've always got to read between the lines of the lines.
Of course - every now and then some of these rumors turn out to be true.
Denials mean nothing - see Shefter's report about Portis being traded a few years ago. Unlike to the Patriots, Lelie to the 49ers makes perfect sense as they have nothing whatsoever at WR.
The proposed (and denied) trade would send Lelie to New Orleans, and Stallworth to San Fran. If SF was so hot for Lelie they'd just trade the tight end for the receiver, and leave out New Orleans.
No way is Lelie preferred over Stallworth. Hell, if he could swing the trade, Shanahan would send Lelie to NO for Stallworth in a heartbeat, if not sooner.
This is another fantasy trade that's a product of some frustrated Denver fan anxious to get super value for what's at best a mediocre receiver.
Throw this rumor into the trashcan where it belongs.
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