If there’s one event that seems to come and go every year where the bark is so much louder than the bite, it’s that of the NFL trading deadline.
Every year you hear stories about players on the trading block, and every year it seems like nothing ever happens.
This year was no exception, but of course here locally there was a lot more eyes on the Cleveland Browns after all the rumors that surfaced early on Sunday about a number of key players being available for the right price.
Everyone by now knows the players that were reported to be up for grabs – Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, Barkevious Mingo, and Paul Kruger.
Tuesday as the deadline approached, Mike Pettine, who had to deal with the rumors all week, addressed how the week has gone not only dealing with an injured QB, the loss to the Cardinals but also dealing with non-stop rumors about some of his best players possibly being moved.
“The stuff that’s out there, how it gets out – it was unfortunate that the stuff would get put out when it got put out on gameday,” Pettine said.
“All that does is just add to the adversity that you have to deal with as a team, the equivalent of throwing a grenade in the locker room. You have guys that are focused trying to get ready for a game and somebody is going to put out a report about players potentially being shopped and how that spread. It’s disappointing that it happens, but I get it that it’s a part of the business.”
While Pettine said that he wasn’t involved in any sort of trade talks, one person who was involved with General Manager Ray Farmer, who spoke to the media on Tuesday as the deadline passed and the Browns stayed put.
“I’ll say this is a general context so let’s leave all the players names out of it: The trading deadline creates a lot of controversy and a lot of scuttlebutt that generally results in nothing,” Farmer said.
“For example, I would call a team and say ,‘Hey, take a look at our roster. Something interest you? Give me a call.’ Same back and forth. As you go through that process, some things are made light of, some things are serious. Either way it goes, until something is imminent or until a decision is made or a transaction is consummated, it’s all just fuel and fodder behind the scenes.
Sometimes, they’re serious conversations. Sometimes, those conversations are very innocuous and they amount to nothing. From my vantage point, we had some conversations, and at the end of the day, they all resonated in the same thing – nothing
It appeared without a doubt that Thomas’ name was the one that was garnering the most interest around the NFL. The Denver Broncos were reported to be in serious discussions about trying to bring Thomas to the Mile High city after they lost rookie Ty Sambrailo to injury.
It didn’t end up happening, and Farmer Tuesday said that the Browns tackle handed all the rumors swirling about him well, just like he would expect.
“Joe’s a pro; he’s been around this long enough that he understands that when his name comes up it’s going to start a fire – it requires some sort of conversation with the player, with the agent to let them know where the team or the club is at,” Farmer said.
You generally don’t move players or have those conversations, specifically as information gets out as it does nowadays as readily as it does nowadays, without having some sort of conversation with the agent and or the player.”
So the Browns now at 2-6 will turn their attention away from all the trade rumor distractions and try to regain their focus on the rival Cincinnati Bengals for a game Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium.
Pettine said Tuesday that he’s happy that the players that were being rumored to possibly being moved are not going anywhere, and now it’s time to go out and try to beat an undefeated Bengals team.
“It’s a good test of mental toughness and professionalism and all that,” Pettine said. “It’s not easy when you talk to those guys and know that or you see a comment like (OL) Joe Thomas – he’s a Brown; wants to stay a Brown. Alex Mack, the feeling is mutual with Alex. We love having him here and don’t want to see him go.”
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