Before the Broncos and Texans squared off Monday, Denver cornerback Aqib Talib revealed that the club’s players harbor resentment over quarterback Brock Osweiler‘s offseason departure. Osweiler joined the Texans on a four-year, $72MM deal in free agency after it appeared he would take over the Broncos’ offense from the retired Peyton Manning. “We believed in him,” said Talib (via ESPN.com). “We thought he was going to be our QB. We feel like he reneged on us.” Osweiler’s exit has so far gone swimmingly for the the reigning Super Bowl champion Broncos, who have gotten quality production from signal-caller Trevor Siemian at a minimal cost. Meanwhile, the high-priced Osweiler has been among the NFL’s worst starters in 2016.
More from around the league:
- Jaguars players are questioning head coach Gus Bradley‘s effectiveness, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Bradley remains popular in the locker room, but players are wondering whether he is tough enough to get the team out of its inconsistent ways. The Jaguars were a popular darkhorse pick before the season started, but they are now 2-4 after Sunday’s home loss to the Raiders. The Jags are also just 14-40 since hiring Bradley in 2011.
- The 49ers are reportedly shopping Joe Staley, but head coach Chip Kelly unsurprisingly wants the team to keep the standout left tackle. “That’s news to me,” Kelly said of Staley’s apparent placement on the trade block. “Nobody’s had any discussions with me about Joe being traded. We need Joe here” (Twitter link via Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group). It’ll ultimately be general manager Trent Baalke who decides whether to deal Staley, for whom the 49ers have a lofty asking price. While Baalke wants a first-round pick for Staley, multiple GMs have told CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora that he’d be lucky to receive a second-rounder (Twitter link).
- Chargers defensive end Caraun Reid tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the team’s 33-30 win over the Falcons on Sunday, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Amazingly, Reid is already the fifth Charger to suffer a torn ACL this season, joining receiver Keenan Allen, running back Danny Woodhead, inside linebacker Nick Dzubnar and cornerback Jason Verrett. The highlight of Reid’s season was a fumble recovery that he returned 61 yards for a touchdown in Week 3.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Talib is an idiot. He should be happy osweiller left. That money is pay defense and their qb is just as good if not better