Receiver Sanders traded to 49ers
Emmanuel Sanders arrived in what he called “wide receiver heaven” in 2014 and with Peyton Manning throwing him passes, he certainly found bliss in Denver, where he became a champion and a bona fide NFL star.
On Tuesday, he escaped what had become wide receiver purgatory when the Broncos (2-5) traded him to the unbeaten 49ers (6-0), where he’ll catch passes from rising star Jimmy Garoppolo and play at Levi’s Stadium, site of the Broncos’ Super Bowl triumph over the Panthers.
“It’s hard. Anytime you break or you leave a place, it’s tough,” Sanders said as he left Broncos headquarters while his ex-teammates practiced behind him. “We definitely had a great run out here.”
Along with Sanders, the Broncos sent a fifthround pick in next year’s draft to the 49ers in exchange for thirdand fourth-round picks in 2020, a person with knowledge of the deal told AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced the trade.
Sanders, 32, caught 30 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns this season as he made a successful return from surgery on both ankles.
Pats acquire Sanu: The Falcons traded receiver Mohamed Sanu to the Patriots for a second-round draft pick in 2020.
The move signaled the Falcons (1-6) are already looking to the future just seven weeks into the season. The team is mired in a fivegame losing streak and off to its worst start since 2007.
Sanu, 30, has 33 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown this season, his fourth with the Falcons after spending his first four years with the Bengals.
Extra points: The Jets are disappointed and angry QB Sam Darnold’s comment about him “seeing ghosts” made it on air during the “Monday Night Football” game. Darnold was wearing a microphone for ESPN’s broadcast of the Jets’ 33-0 loss to the Patriots. Coach Adam Gase said the Jets will be “looking hard into our cooperation” with the networks going forward . ... Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, who provided the iconic play of the Raiders’ first Super Bowl title, died at 78 . ... The Seahawks acquired S Quandre Diggs from the Lions for a a 2020 fifth-round pick. The Seahawks had major depth worries after Bradley McDougald and Lano Hill missed Sunday’s loss to the Ravens with injuries . ... The Jaguars signed former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith to help fill holes at linebacker. Smith is best known for his MVP performance in the 2014 Super Bowl, when he had 10 tackles and returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown.