Denver Broncos Targeted Brandon LaFell Over Emmanuel Sanders

By Josh Hill | Oct 24, 2014

Oct 5, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell (19) runs out of the tunnel to fireworks during team introductions prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium. New England Patriots defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 43-17. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Broncos VP John Elway has a lot of eyes on him this season after going on a spending spree in the offseason to numb the pain of their Super Bowl loss.

Emmanuel Sanders went ham on the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night and that has brought about a story about how he came to be in Denver. The Broncos went nuts this offseason spending to fill the hole in their heart following their Super Bowl blowout loss and Sanders was part of that.

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Initially, the Denver Broncos targeted former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Brandon LaFell and had what they thought was an agreement with the player.

According to Albert Breer from NFL Network, that deal never happened and that’s what brought about Emmanuel Sanders into the picture.

"The Broncos felt like they were closing in on a deal a few days into free agency, but as they pushed for a conclusion to talks, LaFell’s demands rose. And rose. And so, as sticker shock started to set in, the Denver brass came up with an idea: Why not just look at the No. 1 receiver the coaches had on the free-agent board? That player was Emmanuel Sanders, whom Denver had stacked above LaFell and its own free agent, Eric Decker."

The Broncos ended up with a stud player in Sanders, who himself had a verbal agreement — supposedly — with the Kansas City Chiefs before going to Denver.

It’s yet to be seen how much of a long term effect this will all have, but Sanders is having a great stint with the Broncos and not many people even know that Brandon LaFell plays for the New England Patriots.

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