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Good morning, Broncos Country!
When Denver Broncos fans awoke from their slumber on Saturday morning, they were given the best present. Come to think of it, it happened again this morning.
Khalil Mack has been traded. No really. It really, really happened.
It’s Christmas in September. Thank you to Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders for this thoughtful gift. You didn’t need to do it, so it shows how much you really care. We will ensure that we repay you for years to come by keeping you in the dregs of the AFC West where you belong.
As a side note, no matter how you feel about the moves John Elway and the Broncos made on Saturday to get to 53-man roster, at least they didn’t trade Von Miller.
Raiders (fans/players) Twitter responds
No fucking way
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) September 1, 2018
No way
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) September 1, 2018
Me waking up this morning to @52Mack_ @raiders news! pic.twitter.com/Due1Nf3IOV
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) September 1, 2018
ICYMI: Losing Khalil Mack would become Jon Gruden’s legacy, putting permanent dark cloud over his #Raiders return https://t.co/FFq2dEyEoj
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) September 1, 2018
24 years of being a raider fan this was the last straw for me.........Y’all enjoy the NFL season I won’t be watching football ever again
— Brand new Chicago Bears fan (@DoubleBack9800) September 1, 2018
The reports are true, man. Khalil Mack has been traded to the Bears in exchange for an actual bear. He will play defensive end for us and will go by the name “Rupert.” Raider Nation, please give Rupert a warm welcome
— Jon Gruden (@Faux_Gruden) September 1, 2018
Twitter responds
Dear Oakland Raiders,
— byron chamberlain (@bc_chamberlain) September 2, 2018
Thank you for F’n things up the way you always do. Way to lose one of the top defensive players in the entire NFL.
Signed,#BroncosCountry #ShouldHavePaidTheMan
Welcome to the @ChicagoBears , @52Mack_ from your left tackle pic.twitter.com/JPeZ3hzZLM
— Jennifer Roth (@jennifermroth_) September 1, 2018
The #Raiders day from absolute hell
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) September 1, 2018
-Lost best player on team, fan favorite, top 10 defender in NFL
-Got two 1sts and a 3rd, expected ransom, but gave up what will prob be a high 2nd???
-Traded a 5th for A.J. McCarron (how?!?!)
-Cut Martavis after giving up a 3rd to get him
Imagine a team making Derek Carr the highest paid player in NFL history and a team that couldn't sign Khalil Mack to a second contract.
— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) September 1, 2018
Oh yeah Oakland did both.
Gruden trading Mack will go down as one of the worst personnel decisions any team has ever made in recent NFL history.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) September 1, 2018
Jon Gruden, "Whoa man, our defense was bad last year."
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 1, 2018
Also Gruden, "Let's trade our best defensive player." pic.twitter.com/RkOdB5xFgZ
Khalil Mack is 27-years old, way too young for Jon Gruden.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 1, 2018
Raiders will be fine. Gruden is going to take the savings from Mack and give it to Derrick Brooks.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) September 1, 2018
Obviously times change, circumstances evolve, etc. But it’s amazing to think that in 2002, the Raiders got more for Jon Gruden in a trade (2 first-rounders, 2 second-rounders and $8 million from the Bucs) than they did today for Khalil Mack.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 1, 2018
Dear Jon Gruden, you are the best. -Signed Broncos Country
— Tyler Polumbus (@Tyler_Polumbus) September 1, 2018
Well, we know this much. Broncos aren’t finishing last in the AFC West this year.
— Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) September 1, 2018
y'all know where i can get a Jon Gruden jersey?
— Buzz ™ #BeatTheSeahawks (@AlexBussard24) September 1, 2018
Grudens mission to secretly destroy the #Raiders is nearly complete.... https://t.co/HY86hnIiHW
— Lisa ❤ (@liselm17) September 1, 2018
Have the #Raiders done anything right today?
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) September 1, 2018
Aaron Rodgers seeing Khalil Mack in the NFC North pic.twitter.com/Z6JbreCM46
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 1, 2018
Let me get this straight. The Raiders let THIS get away?? Jon Gruden gonna let his pride kill him. Plain dumb. #KhalilMack #Bears
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) September 1, 2018
pic.twitter.com/MUksqmZQGe
The Raiders are Las Vegas' team because every time I go to Vegas I have no plan, lose every asset I have very quickly and have no idea what the hell happened.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) September 1, 2018
Let's recap...#Raiders dealt one of the best defensive players in football, traded for a QB who was signed to start but failed to make the team and are in the process of releasing a receiver they gave a third-round pick for back in April, all in the last eight hours.
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) September 1, 2018
EA Sports Madden 19 declines the Khalil Mack trade. #Raiders pic.twitter.com/sGB7qTowkH
— Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) September 1, 2018
Today the @Raiders did the impossible. They united @Brocnos @Chargers & @Chiefs fans, as we all collectively laugh at their demise. #KhalilMack
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) September 1, 2018
Regardless of how you feel about the #Broncos moves today, at least they didn’t trade @VonMiller pic.twitter.com/JGlFTQ4KDB
— Ian St. Clair (@IanStClair) September 1, 2018
Horse Tracks
Breaking down the Broncos' initial 53-man roster
Denver's roster includes 10 rookies, highlighted by two sixth-round picks and two undrafted additions.
Matt LaCosse thought he had shot of making team, but also knew there was talent around him | 9news.com
Matt LaCosse caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Paxton Lynch in a preseason game Thursday at Arizona, a play that may well have placed the tight end on the Broncos’ 53-man roster.
Broncos' projected 53-man roster by Denver7's Troy Renck - Denver7 TheDenverChannel.com
The Broncos show their belief in the 2018 draft class as they shaped their 53-man roster.
Paxton Lynch, 10 rookies make Broncos' 53-man roster - Denver Broncos- ESPN
As the Broncos trim their roster, it's all about last chances -- for Lynch -- and youth.
NFL Tracks
Will the NFL survive? 5 things it can do to save its future - SBNation.com
The league isn’t facing quite the cataclysmic scenario some predict, but there are at least 5 things it can do to preserve its future.
Khalil Mack trade: Raiders sending pass rusher to the Bears, holy cow! - SBNation.com
The Raiders found a trade partner for the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Chicago.
Jon Gruden gave Martavis Bryant the dreaded ‘White Tiger’ nickname - SBNation.com
Gruden and Greg Olson have already doomed a couple receivers with the nickname.
NFL roster cuts: What’s it like for a player who gets released? - SBNation.com
Some 1,400 NFL players are getting a pink slip this weekend. Retired NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz recounts his cutdown day experience.
Willie Lanier, NFL Hall of Famer, says he nearly died after hit
Three times. That’s the number of instances Willie Lanier was told that his heart stopped, while being transported to the hospital in an ambulance in 1967 after he collapsed on a football field.
Could 2018 be the season that makes or breaks the NFL? | SI.com
The NFL is facing a season that could potentially be plagued by debate over a new tackling rule and the continuing controversy over kneeling during the national anthem. This season could also rise above the rest, buoyed by young players lighting up the game and fresh coaches bringing new gameplans to the field each week. But which will it be?
NFL cut-down day takeaways: Questions remain after rosters trimmed - NFL Nation- ESPN
It's a wild day as NFL teams trim their rosters to 53. What to make of all the moves? What's next? Here's what you can take away from the chaos.
Jerick McKinnon suffers torn ACL in 49ers practice - NFL.com
The San Francisco 49ers suffered a heartbreaking blow to their offense on Saturday. Running back Jerick McKinnon was lost for the season after suffering a torn ACL in practice.
Nick Foles set to start for Eagles in season opener - NFL.com
Carson Wentz's season debut will have to wait at least another week. Nick Foles will start the Philadelphia Eagles' season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.
Dallas Cowboys release kicker Dan Bailey - NFL.com
The Dallas Cowboys have cut the best kicker in franchise history. The team released Dan Bailey on Saturday.
Terence Newman retires, joins Vikings coaching staff - NFL.com
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman announced his retirement as a player and will join the Vikings coaching staff effective immediately.