By Rich Tandler
On the ESPN NFC East blog, Dan Graziano interviewed Mike Shanahan and in doing so he asked if Shanahan would consider putting together a big package of picks, including multiple No. 1’s, to get a quarterback like Stanford’s Andrew Luck.
Shanahan’s answer was interesting. He brought up the deal that brought Jon Gruden to the Buccaneers as head coach. As compensation for letting him to go to Tampa Bay, the Raiders got two first-round picks, two second-round picks and cash.
Shanahan said, “I told Jon, 'No offense, but you're not worth that much! And don't go to the place where they're giving up the two No. 1s for you.' I mean, it just handcuffs you.”
So the implication, sort of, is that he wouldn’t pull a big deal like that because it would put too much pressure on the player drafted in the deal. And, by the way, the person who pulled the trigger on the deal would be under the microscope as well.
But it wasn’t a flat “no”.
Of course, if Shanahan had flatly ruled it out or if he said that he has already been in contact with the Colts and Rams to start trade talks there would be no reason to believe him. He is getting out the message that he wants to get out and that involves a lot of smoke and mirrors.
We won’t know whether or not he would pull off a big deal until either he does it or the draft is over.
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