John Elway was on speaker phone with Rick Smith to negotiate the Chris Clark trade. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Wondering how that with the Texans? Probably with a lot less glamour than you were envisioning.
On Episode 4 of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which aired Tuesday, Broncos general manager John Elway was on speaker phone with Rick Smith on Saturday as the Texans’ general manager was driving to the NRG Stadium in Houston. The two hashed out the details of the trade that would send Clark to Houston for a seventh-round draft pick in 2016.
Clark’s name was not mentioned during the aired portion of the conversation, but the “him” was obvious. The other unnamed players may not be, though. The full conversation:
SMITH: “I looked at that deal last night. I want to do it, I just have a hard time giving up a pick — even though it’s out there — I have a hard time giving up a pick for a guy that’s going into the last year of his deal. You’re good inside linebacker — you like what you got?”
ELWAY: “Yeah, I’d do the player for player, but you know what, we’re in good shape. … But I’m actually trying to move one or two there, too. I’m in a battle for the 52 right now, you know? Who’s going to make that 53?
For context on Hard Knocks Texans GM Rick Smith asked Elway if wanted inside LB for Clark. Elway said had depth and was looking to move ILB
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck)
SMITH: “I think it makes sense if we’re going to do it to do it. The quicker I can get him into our building and in the program, the better off we’re going to be.
ELWAY: “We can make it happen fast.”
Later in the episode, Smith is shown signing off on the Clark trade in the bowels of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome during the Texans’ win over the Saints. The deal was announced Monday, a day before the NFL’s deadline to shave rosters to 75 players.
The Broncos have one more preseason game, on Thursday, then Elway must select the 53-man roster by Saturday’s 2 p.m. deadline. Could there be deals before? Sounds like Elway is trying to make it happen.
