The NFL trade deadline will arrive in about a month, and there has been some speculation, as there is each year, on whether or not the San Francisco 49ers will make a move before then. The team has a good relationship with the Denver Broncos. The two general managers, John Lynch and John Elway, are good friends. Could something happen between the two teams?
Elway joined 95.7 The Game on Wednesday and was asked that question.
"Well, you know what? The lines of communication are always open," Elway responded. "John is a good friend, and I'm happy for him as well as (head coach) Kyle (Shanahan) with the start that the Niners have had. They've worked their tail off, and (are) off to a great start, so I'm really happy for them.
"We're always open for business with the Niners [but] there's nothing going on there right now."
The 49ers lost their starting cornerback, Ahkello Witherspoon, to a foot sprain for "at least a month," according to Shanahan. While there will be a competition among the players on the roster, Emmanuel Moseley is the leading candidate to replace Witherspoon. Jason Verrett, who did not have a good 49ers debut on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, could also factor into the competition, along with others.
There has also been some speculation that maybe the 49ers would look to some outside help at cornerback but nothing official — or even unofficial — has been reported about that. Of course, if there had been some early discussions, I wouldn't expect anyone to openly admit it.
Other than the Lynch and Elway connection, the 49ers and Broncos are linked in different ways. Vic Fangio was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco when Jim Harbaugh was the head coach. The Broncos' offensive coordinator, Rich Scangarello, served as Shanahan's quarterbacks coach. And, of course, Kyle Shanahan is the son of Mike Shanahan, who was the head coach in Denver for over a decade and won two Super Bowls for the organization.
Elway spoke of the similarities and differences between Kyle Shanahan and his father.
"I think there's a lot alike," Elway said. "Mike is a very bright offensive mind, when he was an assistant out there with the Niners, and then came back to be our head coach. He had a tremendous career in Denver but always a very bright offensive mind.
"I think Kyle's right in that same boat with the system that Mike had, and Kyle was introduced to, and I think Kyle has even taken it to new heights. Really a bright young mind on the offensive side and (they) do a lot of good things.
"Two very similar coaches. I don't necessarily think there's the negatives. Obviously, Kyle is young, and he's learning with every experience that he has and every game, but a guy that's very bright, and I think that the Niners have a very bright future with Kyle and John running the helm."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Elway below.