AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

• Ryan O’Halloran reports that trade talks between the Broncos and Ravens for QB Joe Flacco heated up “quickly” over the past two-three days.
• O’Halloran adds that Flacco can visit the Broncos with permission from the Ravens to undergo a physical in regards to a potential trade.
• According to Mike Klis, the Broncos will not restructure Flacco’s contract that will pay him $18.5 million in 2019, $20.25 million in 2020 and $24.25 million in 2021. None of this is guaranteed.

Chiefs

Chiefs DBs coach Emmitt Thomas informed the team that he has announced his retirement from coaching. 

“I have been blessed and honored to be a part of the NFL for the last 51 years,” Thomas said, via the team’s official site. “My journey started in Kansas City, and by the grace of God I am able to end my NFL career here as well. I would like to thank the Hunt family and the Chiefs organization for all that they have done for me in my special days here in Kansas City. It has been a privilege to work alongside the great coaches that have come through this building. Having the opportunity to coach so many talented young men in my time as a coach has been one of my greatest gifts. Additionally, I’d like to thank the Bidwill family and Coach Jim Hanifan for giving me my first NFL coaching job in St. Louis as well as Coach Walt Hicklin who introduced me to coaching at the University of Central Missouri back in 1979. I love Kansas City and this fan base and can’t thank them enough for all the support they have given me in my time here as a player and a coach.”

Raiders

Executive Directory of Scott McKibben of the Coliseum Authority confirmed that the Raiders began negotiations to continue playing at the Oakland Coliseum last week and discussions have been “meaningful and productive.” 

“I will confirm that we, late last week, started sitting down and talking with the Raiders about the potential of a 2019 season deal,” McKibben said, via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “In my view, the discussions have been meaningful and productive.” 

• Ian Rapoport writes that the Raiders “appear focused on Oakland” and must “exhaust every attempt” with the city before considering other options.
• On Wednesday, the Raiders’ lease with the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum expired. However, McKibben tells Rapoport that the Raiders informed him they’d like to keep talking: “We’re going to see if we can get something done.” 
• Rapoport adds that the Raiders playing another year in Oakland is a “very real” possibility.