Renck: Ward trade wouldn’t ‘go over well’ in Broncos locker room

Aug 30, 2017, 12:00 AM Updated: 1:03 am

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 03: T.J. Ward #43 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the bench against the Arizona Cardinals during preseason action at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 3, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 22-20. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Removing a founding member of the “No Fly Zone” just days before the start of the regular season, it probably goes unsaid that it’d be a move that would not sit well with the Denver Broncos players.

Or as Troy Renck put it: “… It would go over like dropping a stick of dynamite in the locker room.”

“To what degree it would linger would be the issue,” the Denver 7 Broncos Insider told “Stokley & Zach” on Tuesday.

But that’s exactly what reports say the Broncos are trying to do, as the club has fielded and made calls on a trade involving safety T.J. Ward.

Earlier Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Denver received calls on the veteran safety and had discussed trades involving him.

Then, just after noon, Pro Football Talk reported the Broncos were actually the ones dialing the phone, calling other teams about Ward.

Per source, Broncos are actually making — not receiving — calls about a trade of S T.J. Ward.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 29, 2017

After practice on Tuesday, head coach Vance Joseph said he hadn’t heard anything about trade discussions involving Ward.

“I’ve been on the practice field,” Joseph said. “He’s one of our better players, so I would be surprised if he was, but I have not heard that.”

Ward too was surprised a bit, said Renck, who caught up with him walking off the practice field.

“He wants to be here. He loves Denver. But he also understands the NFL is a business,” Renck said.

Ward, who signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with the Broncos in 2014, enters the last year of his contract in 2017.

So, a cut freeing up some salary space coupled with a pair of young safeties — Justin Simmons and Will Parks — nipping at Ward’s heels, Renck said he could “rationalize” trading, if not outright cutting, the three-time Pro Bowler.

But removing Ward from top-flight Denver defense is one of those moves that “just not worth it,” Renck said.

“He’s not just a guy who starts at safety,” Renck said. “He is one of the guys who bring the edge, the attitude. He’s part of the reason they won a Super Bowl. The way that whole unit works together as four guys.”

Among those echoing Renck’s sentiment was linebacker Brandon Marshall, who tweeted on Tuesday night:

We better not trade the homie

— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshh54) August 30, 2017

Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey also chimed in, tweeting:

Hoping the trade rumors surrounding TJ Ward are “Fake News”. But if not…Don’t do it!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ewjwLjBz0u

— Ed McCaffrey (@87ed) August 29, 2017

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.