NFL Rumors: Trade Buzz on Joe Thomas, Brian Cushing and More

With Tuesday's NFL trade deadline looming, the rumors have been coming in fast and furious around the league. Struggling teams may have stars to unload, while contenders may be in the market to patch major areas of need. 

Let's take a look at some of the biggest rumors making the rounds. 

Joe Thomas and a Cleveland Browns Fire Sale?

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According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Browns have not only put star tackle Joe Thomas on the block, the team is also willing to move excellent center Alex Mack. Both players would be very intriguing targets for contending teams looking to bolster their offensive line. 

Plus, Mack has the freedom to opt out of his contract this offseason, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, making him a logical player to move if the Browns suspect he'll seek greener pastures after the season. Thomas might be a little bit trickier to move, given his age (30) and hefty contract, though teams that want to add a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle for the stretch run probably wouldn't mind taking on his contract.

But there's more. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the team is also willing to move young outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo. And Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on SportsCenter on Sunday morning that linebacker Paul Kruger is also on the block, per Cabot. 

The Browns dropped to 2-6 on Sunday and their playoff hopes are extinguished barring a remarkable turnaround down the stretch, so it wouldn't be shocking if the team decided to hold a fire sale. 

One thing might keep them from doing so, however. As Bud Shaw of Cleveland.com wrote before the team's loss to Arizona on Sunday, the Browns are facing the very real possibility of going 2-8 before their bye, with games against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to come.

That could make the Browns a pretty tough sell in December and their stadium a pretty empty one.

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At 2-8, we'll be on the lookout for the hearse that circled Browns headquarters in the final days of Butch Davis.

The Browns have been a tough December sell before. This December could make those sparse home crowds of the past look like the U2 360 Tour.

If the excitement over the Cavs' 2-1 start is an indicator, by December people will be busy staking out lawn chair spots for the June parade.

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The Browns may hesitate to sell off some of their best trade pieces if only because it would chase more fans away. At this point, however, it's hard to see what the team is playing for beyond pride and, of course, next year's draft.

Brian Cushing on the Block?

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Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported on Sunday that the struggling Houston Texans are willing to trade veteran linebacker Brian Cushing, "though his rapidly declining performance mitigates any serious return for him."

Ouch.

Cushing didn't seem too worried about any trade rumors, however.

“I’m not really in control of that,” he said after Houston's 20-6 win over Tennessee, per Brien Straw of CBS Houston. “I just go out there and play football so whatever happens, happens.”

He added, “I can’t control those things, I can only control the way I play and it’s going to be hard every single game, and relentless. As far as I know I’m a Texan, (pause) for now, so hope I continue to be a Texan. I haven’t heard anything.”

Cushing certainly played his best football on Sunday, notching 13 tackles. And the win propelled the Texans to 3-5 on the season, giving them hope in the pretty weak AFC South and perhaps making them unlikely to move a key defensive contributor. Plus, as Straw noted, teams will likely be wary of a player who has a history of knee injuries and has a huge cap hit going forward. 

So yes, it seems likely that Cushing will remain with Houston going forward.