It was a no-brainer move for the NFL to push back the trading deadline two weeks. The league just didn't go far enough.
NFL trade tracker
Mike Thomas was the first player traded this week, going from the Jaguars to the Lions. See who else is on the move. **More ...**
Thursday's deadline -- pushed back an extra two days because of Superstorm Sandy -- came and went with only one big trade when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sent Aqib Talib to the New England Patriots. The only other deal came Wednesday, when an overpaid reserve receiver (Mike Thomas) was traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Detroit Lions.
Perhaps the trade speculation was higher this year than normal, with Tim Tebow, DeAngelo Williams, Steven Jackson, and Dwayne Bowe all getting talked about. But none of them were moved even though they potential trades made sense on paper.
"On paper" just doesn't translate in the NFL when it comes to trades, especially this early in the season. The reason: People are trying to keep their jobs.
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli is fighting for his career. Is it especially likely that his 1-6 team will fight back to playoff position? Of course not. But a respectable finish could go a long way in keeping him in power. So he's understandably wary of trading Bowe even if it makes sense for the future of the Chiefs.
Another factor here is compensatory picks. The Chiefs could expect a late third-round pick for Bowe if he leaves via free agency. So they aren't motivated to sell unless they get a great offer.
Debate: Will Talib benefit Patriots?
Will Aqib Talib prove to be a steal for the Patriots, or will this deadline deal blow up in their face? Our analysts debate. **More ...**
Still, compensatory picks doesn't explain why a guy like Williams wasn't dealt. He's very unlikely to be on the Carolina Panthers next year and they won't get anything in return if they cut him.
Teams are simply not willing to give up on a season after seven or eight games. There's a reason why Major League Baseball doesn't have their trade deadlines until well past their season's midpoint. Teams aren't ready to wave the white towel.
Moving the deadline back two weeks was a step in the right direction. Push it back another two or three weeks and we could actually have some fun.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
