EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh wants the NFL to take a hard look at how the Denver Broncos walked away from a deadline deal for linebacker Daiyan Henley.
The two AFC West rivals had agreed before the Nov. 10 trade deadline to send Henley to Denver for a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, with the deal subject to a physical. Late Wednesday, the Broncos announced the trade would not go through, without giving a reason.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Harbaugh said Denver tied its medical sign-off on Henley to whether Los Angeles would accept a smaller return, and the Chargers refused. He described a medical exam as something that should simply be passed or failed, not used as leverage to lower an agreed price, and said allowing it sets a poor precedent the league should address.
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz gave the same account. He said Denver still wanted Henley but asked to rework the terms after the exam, which the Chargers declined. Hortiz said nothing like it had happened in any of the trades he has made with the club and urged the league to consider shutting the door on the practice.
League rules allow clubs to renegotiate draft-pick compensation after the deadline when a physical raises an issue, provided no other players are added to the package. A knee problem put Henley on the Los Angeles injury list during Week 6, though he still played that week, and showed up again last week with a shoulder problem.
Harbaugh said Henley was back with the team late Wednesday and took part in Thursday’s walk-through. According to Hortiz, the team plans for Henley to be on the field in practice and in this week’s game.
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