Sanders happy with trade to 49ers: 'I needed a change of scenery'

Wideout Emmanuel Sanders says a trade from the 2-5 Denver Broncos to the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers this week was exactly what he needed to reinvigorate his passion for the game.

"It feels good to be here," Sanders said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "Obviously, I've got a lot of love for the Broncos. I spent six years there, won a Super Bowl there and I love that organization. But to be a 49er, it's like a new energy and new environment. It reminds me of when I left the (Pittsburgh) Steelers and went to the Broncos."

On Tuesday, Denver traded Sanders along with a fifth-round pick to the 49ers in exchange for third- and fourth-round selections.

"I needed a change of scenery, and it feels good to have a change of scenery," Sanders continued. "And what a great locker room the 49ers have here. I'm just trying to come in and bring even more positive energy and bring another spark to this offense."

Sanders said a conversation he had with Broncos president and general manager John Elway after Week 6 is what resulted in both sides agreeing it was the right time to part ways.

"I think we both decided that it was best for me to go," Sanders said. "You know, we got two more years left - or three more years left - of playing football, and I'm trying to win a championship, and obviously, we've got a young locker room over there (in Denver)."

Sanders, who's put up 367 yards and a pair of scores on 30 grabs this season, is expected to play against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8 and will look to boost San Francisco's 25th-ranked passing attack.

Making the transition easier, Sanders says 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme is 90% the same as the one offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello - who previously worked under Shanahan for two years - is using in Denver.

For his part, Shanahan's excited to have Sanders in the fold.

"Emmanuel has been a guy that I have personally wanted since probably the last eight years, since he became a free agent in Pittsburgh," the head coach said. "I was a huge fan of him coming out in the draft and everything he's done since. ... I'm pumped he's here."

Sanders, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, said happiness and winning will be his top priorities when deciding where to go.

Copyright (C) 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.