Yesterday, Peyton got some throwing reps in at the Denver facility. You getting used to how the blue and orange looks yet?
(Source: The Denver Post)
This is still just so bizarre.
Like something out of a dream.
Or a “What If?” comic book.
Or a Back II The Future movie.
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
If you squint really hard and tilt your head just right you can make out who the silhouette belongs to. Yup, that’s a Manning Face in there.
Peyton Manning has arrived at Bronco’s headquarters.
Thoughts On Peyton Manning, Jon Elway, and Denver’s Place Among The League’s Best Franchises
When the news broke that Peyton Manning will be the next Quarterback for the Denver Broncos, my first thought, being a Giants fan, was “glad he isn’t going to the Niners!” My next thought was that one year in, Jon Elway is pretty good at this GM thing.
Few GMs would have the balls to alienate a player as popular as Tim Tebow, but Elway played his hand perfectly. It was going to be difficult for Elway to find a true franchise QB as long as Tebow was in town. Luckily for Elway, an all time great hit the market and Elway never looked back.
The Denver Broncos now can enjoy the kind of stability that only a handful of teams in the NFL have: stability at the four most important positions in a franchise: Owner, GM, Coach, and Quarterback. In my opinion, there are only four franchises in the NFL with proven stability at these four positions: the Packers, Patriots, Giants and Steelers. If Peyton Manning can regain his old form, then Denver will join the aforementioned franchises as one of the NFL’s elite.
Some may think that I’m jumping the gun by anointing the Broncos as an elite franchise but over the last three years, Pat Bowlen has cemented his reputation as one of the league’s best owners. At the end of the 2010 season the Broncos were without a coach, GM, and no one knew what to make of Tim Tebow. Bowlen, the only remaining figure from Denver’s back to back Superbowls, then hired his franchise’s greatest player, Jon Elway, to be GM. Elway and Bowlen then hired one of the league’s best coaches in John Fox and now they’re acquired Peyton Manning.
The turnaround of the Broncos after the disastrous “McDaniels era” has been nothing short of amazing and it’s all because Bowlen is not too cheap or too proud to admit his mistakes. During the 2011 season, Bowlen was sending paychecks to three different coaches: Mike Shanahan, Josh McDaniels, and John Fox. Meanwhile in Cincinnati, Marvin Lewis has avoided the chopping block numerous times because Mike Brown is too cheap to pay a coach who isn’t working for him. But that’s the difference between a great owner like Bowlen, and an awful one like Brown.
While I can’t say enough about how Pat Bowlen has reinvented his franchise, all my praise is premature if Peyton Manning can’t deliver on the field. I believe he will be fully healthy. With that said, I expect Manning to have a great season behind Denver’s offensive line, which should be much better than what he played behind in his last few years in Indy. I like Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker as starting receivers and the Broncos should be able to acquire a slot receiver and tight end through the draft and free agency.
I really believe Manning chose the best situation to get him to a Superbowl this season. Many people would say the Niners were the best team pursuing Manning. This is correct. However, the NFC is much stronger than the AFC right now. Although having Manning at QB would have made San Francisco the favorites to win the NFC, they still would have to deal with the the last three Superbowl champs: the Giants, Packers, and Saints. Having to deal with the Steelers, Ravens, and Patriots won’t be easy either, but it is not quite the murderer’s row that the NFC has become. Manning made the right choice and the city of Denver should expect to contend for a Superbowl this coming season.
- Julien (Hot Wings and Beer)
Peyton Manning to sign with Broncos. Denver will look to trade
Jesus Christ SuperstarTim Tebow
Why, God?WHY?
WHY?
WHY?
“Trent Baalke laid low, he did the research, Jim Harbaugh threw with Peyton Manning. They didn’t get in the front pages. They know that they are the best answer for Peyton Manning. They know they have the best defense in the league to offer. They know they have the offensive weapons. They know they have Jim Harbaugh. They know all the pieces in place for Peyton Manning. It is the best opportunity for Peyton Manning. They knew it, and they waited for the wannabes to exhaust themselves, and then they came in right at the end, and that’s why I think they’ll probably land him at this point.
I know Peyton Manning is looking for a team to join now and win a division now and go to the Super Bowl now. That’s the San Francisco 49ers.”
- Steve Young
Per Schefter & Mortensen at the four-letter, details have come out that the San Francisco 49ers have snuck their way into the running for free agent QB Peyton Manning.
Details include:
- Peyton has already worked out for them at Duke.
- Niners were so impressed, that they flew their team physicians out immediately for tests and a physical.
- In light of the Niners interest, the Arizona Cardinals have been told that they should proceed as though Manning will not be available to them.
- Thus, the Cardinals have now tendered QB Kevin Kolb for $7 Million rather than release him to save the money.
- Officially 3 teams are now in the running: Niners, Tennessee Titans, & Denver Broncos.
- Broncos GM John Elway checked out Peyton throw today and liked what he saw.
- This might explain why the Niners have yet to re-sign veteran QB Alex Smith and maybe even why they signed WR Randy Moss.
What do you think of these new details and how do you think it all plays out?
