Score one - a big - for John Elway and the Denver Broncos.
Although not being a favorite at the opening of Peyton Manning Free-agency process, burst into Denver and stole the future Hall of Famer, as news came Monday that Manning decided to play for the Broncos and instructed his agent to begin negotations with the team. That news left the Titans, 49ers and others as spectators disappointed.
Manning moving from Indianapolis to Denver Broncos could make the team to beat in the AFC West, assuming Manning returns to full health before the season. Its current level of conditioning was one of the mysteries going on in this long-term, with conflicting reports on how far along he is in his rehab, how comfortable it is releasing the ball and so on.
Denver, rightly, is ready to take the risk.
A franchise that was looking for an elite quarter since Elway retired Elway himself needed to seal the deal Manning. Elway and Broncos brass met Manning at Durham, NC, on Friday to discuss the future of Manning.
At the time of this meeting, there was widespread belief that the Tennessee Titans had beaten Manning in the main competition, thanks in part to a hefty contract offer.
But the Broncos have adapted Tennessee offers - many of Manning should be worth $ 90 million-plus over five seasons, according to a report by Mike Klis of The Denver Post - giving Elway an opportunity to fill. And just as he did so many times throughout his legendary career, Elway did just that.
Moving in Denver brings with it a host of obstacles to Manning: A weak receiving corps, the weather conditions and a deadly 2012 calendar (including Texans, Saints, Ravens and Patriots), just to name a few.
However, the Broncos have managed to steal the AFC West and exit the Steelers in the playoffs last year, despite their problems.
The largest of these question marks came at quarterback, where Tim Tebow stepped in and helped transform Denver's memorable 2011 season around. Tebow even threw a touchdown in OT triumph over Pittsburgh series and looked about to enter next season as the Broncos No. 1 QB.
The arrival of Manning obviously changes all that. Denver seems ready to try to trade Tebow - if someone has an interest in the imperfect but exciting quarterback.
Elway supported Tebow at the end of the year and early this offseason, but even before the parade Manning, the Broncos were in the market for a veteran quarterback to step in and push Tebow in training camp.
Instead, Manning will probably push the player popular city.
Where and when Tebow will face the problem of Denver for another day. Currently, the Broncos have the right to celebrate the arrival of Manning, given the unlikelihood that this scenario play out.
It may take several months to enter Manning playing shape, and now Denver has to go to work around his new franchise player with more talent, but there is little doubt that the Broncos will consider a threat in the AFC.
"Manning Watch" is over. "Tebow Watch" has just begun. AFC West and would rather just shifted decisively in favor of Denver.
Sourc: NFL
No comments:
Post a Comment