The Peyton Manning sweepstakes came to an end Monday when the free agent quarterback informed the NFL teams pursuing him that he intended to sign with the Denver Broncos.
That was the fun part. While it’s not like the hype is about to die down, the discussion can now turn to the performance Manning can give for one team rather than several, and what the Broncos can expect from the $96 million, five-year contract they doled out for the former Colt. NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks sees an offensive system that will be entirely tailored to Manning’s strengths, and a young receiving corps that can only benefit from his experience. More importantly, Manning’s considerable ability to work in a no-huddle offense will be more potent than ever in Denver’s high-altitude environment. “Opponents routinely wilt under the challenging conditions of the Rocky Mountains; the no-huddle will only exacerbate the difficulties of playing in thin air,” he writes. “With defenders playing at a rapid pace without the opportunity to get an occasional breather on the sideline, the Broncos will eventually wear down their opponents.” ESPN’s Bill Williamson also anticipates a quick learning curve for Manning, and sports analytic firm numberFire predicts his numbers will be comparable to his last few healthy years in Indianapolis, assuming his neck is back to normal. The only sure bet is that Denver’s accounting team will be a lot busier: ticket demand for the Broncos home games jumped up a reported 25%, preceding an inevitable merchandising boost.
The Titans lost their bid to bring Manning back to the state where he played in college for the University of Tennessee.
John Elway said at the news conference that current Broncos starting QB Tim Tebow took the news of Manning’s decision to play at Denver with class. As AP explained:
Broncos executive John Elway says Tim Tebow was disappointed but very positive when they talked about Denver’s plans to sign Peyton Manning.
Speaking Tuesday at a news conference to introduce the 11-time Pro Bowl selection as the newest Bronco, Elway said Tebow’s response was typical of the exciting young quarterback.
Elway said Tebow was “very positive. He’s like, ‘We’re talking about Peyton Manning. I understand what you’re doing.’”
Tebow turned Denver around last season but misfired on passes and was often more effective as a runner. Manning is one the best QBs in league history and won a Super Bowl in 2007.
Elway didn’t say exactly what will happen to Tebow but, “It would be our goal for us to get (Tebow) in the best situation possible.”
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