A career is a compilation of moments, most of them pretty normal and a few that, if you are lucky, stand out as incredible, remarkable, even extraordinary events.
Those are the kinds of moments that have you remembering where you were when the event took place.
I have been fortunate enough to be part of the two greatest single player acquisition press conferences in Denver Broncos history, almost 30 years removed from each other.
The other Bronco who was present at both is John Elway.
At the first one, back in 1983, he was the guest of honor as he joined the team by trade from the Baltimore Colts.
Since then a lot has happened, including the move of the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
And now, here we are in 2012, somewhat of a surreal moment as we watched Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway introduce his enormous and astonishing quarterback free agent signing—Peyton Manning, certain future Hall of Famer recently released by the Indianapolis franchise.
It can easily be argued that the four greatest moments in Broncos history are, in order: 1) the acquisition of John Elway, which set the stage for enormous success; 2) the win in Super Bowl XXXII; 3) the win in Super Bowl XXXIII; and 4) the acquisition of Peyton Manning, which again sets the stage for success.
At least, those four event would lead my list as the four greatest moments in the Broncos universe, and if one wonders why two of the greatest are player acquisitions rather than games, my response is that first you have to have a team. You have to have players, then you play. And when you have guys like Elway and Manning, you go into every game with a fighting chance, which is all you can ever hope for.
As the two stood there for pictures, with Manning holding his familiar number 18 jersey—in orange, as the Broncos return to orange as our primary home jersey color this year—it struck me that the two men represent 699 combined career regular-season touchdown passes. Elway retired with an even 300 and Manning comes into this season with 399.
John would be way to modest to acknowledge this, but in terms of accomplishment and celebrity at each end, the football executive and the football player, this might just stand as the biggest “get” of the greatest player by the greatest former player. I certainly cannot think of an NFL free agent acquisition ever, previously, made by someone who himself had the playing credentials of John Elway.
Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome signed Shannon Sharpe, and both were Hall of Famers — but both were tight ends. I would submit that quarterback trumps tight end. As great as those players were, the Elway-Manning signing wins out.
In fact, we believe there has never been a signed contract with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks on it, as this one has.
Many years ago Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told me, “I want to be number one in everything.” The statement was so strong to me that I used it to lead his bio, and never took it out of his bio in all the years I produced it.
The statement is just as true today, and it was shown once again in the hiring of Elway to run football operations—has Denver sports ever had two more competitive guys leading a franchise? Certainly, none that has produced back-to-back world championships, as they did in 1997 and 1998.
With Elway in place, could any other executive representing the Broncos have attracted Peyton Manning here?
And is there a more popular players’ coach than John Fox?
And a rhetorical question if ever there was one—is there a more livable city in America than Denver for a young family?
And standing above all is that Denver wants to win—it starts with Mr. B. and permeates like a laser throughout the organization.
It was the creation of a perfect storm of positive feeling in Denver, an atmosphere that proved just right to attract the quarterback who unquestionably is the greatest free agent in NFL history
This was a move with cosmic scope, and one that will alter the careers of individuals and the directions of franchises, as adjustments now must be made to the dynamic Denver move.
That day back in 1983 was different, because there just was not the technological media that exists now. But it was still big, and we did not try to hold it. We did the press conference at 10:30 p.m., and everybody came. The Denver Nuggets were playing a game that night, and the next day their PR director told me when the info starting filtering in about 8:30, the evacuation of press row was immediate and almost complete.
It was a different time and a different day for Peyton Manning, with 25 television camera, local and national, 21 local radio talk shows present in one way or another, along with Peter King of Sports Illustrated, the NFL Network, ESPN, and the largest and most successful football web site in the Rocky Mountain time zone, DenverBroncos.com.
It was streamed live, televised live, and produced hundreds of thousands of words, virtually instantaneously. Back in 1983, the Elway press conference literally happened just after the local TV news signed off, and considering the time change from east coast to mountain, there were people waking up the next day in New York unaware of the Elway signing and press conference.
But for all the differences created by technology and the passage of time that three decade inevitably bring, there is one thing about them that is absolutely the same—these were two of the greatest days in Broncos history.
Welcome to Denver, Peyton Manning.
Tags: John Elway, Peyton Manning
wow…….that was some interesting reads through the previous posts………TT was a polarizing figure while he was here and almost even more now that he’s gone.
IMO, TT is gone from the broncos for a couple of reasons. First off, he’s not the prototype both Fox and JE is looking for at QB. They want to run a more conventional pro-style offense and they don’t feel TT can give them that………regardless of the fact that the team made a run with him a QB last season. They prob just don’t see that type of O sustainable over time……….heck, teams had already caught on towards the end of the season.
And secondly……..this was never JE’s guy to begin with. This is someone that he inherited from the McD era…..and we know that if Elway was calling the shots at the time, TT would have never been a bronco to begin with. So he wants to put his own stamp on this organization and I’m sure he’s well prepared to take the heat of things don’t work out with PM.
But I can’t argue with his mentality in the fact that PM gives us a better chance to win than TT.
Wallace is def not worth that kind of money and pick at this point………..specially for us. We’ve got a couple of decent receivers in place and we need that kind of money for the D.
BroncoFreak, Wallace is not Larry Fitz, He is no Megatron, The best he is is a desean jackson. How about he get Desean Type money. Man, The ego of players is ridiculous. All about keeping up with the joneses.
Schneider I agree, Thats pure grade BS. Couldn’t have been health reasons if you are getting a guy like Manning too. We don’t need excuses. It is what it is. They liked him as a person but never wanted him as thier QB, they saw an opportunity to chuck him with minimal backlash and they did thereby putting thier own stamp on the team. Fair enough. Is what it is. But dont pee on my head and call it rain.
TRB
don’t forget that the media likes to speculate, make assumptions and post things that will grab attention. I never put too much into the the things that I read.
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Jacksonville offered to pay back Denver $3 million – vs. Jets $2.5 – for Tim Tebow. Plus, Jacksonville’s 4th-rd pick was more valuable.
We may have a tough schedule, but the rest of the AFC West plays the NFC South as well, and it’s all about winning our division and stamping our ticket to the tournament
Interesting, now Walterfootball believes we will draft RGIIs favorite target and Baylor WR Kendall Wright with our 25th pick if he is available. Still hoping for well …. Still lol. Or any other DT cuz we got a gaping hole.
TRB
Tebow chose NY, but he doesn’t want to publicly say he didn’t choose his home town team
once you are in the tournament, how u got in doesnt matter. Your record entering doesn’t matter. Its a new season. Tell that to the steelers last year and the Saints before who underestimated teams like the Broncos and Seahawks, respectively. Thats why when people say we backed into the playoffs i brush it off, we got our chance and we took advantage. TRB
* which is completely understandable IMO
I don’t think Tebow would flight out lie, don’t get me wrong, he is human but i don’t think he would lie. Watching on the news, it was said the reason it was jets over jags was the 6th round pick, essentially meaning denver traded up 40 spots from thier 7th round pick. Jags only offered a 4th. Besides, there was no commitment to Tebow in Jax, NY on the other hand was planning to have a package for him and he could get a chance to start (I believe he will be starting by Jets Bye week). We will never know but if TT said he aint choose, ill believe it, just cuz of the kinda guy he is. Most people question his skill but never his character.
TRB
flat out lie*
I agree Tebow would never lie, and he didn’t. He said ultimately Denver had the authority, which is true.. Shouldn’t have brought it up
Hey guys hate to be a downer and all but i feel like what the FO did to Tebow makes me ashamed. I feel dirty and cheap like i have been used by someone I love. We might have been picking Luck if Tebow didnt step up. I feel like Elway was the only person in the FO who could not stand to have Tebow around. He was looking for a reason to dump Tim since he got there. I loved Elway as a player before this hapened and now I almost cant stand him, he is a fake and a phony when it comes to anything he says for the team. “Tebow has earned the right to be the starter going into training camp” now i didnt expect him to start over Manning or anything but he could have at least kept him on the roster. Maybe i will start to get pumped for the season soon but not now its a real sore spot for me. Im not a Tebow fan Im a Broncos fan and have been for over 20years so to those of you who think its just another Tebow guy say what you will i dont care, the broncos srewed Tebow over. Now we have 0 back ups and a Manning that no one knows how he will do.
Just heard the Jets GM say that Sanchez is absolutely the starter, and Tebow will be the back up and come in on wild cat plays.. The boo birds were already out last year with Sanchez… I can’t wait! I hate the Jets, but I’ll be watching every game this season!
Arch – the NFL is a dirty business, this isn’t the boy scouts… Here’s an example, I just heard the Jets GM interviewed on the radio, and was asked about Drew Stanton.. Apparently the GM, who just signed Stanton, told him that he would be the back up if he signed, and they would NOT sign another QB… Well, fast forward a week or so, and they go out and sign TT….. How is that any different? It happen everyday in the NFL and the real world for that matter….
It’s not personal, it’s business.. No offense, but some people are way too sensitive IMO…….
arch……….I have to disagree with you totally.
First, if you read my earlier post, I feel that’s why they got rid of TT.
And secondly……….TT was a player under contract. The organization owes nothing to it’s players except the terms stated in that contract. He plays, he gets paid. I mean that’s what it all comes down to. And if the organization feels like it wants to move in another direction, then so be it. They have the right to trade the player. It’s not an emotional decision, it’s a business decision.
I really don’t see how people can say that the broncos screwed TT over. They decided they didn’t want him here, and got rid of him. Seems pretty cut and dry to me. Players get cut, traded or join other teams in FA all the time………..what makes this so differnet?
If Tebow could go to NY to be a back-up QB then why couldn’t he do that in Denver???
What’s done is done and I won’t cry over spilt milk at all! I think the Denver Broncos organization is in a GREAT place right now and moving forward!!!
HOWEVER, just because you have a STUD at QB does NOT mean you don’t need a GOOD back-up and if nothing else Tebow was a STUD off the bench, a really GOOD back-up, a guy to use in different packages, and an outstanding person!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
So by what you guys are saying if the Broncos had traded Rod Smith or even Steve Atwater for picks you would not have any feeling about it? I mean some player mean something to a team. Like when you think of the 2 SBs we won you think of TD, Elway, Sharp, our O-line who didnt talk to the media. I understand what you guys are saying but I mean come on.
OT, I just heard the samething bro, and I agree its a business. The jets already started drama in their club, I guess their GM is a Liar to rt lol. I feel for stanton, but hes going to be another BQ in my opion, noway the play stanton over TT.
It’s really silly to argue this move right IMO… If Tebow becomes some great QB and wins the Super Bowl, we made the wrong decision… If he never is able to get and keep a starting QB role, and decides his life is better served exploring other interests, then we made a good decision…. Until then, we just don’t know… End of story… Let’s let it go, and watch what happens….
Either way, moving on. I am excited that we have a little more ammunition in this draft. I see a lot of potential at defense and we all know we could use some more of that here. This draft is really deep at DT. I believe that we will trade up to draft a top notch CB and DT.
I would love to still get in free agency:
TE- Tamme or Clark
DL- Aaron Maybin (move to OLB for depth)
WR- Ted Ginn (slot or punt return)
OL- Jeff Saturday; Marcus McNeil to RT moving Orlando Franklin back to GD
RB – Get Michael Bush in here….
Miller – yep. They called the Jets out on the radio, and he basically admitted to lying to Stanton.. I’m over it..
Btw, not sure how I feel about us taking a WR with our first rounder, we gotta go D baby!
arch, Nobody wanted to play here with TT, besides the players we already have. Recievers want the hole passing tree not just the 3 routes they used last yr, ER for example, hes gone for that reason, he wants to play conventional football bro. And not saying all the FA, we wouldnt get anyone to come in and play. Tebow, couldnt stay his contract ends before mannings, he wouldnt have the oppurtunity to play. Plus, the tebow chants would never go away, I dont blame EFX for what they did. Really they did TT a favor, and got rid of him, instead of letting him sit.
it’s funny how this blog has gone from a complete standstill since the season ended with everyone debating draft picks to no end to the whirlwind that has taken over our organziation over the last couple weeks. It’s sure been a lot more interesting!
I’m interested to see what happens with the rest of the FA’s in question and then who we target in the draft. Like I said before…….I will reserve judgement until the final roster of 53 are announced.
so I heard on MIke& Mike Adam schefter say that Tebow wanted to go to the Jets over the Jags because the Jets promise to use him in a lot of different packages.
OT, I agree we need to sum up the D fosho. I dont think manning needs all those weapons, really need to stop the run, get off the field on 3rd down
the boo birds for sanchize will be out soon enough and the chants for TT will appear………..he’ll be the starter before season’s end.
DO, Im watching the same show.
KK, its already starting huh!, They signed and promised stanton they wouldnt get another QB, so much for trust and loyalty in the world.
Maybe the saints will cut Vilma, maybe we can snag him and he starts after his 6 game susp… I hope we do get Clark and i think that the vikes signed Ginn jr. not sure on that though. But I keep wondering why we havnt droped Goodman yet. He needs to go maybe get Porter and Gay to come in. And maybe Im silly but that kid we had last year harris i think his name was did a great job for us as a rookie.
don’t know much about stanton………..does he have potential? Maybe he should’ve been included in the trade for TT.
There is NO loyalty in the NFL.. In today’s world there is even less than there once was.. It will be VERY rare for a player in today’s world, with the salary cap, new CBA, etc. to play in the same uniform his whole career.. Those days are over.. Just look at Manning….
I would still like understand how the Bunkley trade was able to go down so far under the radar. The Manning Madness was probably a big part of it. I feel like Bunkley was a great FA pickup for us and that resigning him should’ve been done even before the whole Manning mess appeared.
To say Royal left because of Tebow is nothing but pure speculation.
Stanton was brought in before Tebow was available. When Tebow became available, things changed. Tebow was supposed to be the starter going into training camp. Peyton became available. Things changed. I personally believe they woulda found a way to chuck TT sooner than later but opportunities presented themselves and they went for it. I have always taking the FOs word in proffesional sports with a grain of salt anyway. The stanton situation is similar, difference is Stanton didn’t just ressurect his the jets, take em to the playoffs, win and then get tossed out (I know its debatable if TT did all that things to those who believe it was all D, all Kicker and DMT catching balls from himself)
The convo will rage on. But its all good we will move on. But don’t expect the dissapointing messages on TT to stop flowing in. Some guys aren’t on here as much as some others and haven’t had a chance to chime in so every now and again, someone will come in to say thier peace.
TRB
kk, Stanton played for detroit the last 4 or 5 yrs, hes from michigan st, 6’3, 27 yrs old, 220pds.
Yep, I would’ve liked to see Bunkley back as well.. But let’s be fair, he was basically viewed as a bust when we brought him in, and has since ballooned his value.. He got paid, good for him, showing no loyalty to the Broncos… It goes both ways.. I think we’ll find another guy or dare I say, DRAFT a DT??? Lol
This probably isn’t as funny to anyone else as it is to me. I actually performed a trade in my Madden franchise to acquire Manning from the Colts. I’m 3 games into the season with him and last night he takes a hard sack..and he breaks his collarbone and is out for 10 weeks..10 weeks! All I could think is what if that happens in real life but if it is his neck?!?
Lol Schneider, its both funny and NOT FUNNY AT ALL lol
TRB
Year Comp Att % YDS TD INT FUM F/LOST
1998 326 575 56.7 3739 26 28 3 1
1999 331 533 62.1 4135 28(2) 15 6 3
2000 357 571 62.5 4413 34(1) 15 5 2
2001 343 547 62.7 4131 30(4) 23 7 3
2002 392 591 66.3 4200 29(2) 19 6 2
2003 379 566 67.0 4267 29 10 6 1
2004 336 497 67.6 4557 49 10 5 1
2005 305 453 67.3 3747 28 10 5 2
2006 362 557 65.0 4397 35(4) 9 2 1
2007 337 515 65.4 4040 34(3) 14 6 1
2008 371 555 66.8 4002 28(1) 12 1 0
2009 393 571 68.8 4500 36 16 2 0
2010 450 679 66.3 4700 33 17 3 1
we don’t need another type of madden curse! lmao
Agreed TRB on Royal
He left because the Redskins gave him a contract that was very rich for a guy who had under 30 catches. $$ talks
Just to be clear, Hanie hasn’t actually signed with us correct? I’ve looked everywhere and all I see is that he came for a visit. I would much rather sign Volek or Dennis Dixon (my personal preference)
Totally had thesame feeling ARCH, of being used and dumped by my gf. And yes, I have a lot of respect for JE, because its pretty clear that all he wanted to do was to get rid of Timmy, and the kid couldnt do much about it. NO coach who believes in his QB would have gone for Manning if they believed in their right mind that Tebow could be the QB.
Elway just wanted to make the organization HIS, and couldnt stand all the Tebowmania. His ego was getting hurt bad, especially since people were comparing Tim to Elway.. Total clasless move by not believing in him, treated an angel like garbage.
Plus, many of us probably. visited a used car salesman… how many time did you get effed over?
This looks like a McDaniel move, although JE is nothing like McD since McD wass sent by the Pats to destroy our future, but still…
I will never believe that this was the right move for the Organization , whether Tebow excels or not in NYJ… but i will cheer the Broncos on cause I love my boys, but I will also cheer for Tim (if hes not against us) because I know he can prove alot.
GO BRONCOS GO TEBOW BOO JETS
p..s. I watched a lot of Youtube vids of our win vs PITT. and holy did that bring emotions back, I started crying although, not as much as when it was live and I was jumping around my house screaming crying tebowing praying God hahaha
Just to make sure Atwater… Royal went to SD
And new blog