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
http://www.milehighreport.com/2012/3/21/2892381/broncos-catch-wr-andre-caldwell-bubbas-coming-to-denver
Looks like Cladwell is Royals replacement. Him and Stokley will fix our WR position with those we already have.
DEFENSE in the DRAFT.
CLARK and STOKE free agents.
Texan its all good.
Stokley and Caldwell with PM throwing will be good enough at WR with who we already have IMO
Go Gators!
Theres just not much out there, obviously DT and Decker are solid, but im sorry im just not sold on stokely, andre caldwell, or jason hill. they are WAY below average receivers. If something would happen (knock on wood) to DT or ED we would probably be considered to have the worst receiving core in the league
looks like Cladwell is a returner too..good pick up.
AB – Agree but would like Clark at TE too if he’s available and priced right.
Go BUFFS!
B4L – I agree but submit that Peyton has a way of making marginal receivers look really good!
B4L we also have some guys from the practice squad who have promise. PM throwing the ball makes any WR looks like a star. We just need D in the draft minus a RB. Jason Hill and Caldwell are good WRs Hill didnt have a good QB in Jax. Caldwell was good in the slot and solid hands. Stokley has done great for years plus he knows Manning offense and the Denver organization.
That was for Caldwell! He’s a Gator
Bring in the D! I am out all!
I know he was I looked it up earlier when we got him! But I’m a BUFF so I call it out!
True, Peyton has the ability to make below average receivers look good, but were looking for great honestly, We only have a three year window to make this work, I say we need one more star..I may be in the minority but thats okay.
Just look at last years draft we all expected the DT at 2, and EFX went with the difference maker in Von and I think we can all agree that was a great choice. In fact DT was a big need last year and they didnt draft one. I would not be surprised at all to see them take someone like wright or stephen hill at 25.
But dont get me wrong, I also am very aware that we are in a huge need of a DT and putting it off to later rounds is a big risk..Im torn!
Clark and/or Tamme. Saturday. Stokley. Gay over Porter cause Porter might be suspended for the bounties. McClain and Hayes. Okoye and/or Laws.
Those guys would help and we could fill in via the draft. Grabbing the LBs could add another draft pick were we could get a WR just not one early. 4th/5th round for a WR
why did TT have to go to the jets. The jets. Really? I hate them so much.
Now if we play the jets and tebow hurts us I will feel pain in at least 3 different ways.
AB – I think we are probably just fine in the WR dept.
I’m all in for drafting best D players available.
Make no mistake. Manning is going to make Decker and DT look amazingly good.
B4L I do agree we need another star WR but we can get one next year or the year after. I mean we have Manning on contract for 5 years.
Team is shaping up nicely, I think. I wish Tebow all the best with NY, and I think he is going to have a lot of success with them. I’m not sold on Hanie, but I think he will be fine. And he is a Colorado boy, so that makes me feel better. He looked good in the NFC Championship game a few years ago, so let’s hold off judgement. And to be fair, his WR corp was worse than ours last year. Hester is a return man, not a WR. Cutler made the Bears what they were last year, and when he went down Hanie inherited a team lacking talent at WR and Forte was on IR as well. He is only the back up, but I think if he had to be put into action he would do a lot better with our team than he did with the Bears.
I didn’t think about Porter and the bounty stuff….better wait and see on that.
should be interesting to see which bloggers disappear now that Tebow is gone.
I can think of one….LMAO right mikew07? LOL
Just cause hes under contract for 5 doesnt mean he will last that long! But dont get me wrong ill be happy either way we go, we cant go wrong either way! It honestly will probably just come down to whose on the board at 25, if all the DT’s they like in the first round are gone they will go somewhere else, I think our first round pick this year is going to be interesting
There are VERY few quality back up QB’s…..in reality if PM goes down…well, there is going to be a huge drop off. It’s Peyton FRICKIN MANNING!
Still can’t get over the fact that we have arguably the best QB in the game…AGAIN!
I think New Orleans is in for a long year.
Think I heard they investigated 20- 25 players.
Also, I dont think we should worry too much about porter, he is way better than gay and if he does get suspended i think its a max of like 4 games, hes only 25. It sounds like after watching countless replays and coverage(too much coverage) of all the saints stuff today, that the only player in real big trouble is Jonathon Vilma
I got all kinds of rambling I would like to do.
B4L – agree…never know. But I THINK Peyton will play for 5! His style of play will allow it…he moves in the pocket and doesn’t rely on running around.
B4L Manning expects to play 5 years. If he didnt he wouldnt have signed the contract for 5. I get the whole injury risk and im worried about that too. But him staying healthy means we have him for 5 years. Even if its 3 we can get a WR next year.
First, now that the Tebow era is over so soon for the broncos, I would like to sincerely thank Tebow for everything that he left of the field for us.
That was among the most exciting seasons of football I have ever seen.
BUCK – Unreal isn’t it? Coach = GONE GM = GONE… next is the players! They will play with a chip on their shoulders though.
however many years he plays, lets just hope he doesnt turn into brett favre when he turns 40 and weve got another circus on our hands hahaha
But I couldnt be more happy that hes a Denver Bronco!
Alex is gonna ramble!
Second, as much as I hate the jets, I am absolutely going to be following TT’s career, and it will hurt my heart so much if he ends up being some kind of great player for them, and if he helps them beat us a bunch in the next 10 years or so.
The investigated close to 30 D players for the Saints. Almost every starter. Which includes Porter. Depending on his involvement he could be suspended for anywhere between 2 games to the season. Vilma is going to get the max huge fine and season suspension IMO.
WOW…poor Brees, Huh? Great guy, great player…this year is a wash.
3rd, I loved Manning’s attitude in the PC. Compare this to favre. Favre delayed until the first preseason game.
Manning is talking about how much work he has to do to get ready for the off-season. If Favre can have his best season in his first year with a team that he joined just before the first preseason game, then I am sure Manning can find great success when he works his butt off all off-season to master the Offense and develop rapport with the receivers and O-line.
Did anyone else see Ryan Clady’s tweet when we signed PM. Our offense (and, for that matter our Defense) is really happy about this. We are going to have an inspired team this season.
AFC Championship or bust.
Vilma for sure but I think we all might be surprised with the length of suspensions. A whole year for the head coach! Yikes
Buck thats why im thinking same for Vilma and others. Why do you think Saints want a MLB so bad to replace him? Payton just new about it players participated. Its not a normal hammer coming down its a SLEDGE hammer!!!
Im gonna get some sleep! Goodnight All
my rambling is done. I hope it was fascinating
007 they may need more than a chip, maybe a grenade launcher.
Peace B4L
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d827c7f7e/article/saints-fans-speak-out-against-leagues-punishment-for-bounties
Saints fans are kinda being babies about it. IMO. This is just ridiculous.
Buck…yeah, with the suspensions coming, it may be the Falcons year for that division.
Watch out for the Buccs next year….Theyll be dangerous….
Okay. Not sure if this was posted. Been reading you guys comments for a year. Read your heated discussion about how Tebow was treated by Elway. Liked Tebow so watched the Broncos but not that interested any too much anymore but like Champ, Dakwins, DT and Von. This is from ESPN new york.
Tebow denied that he had final say in where he was going.
“Ultimately, I really didn’t have any because the Broncos had all that power,” Tebow said, adding that Denver was “gracious” in the way it handled the process. “I was just kind of watching and waiting — kind of like everybody else. It was an interesting day.”
Goodbye. Last Blog here.
Feel bad for Brees, and your right Bucs and Falcons looking good.