The glow of the playoff win over the Steelers has now faded. While the impact of that win has not decreased, it is time for the Broncos to turn the page to the 2012 season.
Free agency will begin soon. It won’t be long before the draft is here. The Broncos have plenty of decisions to make as they look to improve their roster.
This week, my colleagues at DenverBroncos.com are starting a series of previews on the top prospects at each position. They’ll break down many of the players who will be available in the NFL draft
I’ll be supplementing their work with thoughts about each position and many of the players whom the Broncos are evaluating.
As free agency gets going, I’ll also have thoughts on any moves the Broncos make.
So let the offseason get started. As it does, I share a handful of big-picture thoughts on the Broncos’ offseason.
1 – THE BRONCOS HAVE TO CONSIDER EVERY OPTION AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE THE TEAM. This is simply life in the NFL. Teams look to replace players on their rosters with more talented players. It’s not personal. It’s not even fair in many cases. But it’s the way it is.
Thus, the Broncos have to look at every option to get better at every position possible. This, of course, includes the quarterback position. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss this more specifically as the offseason goes along.
For now, I’m not advocating the Broncos do or not do anything with the quarterback position or any other position. I’m simply saying I believe they should keep every option on the table as they embark on the process of building the roster for the 2012 season.
2 – THE BRONCOS HAVE TO BE FEARLESS IN THEIR DECISIONS. There is a huge difference between fearless and rash. There is a huge difference between fearless and desperate. The Broncos don’t need to be rash or desperate in the decisions they have before them.
They don’t need to be afraid to make the tough decisions. As Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe told us on 850 KOA as last season was ending, sometimes the hardest decisions are not popular. I’m not saying John Elway, Brian Xanders, and John Fox and his staff should look to make decisions that will be unpopular. That is crazy.
At the same time, they shouldn’t shrink from making what they believe to be the best decision in any given situation because they are afraid people will disagree with them. I am encouraged because I think the Broncos have people with the courage to make the decisions they think are the absolute best for the organization.
This, of course, doesn’t mean every decision will turn out to be correct. But give me a measured, fearless approach and I’ll take my chances with the rest.
3 – WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS OFFSEASON IS PART OF THE PROCESS. While we all know there is no patience in the NFL. Nonetheless, I have to continually remind myself that there are rarely quick fixes for teams that were where the Broncos were a year ago.
The Broncos took some big-time steps in 2011. But they’re not back to the elite level. That usually takes some time. This offseason is a big part of the continuing the process.
Here we go. It’s time to make some moves. It’s time to talk about reshaping the roster.
What are you hoping the Broncos will be able to get done? Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Best,
Mike
oldsouthstander, not right basing a decision comparing your injury to Mannings. I guessing you weremany years older than he, had a different injury, you probably were no where near in as good of physical condition as an NFL player and you didn’t have the best doctor’s in the world working on you. I’m not saying that his nerves will recover 100% , but I would suggest he has the best of everything to give him a better chance that the average citizen. Comparing apples and oranges , both fruits but very different from each other.
I like Tebow, I detest the hoopla and distorted fans that came along with him. I’d rather see him and his gator fan base leave for a place more suited for them like Jacksonville. They are bias in their view of anything and everything to do with Tebow. They see only what they want to see and if they don’t see what they want they just make it up and believe it’s the truth. It’s everyone elses fault but Tebows. They make me sick. I hope my mind never gets twisted like theirs and I start spewing garbage like the stuff they pedal here. The sooner he’s gone , the better for Bronco fans. Maybe better for him and his fanatical fan base too.
Get Manning now, heck, I’d even take Brian Griese! Make it go away.
imready like your no different? Your so set that im just a Tebow fan and so set on what you think that you dont face facts that have been laid before you.
By the way imready IM A BRONCO FAN FIRST Tebow second.
OT, I do get your meaning. I`ll say this in that it doesn`t matter one iota of what Tim Tebow does great, good, or bad, the media, Commontators, and analysts just want to see him fail. And they want to see TT fail miserably, like flat on his face. Its really sad that they are that sickening, they really are sick.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82788486/article/broncos-cards-reportedly-take-opposite-approaches-to-manning
“Free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning’s visits to Denver and Arizona couldn’t have been more different, with the Broncos taking a low-key approach Friday that impressed Manning and the Cardinals rolling out the proverbial red carpet on Sunday, according to The Denver Post, citing mutiple sources.”
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82788486/article/broncos-cards-reportedly-take-opposite-approaches-to-manning
Oops. You beat me to it, Alaskan.
Lol. I just happened to load NFL.com right when it was published lol.
Well, here’s the DP article that the NFL article was derived from:
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20152563/peyton-manning-nearing-decision-is-impressed-broncos-sources
I like the Denver Posts article better, straight to the point and no malarky. I like the sound of the Denver Broncos have more cap space than Arizona and Miami. For sure!
Part of me hopes that Manning is signed for a small cap hit. BUT i dont want to see it be the end of Tebow. He has at least earned the right to be in a Broncos uniform. He had a lot of bad last year, but he showed what he can do. He wants to learn and play. I remember the SD game where he came in the second half. The whole team looked dead while Orton was in. The fans to. Tebow came in and there was life in the team and the fans. We lost that game but he showed that he can excite the crowd and bring life to the team and he did that till the final seconds of the AFC divisional loss to the Pats.
Denver FO whatever you do ill back you i may question some things but will back the team. The organization made my grandpa happy and has made me happy. I have always dreamed of playing in Denver that now being an even longer shot i will support you as i have for the past 14 years till i die. Im also glad that my grandpa got to see Denver win the SB before he passed on.
If we do trade Tebow i hope we get a really good deal.
From the time Elway first came to Denver until now he has been magnificent .If we get Peyton signed it costs us in cap room not the all important draft picks,in that regard he is free.Like a lot of people I am curious to see how much TT can improve in one year;probably a lot but that would still be at a very low level at QB,I will be very disappointed if we don’t land #18.I think we all agree the number one priority in the draft is to get a run stuffing DT then CB and MLB.
Hopefully we could get him with more money in bonuses than cap. We could use that cap to get other FA help.
If we do trade Tebow to either Miami or Jax i would love to get their round 1 pick this year. Plus a few other picks possibly another second and a pick next year and a later round pick.
We get either of their first picks we could grab Poe or Kirkpatrick. Poe preferably.
Mark my words. If Tebow goes, you’ll all be crying in your Wheaties a year or two from now.
If they sign Manning I will be livid. Not only are you blowing a large sum of money on a guy who has little time left (heck, there’s no guarantee that he’ll make it though the season if he gets hit wrong!), but you’re also finding an excuse to trade Tebow just because he doesn’t fit your picture of an ideal quarterback. The guy will do anything you tell him to; if you’d actually have faith maybe you’d be surprised by how good he can be. I’d rather keep Tebow and spend the money more wisely in other areas (you know, where there’s a major need and proven, young players on the market. Mario Williams, anyone?). Seriously, Tebow just led the team to its first playoff win in years and you’re going to pull this one? I’m not sure I could be a Broncos fan after that.
Maniac if you have read my posts you know i want to bring in Super Mario. Im not opposed to signing Manning IF that a huge IF we can get him for a small cap hit and pay him with bonuses.
But wanting and trying to get rid of Tebow just cause he isnt what they want is kind of a bad move.
BUT if we can get a deal with multiple picks not late rounds either but round 1 and 2s. It would be worth it.
Think about how the Giants generate pressure. More than two pass rushers that a team would normally like to double team. We have Doom and Miller, Williams would be that third guy. Plus he could hold his own against the run. Get a defense that can consistently hold the other team to low point totals, and the concerns about Tebow’s play style go away.
Williams and Soliai. 360 pounds of Soliai in the middle and Williams speed and strength added to Doom and Miller would be very VERY hard to stop.
I want Broderick Bunkley, Marcus Thomas, Mario Haggan, Wesley Woodyard, Britt Colquitt, Daniel Fells and Eddie Royal all re-signed for the upcoming season and beyond.
Honestly I’m with you imready, I’m a broncos fan, Tebow just happens to be our qb right now, if we can upgrade with Manning for three years I say do it. We have 50 million in cap space, get Manning get Solai, get Carr, get Mario Williams, get Wayne and Clark, and maybe even Saturday and we’re set we will be back in the playoffs. Think about it, what is Peyton Manning and the Colts known for? They take early lead then unleash hell with pass rushers we have that in Denver I say lets do it. I do not want to see Tebow leave because he shows promise but he is not ready to get us to the Super Bowl and Manning is.
I also do not believe that Tebows style and our defense mesh up well, we have pass rushers but what good is that if the other team is just running it down your throat because you do not have a lead to play with. If Manning does not sign up with us then we need to get DTs to stop the run and a DE to stop the run, just the way it is.
How many SuperBowls has the amazing P Manning won? That would be 1, and it was against REX GROSSMAN. The dude is like 9-10 in the playoffs.. and it took him 5 tries to win his first playoff game… Now also you “experts” (the same experts that thought Orton gave us the best chance to win) want us to roll out a 36 yr old dude that had 4 neck operations and no game action in over a year.. Anybody that doesn’t think Tebow can improve is an idiot (that means you elway)… Any QB with half a brain plus heart improves over time… DID YOU WATCH ALEX SMITH? Our receivers stunk… Our play calls were terrible… With 2 receivers running deep with the rest pass blocking…. Does anyone remember how Tebow looked when he had Gaffney, Lloyd, and Buckhaulter? You are all sheeple.. Elway is the pied piper and you guys are the sheeple blindly following this pompous womanizing so called VP? You don’t deserve a person of the quality of Tebow in your city. The lack of loyalty is sickening… Man when I watched the Game Winning drive against the JETS it brought tears to my eyes.. It made me feel like a kid again… All the comebacks after suffering thru the Orton madness (I can’t believe Orton got more respect from all you fairweather fans than Tebow). Tebow has more heart and desire than any QB I have ever watched…. & when he lands on a team with enough GUTS to man up and give him the coaches and weapons he needs… Then it will be game on…. Any VP with half a brain would have known to hire Mike Shula as a qb coach for TIM… To see carolina hire him for CAM Newton made me sick… The Broncos have done absolutely nothing to help Tim and that makes me sick. Elway tried so hard to throw him under the bus it was disgusting. First all the b/s 4th string rumors…. Allowing Orton to stick around, and then dumping Brandon Lloyd….. Does anyone here remember Elway’s face during the JETS GAME? Well I remember and I will never forget… I am over you ELWAY!!! Your done…….. This move will go down as the dumbest move in team history…. And can you tell all your former ex-teammates to stop bashing Tebow….. Heck I listen to 850 to get away from BIG AL (the fan) and they bash Tebow worse than the Raiders do.. You get what you deserve… And to treat a kid like this will bring bad times to the donkeys…. I will personally enjoy every minute of it… I am done ELWAY.. You were a terrible husband, and your a terrible VP…
Manning = Marino.. Lots of hype…. No substance… If he is so great, why did he choke year after year after year in the playoffs? He couldn’t win the big one in college, and hasn’t won the big in the Pros (I refuse to count any win against REX GROSSMAN). Anyone who thinks this is a good deal is a fool…. Yes I said it… A fool…… We played in two playoff games this season with Fox/McCoy calling games like scared school girls….. I hope this deal gets done now… I want Tebow in J-ville, and I will LOL when Tebow’s in the AFC championship game, and Elway is having to handle the media crushing after a 6-10 season…
Saw this on NFLNs bottom line. Tebows trade value is 2 first round pick two 2nds and a 4th apparently according to sources for teams interested in him if he hits the trade block. Browns Jags Miami and the Seachickens are all supposedly interested according to sources close to the teams.
If i can find something online about it i will post the link. I saw this on the NFLN bottom line.
You want to know how good Peyton Manning is? Look no further than this last year the colts were 10-6 and they won their division, this season 2-14 goes to show how bad that team really was but the guy was carrying them on his own. Manning does not equal Marino, Manning has a ring. As for Alex Smith he still isn’t that good just had him manage games big f’ing deal. Jets win was awesome I’ll give you that, but you can give as much credit to Von Miller for that w.
If thats the trade value, I say thanks for the playoffs Tim but those picks are worth more and we can get Manning and a rookie qb to mold.
PUM PUM PUM….
VON TEBOW FOOTBALL 2012… IT IS TILL IT ISN’T!!!
PUM PUM PUM….
Peyton’s team sucked without him, because he always had to be the highest paid QB… He is selfish… I would not want him, but like I have said over and over, I’ll cheer for him because he’d be a Bronco, and that’s what I do… sometimes fanatically!!!
PUM PUM PUM PEYTONS A BUM!!!
Thank you oldsouthstander for your explanation. It makes sense that you would be a bit skeptical about a 100% recovery.
I tend to believe in Tebow’s potential to become a uniquely effective NFL QB, but even I am having a hard time believing he’d bring that much on the trade market.
Well, I’ve had the entire weekend to digest the thought of Manning actually becoming a bronco. While I thought the idea was so far fetched at first, it seems more and more probable as the days wear on.
And while it freaks me out a little due to the huge risk of Peyton’s health, the potential reward is also huge as well.
I honestly don’t think that if Peyton couldn’t perform up to his own high standard of play, he wouldn’t. I think he’d rather hang them up rather than go out there and stink up the joint….or furthermore, risk an even worse injury. He knows his body, he knows his abilities and he knows if he can still play at this level.
And if he does sign with us, the next question is what to do with TT.
It would be great to keep him on and let him learn from PM. If there’s one thing PM knows how to do it’s throw the ball and read D’s………and to me, this is TT’s greatest weakness.
But will TT want to go back to be number 2 again? He prob feels he should be a starter so I’m not sure if the two could co-exist.
There’s also the fact that right now, TT’s trade value would be at its highest. So if JE doesn’t think he can be the franchise QB, then let him go and groom someone else during Mannings tenure. We could get a lot of great picks for him right now that can help our team down the road.
And armadillo………..back on here again bashing elway I see. There is noone that bleeds more orange and blue than elway and he wants only what’s best for this team to bring back another championship.
just hoping the whole PM things ends soon and we know where he ends up. If it’s not in Denver, then it’s time to move on.
You and me Kod … can’t wait for the PM thing to end. So over it right now. Was hoping it would be done by today thats why i took the weekend off. I hope he decides today.
Lets not forget people, we were all ready to ride with Tebow this year for better or for worse understanding that vet and or rookie QBs would be signed for competition. If manning is signed, there is not way Tebow goes into training camp the starter. They won’t waist the much needed reps Manning could be getting just to prove he is the better QB. All i know is if getting manning spells the end of Tebow, i’d rather ride with Tebow than take the risk with manning for a few years. The money spent may also impact signing our FAs amongst other pieces. Im down with the idea but not at the cost of tebow cuz if Manning goes down id rather we just continue as planned with tebow … not Weeden or any other 29yr old rookie QB. While i believe Brady Quinn sucked, i don’t beleive the browns did him any favors or gave him the best chance to succeed by playing him, benching him, playing him, benching him and repeat. This was supposed to be his first real off season and full time reps and he may once be duped. But i don’t blame the FO … after all … it is THE Peyton Mannning.
TRB
“Then again, if the Broncos sign Manning, chances are they will use up almost all of their free-agent budget, though the salary cap was announced Sunday at $120.6 million for 2012, a slight increase over a year ago.”
THIS, is what i don’t approve of.
TRB
What this does show though, is that Mr. Bowlen and EFX are reluctant to hand the keys over to TT.
KK, and maybe its my TT byass but they will live to regret it. Heck even walterfootball got us taking Brandon Weeden (29) wit the first round pick. Because they believe we are stupid enough to do so. Nothing like having a 36yr old starting QB with a 29 yr old QB as his back up. (Not that what walter football says will happen, will happen). I used to say efx likes the kid but maybe not. Starting ring true the statements that last year the goal was to put TT in so he could fail and they could get rid of tebowmania. Didn’t wanna believe it because they were willing to alter thier defense for him but at every turn they are lookng at QBs and trying to bring someone in, and saying vague things like training camp starter. Seems I might have been wrong about thier intentions. At least it looks like they might finally stop toying with him and trade him assuming we land manning that is … but if we don’t they wanna go back to him all honky dorry like i sure lol … sad.
TRB
Haha, and people were saying we weren’t going to have QQ this season. LOL!
I saw that too TRB… couldn’t believe it re: Weeden.
Seems like EFX are still in the win now mentality. Which is kind of funny because Tebow “won now” for them…
in my honest opinion, a PM at 70% is still better than a TT at 100% right now. In a few more years, I’m not sure of. No one is…………
Like I said………PM is high risk, and a lot of money…………but man, seriously think about it………..the reward could be HUGE! Or it could crash and burn……that’s what risk is all about.
I still do stand by my previous statement that if we land Manning, we trade Tebow, and draft or FA some young more traditional QBs to learn from Manning. That way it will be building the future meanwhile Tebow will go win games for some other team..but its ok because we’re planning for the future. Wish we’d establish our own identity instead of trying to mimmick everyone else, Patriots and now Indy.
The Bronocs have a chance to add an elite QB to thier roster. That is the prime motivation to sign Payton Manning. I don’t think it has anything to do with what they have expressed how they feel about Tebow. The only thing that they have misled anyone about was saying that Tebow will be the starter going into camp and up till Payton Manning became a free agent and potential Bronco QB, I believe they were completely sincere about that statement. They have always stated that they love the kid but he needs a lot of work to be the guy. Because Tebow may be evaluated as not physically or mentally able to be the guy doesn’t mean that the Broncos don’t wish he could. Hopefully , Manning will make his decision before free agency starts as was originally suggested. It certainly would be beneficial knowing where you stand going into tomorrow, though I don’t know that it would change much except possibly with the released ex-Colts.
All of a sudden, that 8th pick the Dolphins hold becomes intriguing should the Broncos sign Manning. Obviously Dolphins are looking for a QB, as Henne will hit the open market. Moore set to return, and some mocks have them taking Tannehill at #8. Tannehill has alot of potential but not many games under his belt.
They will pursue Manning and possibly Flynn, who would be re-united with Philbin. Now IF those scenarios don’t work out, would they pursue a trade for TT and give up that #9 slot?
This all riding on the signing of Manning of course.
A lot of people forget that TT isnt highly regarded amongst other PLAYERS in the NFL so that hurts our chances with Free Agents….most players when asked would want Manning over Tebow and that makes a difference in free agency. aTebo
If TT goes to another team, it had better be one with a great D cause if not, he won’t be winning too many games. Yes, we won games with him under center………but I don’t think he was the major reason for the wins……….I think the D deserved more credit for those victories. Yes, he made some critical plays at some critical times, but in my eyes that doesn’t excuse the horrible play I watched in the other plays. If he were as great as some of you make him out to be, he would’ve made plays earlier in games and never let it come to relying on the D to keep them in it.
Sorry to all you tebow fans……….call me a basher………I don’t really care…..it’s just my opinion. But to me, TT is not a very good QB.
Well, the more I think about this, the more frustrating it gets. I understand the Broncos brain trust wanting Peyton Manning, IF he is healthy and able to throw, but dang! From what I’m reading and hearing (and we all know you can’t believe a fourth of it) it sounds like the Broncos are willing to spend whatever it takes to get Peyton, and do whatever it takes to fill the holes on both sides of the ball, and get him surrounded by all the help he needs.
Funny that last year, they were trading away Tebow’s help, and he led the team to the playoffs in spite of it. Now they say they want to restock the team to help Peyton win, even though he’s supposed to be FAR superior to Tebow in skills and experience. I mean, seriously, no holes were plugged last year to help Tebow win, and he (and the team) won in spite of it.
Yes, I know they changed the offense, but they did that as much for their own benefit as Tebow’s, after they threw him in as the starter with hardly any first round reps or the star receivers that Orton had.
It’s just a mess and I hate it for Tebow, and now this goofball with Tampa SB Nation is saying the Jags don’t need or want Tebow. I’m thinking it might get a bit ugly, before it’s over with. Poor kid.
Just friggin’ trade Tebow already and get it done with!
RBF1 , certainly something to consider for Miami, that would get their fan base thinking more favorably about them and fill the seats. Florida loves T. Tebow.
I can’t help thinking how few teams have been able to build a team by adding a lot of players through free agency. Hopefully we will go for quality and not quantity, and pick up whatever else needs upgraded through the draft or maybe a trade or two. We have a great locker room, keeping that atitude has to be a major consideration when signing players. If we do end up with Manning you have to believe he has requested a player or two. Considering T. Dungy was their coach for a long time and the kind of person he is, that may be ok to do but who knows? The future is covered in mist at the present time.
Alaskan – let us know if you can find a link, b/c that sounds like an outrageous amount for Tebow..
Rbf1 – I agree that Miami is a more logical landing spot than Jacksonville, contrary to popular belief. Just last year the Jags moved up to get Gabbert, and I dont think they are looking to give up after just one season.. Plus, with new HC Mike Malarkey there, I see him as a more traditional guy, and I don’t see them changing gears there.. Miami has used the wildcat a lot in the past, doesn’t have a high draft invested in the QB position and could make sense IMO. I hope we don’t trade Tebow, and that all these reports are all just a bunch of media bull crap…