If former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning signed with the Denver Broncos, the team would have to un-retire Frank Tripucka‘s former number, or Manning would have to pick a new number.  But will that even happen?
According to several sources, including ESPN‘s Adam Schefter and MaxDenver.com’s Andrew Mason, there is a real possibility that Manning could land in Denver.  Per PFT’s Mike Florio:
Mike Klis of the Denver Post has reported that the Broncos will explore the possibility of signing quarterback Peyton Manning.
There’s a buzz in league circles much stronger than that.
One league source told PFT in response to the Klis report that there’s a belief the Broncos quietly have positioned themselves to make a significant push to land Manning.
With Denver’s up and coming defense and rising receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, Manning might be drawn to a team in a weak AFC West division. Â And if Manning signed, several other of Denver’s offensive free agents — including receiver Eddie Royal and tight end Daniel Fells — would be more inclined to stay in Denver.
The question would be, what would become of quarterback Tim Tebow?  Might the team trade him, or change his position?  Perhaps Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy would use him in special packages, or suggest learning behind Manning for a few years.  At any rate, the move of benching Tebow might cause an outcry among the fans in Denver.
Is that something that Denver’s front office is willing to risk? Â In return for instantly becoming a Super Bowl contender, probably.
When Adam Schefter speaks, we listen. And he has spoken:
On Tuesday afternoon, news broke that the Indianapolis Colts would be releasing quarterback Peyton Manning on Wednesday. Of course, the news wasn’t really “Breaking news” because everybody knew that the Colts would part ways with Manning before having to pay him the $28 million they owed him if he was still on the team on March 7th.
So today, the Colts made it official and held a press conference announcing that Manning will no longer play in Indianapolis. Now — or more accurately, starting last night — speculations as to where Manning will land have been piling up.
The Denver Post‘s Mike Klis chimed in on Tuesday evening with this nugget in the Post‘s First-and-Orange blog:
“The Broncos will not be in the bidding (for Peyton Manning), although where Manning lands will create a domino affect that could affect which free-agent quarterback Denver does sign to back up Tim Tebow,” wrote Klis.
Well, that settles that. Or does it? Click here to read the rest of this entry »
Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Last week’s winner after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »
Note: BroncoTalk is doing a fan-interactive mock draft! Get involved! Email Mr. East at east@broncotalk.net. We need thirteen more G.M.’s! More info here!
"Now in position meetings, were there incentive programs where a guy got $10 for an interception or a sack or a big hit — which is different from a bounty of trying to hurt someone," said John Lynch on Monday. "Yes, that went on. But that's different from saying you want to hurt someone."
- Yesterday, we noted that bounty programs are used across the NFL and suggested that the Broncos themselves may have even operated one. Â [BroncoTalk]
- Coach John Fox told the Denver Post’s Mike Klis that the team has never used a bounty program to intentionally hurt other players. (Disclaimer note: Klis has not been on the money in recent weeks.  Take anything he reports with a grain of salt.)  [Denver Post]
- Andrew Mason writes that the Broncos will continue to use franchise tags in the future due to the new collective bargaining agreement.  [Max Denver]
- Quarterback Tim Tebow‘s #15 Broncos’ jersey is currently the second-best selling jersey in the NFL. Â [Shutdown Corner]
- On Friday, Robert Ayers went to Cherry Creek High School’s pep assembly to help cap off the school’s Wish Week. Â [DenverBroncos.com]
Matt Prater and Britton Colquitt in 2010 (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Confirming an earlier report, the Denver Broncos placed their franchise tag on kicker Matt Prater today, extending the would-be free agent’s contract through 2012.
“He is a very talented kicker and an important part of our team,†Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway said in a statement. “This gives us the ability to continue working on a long-term agreement with Matt.”
A long-term deal isn’t a bad idea; Prater has excelled in his six years with the Broncos. He currently ranks second in team history in field goal percentage (80.4% / 90-of-112), just behind franchise leader Jason Elam (80.6% / 395-of-490).
But most impressive is Prater’s clutch play. In 2011, he made four game-winning field goals and connected on 30-of-30 extra-point attempts. He owns the NFL’s best field goal percentage from 50 or more yards since 1970 (75.0% / 12-of-16) and has converted on 28-of-29 (.966) career field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime.
The Broncos rewarded Prater’s production with a top-dollar contract — a one-year deal that averages the salaries of the NFL’s top five kickers. Now they need to reward him with a deal that will keep him in Denver long-term.
The New Orleans Saints and their former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, have come under intense scrutiny over the past few days for running a bounty system with their defensive players. The system operates as follows: make a big defensive play (i.e. knock somebody out) and you get rewarded with cash by your coaches and/or teammates.
The media — and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell — have come across as being shocked and horrified at the news of bounties operating in the NFL, but in reality, such operations are a part of the NFL and have been for a long, long time. We at BT do not condone NFL bounties which go against the league’s rules, but we also do not deny that they have been apart of the game and nearly all thirty-two teams probably operate, or at one time operated, bounty systems. Click here to read the rest of this entry »
The Broncos had until Monday to reach a new contract with kicker Matt Prater, or slap him with a franchise tag. According to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, the tag will come today.
The tag is a one-year deal worth $2.6 million and prevents Prater from being able to sign elsewhere in free agency while freeing the Broncos from a big money, long-term deal. Prater is now likely to receive his big contract next off-season.
Prater’s right leg was responsible for several of Denver’s victories last season, as the twenty-seven year old veteran went 19-of-25 on field goals with a long of 59 yards. Also handling the kickoff duties, Prater had the highest touch-back percentage among kickers last season, with only 19-of-his-69 kickoffs being returned.
It’s great that Prater will now be under contract for at least this season. Mr. Clutch will have plenty more opportunities to be clutch again in 2012.
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Published on Wed Mar 07 20:08. 12 Comments |
Tagged: Adam Schefter, Andrew Mason, Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos, Eddie Royal, Eric Decker, Frank Tripucka, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow.