Peyton Manning picks Broncos

ESPN ^ | March 19, 2012 | Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter

[Hojczyk]

Peyton Manning will become the next quarterback of the Denver Broncos, barring a snag during intensified contract negotiations that have commenced under the instruction of the four-time MVP to his agent Tom Condon, according to multiple sources.

Once the Manning deal becomes official, Denver will try to trade Tim Tebow, according to sources.

A contract between the two sides is expected to be a formality. Elway and Manning first discussed the parameters of a five-year, $95 million contract during their March 9 meeting in Denver, the first time the quarterback visited a team during his free agency.

Elway then told Manning during the Friday, March 16 trip to Durham, N.C. -- where the quarterback has done the majority of his training -- that he wanted to finalize a contract "fair to both sides." Neither side expects any hangups.

However, details such as guaranteed money, structure of the deal and contract language designed to protect the Broncos in the event of Manning's inability to perform due to his prior neck surgeries all will be addressed in the contract, sources said.

[StAnDeliver]

Jacksonville would be great, Titans would be better. He would languish in Miami.

[Steamburg]

Sometimes Surely’s law prevails. Surely they may well deserve each other.

[gdani]

Cleveland should consider trading from him as well.

As a Browns fan, I hope they stay away. Unless Tebow wants to switch to RB.

[Mom MD]

As a bronco fan from the days of Floyd Little this is one of the saddest days of this franchise

[Past Your Eyes]

And possibly in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

[Kazan]

As an Eagles fan, I love to see him come in as a backup under Andy Reid. If Andy can make AJ Feeley and Kevin Kolb look like quality quarterbacks, he might be able to turn Tebow into an all-pro.

[DaveyB]

Really dumb PR move!!!! Tebow is a fan favorite, he has potential and character that inspires his teammates and fans. TO get rid of him for a has-ben soon to be fully retired COLT is a HUGE mistake. Ten years from now when the Broncos tickets are no longer sold out you can point to this moment when Elway and the Broncos sold out character and misread the fans for an a QB that will wear a Colts jersey, not a broncos, when is inducted to the hall of fame. Short term thinking, long term disaster.

At least Elway will not have to face his own moral short comings every day he comes to work and sees a man with character and morals that Elway never had. Wonder if Janet, John's ex, admires Tebow for his character more than she does John for his moral failures.

[gdani]

As an Eagles fan, I love to see him come in as a backup under Andy Reid

I wonder if Tebow will land as a starter anywhere?

[Mom MD]

Ding ding! You nailed the real reason Elway wants to ditch Tebow as soon as possible......

[GonzoGOP]

Really dumb PR move!!!!

And if manning wins nobody will care. Now if he gets knocked out in the first game of the year it will be a constant subject of second guessing.

In that same logic Green Bay trading Brett Farve was a PR mistake because he had a cult like following in that city. Until Aaron Rodgers showed he could put wins on the board just as well. Then nobody remembered him any more.

[DustyMoment]

Once the Manning deal becomes official, Denver will try to trade Tim Tebow, according to sources.

I don't have a dog in this fight one way or the other, but I think that Denver will rue the day. Manning only has a couple of years in him (with his current physical problems) at best and Tebow has pretty much his entire career ahead of him.

[kevkrom]

The Redskins have ruined two franchise QBs in recent years (Ramsey and Gamble) simply by never having any semblence of protection in front of them

That's half the problem. The other half is changing the offensive system more often than most linemen change their underwear.

[JCBreckenridge]

I can’t be more thrilled.

Denver has had:

Jay Cutler
Kyle Orton
Tim Tebow

and now Peyton Manning. Imagine if they had stuck with Cutler? ;)

[JustSayNoToNannies]

It's only "sources" saying they'll trade Tebow. Whatever Elway's feelings, he's not going to leave no proven capable backup behind a fragile aging Manning.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

:: Peyton will be back in the hospital by November. ::

Manning runs the risk of being in a motorized wheelchair by November.

[harpu]

"I think Manning is running a terrible risk of being badly and permanently injured." AND, you know this how?

Manning is not stupid nor do I think he's being financially forced into making this decision.

[Moonman62]

Really dumb PR move!!!! Tebow is a fan favorite, he has potential and character that inspires his teammates and fans.

Darn right!

Any team that wants to go to the Superbowl with Tebow will have to take a big risk and make a huge commitment to build the team around him. Denver obviously didn't want to do that.

But it's worth it. Tebow has pluses that most people willingly ignore.

[Ros42]

"As a bronco fan from the days of Floyd Little this is one of the saddest days of this franchise"

I couldn't agree with you more.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Can the offensive line protect the Old Guy?

What kind of receivers you got?

[markman46]

the bronc’s have to play the chargers and raiders twice!!! manning out by oct.