Manning to Broncos

[Donoghus]

Let's not understate the impact of Peyton'sAFC familiarity and the idea of not having to play your brother in the playoffs with a Super Bowl berth at state had on this decision, either.

Also, the road to the Super Bowl is a easier one in the AFC than the NFC right now.

I can certainly see why Peyton made this decision.

[thestackshow]

A little suprised he didn't go to San Francisco.

San Francisco is a terrible city thats probably one reason. Absolutely no nightlife, weather is bad 95% of the time even in the summer, very small, lots of crime, just a cesspool of all that is bad.

Theres a reason why people only know San Francisco for the "golden gate bridge" its literally the only good thing about that place.

Ugh.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I beg to disagree on a few things. Moss, Manningham, Crabtree is WAY BETTER than Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. SF's receivers are not poor. Add Vernon Davis who's basically a receiver playing tight end. Delanie Walker too. Who else the Broncos has.

The O-Line is pretty close. Clady is a Pro Bowler but so is Joe Staley. Jonathan Goodwin is a former Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl Champion caliber Center.

The defense, NOT EVEN CLOSE! Von Miller, Elvis Dummervil and Champ Bailey (put in Brian Dawkins too) over Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Justin and Aldon Smith (who SHOULD HAVE BEEN the Defensive Rookie of the Year)? DaShon Goldson is a Pro Bowler at the secondary, and if and when they sign him Carlos Rogers. Denver has good defense, Niners have the fantastic defense.

And I haven't even included the special teams, who on average would give Peyton a sure fire good to great field position.

In the end maybe it was the money, SanFran maybe does not have that cap flexibility to give him 5 years/92 million. I also guessed it came down to Harbaugh. I believe HE WILL NOT let Peyton run his own offense in SF, that might be the big reason why he did not choose to go to the Bay. But if Peyton really wanted to win another SuperBowl, he's stupid for choosing Denver and not SF.

Yeah, the Niners probably have a much better receiving group, I'll give ya that. The offensive line we'll have to agree to disagree on. I watched a decent amount of both team's games and the Niners line was just not very good, any yards Gore got seemed to be self-manufactured, while the much worse group for Denver had a much better season. Just look at the YPC numbers - around 5 for Denver when the defense knew they were going to run every time, and 4.2 for San Fran. Big difference.

The Niners did have the better defense, of course, and it's only going to get better. But, the Broncos were a top 5-10 defense themselves and have some nice pieces. I'd take the San Fran defense every time, but both teams can point to defense as a selling point.

The coaching staff decision probably played a huge role, with Denver just being more comfortable for Manning. In the end, my point wasn't that Denver had a better (or even close to as good) supporting cast as San Fran, just that it's not completely ridiculous to pick the Broncos.

Broncos are a quality defensive team, and will probably be better after the draft and FA is over. They will almost def sign Saturday to an already very good O-Line. The thing about getting names like Peyton suddenly people want to play for you. Broncos will be better than the Niners next year almost assuredly..

I agree on the premise that Peyton would attract people. But I disagree that almost instantly the Broncos would be better than the Niners.

This team is Super Bowl bound if not for Kyle Williams. With a QB who can't hit 3rd downs. Now with better receivers, a solid running game and a great special teams play clearly SanFran is better. And a better option for Peyton if he wanted a contender.

I'll give you their O-line, and their good defense who New England dropped 6 TD's without a wide threat. And the money Peyton is going to make, there is no way Denver will be better right away. They did get better though by having Peyton alone. But not better than SanFran.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

A little suprised he didn't go to San Francisco.

San Francisco is a terrible city thats probably one reason. Absolutely no nightlife, weather is bad 95% of the time even in the summer, very small, lots of crime, just a cesspool of all that is bad.

Theres a reason why people only know San Francisco for the "golden gate bridge" its literally the only good thing about that place.

Ugh.

Weather is bad? Yes it does rain here a lot but we don't get negative degrees during winter and over 110 during the summer, I guess that's bad.

SanFran has areas of active petty crimes, but not the whole  city.

You should visit ATnT Park at night, especially after games. That is a spot for night life. The Wharf is a good place to hang out at night too. Unless we're talking until 2am bars, then you go somewhere downtown.

I guess that's a cesspool of bad for you.

I guess he did not want SF because he can't run his own offense here.

[Donoghus]

You guys might want to figure out the quotation button.

Right now, I'm having words attributed to me that I never said.

[KCattheStripe]

You guys might want to figure out the quotation button.

Right now, I'm having words attributed to me that I never said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22l1sf5JZD0

[snowball]

- Peyton Manning has never proven he can play well in cold outdoor weather,
spent entire career in dome team
- Peyton Manning has neck surgeries, could get knocked out quickly.

[Smokeeye123]

...Tebow to the Patriots? 

[bostonman1]

Definitely some things about this decision seems strange but obviously Manning spent lots of time going over it so he must feel comfortable.

Tennessee has rather mild winters, SF is more chilly/rainy and Denver can be frigid with snow. 

SF has a dominant defense and great RB.  Plus they just got Manningham and Moss.

Denver will probably trade Tebow now because that situation would be tough.  Even with a great Hall of Fame QB such as Manning this scenario could easily happen --- Manning struggles in a couple games especially when first coming back.  Tebow has such a strong and passionate fan base that it would be inevitable having them start calling for Manning to be benched.  It could potentially become a huge distraction so Tebow will be moved most likely.

Great quote from Bill Simmons though on this decision ---

Any time you can dump a QB with mystical powers for a 35 year old guy coming off 4 neck surgeries, you have to do it.

[KG_ended_Bias]

I think Manning made a huge mistake going to Denver. If not SF & get a superbowl appearance if not title, pick Tennessee which finished a respectable 9-7 almost making the playoffs. A team equipped with arguably the best RB in CJ2K & a dynamic young WR Kenny Britt. Rather than Denver with no significant offensive presence other than himself & a 1 game wonder in oft injured D. Thomas. McGahee was a product of Tebow's game last year & is close to being washed up, and he has no TE suited to do anything other than run block. Denver doesn't suit Peyton & he'll have to live with his failures which started with this decision.

[Eja117]

How long until EJA blames this on the liberal conspiracy to diminish Tim Tebow?  


Kidding!

This evil cannot be the work of mere men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc

[Eja117]

A little suprised he didn't go to San Francisco.

Me too. I had that or the Titans

[Eja117]

Ok let's see. Manning in in Denver.  So they want a 36 year old QB who had 4 neck surgeries last year. Now they went to the 2nd round of the playoffs last year with a QB who is about 25 and is Mr. Intangible and a huge winner everywhere he went and also the biggest draw in the game. But that's not considered very good I guess, so naturally the answer is to bring in a 36 year old QB with 4 neck surgeries. I will be laughing when they win less games next year and God smites them.

Now I don't see Tebow with the Pats because he has a 1rst round contract and he'd be a back up, not to mention Hoyer and Mallet are fine players.

So if he goes to Jacksonville that's fine, but then what happens to Blaine Gabbert?

I suppose he could go to Miami.

I'm not too concerned because he's going to be on the field. Pretty sure of it.

[RebusRankin]

Thomas, Decker are as good or better than Crabtree (yet to live up to the hype), Manningham (poor year last year) and Moss (washed up). Broncos can still add Mike Wallace which would be better than SF.

[Neurotic Guy]

Elway was sending ambiguous signals all year re: Tebow.  I am not a big Tebow fan, but I hope he does well for a long time just to see the faded smirk on Elway's face.  Not a fan of Elway since he manipulated the draft when he came out of college (like Eli). A supremely gifted athlete who decided that everyone had to play by his rules.