Tomorrow I hope Manning signs with the Titans and then none of the following will mean squat. Until he does here's more football food for thought. Personally I think Manning is a great QB and his Colts teams have great regular season records. But the fact remains that Manning is 9-10 in playoff appearances and 1-1 in Super Bowls.
If championships are one measuring stick of greatness then Manning falls short. He has been unable to seal the deal in the post season. Some won't like this but personally I'd rather have Eli. He's a better clutch QB than Peyton; he's got 2 and has played way better in the playoffs than he has.
If the whole reason for signing him is based on his ability to win a championship then Manning is no better than Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson or any of a number of other QB's who have just 1 SB ring. Maybe it's a bad comparison but it's statistically accurate. So it follows that winning a championship with Manning is no lock given his postseason play. What it also says is that football is a team game and sometimes it's the team carrying the QB and not the other way around.
So can Manning carry this team with this roster to a SB win? Can the Broncos get off to fast start with these suspensions looming. Here's a brief rundown on our current team:
The Broncos OL is still young and inexperienced and didn't do well in pass protection. Manning's release and decision making may be quick but if he's pressured endlessly can he be effective? Add to that the loss of Kuper at G and we have that position to address.
The Broncos at this moment don't have an experienced go to WR or TE. Thomas played well at the end of the season but I'm not sold on him as a super star yet. Decker caught some TD's in games but disappeared in others and both Thomas and Decker had far too many drops to be considered elite.
We have an aging journeyman at RB that probably doesn't have many miles left with no solid back up to replace him.
We signed Safety Mike Adams but can he elevate his game in Denver? We lost Dawkins today and Champ isn't the same cover Corner. With Dawkins gone even with the signing today the other Safety position is still a weak spot on D. We need a better CB opposite Champ and another solid Safety regardless.
DJ had a nice comeback season but is getting long in the tooth and Mays and Woodyard were inconsistent in too many games. So that leaves Von Miller as the only stud LB. Dumervil is the only DL that has been consistent and effective.
Some may disagree but Von and Dumervil are the only players of quality on our D. I've left out Champ because I saw him get beat to many times last season. Given these facts does it make sense then to sign a 36 year old QB with a bad neck and a bad postseason record and expect a championship with this team?
Given the weaknesses at almost every position with no depth at just as many why would anyone honestly believe that Manning is going to be a miracle man who can win a SB in the first, second or even the third year of megabucks contract? By then he'll be 40. It's possible but the odds are stacked heavily against him. Look back at the many great QB's who have changed teams late in their careers and you can't name many who win a championship.
So when it's all is said and done we're better off without him. Let Tebow have this season, if he tanks we deal with it in 2013. Today we should focus on getting help at other positions with the money saved by not breaking the bank to sign Manning. The Broncos could carry an improved Tebow to a championship who knows.
Please Peyton sign with the Titans or the Cardinals and all this spin and speculation can end. Then our team and the fans can get on with the retooling process.
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