Mile High City Not Above Petty Fans
They say the higher altitude makes for less oxygen and thus harder to breath sometimes for our sea level friends in for a visit. Apparently there is still plenty of air left for football fans to whine about everything and even stuff I wasn't sure was a category for complaints. While I completely agree this bold move by the Denver Broncos to sign Peyton Manning is a huge risk, it isn't worth the apoplectic fits flying around online and on the radio waves this fine day.
Yes, it is a lot of money. Yes, Manning has been injured a bunch, he is old, and he spent his best days of his youth beating the stuffing out of the Broncos. And yes, it certainly feels like the team is throwing Tim Tebow under an orange bus. However, if the future first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback has any ammo left in the chamber, and can stay healthy, Denver's NFL team just got a whole lot better.
Risk versus reward is something we decide everyday, and I don't mean just crossing a wildly busy street to secure a breakfast burrito. John Elway has one job and one mission at this point in his life and that is to field the best possible NFL team.
A number of fans have lost sight of that today, and it was a bit surprising. I know there are folks watching football now just because of Tim Tebow. He is a great kid who willed the Broncos out of a 1-4 start to the season and into the playoffs. He helped the team get an incredible, improbable playoff win against the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Heck, ESPN made him their avatar and talked about him every moment of every program for two months.
Tebow was also crushed by the New England Patriots, twice. Something his new teammate Peyton Manning can empathize with, but the word is Tim is on the trading block once the Broncos hand their new old quarterback an un-retired number 18 jersey today.
Props by the way to Frank Tripucka as well since the 84-year old former signal caller for Denver enthusiastically offered to allow his retired number to be utilized by Manning for as many healthy playing days as he has left. The elder statesman of Bronco lore seems to understand backing one's team is supposed to be part of the deal, regardless of the decision.
I'll grant Tebow nation that some caution is warranted with the arrival of Manning, who is getting more media attention than the last several Presidential visits combined. I also think the most pragmatic move the team should make is keeping the young, wildly inaccurate running quarterback around on the roster. If Manning's neck still is not ready by the fall, or he gets hurt another way, it would be nice to see the kid get another shot at willing the team down the field.
That said, the negative blow back from the more vociferous supporters of Sir Tim do seem to be missing the point. If Manning stays healthy, teaches Coach Fox about the forward passing game and can play 16 games next year, the Broncos have some amazing potential. Do some fans really think Elway hates Tebow? I don't think Elway hates him. I also am fairly certain Elway isn't impressed by him either. He saw a chance to improve the club and went for it the same way he did as a player, all out. For those fanatics threatening to leave Bronco nation today, well, you really weren't fans of the team anyway. Tebow will survive here if he stays and likely have a nice life if he goes, just ask him. He has some nice balance in his approach, something his fans could use right about now. So take a deep breath, there isn't a lot of oxygen to go around in these Rocky Mountains today.
Yes, it is a lot of money. Yes, Manning has been injured a bunch, he is old, and he spent his best days of his youth beating the stuffing out of the Broncos. And yes, it certainly feels like the team is throwing Tim Tebow under an orange bus. However, if the future first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback has any ammo left in the chamber, and can stay healthy, Denver's NFL team just got a whole lot better.
Risk versus reward is something we decide everyday, and I don't mean just crossing a wildly busy street to secure a breakfast burrito. John Elway has one job and one mission at this point in his life and that is to field the best possible NFL team.
A number of fans have lost sight of that today, and it was a bit surprising. I know there are folks watching football now just because of Tim Tebow. He is a great kid who willed the Broncos out of a 1-4 start to the season and into the playoffs. He helped the team get an incredible, improbable playoff win against the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Heck, ESPN made him their avatar and talked about him every moment of every program for two months.
Tebow was also crushed by the New England Patriots, twice. Something his new teammate Peyton Manning can empathize with, but the word is Tim is on the trading block once the Broncos hand their new old quarterback an un-retired number 18 jersey today.
Props by the way to Frank Tripucka as well since the 84-year old former signal caller for Denver enthusiastically offered to allow his retired number to be utilized by Manning for as many healthy playing days as he has left. The elder statesman of Bronco lore seems to understand backing one's team is supposed to be part of the deal, regardless of the decision.
I'll grant Tebow nation that some caution is warranted with the arrival of Manning, who is getting more media attention than the last several Presidential visits combined. I also think the most pragmatic move the team should make is keeping the young, wildly inaccurate running quarterback around on the roster. If Manning's neck still is not ready by the fall, or he gets hurt another way, it would be nice to see the kid get another shot at willing the team down the field.
That said, the negative blow back from the more vociferous supporters of Sir Tim do seem to be missing the point. If Manning stays healthy, teaches Coach Fox about the forward passing game and can play 16 games next year, the Broncos have some amazing potential. Do some fans really think Elway hates Tebow? I don't think Elway hates him. I also am fairly certain Elway isn't impressed by him either. He saw a chance to improve the club and went for it the same way he did as a player, all out. For those fanatics threatening to leave Bronco nation today, well, you really weren't fans of the team anyway. Tebow will survive here if he stays and likely have a nice life if he goes, just ask him. He has some nice balance in his approach, something his fans could use right about now. So take a deep breath, there isn't a lot of oxygen to go around in these Rocky Mountains today.
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