Return of the King or the Empire Strikes Back?
Brock Osweiler is back in town and he's on the horse he rode in on.
And thus, the tension in Broncos Country escalated quickly.
A mere year and one half ago, the defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos watched Peyton Manning ride off into a soon to be Hall of Fame sunset. The handpicked successor to the Manning era, Brock Osweiler understandably took full advantage of a bidding war with the Houston Texans, and surprised most experts when he took the deal.
To be fair to Brock, it was a really, really good deal. Four years and 72-million dollars, with more than half of it guaranteed. How good of a contract? Osweiller will earn 15 million bucks from Cleveland and $775,000 from the Broncos in a back-up role.
Of course, this is the Mile High City. Quarterback talk around the water cooler is a year round exercise in these parts. In fact, just before Paxton Lynch got hurt, somebody asked me what exactly was Elway's plan with the position?
The plan really was Brock. And then he went away. Next up was a big trade in the draft for Lynch, who scouts from every team in the league agreed, was the third best QB available in the draft. Of course, Dak Prescott made a strong argument against those same scouts with his incredible rookie campaign in Dallas last year.
Now it is starting to look like Lynch is still a year away from making anyone believe he can even do the job at the NFL level. Mark Sanchez couldn't win the job either. Instead, the Broncos keep rolling with #13. The seventh round pick from Northwestern who will not go away. All he does is work hard, and win the support of his teammates.
Siemian may yet prove he is the primary plan.
Very few people who watch and cover the NFL seem to agree with Trevor, as the Broncos aren't favored to be a factor in their own division, much less the post-season. This is with a defense that looks very similar to the unit that led the Broncos to a Super Bowl win.
Last year wasn't all on Siemian either, the team's offensive line was beyond bad and the running game vanished. Yet, the young quarterback looked to have some accuracy and velocity issues at times as he fought through injuries to his non-throwing shoulder.
One local radio voice, that of veteran sports observer Sandy Clough offered another suggestion. Perhaps the original quarterback plan is back in place, just a few years later. What if Brock isn't back just to hold the clipboard for Trevor? Do the Broncos have their guy - again?
Osweiler can't start in week one, no one knows if the trauma of last year's debacle has done any permanent damage to his confidence. Two weeks ago he lost a job opportunity in Cleveland, where all quarterbacks go to die.
Maybe Osweiler's greatest fortune is that he was cut by the Browns. Suddenly, the one time crown prince gets one more chance to be king in Denver, despite his escape to Houston.
I know what you're thinking. I'm putting the cart before the horse. Trevor Siemian is our guy. I concur, he is absolutely the guy at the helm right now. And he will earn his place for good or should he falter, there is another Denver starter with a winning percentage taking snaps in Dove Valley again.
Elway's orange empire is lined up to get the last laugh or be laughed at. No joke at all provided the Broncos win games in both the regular season and the post season. If they do, the price for Brock just got a whole lot more reasonable, as a back-up or a future star.
And thus, the tension in Broncos Country escalated quickly.
A mere year and one half ago, the defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos watched Peyton Manning ride off into a soon to be Hall of Fame sunset. The handpicked successor to the Manning era, Brock Osweiler understandably took full advantage of a bidding war with the Houston Texans, and surprised most experts when he took the deal.
To be fair to Brock, it was a really, really good deal. Four years and 72-million dollars, with more than half of it guaranteed. How good of a contract? Osweiller will earn 15 million bucks from Cleveland and $775,000 from the Broncos in a back-up role.
Of course, this is the Mile High City. Quarterback talk around the water cooler is a year round exercise in these parts. In fact, just before Paxton Lynch got hurt, somebody asked me what exactly was Elway's plan with the position?
The plan really was Brock. And then he went away. Next up was a big trade in the draft for Lynch, who scouts from every team in the league agreed, was the third best QB available in the draft. Of course, Dak Prescott made a strong argument against those same scouts with his incredible rookie campaign in Dallas last year.
Now it is starting to look like Lynch is still a year away from making anyone believe he can even do the job at the NFL level. Mark Sanchez couldn't win the job either. Instead, the Broncos keep rolling with #13. The seventh round pick from Northwestern who will not go away. All he does is work hard, and win the support of his teammates.
Siemian may yet prove he is the primary plan.
Very few people who watch and cover the NFL seem to agree with Trevor, as the Broncos aren't favored to be a factor in their own division, much less the post-season. This is with a defense that looks very similar to the unit that led the Broncos to a Super Bowl win.
Last year wasn't all on Siemian either, the team's offensive line was beyond bad and the running game vanished. Yet, the young quarterback looked to have some accuracy and velocity issues at times as he fought through injuries to his non-throwing shoulder.
One local radio voice, that of veteran sports observer Sandy Clough offered another suggestion. Perhaps the original quarterback plan is back in place, just a few years later. What if Brock isn't back just to hold the clipboard for Trevor? Do the Broncos have their guy - again?
Osweiler can't start in week one, no one knows if the trauma of last year's debacle has done any permanent damage to his confidence. Two weeks ago he lost a job opportunity in Cleveland, where all quarterbacks go to die.
Maybe Osweiler's greatest fortune is that he was cut by the Browns. Suddenly, the one time crown prince gets one more chance to be king in Denver, despite his escape to Houston.
I know what you're thinking. I'm putting the cart before the horse. Trevor Siemian is our guy. I concur, he is absolutely the guy at the helm right now. And he will earn his place for good or should he falter, there is another Denver starter with a winning percentage taking snaps in Dove Valley again.
Elway's orange empire is lined up to get the last laugh or be laughed at. No joke at all provided the Broncos win games in both the regular season and the post season. If they do, the price for Brock just got a whole lot more reasonable, as a back-up or a future star.
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