The Strange Case For A Bridge Quarterback
Of all the moves the Broncos could have made to improve at the quarterback position, they went for practical play over the spectacular.
Apparently, the Broncos do have a "Plan B" and his name is Case Keenum.
As the legal tampering period leading to NFL free agency opened up yesterday, Denver was linked with every single soon to be available quarterback in the league. I heard A.J. McCarron in the morning, and by the evening the name of future hall of fame quarterback Drew Brees was mentioned as a real possibility.
Of course Drew Brees would have been the fun way to go and the Broncos would have been able to take a short cut through a lot of roster holes with a guy who has looked great throwing for over 70,000 yards in his career. It was a beautiful fantasy football moment that vanished into the night and there would be no repeat of the Manning-style free agent quarterback miracle in the Mile High City.
I'm certain John Elway heard long before the rest of Broncos Country that New Orleans was finally going to get Brees a decent offer and keep the guy who won them their only Super Bowl. Once it was clear Brees was staying home, and that rumors continued to insist Kirk Cousins is just not that into Denver -- the strange case for Mr. Keenum became clear.
I've covered and watched a whole lot of football over the years and I have to say this was the first time the term "bridge quarterback" has been utilized at a world record pace around the city. I think the old school term for a player who is not our final answer at a position was "placeholder."
That aside, the high level quarterback shortage in the NFL is ongoing. Outside of Brees, Tom Brady or Aaron Rogers, there is no signal caller who could instantly convert this Broncos roster into a Super Bowl contending team.
The roster needs more help.
Signing Case Keenum, who will demand about half the yearly salary Cousins is asking for, allows the team to continue to rebuild the roster with free agents and draft picks without breaking the proverbial bank. Yes, the word rebuild has to be used at this point, no matter how much Elway would prefer to simply reload and stay with his intended Super Bowl "Plan A" path.
Denver already had to ditch an All-Pro cornerback in Aqib Talib, because his contract is pushing against a tight salary cap on a roster filled with aging, slightly overpaid veterans. Elway is showing a passer's bias by holding on to two very expensive wide receivers, who will have a slightly better chance to see more catches this season.
Keenum is merely an opening salvo on the road back to competitive football for the Broncos. And I think the new signal caller has a chance to show the world last season was not a fluke. Case had a 98.3 QB rating and a pile of numbers last year were -- as Adam Schefter mentioned locally on 104.3 The Fan, "MVP level" -- and certainly Keenum's career best to this point.
The Minnesota Vikings are betting Keenum can't repeat that effort and they are moving on from him, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater. The Vikings aren't believers but at least one person in Dove Valley does believe in the newest addition to the roster.
Former QB and head coach Gary Kubiak is still a fan of Keenum and I think that is why he is here over other free agent possibilities. Their history goes back to Kubes' days in Houston. Sometimes all it takes for a veteran player is for someone to believe in them.
Maybe Case Keenum isn't moving to Denver to build a bridge or hold a place. Perhaps he considers his time is now and he aims to prove it. Is Keenum the next Kyle Orton or the next Craig Morton?
Time will tell.
Hopefully, this also allows the Broncos to pick the best player available at the number five spot in the draft. Despite all of the internet arguments, there is no consensus top pick in this draft and all the quarterbacks have potential to be really good or not so much.
Keenum also lets Broncos Country find out what a healthy Chad Kelly looks like in training camp. And it also gives Paxton Lynch maybe one more year to show critics he will not freak out under NFL pressure.
Speculation season may be over, but many more questions are waiting to be answered. On to more free agents and draft research we go.
Apparently, the Broncos do have a "Plan B" and his name is Case Keenum.
As the legal tampering period leading to NFL free agency opened up yesterday, Denver was linked with every single soon to be available quarterback in the league. I heard A.J. McCarron in the morning, and by the evening the name of future hall of fame quarterback Drew Brees was mentioned as a real possibility.
Of course Drew Brees would have been the fun way to go and the Broncos would have been able to take a short cut through a lot of roster holes with a guy who has looked great throwing for over 70,000 yards in his career. It was a beautiful fantasy football moment that vanished into the night and there would be no repeat of the Manning-style free agent quarterback miracle in the Mile High City.
I'm certain John Elway heard long before the rest of Broncos Country that New Orleans was finally going to get Brees a decent offer and keep the guy who won them their only Super Bowl. Once it was clear Brees was staying home, and that rumors continued to insist Kirk Cousins is just not that into Denver -- the strange case for Mr. Keenum became clear.
I've covered and watched a whole lot of football over the years and I have to say this was the first time the term "bridge quarterback" has been utilized at a world record pace around the city. I think the old school term for a player who is not our final answer at a position was "placeholder."
That aside, the high level quarterback shortage in the NFL is ongoing. Outside of Brees, Tom Brady or Aaron Rogers, there is no signal caller who could instantly convert this Broncos roster into a Super Bowl contending team.
The roster needs more help.
Signing Case Keenum, who will demand about half the yearly salary Cousins is asking for, allows the team to continue to rebuild the roster with free agents and draft picks without breaking the proverbial bank. Yes, the word rebuild has to be used at this point, no matter how much Elway would prefer to simply reload and stay with his intended Super Bowl "Plan A" path.
Denver already had to ditch an All-Pro cornerback in Aqib Talib, because his contract is pushing against a tight salary cap on a roster filled with aging, slightly overpaid veterans. Elway is showing a passer's bias by holding on to two very expensive wide receivers, who will have a slightly better chance to see more catches this season.
Keenum is merely an opening salvo on the road back to competitive football for the Broncos. And I think the new signal caller has a chance to show the world last season was not a fluke. Case had a 98.3 QB rating and a pile of numbers last year were -- as Adam Schefter mentioned locally on 104.3 The Fan, "MVP level" -- and certainly Keenum's career best to this point.
The Minnesota Vikings are betting Keenum can't repeat that effort and they are moving on from him, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater. The Vikings aren't believers but at least one person in Dove Valley does believe in the newest addition to the roster.
Former QB and head coach Gary Kubiak is still a fan of Keenum and I think that is why he is here over other free agent possibilities. Their history goes back to Kubes' days in Houston. Sometimes all it takes for a veteran player is for someone to believe in them.
Maybe Case Keenum isn't moving to Denver to build a bridge or hold a place. Perhaps he considers his time is now and he aims to prove it. Is Keenum the next Kyle Orton or the next Craig Morton?
Time will tell.
Hopefully, this also allows the Broncos to pick the best player available at the number five spot in the draft. Despite all of the internet arguments, there is no consensus top pick in this draft and all the quarterbacks have potential to be really good or not so much.
Keenum also lets Broncos Country find out what a healthy Chad Kelly looks like in training camp. And it also gives Paxton Lynch maybe one more year to show critics he will not freak out under NFL pressure.
Speculation season may be over, but many more questions are waiting to be answered. On to more free agents and draft research we go.
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ReplyDeleteguess I am not supposed to use the sideways V for brackets so deleted and reposted the missing content
DeleteI was a little disappointed they picked up Thomas's option and continue to overpay him, especially when we just found out Jordy Nelson was cut by Greenbay. Jordy would have fit right in and would play with a chip on his shoulder and I bet he would even at 33 years old out produced Thomas at #1 receiver. In the end Keenum or Cousins or Josh Allen or "insert any QB name here" behind center is just a cover-up for the holes we have at RB and Offensive line. Without a viable O-line we cannot run the ball consistently, nor pass the football effectively. So until that gaping hole gets filled it matters not who else on the offense is overpaid and under skilled. At least with Keenum we get a "better then anyone else we have on the roster" at QB for a relatively cheap price considering what Houston paid Osweiller after only starting in 5 games. One thing is for sure, I still love my Broncos and to anyone else that thinks Elway should un-retire #7 for Case Keenum ... go pound some sand please.
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