The whole world seems to think Peyton Manning is heading into retirement, and some sportswriters have authored pieces on why that should be the case. But what if Manning decides he’s not done just yet? What if Manning chooses to put retirement off for at least one more season and hops back in the saddle for one more wild ride? Would he have a home in Denver?
On Tuesday, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway was presented with that very thought during a press conference, and he said an awful lot to steer around a direct answer affirming he would love to have Manning back in Denver in 2016.
Via Pro Football Talk…
“You know, I think that it’s important for him — the key thing is for him to want to come back. . . . It’s not really what we want to do. I think the important thing is is it’s going to be his decisions, and so where we get a chance to sit down and talk to him, and that why it’s up to Peyton to see that process. Where he is, where he is in his career, what he thinks he can do, how he can play, what he wants to do from here on out. And so in talking about retirement, retirement’s always hard. I mean you can butt up to that line and crossing that line, taking that final step, saying I am moving on. That is a very — even if the first 99 percent are easy to get there, that last one percent is as hard as that first 99 percent. So that’s why he’s gonna have the time he needs and it’s basically gonna be up to him.”
To his credit, Elway is in a tricky spot as GM of the Broncos. What Manning decides is one part of the equation. Elway is also having to decide what to do with Brock Osweiler, who is set to hit the free agent market. If Manning decides to return for one more season, does that mean Elway works out a way to bring Osweiler back? If so, at what cost and for how many years?
Is Osweiler back as Manning’s backup with a long-term plan to make him the starter, or can they lock in a shorter deal and worry about the future of the quarterback position later? If Manning is not coming back, do the Broncos go all in on Osweiler? Draft a QB higher in the NFL Draft? Oh, and the timeline for Manning’s decision has a financial impact as well. Per Mike Klis of 9news.com, Manning is due a $19 million base salary in 2016 if he decides to return – and that salary becomes fully guaranteed if he’s a Bronco on March 9th.
There are a lot of variables in play that Elway must balance in the next month, regardless of Manning’s decision.
