Peyton Has Chosen Denver

I just got back from the dentist and due to my own lack of care for my teeth, each visit is becoming successively more painful.  While they were prying out the gunk between my teeth, I was wincing, sweating, and gripping my hands together as I endured the attack.  Again, it's my fault that my teeth are so weak and messed up, but in my current soreness, all I can think about is how I wish I didn't have to go through that every six months.

Anyway, that is obviously not the point of this entry.  As many of you know, it was announced today that Peyton has chosen Denver.  To elaborate further, former long-time Colts quarterback and former #1 pick overall Peyton Manning, considered by many to be one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, has asked his agent to negotiate a contract with the Denver Broncos.  Clearly, John Elway and the Broncos brass have chosen to make a controversial move here, but we can certainly make sense of it for all parties involved.

A) Peyton Manning: Since being ousted (or ousting himself, however you wanna look at it) from Indianapolis, Peyton has been on a search for a new home.  I give him some credit for not turning his decision into "The Decision 2.0", as he refrained from making a one hour special announcement unlike good ol' King LeBron James.  After being rumored to have his list down to Denver, Tennessee, and San Francisco, Peyton may have chosen the team of the three that made the least sense.  Many know that Tennessee is like a second home to Peyton, after his superb college career and continued support there.  San Francisco is probably closer to being Super Bowl contenders than Denver is, as it stands now.  All told, Peyton feels that Denver is the best place for him.  This seemed like a thoughtful, comfortable decision for Peyton, so as a fan, I can't help but be excited for him.  But where does that leave...

B) Tim Tebow: Last year's biggest story in football now finds himself in a precarious spot.  Already, rumors are swirling that the Broncos are looking to trade Tim Tebow, now that they've acquired Peyton Manning.  It's a difficult position for Tebow, but he's proven time and again that he can overcome the adversity, and I believe that if he ends up being traded, he will end up in a better situation than what he had in Denver.  A quarterback can only last so long when the team's executives and his head coach aren't putting full faith in him.  The other players in Denver all talked the talk and appear to support Tebow but ultimately, it's the coach and executives who make the decisions.  In particular, John Elway has never appeared to be sold on Tebow, and until Tebow won a Super Bowl for Denver, the scrutiny was not going to end.  So, for Tim, he either ends up observing one of the best quarterbacks in history at work, or he moves on to a new team and a fresh start to a situation where there will be full faith in him as a quarterback.  Believe it or not, Tebow once again will make the best of this.

C) Denver Broncos: While question marks certainly exist in other facets of their team, the Denver Broncos have now acquired their franchise quarterback and leader to try and lead them back to the Super Bowl.  Broncos fans may be upset about the way the organization is treating Tebow in this situation, but they're also excited for the arrival of (a hopefully healthy) Peyton Manning.  In the weak AFC West, the Broncos instantly have become the favorites to win the division and go back to the playoffs.  I'm sure there are concerns as to the future of the organization, especially if Peyton Manning can't play up to his previous standards.  Well, it became clear through last year that the organization was never going to believe in Tebow, and without that, the fans would forever be hard-pressed to feel that Tebow was the answer.  What this move does (especially if Tebow is traded) is allows Denver to contend for championships now, as well as having the ability to start considering their next franchise quarterback draft pick for after Peyton's retirement.  This time, we can expect that it will be a player that the organization truly believes in.

All of that said, how about March Madness?  Things have been fun so far, for sure, with plenty of close finishes and big upsets.  With Kendall Marshall of UNC now undergoing surgery for his broken wrist, that certainly puts the damper on the championship hopes of the Tar Heels.  This may finally be the year for John Calipari and Kentucky.

What do you think of Peyton to the Broncos, March Madness, or the dentist?