If You Believe Peyton Manning Gives The Broncos The Best Chance To Win, They Disagree
BOSTON (CBS) -- Never mind that other thing Peyton Manning is dealing with right now. He's still with the Broncos and now appears healthy and ready to ... back up Brock Osweiler?
Manning is officially the No. 2 quarterback for the Broncos in their regular season finale against the San Diego Chargers as Osweiler seems to have earned the starting job for the time being. He spoke briefly to reporters during Wednesday's practice, defying dubious reports that he refused to be a backup.
"I will do what I can to help Brock and the team," he said. And he deserves some props for accepting a role that he hasn't played since his freshman year at Tennessee.
However, Manning's backup status contradicts previous statements by Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, who said in November that Manning would return as the starting quarterback once he is "healthy and ready to go." Kubiak doubled down in December when he said the team is "fully committed to getting our quarterback - getting Peyton healthy and getting him back."
But Wednesday, when asked about his starting quarterback situation, Kubiak said, "Nothing has changed" ... after naming Osweiler the starter and a healthy Manning the No. 2. Manning appears "ready to go," yet remains behind Osweiler on the depth chart after it sounded for weeks like the starter was merely watching the throne before Peyton returned.
Regardless of whether Manning has anything left or if the Broncos made the right move, the reality of the situation is that Manning has been benched. Kubiak believed Osweiler gives the Broncos the best chance to win now and moving forward, he just eschewed saying it publicly. No matter how you spin it, Manning literally is a backup quarterback right now. Clearly, something has changed.
In fairness to Peyton, he has resembled his old self this season when he has gone to the shotgun and ran the no-huddle offense, calling and changing plays at the line of scrimmage. He's simply not a fit for Gary Kubiak's system, which has run more efficiently and protected the ball better with Osweiler under center. But Kubiak certainly doesn't seem interested in pulling back his system now that Osweiler is settling into the starting role. If Manning comes back, he needs to run his offense - and Kubiak apparently doesn't even trust him to do that, although he wouldn't rule out Manning starting in the future.
That said ... If you somehow still believe that Manning is the answer for the Broncos, or that he is the quarterback that gives the Broncos the best chance to win, you need to accept that Kubiak - and presumably, John Elway and other members of the Broncos front office - does not agree with you. Regardless of your opinion on Kubiak as a head coach, he's still an NFL head coach and you're not ... I think. You're saying you are a better judge of QB talent than him. And if Kubiak and Elway disagreed on who should start, we would probably be hearing about that. Is Elway wrong too?
By making Manning the No. 2, Kubiak is doing one of two things:
1. He's admitting he lied or changed his mind about Manning being the starter, or...
2. Manning isn't really healthy and ready to go.
But if Manning were still injured why would he suit up? By saying "Nothing has changed," Kubiak has done Manning a solid by not having to admit that he demoted him. And that's fine; no need for the team to embarrass a legend on his way out.
Whatever happens, prepare for the cries to see Manning take over if Osweiler struggles on Sunday, or in one of the Broncos' upcoming playoff games. But the fact is that Osweiler is officially the starting QB for the Broncos over Manning, and there's little reason left to deny that Manning is now a No. 2. But if you STILL somehow believe that Manning is the best option for the Broncos, by all means share your reasoning in the comments.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
