Wes Welker (83) before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. (Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports)

School is back in session at least for the Manning’s. Peyton Manning and Eli Manning rounded up their receivers and got back to work at Duke University under the watchful eye of Duke head coach David Cutcliffe.

Peyton brought Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker while Eli brought Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Louis Murphy.

It was the first time that Manning has thrown with Welker.

“There’s certain guys you just feel like you have timing with right away,” Manning said. “He’s a guy that has a great feel for how to get open, and understands route concepts and, of course, he played in such a sophisticated offense there in New England, so he’s a smart player. You can see why he’s been such a productive player. He’s intense. He loves to work.” – Peyton Manning on Wes Welker (ESPN)

The Broncos don’t officially begin off season workouts until Monday. Check out the video of Manning throwing to Welker.

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Wes Welker before the start of a press conference held at the teams training facility. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Imagine Peyton Manning and Wes Welker sitting down to a nice steak dinner together. “Hey, man, the knife goes in your right hand,” Manning says. They talk Tom Brady, the remnants of the Tebow Era in Denver, and Bill Belichick’s hoodie collection. At the end of the night, the bill comes and is placed right in the middle of the table between two empty water glasses. Who pays? Ok, that’s not exactly the way it went, but the two did dine together recently in Miami, and Manning didn’t play any water pranks on Welker this time.

Welker said he and Manning didn’t discuss too much football during the dinner because “we didn’t want to bore everybody else at the table.” Welker said he didn’t pay the bill for the dinner, but the receiver said, “it got paid for somehow, so I’m guessing it was him.” – ESPN 

Manning and Welker will begin working together on the field on April 15, which is the date of the team’s first voluntary workout.

In the ESPN interview from which this information emerged, Welker said that he sees a lot of similarities between Brady and Manning.

“I think they’re both extremely accurate … they’re extremely smart players and have a good idea where the rush is, and moving around and buying time and getting the ball out quick and being smart and putting it right on the money.

“Not being the biggest guy out there, I definitely need a quarterback that can put it on you and just be able to read the defenses like I do and see it the same way, and I think both guys do that well.” – Welker to ESPN 

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Jan 12, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fan in the grandstands against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lots of surprising changes are happening all around the league this off-season. It seems that most of the teams are beefing up their lineup with former Denver Broncos. I of course say this because I know how proud I am of my team and I know my team has good players; apparently rival teams see the same. I’m not calling the Chicago Bears our rivals, but the other blue-and-orange team adding yet another former Bronco to their roster did not surprise me one bit. Joining Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall in the lineup this season is former Broncos linebacker, DJ Williams.

I think the most surprising acquisition this off-season was when the Broncos signed a player from the New England Patriots dynasty, Wes Welker. With the addition of Welker, Bronco fans were putting on the proverbial capes, puffing up their chests, and stemming their fists on their waists. It was a good “Touché” as we armed Peyton Manning with another powerful weapon, courtesy of our biggest divisional threat. What we didn’t see coming was the same could be done to us.

In fact, I don’t know what acquisition was most jaw-dropping:

• A former New England Patriot signing with the Denver Broncos
• A former Denver Bronco signing with the  Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens. You know, the team that ended the Broncos winning streak, took us out of the playoffs in a double OT game in our own house, and went on to win the Super Bowl? Now they have Elvis Dumervil?! Oh boy. That re-opened a fan’s healing wound and poured salt on it. However, I have faith in my team. I think this fuels the fire and will make the Broncos fans even hungrier for redemption.

I am looking forward to April 16th as that is the targeted date that the Broncos will release the schedule dates for next season. We already know the opponents, and Denver will be at home when they play Baltimore. No matter when that game will be, it will certainly be the one to watch next year for more than one reason.

Go Broncos!

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