Broncos Future is Now or Never
By Adam Malnati
Nov 16, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) attempts a pass against the St. Louis Rams during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 22-7. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Sorry Bronco fans, but the future is mortgaged. 2015 is the year, or it is going to take a few seasons to find the success that Denver has had since the arrival of Peyton Manning. The experiment is winding down. The promise and hope of the arrival of Manning has shifted into desperation and worry.
John Elway was hailed as a genius when he landed the big fish four years ago. Even skeptics found it hard to argue. Elway had completed a major coup. One Hall of Famer convincing a future Hall of Famer to finish his career in the best city in America, it was a match made in heaven.
Who could argue after the promise of the first season? Sure, it ended badly with a fluke play. The conservative play of John Fox, and perhaps Manning’s own inability to win the big game, were put on display. However, a trip to the Super Bowl the next season seemed to prove the experiment was at least working.
Every Bronco fan in the world would trade that for a pedestrian Trent Dilfer and a Super Bowl ring
Then came 2014, and Denver looked like they were on the same upward trajectory. Manning and the offense seemed to be shot out of a cannon. Just like a cannonball, the Broncos came crashing down. Injuries, poor game planning, indecision, and yes, conservative play, killed the Broncos season. It was beyond disappointing, and it leads us all to these questions. Is the experiment over? Was it successful?
To answer the first question, yes. The experiment is over. It is hard to believe that Manning will come back after next season. He has not said it will be his final year, but when a player takes as long as he did this offseason to decide to come back, it is a safe bet that he is gone the next. Elway and head coach Gary Kubiak will be happy to start a new experiment. They believe they can rebuild together. Maybe they can, but that leads right into that last question about success.
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If Manning and the Broncos do not win a Super Bowl this season, how can one argue the experiment was a success? Peyton Manning may have had the greatest season of any quarterback in the history of the game in 2013. Every Bronco fan in the world would trade that for a pedestrian Trent Dilfer and a Super Bowl ring.
Success is measured in a number of ways, but the ultimate measure of success is championships. The Broncos have a few over the last few seasons. AFC West Champs? No problem. AFC Champs? Once. Do those matter? Nope. There is only one thing that makes this experiment successful. It ends with a parade in Denver, and Peyton Manning announcing his retirement after a Super Bowl victory.