Sometimes you just have to shake your head at what former Denver Broncos players will do or say once they get outside the walls of Dove Valley.
Perhaps salty over a lack of a contract offer (or one in his price range) from the Denver Broncos, offensive lineman Orlando Franklin felt the need to make some comments about Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers in an interview with NBC Sports and Paul Burmeister of Pro Football Talk.
“One thing I noticed immediately when I got here is that Phillip Rivers is definitely more approachable than Peyton,” Franklin said. “I don’t know if it was because I was a lot younger being that I met Peyton in my second season and now meeting Phillip going into my fifth season but definitely I will say Phillip is more approachable than Peyton.”
I really enjoyed having Franklin on the Broncos, and I wish him well in his new ventures with San Diego and hopefully a consistent third place finish, but these types of comments rub me the wrong way. Here’s an appropriate setup question and subsequent answer to not stir the pot and look like a bafoon:
“Say, Orlando — who is more approachable — Peyton Manning or Philip Rivers?”
“To be honest with you, I loved playing with Peyton Manning. He is a legend. I learned so much in my time with him. I’m still getting to know Philip, but I really like his leadership style as well. Both guys are really approachable to me, I can’t say one vs. the other.”
Boy that really wasn’t all that hard, but apparently for Franklin he feels the need to stir the pot. I wonder if Manning will approach him when the Broncos play the Chargers this year…
Here’s a different approach — maybe Manning wasn’t as ‘approachable’ for Franklin because of the fact that big No. 74 was the most penalized player on the Broncos each of the last three seasons, costing his team with a lack of discipline. Of course, Franklin played great in Denver and deserved the contract he got, but I’m just saying…
Pro Football Talk makes a good point that Manning is perhaps not as approachable because at this stage of his career, he’s probably more like a coach than a player, but still.
At any rate, good luck to Orlando Franklin, except for the two games a year the Chargers play the Broncos.