Is Manning worth it?

[blacklabel]

I appreciate what Tebow did but he had no upside and it would have been a fight to get into the playoffs with him this year.

[wreave]

But the team made it just as far last year didnt it?

Frankly, given how bad the AFC West was again this year, we may well have made the wild card round again with Tebow. However, I seriously doubt last year's team could have beaten anyone else in the playoffs except the Colts.

The "got just as far as last year" comparison is worse than most of the anti-"assault weapon" stuff I hear from the left. Last year we finished 8-8 and backed in by losing 3-7 vs KC in Denver, with help. Had the Raiders-Chargers game gone the other way, we would have sat out the playoffs.

I loved our wins last year, I enjoyed Tebow, and am sick about how the Jets treated him this year. I'm worried about his future in the NFL, and I think he deserves one. However, the difference between last year and this year is night and day. If not for a ridiculously bad defensive play, we win in regulation and aren't even having this conversation. If not for Champ Bailey giving ten-yard cushions on 3rd-and-5 plays, we win in regulation and aren't even having this conversation. If not for some really questionable refereeing, we win in regulation and aren't even having this conversation.

If you don't know the difference between 13-3/first seed and 8-8/fourth seed... if you can't see the difference between last year's team and this year's... there's no hope for you as a football fan. I hear hockey got through its strike and is playing again.

[MarkCO]

Manning is not worth it, but then not a single player on any NFL roster is worth the money they make...just another symptom of our sick society that worships athletes and other "entertainment" stars while heading off into the weeds. Sure, I like football, and I am a big fan, but it is just a game with a false economy driven by many factors to which I am personally opposed.

Now, if you are looking purely at a comparison between Tebow and Manning, yes, Manning was worth more. Did he play great Saturday? No. However, Manning made one of only several plays that "lost" the game in regulation. There were three really bad calls by the refs which allowed a Ravens scoring drive to continue or start. Any of those three, taken back, likely would have resulted in a Broncos win. One was a pass completion reviewed that clearly was the wrong call. There were three Ravens touchdowns in which the Broncos DB got scorched, two were Bailey. Was it the combo of age and cold for Champ...maybe. There were some terrible play calls, was that Fox or the OC...don't know. But seriously, 30 seconds, 2 TOs, Manning and you don't even try to win in regulation. Manning had them in the game, Tebow was along for the ride.

I like Tebow, but he needs to become a passer or get out of the QB position. Comparing RGIII, Wilson and Kapernick to Tebow...no comparison. I like it that my kids like Tebow, but Manning is a good role model as well as several others.

[Troublco]

I remember Elway taking years to become what he was, and I think Tebow would have done similarly. At worst, they could have kept Tebow and had Manning mentor him. Manning doesn't have that much time left.

But for the short term, Manning got them to the playoffs...hope they get enough in the draft to fix their holes. Maybe they'll do better next year.

[palepainter]

I remember Elway taking years to become what he was, and I think Tebow would have done similarly. At worst, they could have kept Tebow and had Manning mentor him. Manning doesn't have that much time left.

This..... The Broncos, sure weren't the team of regular season play. It was a pretty sad performance other than Holliday.

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

Yes we played excellent as a team this year

[MarkCO]

Yes we played excellent as a team this year

Thanks for your play this year! can you at least tell us your jersey number so we can root for you next year too?

[griebel303]

Sad to see them choke like that. They definitely were not our regular season Broncos on either side of the ball. I think Manning is a great addition to the Broncos and he demands more out of both sides of the ball. Players try to meet his standards and its get to have that drive...now is it $96 million worth...I don't know there

[Ghosty]

I agree that NO one in the NFL is worth that crazy amount of money, but definitely he's better option than Tebow, imo. Plus I don't fault Elway at all, I think they really wanted to pay whatever it took to bring a real ACE to Denver, mission accomplished, regardless of the Ravens game. It's the rest of the team that lost this game this time.

[Dave]

I remember Elway taking years to become what he was, and I think Tebow would have done similarly. At worst, they could have kept Tebow and had Manning mentor him. Manning doesn't have that much time left.

And you would have had 26 million of your cap space tied up in two QB's the next couple of years.