Is former Tennessee Vols quarterback Peyton Manning retiring or not? We are getting mixed signals from him and the Denver Broncos.
Just over the weekend, we saw a report from Woody Paige that Peyton Manning wants to ride off into the sunset. Then we heard the reports that the Broncos wanted to part ways with him.
Now we hear from Adam Schefter that Manning wants to come back. So which is it?
Related Story: https://allfortennessee.com/2016/02/28/how-peyton-mannings-retirement-is-a-huge-mistake-by-him-john-elway-and-the-denver-broncos/
On Sunday, we published a story about how Manning and the Broncos would be making a huge mistake to part ways, throwing away the opportunity of a lifetime.
Well, it seems like at this point that is only one-sided.
If we could break this down, it appears that Manning does want to play, but the Broncos do not want to keep him. Whether or not it is due to their inability to renegotiate his contract of John Elway’s determination to stick it out with Brock Osweiler is unknown.
But at this point, the Denver Broncos do not appear to want Manning to finish out the final year of his contract, even if he wants to come back.
If that is the case, the mistake hinges on who is making the contract decision. If Manning will not renegotiate, he is making the mistake, putting pride and money over his lasting legacy, which could take another huge leap with another Super Bowl.
But if he is willing to renegotiate and take a huge pay-cut so everybody else can remain on the team, the Broncos are really screwing things up here. Sure, Osweiler had nice games, and yes, Manning cannot do what he once did. He was good enough to help his team win this past Super Bowl, though.
The oldest rule in sports is if you can keep a Super Bowl championship team together, you do it. The NFL is as win-now as any league, and Manning is good enough to win now with the help he has around him.
So if he wants to come back, and if he is willing to restructure his deal, the Broncos should take him. And Gary Kubiak should start him.
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And they should do everything they can to make another run at a Super Bowl Championship, which is an incredible possibility if everybody comes back. Why not go forward with what you know works?