The Denver Broncos are the reigning Super Bowl champions. They also don’t know if they have a quarterback.
Though Peyton Manning is under contract for another season, it’s widely assumed the soon-to-be 40-year-old will retire on top and walk away from football.
Young Brock Osweiler, on the other hand, is a different story.
Just 25, Osweiler finally found his chance to start this season when Manning was benched and then missed nearly two months of action with various injuries. Nothing Osweiler did was groundbreaking, but he still was an above-average replacement. Given the importance of his position, above average is all he needs for an excellent pay day in free agency this offseason.
Osweiler could be Denver’s next franchise quarterback if he returns, but his decision — and the team’s — is in limbo while the world waits on Manning. Broncos general manager John Elway shed light on the situation Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“I met with Peyton a couple nights ago, and we had a good talk,” Elway told the Denver Post. “As I said after (Super Bowl 50), we’re going to give him as much time as he needs, and he needs some more time. So we’re going to afford him that time. He deserves that after 18 years in this league. We’ll continue to do that. That’s where we left it.”
As for Osweiler?
“We’re really not in a hurry. Everything is still real fluid,” Elway added. “We know where Brock is. Brock knows what we have to offer and we still have a great deal of interest in Brock and would like to do something with Brock.”
Manning must decide by March 8 if he wants to play the final year of his contract. With less than two weeks, the clock is ticking — both for his future and Osweiler’s.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
