So, here is a question for the Super Bowl. All signs appear to indicate that Peyton Manning will be calling it quits after the Super Bowl. Let’s face it: he is running on fumes at this point and has become a “game manager” type of QB vs. a real game changer. We all saw what happened a couple of years ago in the Meadowlands against Seattle and he was coming off a strong year back then.
Let’s suppose this year’s Super Bowl is reasonably close in the 3rd quarter but Manning is really struggling. Does Gary Kubiak give him the hook and bring in the QB of the future in Brock Osweiler? Or does he say that Manning has earned the chance to go out on his terms and maybe there is still some magic left in that arm?
SU says that very few NFL players ride off into the sunset. It just rarely works out that way. Actually, John Elway walked away after a championship (I believe) but the more typical scenario is watching players with diminished skills tail off (Brett Favre, Dan Marino). Peyton says all the right things and is a team guy first. But he has a lot of pride and will want to finish what he started. It may become a moot point if the game is a blowout in Carolina’s favor. We all know many Super Bowls go that way and no one is hotter than Cam Newton and the Panthers. SU says you need to win the game and Kubiak needs to make sure Osweiler is ready to relieve. He can’t worry about the 2nd guessing and it may be that a more mobile, faster and agile QB is needed to give the Broncos a chance.
What say you?