What If Peyton Manning Goes Down?

Broncos fans everywhere don’t want to ask this question, but I will go ahead and ask it…  Would the Denver Broncos be able to strive without Peyton Manning?

Dec 30 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (6) prepares to pass in the fourth quarter during the game against the Kansas City Chief at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The quick answer would be absolutely not.  However, John Elway seems to think Brock Osweiler has what it takes to take over if needed, saying “I’m thrilled that Brock is the guy that we brought in and that’s going to hopefully, at some point in time, take over for Peyton because I really believe he’s got that makeup.”

No Bronco fan wants to think about this scenario but this should give you hope that life after Peyton isn’t all that bleak and that Elway and company are taking the proper measures to build for the present and the future.  Osweiler understands the importance of being ready in case the un-imaginable happens.

“People say I’m the future, I’m the heir apparent. Those are only words. I have to go out there. I have to earn that right to be the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos one day, and that’s something I try to take to heart and really try to push myself every single day, so that when 18 (Peyton Manning) is gone, I’ll have the chance to win that starting position.”

Some background on Osweiler in case you have forgotten who the heck he is…  He was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft at the 57th pick out of Arizona State University.  He is freakishly tall at 6’8″ and was recruited and offered a basketball scholarship at Gonzaga University.  He also sports an interesting tattoo.  It’s wild to think and easy to forget that he was drafted alongside Andrew Luck, RGIII and before Russell Wilson.

He has received high marks from onlookers this offseason including Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post who had this to say about Osweiler,” The ball is coming out quickly. He’s making quicker decisions. And he has the  ability to get people moved around before the snap when he has to. So,  developmentally speaking, he has shown exactly why you take a quarterback in the  draft long before you need him to be the starter.”

In the meantime, Oz is taking in everything he can “I watch everything he does. From our quarterback meeting room to the team meeting room to the weight room to the practice field, games, in the locker room, pre-game, shoot, I even watch what he would do as far as signing autographs pregame at a hotel — would he or would he not? — certain things like that.”