Randy Smith
Dear Mr. Elway;
I don't know you at all. I never got the opportunity to interview you as your entire career was spent west of the Mississippi, while my career has been spent mainly in the southeast. I understand that you were one of the all-time great quarterbacks, and I also understand that you are among the most respected front office people in the NFL. With that said, I have one basic question for you; what do you freakin' think you're doing?
Brock Osweiler over Peyton Manning? Come on man...I'm not talking about Peyton's injuries.
If he's hurt, he can't play, but last week, ESPN was reporting that in the pre-season, an anonymous source stated that Peyton Manning would be benched in favor of Osweiler and a "fake" injury would be reported. That would give head coach Gary Kubiak the opportunity to move Osweiler in as the Bronco's starter, and Manning would never play a down again. If that outlandish report is true, then shame on you. If it's false and Peyton is really hurt and will come back as the starter when he's ready, then shame on ESPN.
On Monday, the day after the Broncos edged the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Peyton was in Charlotte getting a second opinion from renowned foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. It seems that Manning has a plantar fascia injury to his left foot, and there is the possibility that his season may be over. If the injury to his foot is for real and is really that serious, then I have no gripes with Kubiak nor with you, John. But if the injury is just a farce; one that makes it a lot easier to force one of the all-time greats of the game to the sidelines or even worse, to the rocking chair, then again, shame on you.
Peyton Manning's name is all over the NFL record book. He has passed for more yardage in his career than Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Joe Montana combined. He has broken two career records this season alone. For what he has done for his teams, the league and the game in general, he deserves to go out on his terms and no one else's He should say when he's through and not Gary Kubiak.
When Gary Kubiak was hired to replace John Fox as Denver's head coach, he decided right away to change things offensively with the Broncos. He wanted to change the same offense that set several records for productivity in the first three years Peyton was the quarterback. He wanted his quarterback to go from under center rather than the shotgun or the pistol formations; ones that Peyton was more comfortable with. Peyton being the true professional in every way accepted the new look; one that was put in place to strengthen the Broncos running game. He just wasn't able to make it work. Whether it was his age or his injuries the Broncos offense was basically on life-support the first few weeks of the season. Still, Denver was 7-2 with Peyton as the starting quarterback.
Not only is Peyton one of the all-time greats of the game, he is also one of the finest men to ever play in the NFL. I said I didn't know you Mr. Elway, but I do know Peyton Manning. I have followed his career in college at Tennessee, with the Colts, then I became a Broncos' fan in 2012 when he signed with your team. He has a home less than ten miles from mine in Chattanooga. I know and respect his entire family, but I also know that loyalty as we all knew it twenty years ago, doesn't exist anymore. Not in the NFL, the business world or any part of our society.
So, I hope that I can continue to pull for the Broncos. I have no problem with Brock Osweiler but he's no Payton Manning, and never will be. I hope the reports coming from Denver are all on the level because I can't imagine one of the all-time greats going out as an understudy to a former second-round NFL draft choice.