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2012 Denver Broncos Schedule

March 20, 2012 by · Comments Off on 2012 Denver Broncos Schedule 

2012 Denver Broncos Schedule, All that’s needed is Peyton Manning’s autograph. After being pursued by teams around the NFL, the QB with four MVP awards is headed to the land of John Elway and Tim Tebow, agreeing to a contract with Denver that could make the Broncos an instant Super Bowl contender. It could also send one of the NFL’s most intriguing young players packing.

So much for Tebowmania. Manning called Elway on Monday morning and told the Broncos executive that he had chosen Denver over the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers in the wildest free-agent chase of the offseason.

The Broncos and Manning’s agent then hashed out details of a deal that’s expected to be worth about $95 million over five years.

If they can reach an agreement, Manning could sign the deal and be introduced at a news conference as early as Tuesday.

Manning was wooed to Denver by Elway, the former QB who led the Broncos to two Super Bowl championships and now serves as their vice president of football operations. Elway never sounded all that convinced Tebow was the answer at the sport’s most important position, and now could trade the hugely popular QB who energized the Broncos in a run to the playoffs last season but was plagued by erratic play.

Manning turns 36 on Saturday and missed the 2011 season because of multiple neck surgeries, which made him expendable to the rebuilding Indianapolis Colts. They cut him March 7 rather than pay a $28 million bonus.

But Manning’s success in the past made him a prize that teams from San Francisco to Miami felt they couldn’t pass up.

“There’s a lot to be excited about,” Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers, a fellow Tennessee alum, said outside the team’s complex Monday. “Just being on his team is going to make you want to play better.”

By luring the elite QB to Denver, Elway has delivered his biggest victory for the Broncos since he led them to their second straight Super Bowl title in 1999. He retired shortly after that 34-19 win over Atlanta and the Broncos have won just two playoff games since.

Manning won an NFL championship in 2007. And although no starting QB has ever earned a Super Bowl ring for two different teams, when he arrives at the Broncos’ headquarters to sign his new deal, Manning at least can see the two Lombardi Trophies in the lobby that Elway won when he was 37 and 38.

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