Broncos 2012 preseason schudule

A new look and now a new season, it’s only 125 days away.

The Denver Broncos released their preseason schedule to the public this week. It’s exhibition football, but there is a buzz in the Mile High City following a surprisingly success season last year where they made it all the way to the Divisional Round of the AFC fashion, in the most dramatic way possible.

Here’s how the Broncos will gear up for the 2012-2013 season:

Preseason Week 1: @ Chicago Bears (8/9-8/13)

Preseason Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks (8/16-8/20)

Preseason Week 3: vs. San Francisco (8/26)

Preseason Week 4: @ Arizona Cardinals (8/29-8/30)

The first action Broncos’ fans will get to see of their new quarterback Peyton Manning will be, most likely, on the television. Denver will travel to the Windy City for the preseason opener. He will be facing former Denver play-caller Jay Cutler, who was also recently joined by former Bronco wide receiver Brandon Marshall in Chicago.

Manning’s much-anticipated homecoming is just that, it’ll be as energizing and rabid a fan base can get for a preseason game. The Broncos will take on Seattle, but the opponent, like many exhibition games, won’t be of note. The snaps he will take under center in an orange Bronco uniform will draw fans by the thousands. (Recommendation: Get your tickets now.)

In the third preseason game, the one where starters will get the most minutes before sitting out and resting awaiting for the season, Denver will have a test. There is turmoil in San Francisco, the 49ers were also a part of the wooing of Manning so quarterback Alex Smith was notably disgruntled, but it was a team that made it all the way to the NFC Championship game a year ago.  

The Broncos will get a little bit of everything in the preseason. They’ll see former Broncos, castaways of Denver, a welcoming of a legend and a test that will sure to get the juices flowing. With a preseason like this, the Broncos are seemingly getting ready much bigger things.

Peyton's day

Peyton Manning is a Bronco. This day is his.

One of the greatest quarterbacks of all time will now strap it up in the Mile High City after a year that has been nothing but trouble. He was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch his team; his city fall to indelible lows.  He withered, with his mind as sharp as ever, getting replaced by someone who had yet to take a snap in a professional game.

Manning deserves this day all to himself. It’s a pen and paper, and a chance finally to play football.

The ex-Colt said everything everyone wanted to hear in the press conference. The feed streamed live across the Internet and the Twitter-verse chimed his quotes in unison.

He chose Denver the way he studies defenses, with pinpoint accuracy. He weighed his options and found a home. He made his decision, on his own, from the comfort of his own impeccable mind, and not a minute to late.

Manning apologized for taking so long, he hates being in the spotlight. But he should soak it all in. All of it, including the 300-plus days of sunshine that are coming his way.

It’s not Tuesday, it’s his first true Sunday as number-18 for the Denver Broncos. 

Tebow or Manning; there can only be one?

In a perfect world Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning would share bunk beds in John Elway’s basement and then draw up plays over a bowl of Wheaties in the morning.

Despite the probable likelihood of that happening, we are faced with reality.

People, most importantly the Broncos front office which includes John Elway, John Fox and Brian Xanders, must choose: Tebow? Or Manning? Or can the Mile High City succinctly survive with both?

Manning is arguably the best quarterback ever to go under center. He has Super Bowl wins, NFL Most Valuable Player Awards, and a knowledge of the game that surpasses even some of the coaches that surround him. He left Indianapolis in better condition than when he arrived; he torched defenses and they even renamed a hospital in his honor.

But Manning is damaged goods. He was forced to sit out the entire year in 2011 with a back injury, and there is no assurance that he’s back to the old “Peyton”.

Tebow is the “Never say die” kid. He inspires others with his impeccable but sometimes improbably will to win. He makes mistakes, he gets better and in a matter of a couple weeks he makes a city believe. He’s controversial, in a good way, and he drives debate like nobody else in the sports world.

But Tebow isn’t prototypical. His throwing motion has been dissected more frugally than a frog in a middle school science class. He has the intangibles, but his ability to take that next step as a quarterback is still an unknown

Can they survive together? Yes, if anything is true about whom they are as people and what they strive to be as football players, then that is the only answer.

But will they get the chance, and will their fans allow it?

Tebow would cherish the opportunity, and would gladly take a backseat to Peyton to take in the veterans ways. He’ll get more tips than a kind waiter with a camera phone. Manning could fall into good graces with the Broncos faithful by winning game and taking the young quarterback under his wing.

Yet, no matter how they function there will always be a divide. The media will pit “Good versus Good”, a game that nobody can win. The fans have already chosen sides, and there is no going back on it now.

Manning or Tebow? Tebow or Manning? There can only be one.

Tebow is thankful for Manning in Denver

As the Denver Broncos prepare to sign one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, Peyton Manning, there is a lot of uncertainty remaining in the Mile High City.

What about Tim Tebow? How can you do such a thing to a player that led the team to the playoffs, and even past the Pittsburgh Steelers in one of the most dramatic wins in this cities history?

Those would be the fans yelling, screaming and posting billboards indirectly inquiring with Broncos executives about their decisions.

But, as surely as a man drops to his knee in praise of a higher being, and thus making others flock, follow, and imitate such a gesture, he is without a doubt the one most thankful for this pickup.

He’ll get more tips than a kind waiter with a camera phone.

Peyton Manning, by all reports, is great person, leader and teacher. His stadium and hospital in Indianapolis and the fans of the Colts that had to see him walk away are a testament. He’s a Southern boy, with a Midwestern attitude and a work ethic like nobody who’s ever played.

Tebow isn’t posting his house for sale, he’s adding an extra guest bedroom.

The Broncos current quarterback finds pleasure in getting better and winning. And who better to learn from. Taking a backseat; wouldn’t be. He’d be riding shotgun with Moonlight Graham on his way to a cornfield in Iowa.

Tebow is no Manning; and Manning is no Tebow.

The former Colts quarterback won’t start a worldwide statue phenomenon like his, now predecessor. But “Tebow-ing” does kind of like a victory formation kneel down; a prayer answered and a win for everyone involved.

Manning or Tebow; Work Hard or Smart?

It’s like one of the Seven Wonders of the World coming to you.

Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning visited Denver last week seemingly scouting the prospect of new home in the Mile High City. He spent upwards of nine hours at the Denver Broncos training facility in Dove Valley with Vice President of Football Operations John Elway.

If Manning walked through your open door would you know what to do?

They’d possibly get him a nice plush blue-sheep clad pillow to sit on for his aching back. Elway would have to order him up a Denver omelet, and then wear out a laser pointer or two talking the language only elite quarterbacks know how to speak. And finally, Denver would not mention word about Tim Tebow.

Sure, Tebow will most likely slide over for a future Hall of Famer if he happens to come to Denver. Heck, Manning may even say “God Bless” after every press conference. And they would be quite the pair in a charity scramble event on the golf course.

But compatibility-wise, it’d be like mixing up two 1,000 piece puzzles together

Manning is a studier, a nerd, a gym rat. If he played basketball he’d draw up in-bound plays and perfect his free throw shot. His screens would be in the proper positions and his pivot foot would never leave the ground.

Tebow is a constructer, a specimen, a workaholic. He’d be in the gym just as much as Manning but instead he’d be dribbling two or three balls at the same time trying to get better. He would be running sprints to be more prepared than the other.

Either way the Broncos go, if they are lucky enough to snag a quarterback like Manning, it would be a risk.

Do they play hard (Tebow)? Or smart (Manning)? Or both?