Peyton Manning Rumors: John Elway Should Not Be Reason QB Chooses Broncos

Peyton Manning has apparently narrowed his list of potential suitors to the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post.

However, he should not choose the latter because he became buddies with their Executive Vice President of Football Operations and Hall of Famer John Elway, as Peter King found may be the case.

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The Broncos wouldn’t be the favorite in this without Elway. Manning likes him a lot, and they meshed well Friday … John Fox is a good coach, and Mike McCoy a good coordinator, for Manning because they’ll allow him to hold sway over much of the offense.

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If Peyton is healthy, he’s going to be a force wherever he goes and instantly improve that franchise.

Denver would be a decent option, but he can’t make his decision merely because he is a friend of Elway.

Manning needs to make his choice based on who has a combination of the best offensive line to protect his neck, most weapons on offense to be successful and decent defense to allow for a few more postseason runs before he retires.

If he feels the Broncos provides that, he should join them. If he comes to the conclusion that Arizona, Miami or Tennessee fit those criteria better; he’s got to choose that destination.

Manning has to look out for himself, his future and his legacy—not his friends. It would be tough to play in Elway’s shadow. Even if he won two Super Bowls in Mile High, he’ll never be revered the way the former Stanford man is in the city.

Peyton will always be remembered as a Colt, but he has a chance to significantly alter the fate of another franchise and also be loved by a city such as Nashville or Phoenix.

He’s got a tough choice ahead of him, but Manning is a smart man and will do what is best for the present and future.