Peyton Manning: Will the Denver Broncos Cut Their Star QB After One Year?

Don't be surprised if the Denver Broncos cut Peyton Manning after one season.

The new Broncos quarterback is coming off multiple neck surgeries that derailed his 2011 season. Now in Denver, Manning says he is healthy and is ready to get back on the field.

There are high expectations for the Broncos going into the 2012 season. After winning the AFC West and a playoff game last season with Tim Tebow, fans expect that Manning will be able to take the team even further, perhaps to a Super Bowl.

This season is key for Manning to prove he is still an elite quarterback who can help Denver win another championship. As for the Broncos, they will need to evaluate Manning after this season and decide whether they want to continue working with him.

The reason they have to do that is money.

When the contract first came out, all we saw was a five-year deal worth $96 million. However, after Mike Florio of NBC Sports looked deeper into the contract, he found some interest terms in the deal after the 2012 season.

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Then, if Manning is on the Broncos’ roster on the final day of the 2012 league year, his base salaries of $20 million in 2013 and $20 million in 2014 become fully guaranteed.

In other words, the Broncos can cut Manning at any point after Super Bowl XLVII and before the last day before the start of the 2013 league year and limit the contract to a one-year, $18 million investment. And so, just as the Colts faced a $28 million decision in March 2012, the Broncos will face a $40 million decision in March of 2013.

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Now, there are some ways the Broncos can get away from paying some of this money. If during the 2013 season Manning injures his neck, the $20 million for 2014 will not have to be paid. However, if he injures any other part of his body Manning is still eligible for the money.

So as Florio mentioned, the Broncos will be in the same scenario as the Colts were this offseason. Will the Broncos want to pay $40 million to a quarterback who will be 38 in 2014?

The only difference in the case for John Elway and the Broncos' front office is that they most likely won't have the No. 1 overall pick with the choice of taking a prospect like Andrew Luck.

If Manning does not lead the Broncos to the playoffs this season, it wouldn't be a big surprise if the Broncos release Manning and move on. Even if they are 10-6 and miss the playoffs, the Broncos may decide that "we tried the gamble and it didn't work" and find another quarterback.

Obviously, we won't know what the future holds for Manning after the 2012 season, but if Manning doesn't perform like he used to, expect the Broncos to save money and release their star quarterback.