Peyton Manning's Return to Broncos in 2015 Is Best-Case Scenario for Denver

Peyton Manning fans surely want to see the superstar quarterback return in 2015. The NFL has to be hoping one of its most marketable players returns for another campaign. And you would think the Denver Broncos would be thrilled if Manning indeed returned for at least one more run at a championship. 

Yet that might not be the case—and it's all a bit baffling. 

On Monday, Jeff Duncan of the The Times-Picayune reported that according to his sources, Manning was in New Orleans and expected to start working out with fitness trainer Mackie Shilstone to begin preparations for the 2015 season.

Surely, the Broncos front office was jumping for joy.

But then Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported the Broncos may choose to part ways with Manning. Wait, what?

While Cole thinks Manning will be back in Denver for at least one more year, it's intriguing to think that the team is even considering moving on (or that there is any buzz at all in that regard). Who do they have on their roster at quarterback who would give them a better chance to win than Manning?

Brock Osweiler might someday be a good quarterback, but it's hard to imagine he'll be a better option in 2015 than Manning. Impossible to imagine, even.

And who could they possibly add in free agency or the draft who would lead them to the playoffs?

No one, that's who. Mark Sanchez is probably the best option in free agency, so forget about that, and they pick too low in the first round to add one of the top quarterbacks on the board. This year's draft feels like a two-quarterback rodeo between Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, and the Broncos won't land either.

Remember folks, Manning still threw for 4,727 yards and 39 touchdowns last season. If he wasn't battling an injury down the stretch of the season, those numbers would be even more inflated. More than a few teams would likely love to have Manning for a season.

B/R's Ian Kenyon can think of at least one:

Plus, the Broncos aren't some young team that plans on rebuilding. Sure, they have a new coach in Gary Kubiak, but this is a roster built to win now, especially if they break the bank to retain some of their big pending free agents, including Demaryius and Julius Thomas, Terrance Knighton, Rahim Moore and Orlando Franklin, among others.

Maybe, with so many key players due for a payday, the Broncos feel that cutting ties with Manning would clear a huge chunk of cap space and help them retain the core of a talented roster. But even the most expensive sports car is pretty useless without a steering wheel. 

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Of course, there is the matter of determining whether Kubiak and Manning are a schematic fit as well. Kubiak has always been a proponent of running the ball, after all, whereas Manning will retire owning just about every relevant passing record for a reason (assuming he returns in 2015). It's possible there could be some differences of opinion on pretty major issues between the two.

Even Manning acknowledged he wanted to test the fit, noting at the Bart Starr Award breakfast that he wanted to sit down and talk with Kubiak, John Elway and chief executive officer Joe Ellis.

"I guess some of those things are personal," Manning said of speaking to the trio, per Mike Klis of The Denver Post. "Some things I want to discuss with them. There has been quite a lot of change since our last game, so I want to hear what they have to say and get their thoughts on some things and share some thoughts of my own with them and get their feedback."

Jeff Legwold of ESPN has more:

They'll figure it out, because it is in everyone's best interest to figure it out.

Manning can still play at a high level even as an injury risk, which he proved last year. Kubiak and Manning can collaborate to merge their offensive philosophies. Given how C.J. Anderson and the running game emerged last season—and the fact that running the ball more decreases the chances of Manning being hit in the pocket—it isn't hard to see Manning conceding on emphasizing the run more. 

The Broncos would be absolutely crazy to cut ties with Manning next year if the future Hall of Famer comes back for another season. And that's precisely why they won't.

So celebrate, Denver: The best-case scenario for the team in 2015, Manning's return, seems likely to come true.