Broncos' Pursuit of Peyton Manning Reveals John Elway's Disbelief in Tim Tebow

The Denver Broncos are apparently very serious about signing Peyton Manning.

According to a report from Mike Klis and Woody Paige of The Denver Post, Manning will be in Denver on Friday night to visit with the Broncos.

This development confirms something that's been reported since Manning parted way with the Colts on Wednesday: the Broncos are very interested.

The sheer speed with which the Broncos have entered the Manning mix is a sign that team boss John Elway sees a golden opportunity to make his team a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2012 and the ensuing seasons.

Provided that Manning gets a clean bill of health, there's really no reason to think he wouldn't be able to perform like his old self, in which case he would indeed be a quarterback perfectly capable of leading the Broncos to the Super Bowl.

Denver's interest in Manning tells us something else that most of us have suspected for quite a while: John Elway doesn't think Tim Tebow is capable of achieving greatness just yet, or maybe ever.

The team's pursuit of Manning, which is only getting more serious with each passing day, is definitive proof of that. If Elway and the Broncos brass thought the team was just fine in Tebow's hands, they wouldn't be bothering with Manning.

They're not bothering with Manning because they want to provide Tebow with competition, as Klis has reported the Broncos were looking to do. They're bothering with Manning because they see a chance to provide their quarterback situation with an immediate upgrade, and a significant one at that.

If there's an argument over whether Tebow or Manning is a better option for the Broncos, there shouldn't be any doubt. Tebow is younger and more sturdy than Manning, but he's nowhere close to being Manning's equal as a quarterback. If Elway can bring Manning in to take Tebow's starting job, he shouldn't flinch.

Besides, Elway has to look on the bright side as far as how signing Manning would effect Tebow.

Assuming he chooses to keep Tebow on the roster after signing Manning, Elway could rest easy knowing his young quarterback would be watching and learning behind one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL.

Elway could also look to deal Tebow to a team eager to buy into his athleticism and uncanny ability to come through in the clutch.

Elway doesn't have anything to lose pursuing Manning. If his pursuit is successful, the Broncos will get a star quarterback who will put them right at the top of the AFC hierarchy. If he doesn't get Manning, it will be like nothing ever happened. Tebow will be the starter after all, and he'll be characteristically eager to please.

It is, however, quite obvious that sticking with Tebow is not the ideal scenario. Elway has a much bigger fish on his mind, and will spend the coming days trying to hook him.