Peyton Manning Rumors: Broncos Losing Ground as Titans Beef Up Efforts

The Denver Broncos were riding a mile high on Sunday night.

Peyton Manning had just spent the better part of two days in Denver, with pictures of him playing tennis and dining at restaurants in the sunny 65-degree weather surfacing. He had spent less than a full eight-hour workday in Arizona on Sunday and it seemed as if Manning was flying back east with the intentions of signing with Denver.

Broncos fans thought they were about to land a four-time MVP.

Then the Tennessee Titans got into the mix and changed everything.

ESPN is reporting that Titans coach Mike Munchak and general manager Rustin Webster traveled to Raleigh-Durham, NC to meet with Manning, who is currently working out at Duke on Wednesday.

Nobody is too sure how long they will be there, or what exactly the group plans on doing, but the news is awful for Denver.

Manning has absolutely no ties to the Broncos or the state of Colorado aside from holding a lot of respect for the legendary quarterback John Elway. The receiving corps is just okay, the offensive line is shaky in pass protection, and the weather is all over the place.

Tennessee holds the advantage in so many aspects.

Manning first was put on the map by his play in Knoxville, TN with the Vols. His wife, whom he met at college, grew up in Memphis. The Titans play in the AFC South, which is the same division as the Colts, so the opponents and schedule would be familiar. It’s a warm-weather climate, Tennessee has one of the best defenses in the league, and they employ the fasted running back in the NFL in Chris Johnson.

The Broncos can’t compete with that. Manning has an incredibly emotional decision to make, and with his previous ties to Tennessee—coupled with the team’s current situation—it’s hard to see him going anywhere else.

The Titans are the leaders in this, and the Broncos, who haven’t had any sort of contact with No. 18 since the weekend, are left praying to the football gods, just like their fans.

The Broncos aren’t going to land Manning and now they have to repair their relations with Tim Tebow.

Close, but no cigar. 

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