Peyton Manning: Why Storied QB Won't Win Another Title with Denver Broncos

If Peyton Manning really was gunning for another title when he chose the Denver Broncos on Monday, he made a bad decision.

There was another team vying for Manning's services that would have given him a better shot, and I'm not talking about the Tennessee Titans.

That team was the San Francisco 49ers, a revitalized squad who were edged by the eventual champion New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game last season.

Manning does have a better chance with the Broncos than the Indianapolis Colts, obviously. The Broncos have a young, emerging defense and I wouldn't be surprised if they added Manning's favorite tight end in the whole wide world, Dallas Clark.

But the fact of the matter is, the Broncos have a young, emerging defense. That's both a good thing and a bad thing. The defense will likely improve next season—that's the good thing. The bad thing is that it's not a powerhouse, and likely won't be for at least a couple more seasons. Manning's time is running out, and he can't afford to wait for pieces to develop.

There's also the fact that the Broncos don't have a legit No. 1 receiver for Manning to throw to. Both Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal are gone. In that regard, I thought the Broncos wouldn't even be in the equation, especially with Reggie Wayne re-signing with the Colts.

Manning, when healthy, makes the most out of his talent. But he still needs talent. When he won the Super Bowl with the Colts in 2007, for example, he had an offense with four other Pro Bowlers, including Wayne, Marvin Harrison, center Jeff Saturday and offensive tackle Tarik Glenn.

The 49ers were the logical choice for Manning. They have a dominant defense and just added Mario Manningham and Randy Moss to the receiving corps (they also have that tight end named Vernon Davis). Manning and the 49ers would have been my Super Bowl pick next season (if he stayed healthy, that is).

Now Manning finds himself trying to make the most of a developing team.

The reality is, by the time the Broncos have enough talent to win a Super Bowl, Manning won't be able to play anymore.

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