The Losers In The Manning Sweepstake? The Broncos

But wait, how can that be? They signed Manning.

Sure, but at what gain versus what cost?

The gain? A 4 time MVP/Pro Bowl quarterback who has been on a steady decline (look up the stats, they back this up) and is coming off of 4 neck surgeries. His old team let him go because they weren't sure he'd be able to play at the level he had before, play a full season or even play at all.

Sure, an 85% Manning is better then Tebow or Brady Quinn (who is no longer with the team). So would think it would end up being a gain right?

No. And this is the same thing that affected the other teams in the Manning hunt.

They get Manning, it's all in and have to hope he plays at 85% and manages to stay healthy. They lose Manning, they've undermined their organization. They even get Manning and they have to trade/cut some valuable players. Well, it depends on if you think Tebow is valuable.

I'll get to the Titans (who would have made out the best by getting Manning but also make out the best out of the losers), 49ers and Miami later. For now let's look at the Broncos.

If you have Manning as your starter, you can't have Tebow as your backup. It just doesn't work. Two wildly different styles. For Tebow to be effective, you have to scheme around his strengths. And those aren't the same as Manning.

The Broncos would have been better with Brady Quinn as the back-up, but he's gone now. And they'll have to trade Tebow (I wouldn't expect Tebow to go somewhere as the back-up. He'll either be the starter, Miami, or a pure situational player, Patriots).

Manning goes down, for all we know it could be just one hit that knocks him out of the game for good, and who do you have behind him? No one.

Even if the Broncos draft a 1st round QB, which they absolutely should no matter what, would you really want to throw the QB into the deep end if Manning goes down?

The Broncos have to pray that Manning stays healthy and plays at an 85% level.

I don't think it'll be worth the 90 million they'll have to pay. I think the results for the Broncos will be the same as if they still had Tebow under center.

By the way, I hope the Patriots pick up Tebow and use him as Belichek originally wanted: situational player. How dangerous would the offense be with Brady at the helm, Gronkowski/Hernandez/Welker receiving and Woodhead/Tebow in the backfield?

Will Tebow go out and catch? Run like a fullback? Take the snap and pass? Will he pass short or will he pass deep? Play him as a Tight End sometimes, as a fullback other times (like they did with Hernandez some last year) and a wildcat QB. And unlike most wildcats, can have him line-up as running back, Brady take the snap and hand off.

That's not a scary offense that will give defenses nightmares?

Tebow Is The New Wildcat

Remember a couple of seasons (this is about football, the season spans multiple years) ago when the Miami Dolphins debuted the Wildcat to great success?

They demolished my beloved Patriots and used it to carry them to an AFC East title and the playoffs. The next year though, teams were ready for it and even drafting a "wildcat quarterback" (Pat White, who is out of the NFL now) didn't help. The wildcat has now become an occasional play used to try and surprise the defenses. Although how much of a surprise is it when the QB lines up in the slot (or is off the feed completely)?

So that brings us to Tebow and the success he's had since he took over as starter (although, the last couple of weeks have definately put a dent in that success and only helped reinforce why I think he's the new wildcat).

Tebow caught the other teams by surprise. He's a bad passer, worse then many of the back-ups that are out there (Tyler Palko, Caleb Hanie.. I'm looking at you). But he's just good enough that you have to pay attention to the possibility of a throw. His real threat is running. So when he first showed up behind center it was a surprise to the other teams and that's how he was able to lead the Broncos to victory. He was just good enough that the defense kept them in the games.

Not to take away from his obvious leadership abilities, which is what got his team to rally behind him. It caused the defense to play better and the offense as well.

But look whats happened the last couple of weeks. He's been stuffed. Teams are starting to figure out how to stop him. He's become one dimensional. They aren't fearing his passing abilities like they have to with Cam Newton and Michael Vick. Tebow is becoming the new wildcat. A fad, so to speak, that surprised people with how effective it was but once they figured it out, it wasn't as effective anymore.

During the draft hype leading up to Cam Newton being selected #1, I was pretty confused as to why Newton was #1 and Tebow was a shock that he got picked in the first round. To me, with what I knew going in (not a huge college football fan), they seemed the same type of QB.

But there is a difference. Cam Newton is a good passer. Tim Tebow is not.