In Elway We Trust

Quarterback Brock Osweiler is a Houston Texan, after signing a four-year $72 Million Deal. No sweat!

Defensive Lineman Malik Jackson is a Jacksonville Jaguar, after signing a six-year $90 Million deal. Ain’t No Thing!

Linebacker Danny Trevathan is a Chicago Bear, after signing a four-year $28 Million deal. Who Cares!

Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Peyton Manning retired on Monday. Thanks for the memories.

The reason all of these moves aren’t a huge deal. Five Little Words: In John Elway We Trust!

Few people have ever been as good at their job as John Elway was at his first job out of college. He’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame because he’s one of, if not the best quarterback in the history of the game.

In 2011 when he took over as the Football Czar of The Denver Broncos, for whom he went to FIVE and won TWO Super Bowls, there wasn’t necessarily skepticism, but there was no guarantee he’d have anywhere near the success he’s had. Since taking over as Vice President of Football Operations, and General Manager, John Elway’s success has been undeniable. The Broncos have won FIVE division titles, appeared in TWO Super Bowls, and last month, they hoisted the greatest prize in American Team Sports, the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 50.

How were they able to do that, you ask? Simple. In John Elway we trust.

Elway entered his first draft holding the No. 2 pick, because the Broncos weren’t very good in Josh McDaniels final season in charge. They selected Von Miller who was named to his fourth Pro Bowl in 2015 and as the world saw, earned Super Bowl 50 MVP Honors. Whether it’s sooner or later, Miller will be the highest paid defensive player in league history.

The next four drafts, Elway selected a defensive player with his first selection in each draft. He took Defensive End Derek Wolfe with the fourth pick in the second round in 2012. Wolfe just inked a new four-year contract extension and is a cornerstone of the best defense in football. A year later, Sylvester Williams was selected 28^th overall, and last year proved that he wasn’t a wasted pick, anchoring the middle of The Broncos vaunted 3-4 defensive front. Cornerback Bradley Roby seemed like an unnecessary pick when he was taken with the next to last pick of the 2014 draft, but he made an impact right away, especially in a passing league where defenses are in nickel or dime coverage 70 percent of the time. To cap off a great second outstanding year in the NFL, Roby, made the two biggest defensive plays of the season at the time, forcing a fumble in the divisional round win over Pittsburgh, and intercepting Tom Brady as his New England Patriots tried to tie the AFC Championship game with just 18 seconds left to play.

Last year Elway traded up from 28 to 23 to take the best pass rusher in the draft, Shane Ray, even though they already had the best edge pass rush duo in the game.

As good as Elway has been in the draft, and for those keeping score at home, he’s five-for-five with his first draft pick, he’s been equally as good in free agency.

Let’s start with the big fish, Peyton Manning. Elway had a PR nightmare on his hands with the inexplicable play of quarterback Tim Tebow gaining the loyalty of the fanbase. Elway was never a supporter of the inherited Tebow and likely wanted to move on from him regardless of who he brought in. By signing Peyton Manning not only did Elway land arguably the biggest free agent the game has ever seen but also calmed the Tebow crazies allowing the franchise to move on from #15.

It’s not just Manning though, Elway’s batting average in free agency is equally as high in each of his five seasons at the helm as his drafting has been.

Here’s a refresher on some of the names Elway and Co. have signed: Willis McGahee, Brandon Stokley, Joel Dreessen, Mike Adams, Keith Brooking, Dan Koppen, Andre “Bubba” Caldwell, Jacob Tamme, Wes Welker, Terrance Knighton, Shaun Phillips, Louis Vasquez, Brandon Marshall, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, Emmanuel Sanders, Darian Stewart, Ryan Harris, Owen Daniels, Vance Walker, and Antonio Smith. There have been more free agents that have made the Broncos roster and contributed to multiple wins but it’s clear he and his two right-hand men Director of Player Personnel Matt Russell and Director of Pro Personnel Tom Heckert have been outstanding in their team building.

The Broncos just won Super Bowl 50, and Elway brought all but two of the 53 players on the active roster.

In the Elway era, The Broncos have rarely offered free agents they didn’t want a contract before Free Agency began. With players like Cornerback Chris Harris and Wolfe, they offered competitive deals, and both players signed them before they hit the open market. But in instances like Zane Beadles, Eric Decker, Dominque Rodgers-Cromatie, Julius Thomas, Orlando Franklin and others, The Broncos let the market set itself and have yet to chase after a player who’s been offered a deal. Until Brock Osweiler. Reportedly, the initial offer the Broncos made to the fourth-year QB was for three-years at $13 Million annually. When they heard that The Texans offered more, they countered with the same length, but $16 Million a year. So, when the Texans offered four-years and $72 Million, it was just too much for Elway. Mind you, Elway, drafted Osweiler, a player he’s known since his son Jack lived with the former Arizona State signal-caller in college.

But $18 Million a year and $37 Million guaranteed was too rich for Elway. And, he was clearly not comfortable spending that much of the Bowlen family’s money. The lone signing the Broncos made as free agency opened was a three-year deal and $14 Million for Offensive Lineman Donald Stephenson, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs. Described as nimble, Stephenson will undoubtedly start next season, but he has the flexibility to play four offensive line positions. Also, signing him away from the Chiefs, not only strengthens The Broncos, it weakens KC.

Was the Broncos magical run with an all-time caliber defense a bit of a fluke, because their quarterback play was suspect? Perhaps. But of all 32 GM’s running a team, is there any doubt that the man in charge of The Broncos knows more about Quarterback Play than any of his 31 counterparts. Absolutely!

With second year quarterback, Trevor Siemian as the lone QB on the Denver roster today, concern from Broncos fans is to be expected. But, I’ll remind you it’s only March. There’s a lot that can happen between now and Thursday, September 8^th when The Broncos take the field at Mile High to defend their World Championship.

The biggest reason Broncos fans should rest easy that it will all work out…say it with me…In John Elway We Trust!