Have the Colts and Broncos Finally Replaced Peyton Manning?

After searching for several seasons, have the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos finally replaced quarterback Peyton Manning?

Last August in Canton, Ohio, NFL star Peyton Manning confirmed what fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden spoke of during his own enshrinement speech in 2006. That the busts in the Hall whisper at night when the building is closed.

No doubt last summer, those legendary “figures” spoke of Manning. Along with Tom Brady, they are the only quarterbacks to guide two different franchises to Super Bowl victories. Speaking of ’06, that would be the season that the Indianapolis Colts won Super Bowl XLI. Manning captured game MVP honors.

So what do you think those Hall of Fame busts have been buzzing about over the last few weeks? There has been plenty of quarterback news. And arguably the two biggest names to switch teams, Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson, were traded to Colts and Denver Broncos, respectively. Of course, the latter is the other team that Manning won a Super Bowl with. The Denver defense shackled Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50. It proved to be Manning’s final NFL game.

Keep in mind that the prolific signal-caller last performed for the Colts in 2010. He missed all of 2011 due to neck surgeries and would be released with the team. He signed with Denver in 2012 and led the Broncos to four straight AFC West title and two appearances on Super Sunday.

Around FPC

NFL RUMORS: Deshaun Watson Traded To The Cleveland Browns

NFL NEWS: Raiders Opinion: Tae Day And Everybody’s Celebratin’

NFL DRAFT: 2022 NFL Draft Profile: OG Kenyon Green

NFL MOCK DRAFT: FPC 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Lions Snag Malik Willis

NHL: NHL Insights: Tyler Toffoli Trade, Jack Eichel’s Return and Wild West

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 36: Deshaun Watson Traded To The Cleveland Browns

A Legend at Indianapolis

The Colts thought they had Manning’s successor 10 years ago. For the first three years of his career, quarterback Andrew Luck did not miss a game. The first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft led the Colts to a wild card berth as a rookie. Chuck Pagano’s club won the AFC South in 2013 and 2014. Each year, the team got better when it came to the postseason.

After losing a wild card game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Ravens in ’12, the team defeated the Chiefs before being routed by the New England Patriots in 2013. The Colts defeated the Bengals and Broncos and reached the AFC title game in 2014 before again falling to the Patriots. Then the injuries kicked in. Luck missed his share of time over the next few years, including the entire 2017 season. He returned in 2018, led the Colts to the playoffs and captured NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors before retiring before the 2019 season.

What’s In a Number?

Since 2011, the Colts have utilized 11 different starting quarterbacks. Along with the aforementioned Luck, there’s Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky, Matt Hasselbeck, Josh Freeman, Scott Tolzien, Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer, Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz.

Since 2016, there have been 11 different starting signal-callers for the Broncos. The list reads Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Brandon Allen, Drew Lock, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien, practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton and Teddy Bridgewater.

The Russell Wilson trade package between the Broncos and the Seahawks via @AdamSchefter #BroncosCountry #Seahawks #FPC #NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/5qab2tLahc

— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) March 8, 2022

Earlier this week, Matt Ryan mentioned in his first press conference as a Colt that he had admired Peyton Manning and the history of the Colts’ quarterbacks and how he has always looked up to Manning. Also, Russell Wilson reached out to Peyton for advice prior to his trade to the Denver Broncos from the Seattle Seahawks.

It’s safe to say that these two quarterbacks will have some mighty “horseshoes” to fill.