An Article to Warm All Chief's Fan's Hearts

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Broncos QB Caleb Hanie one play away from replacing Peyton Manning
By Mike Klis The Denver Post The Denver Post


Peyton Manning this, Peyton Manning that.

All people in the Denver-area break rooms talk about these days is Peyton Manning.

Do all these suits, dresses and potential orange-and-blue face painters understand the 2012 Broncos are one hit, one neck crick from a bad night's sleep, from becoming Caleb Hanie's team?

"It's something I think about," Hanie said.

Such is life for a backup quarterback. He is arguably the 53rd most important person on a 53-man roster one day, only to rank No. 1 in order of importance the next.

"It can be stressful," Hanie said. "You don't get a lot of reps. The timing with the (No.) 1 receivers is not going to be there like it is with Peyton. And then you're asked to go in there and win the game.

"But that's the nature of the position. On the flip side, if we don't get to play, you still make good coin and you get a lot of experience. I'm not complaining."

A former successful quarterback at Colorado State, Hanie basically has received only two NFL auditions since he entered the league five years ago. The first was his electrifying performance in the NFC championship game for the Chicago Bears against the Green Bay Packers in January 2011.

Replacing an injured Jay Cutler and an ineffective Todd Collins, Hanie entered with seconds remaining in the third quarter and the Bears down 14-0. Hanie put a scare into a Packers team that went on to win the Super Bowl, throwing for 153 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter, leading the Bears on another touchdown drive, then guiding them on a two-minute drill down to the Packers' 27 before he had little choice but to force a fourth-and-5 pass into an interception.

Hanie's impressive performance in that NFC title game earned him a substantial test last season. Cutler suffered a season-ending broken thumb in the 10th game, while the Bears were on their way to a 7-3 start and playoff contention.

In the next four games started by Hanie, though, the Bears lost them all, although he did play well in an overtime loss at Denver. If not for two mistakes by Bears running back Marion Barber III against the Broncos, Hanie would have been written up as the game's hero.

"I learned a lot from those games," Hanie said. "One thing you learn is how close the difference is between wins and losses. One play can make the difference in the whole game. You make one play, and it can be the difference in winning. You don't make a play, and it can be the difference in losing."

As a free agent, he picked Denver in part because it had the feeling of home after his time at CSU. He also liked the Broncos' offense and its young, talented offensive line.

"And I thought it would be good for me to play behind a guy like Peyton and develop into the kind of player I think I am," Hanie said.

A player who may be No. 53 today, and No. 1 tomorrow.

Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci...play-away-from



Best of the backups



Denver Post NFL reporter Mike Klis ranks the league's top five backup quarterbacks:

1. Tim Tebow, Jets

He can come off the bench, and he single-handedly led the Broncos to six victories in a row.

2. Kyle Orton, Cowboys

A proven starter, he led all backups in free agency with a $5 million signing bonus.

3. Chad Henne, Jaguars

Another proven starter, he received a $3 million bonus, plus a $1.1 million salary, as insurance for Blaine Gabbert, who struggled as a rookie last season.

4. Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks

It's hard to believe Matt Flynn won't be Seattle's starter. But Jackson's athleticism off the bench would give a defense fits.

5. Joe Webb, Vikings

Love this guy. He will give the team a better chance to win than Christian Ponder.

Others: T.J. Yates, Texans; John Skelton, Cardinals; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins; Jason Campbell, Bears; Vince Young, Bills; Shaun Hill, Lions.
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