Quote:
The Broncos won the AFC West and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs last season because they played with the aggression of fear. They knew they were a flawed team -- they did lose eight games -- but hid their blemishes with relentlessness, persistence and backed-into-a-corner heart.
The addition of Manning could cause some players to think they've got the crutch, a guy to make up for the weak spots many of them had to compensate for last season. That change in attitude could blow everything up.
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An interesting and valid point, and I wonder if that's what's been happening to the Patriots for the past few years. (On the other hand, maybe the Patriots simply weren't talented enough to seal the deal in '07 and '11... which is something else the Broncos have to realize: one player, even at QB, doesn't necessarily mean a Super Bowl title.)
Honestly, I think Manning, even at 100%, only has a few seasons left and while he'll certainly elevate the Broncos' overall level of play, he's not going to win them a Super Bowl. They may go 11-5, 12-4, win the AFCW, win a playoff game or two, but I don't see much more. To win consistently, you need an organization that can build and sustain (e.g. New England, Pittsburgh, NY Giants). The Colts were the unusual instance of a team literally being carried by one of the greats in his prime. Look at Montana's post-Niner career, and that's what you'll see from Peyton.