DECISIONS, DECISIONS Broncos’ staring down offseason uncertainty
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Broncos entered Super Bowl 50 knowing they probably would be a much differentlooking team in the 2016 season.
Now, Broncos vice president of football operations John Elway will have plenty of difficult decisions to make about how many pieces of the 2015 team he can keep and who he needs to replace following the Broncos’ 2410 victory over the Panthers on Sunday night.
Denver is estimated to have $10 million in salarycap space by overthecap.com, which won’t leave the Broncos with much money to add top free agents even if they do clear more space by releasing players or restructuring contracts.
For the Broncos, the offseason all starts with quarterback Peyton Manning. The biggest question all week in Northern California has been about Manning’s future. Would he retire after the game? Will the Broncos release him even if he wanted to keep playing?
The Broncos can’t wait too long on a decision from Manning, who completed 13of23 passes for 141 yards and an interception in the Super Bowl. They likely need to know by the end of the month, so they can figure out their plans. Elway said this week he did not want Manning thinking about retirement until after the game.
Elway did not retire un til May after he won his second Super Bowl in 1999. The Broncos can’t wait that long this time. If Manning retires or is released, the Broncos will save $19 million in salarycap space, which will have a huge effect on their plans.
Backup Brock Osweiler is scheduled to become a free agent. He surely wants a chance to start. If that is not going to come in Denver, he will want to move on. If Manning does retire, the Broncos can try to lock up Osweiler before free agency begins March 9.
The other top issue for the Broncos other than quarterback is outside linebacker Von Miller, who also is a pending free agent. The team is ex pected to use the franchise tag on Miller if the sides cannot reach a longterm deal. The Broncos can’t let him get away.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Miller said before the game. “I put a little thought into it. All of my attention has been here in the now, here in the moment. I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in Super Bowl 50. The biggest Super Bowl up to this point. I just want to lose myself in that.”
Miller, the Super Bowl MVP, finished with six tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two fumbles forced.
Beyond Miller, Denver has other pending free agents to make a decision on. Linebacker Danny Trevathan, who led the Broncos’ defense with eight tackles in the Super Bowl, running back Ronnie Hillman, who had five carries against the Panthers, and defensive ends Antonio Smith and Malik Jackson, who had five tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown, are all scheduled to hit free agency.