Joe Flacco and Peyton Manning tried to beat each other for many seasons. Now they might try to meet under decidedly different circumstances.
On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos' blockbuster trade for Flacco finally became official. The Baltimore Raven will replace the incumbent Case Keenum at quarterback for Denver and try to transform the team's offense.
The 34-year-old Flacco won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012, but he knows he still has a lot to learn. Luckily, the Broncos have exactly the right guy to teach Flacco a thing or two. Via James Palmer of NFL Network on Twitter:
Interesting note. Joe Flacco said he hasn’t talked with Peyton Manning (who had a similar path to Denver and won a title) he would really like to. Feels it would be beneficial to him to speak with some one that went through what he’s about to go through and had a ton of success.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 15, 2019
Peyton Manning began his career with the Indianapolis Colts, but after 13 seasons with the team, he missed all of 2011 with a neck injury. The following offseason he signed a free-agent deal with the Broncos, and the rest is history. Manning made the playoffs in each of his four seasons with Denver and led the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2015, his final year.
Manning changed the culture in Denver. The Broncos made the playoffs in 2011, the year before signing Manning, for the first time in the previous six years. Adding the star quarterback made them a force. They have not seen the postseason since his departure.
Could Joe Flacco be the answer in Denver? If anyone can teach him how to transform a team, it's Peyton.
The Broncos have struggled to find consistency at quarterback since Manning's retirement. They have given looks to Keenum as well as Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch. The team hopes that Flacco will be their new Manning and lead the team back to the playoffs, maybe another Super Bowl title.
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