SB Nation Kansas City - Peyton Manning To Broncos: Denver Beats Titans, 49ers For Former Colts Quarterbackhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-03-30T09:25:47-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24064772012-03-30T09:25:47-05:002012-03-30T09:25:47-05:00Peyton Manning's Arrival To AFC West Frustrates Division Rivals
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<p>Peyton Manning’s recruiting trip around the <span class="caps">NFL</span> affected a significant number of teams — from jostling the feelings of some incumbent quarterbacks to the teams that now have to play the Broncos in 2012 and beyond. The <span class="caps">AFC</span> West is the most affected with the Chargers, Raiders and Chiefs and the coaches are aware that Manning’s presence changes everything.</p>
<p>“He gives Denver instant credibility,” <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Peyton-Manning-Denver-Broncos-John-Elway-AFC-West-power-shift-032712" target="new">Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel told Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki</a>. “He’s been such a great player for 14 seasons, and everyone says he’s healing. I have to believe it will continue as he comes back from that nerve injury. But I can’t say I’m excited about playing him twice a year.”</p>
<p>“Peyton is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game,” Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said. “He’s going to be an awesome challenge for all of us to find ways of how to defend him.”</p>
<p>If anything, it could even affect the way that teams like the Chiefs approach the draft. Knowing that they will have to cover the entire field defensively as in years past when they’ve played the Colts, expect the Chiefs to address depth at both corner and safety in the draft or late in free agency. While the starters look impressive, there are already concerns at those spots.</p>
<p>Manning is definitely changing the face of the entire division and the Chiefs pass defense is going to need every playmaker to be healthy and hope that they don’t miss Brandon Carr too much.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/30/2913741/peyton-mannings-arrival-to-afc-west-frustrates-division-rivalsMatt Conner2012-03-29T15:29:33-05:002012-03-29T15:29:33-05:00Were Chiefs Among Teams That Tried To Rush Peyton Manning's Decision?
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<p>In a recent radio interview with <span class="caps">KKFN</span> in Denver, <a target="new" href="http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2012/03/29/peyton-manning-denver-broncos-elway-indianapolis-colts/#more-58671">Peyton Manning opened up about the recruitment process</a> that unfolded in the national media that ultimately brought him to the Denver Broncos. It was a journey that featured several teams listed as suitors, three teams that were finalists and one left standing in the end. But where did the Kansas City Chiefs fall along the way?</p>
<p>Peyton might have given a good idea of where the Chiefs landed when he made an allusion early in the interview to some teams being on a timetable. Specifically he said, “I really felt like I had some good options. And certain teams were kind of on the clock and kind of had to have an answer right away due to personnel on their respective teams, and I just couldn’t rush a decision if I just didn’t feel right about it.”</p>
<p>If the Chiefs knew they only had so much money to spend and they wanted to target specific players, going after Manning without a time limit could keep them from landing a guy like Eric Winston among others. After all, one close look at the Dolphins’ offseason tells you what it looks like for the losers of the Manning sweepstakes — since they have arguably had the worst offseason in the <span class="caps">NFL</span> thus far.</p>
<p>There’s no way of knowing much more than what has been said, and it’s not likely that Manning or the Chiefs front office will open up about this soon. The reality is that all parties have moved on and there’s nothing more to publicly say about it. However, it’s interesting to read Peyton’s words and wonder what team fits into which category. If the Chiefs wanted to know quickly whether they were “in” or “out,” they might have automatically forced themselves to the margins with their demands.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/29/2912270/were-chiefs-among-teams-that-tried-to-rush-peyton-manniings-decisionMatt Conner2012-03-23T09:11:49-05:002012-03-23T09:11:49-05:00Jeff Saturday Update: Broncos, Packers Are Final Two Players For Former Colts Center
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<p>The Denver Broncos already have J.D. Walton as their young starting center. The Green Bay Packers just lost their veteran starter Scott Wells to the St. Louis Rams in free agency. It seems like Jeff Saturday’s decision should be easy, and the Broncos shouldn’t even be in the equation. But one thing is true about Denver: they have Peyton Manning. Saturday must consider what it would be like to not have his long-time teammate working with him again now that he’s healthy.</p>
<p>The Broncos are making room for Peyton’s friends no matter who is already on the roster, but the Packers have a greater need. It will be interesting to see where Saturday lands at this point.</p>
<p><a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/ShawnZobel_DHQ/status/183191581514412033">Shawn Zobel writes via Twitter</a>, “Sounds like Jeff Saturday is down to Green Bay and Denver for his finalists. Packers have a strong offer that he’s considering”.</p>
<p>If he lands in Denver, then the Broncos might be open to get rid of Walton. The former Baylor Bear was the third round pick in the 2010 <span class="caps">NFL</span> Draft by the Broncos and he could make a good competition and depth addition for the Chiefs if available. Rodney Hudson is presumed to take over the center position after Casey Wiegmann likely retires, but Hudson is versatile enough to play guard.</p>
<p><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Check out more on the Broncos' pursuit of Peyton's friends at <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #232e80; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.milehighreport.com/">Mile High Report.</a></i></b></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/23/2897148/jeff-saturday-update-broncos-packers-colts-peyton-manningMatt Conner2012-03-22T07:31:58-05:002012-03-22T07:31:58-05:00Peyton Manning's Disregard For Kansas City Chiefs Continues To Perplex
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<p>Even as the dust settles on Peyton Manning’s arrival to the Denver Broncos as their new starting quarterback, the confusion still remains as to the entire process. Why did some teams make it in and others were spurned at the door? Why did the Denver Broncos end up on top? Some of it can be explained immediately, but it still doesn’t fully expound on the process that left the Kansas City Chiefs unexplainably out in the cold.</p>
<p>In the early part of the process, the Chiefs were often listed alongside other favorites like the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins. It turns out that none of those were contenders in the slightest. The Redskins decided to go all in on a rookie when they found out they were not considered. The Dolphins are going to roll with visions of USC’s Matt Barkley. None of the three were really in the running after all.</p>
<p>The Chiefs were a team that “made sense” from the outside looking in. In fact, it was a better fit on paper than Denver given the cold weather, the altitude and, most importantly, the talent already in place. While Denver won the division last season, there’s no doubting the better core of talent present in KC. <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Peyton-Manning-ripple-effect-Miami-Dolphins-New-York-Jets-Washington-Redskins-San-Francisco-49ers-032112" target="new">Brian Billick says he is still confused</a>:</p>
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<p>To many, including me, the Kansas City Chiefs seemed to be one of the best situations for Manning. They have a good, young receiving corps with Pro Bowl pick Dwayne Bowe, Jonathan Baldwin and Steve Breaston. A promising young tight end, Tony Moeaki, coupled with running back Jamaal Charles and a solid offensive line all looked inviting. Add in a defensive-minded head coach who would stay out of your way in a division that has been, well, let’s be respectful and just say that it is fluid. Yet with all this, the Chiefs couldn’t even get a call back. This has left the fan base wondering why general manager Scott Pioli whiffed in the process.</p>
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<p>Manning didn’t even give the team the opportunity to present its case. Neither did the Seattle Seahawks. Both teams were in need of a quarterback to match its solid talent base around the position, but were spurned for one reason or another. For the Chiefs, too many things seemed to click for Manning to move on without a look.</p>
<p>For now the Chiefs will move forward with the same quarterback they had last year along with competition from Brady Quinn. Perhaps a move in the 2012 <span class="caps">NFL</span> Draft will come to bolster the position, but many are left with questions as to why Peyton never even glanced KC’s way.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/22/2893213/peyton-manning-disregard-kansas-city-chiefs-denver-broncosMatt Conner2012-03-21T07:00:51-05:002012-03-21T07:00:51-05:00Peyton Manning Makes Broncos Favorites To Win AFC West Over Chiefs, Chargers
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<p><span style="line-height: 8px;">At this point, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> are the only team no one is talking about. Sometimes that's a good thing, but for now, everyone believes they won't matter much in the AFC West in 2012. Unfortunately for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Chiefs</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">Chargers</a>, everyone also believes they won't matter much either after the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> acquired <span>Peyton Manning</span>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 8px;">As John Clayton of ESPN surveys the land of the division, he says the Chargers could present the most problems for Manning given their success over the years against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a>. He also acknowledges the Chiefs' recent success in the division. However, the </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7709400/nfl-peyton-manning-put-denver-broncos-control-afc-west" target="_blank">addition of Manning is likely to be too much</a><span style="line-height: 8px;"> in his opinion.</span></p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 8px;">Clayton writes, "Manning meant a least six wins a season for the Colts. If he is half the quarterback he was in Indianapolis, he should provide three extra wins for the Broncos. That puts them ahead in their division... Tebow could perform in situational plays for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a>. Mallett could learn behind Manning as he did behind Brady. Fans love Tebow, but he could take the Broncos to only a certain level. Manning can take the Broncos a mile higher."</span></p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 8px;">He's right when he calculates the impact of that amount of wins in the AFC West. Last year, the entire division was separated by a single game. It was as if no team wanted to really win the division outright and kept losing enough to have everyone else in it. The Broncos saw that brass ring and grabbed it, so credit goes to them. The Chiefs, however, are not resting on their laurels and are making strides to improve all over the offense. It should be an interesting year in 2012.</span></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/21/2889080/peyton-manning-broncos-favorites-afc-west-chiefs-chargers-raidersMatt Conner2012-03-20T16:22:12-05:002012-03-20T16:22:12-05:00Chiefs GM Scott Pioli On The Team's Recruitment Attempt Of Peyton Manning
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<p>Now that <span>Peyton Manning</span> has officially been announced as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>' new quarterback of the future and his contract has been made public, other teams who were in the running to land Manning are opening up about the process. One of the teams that was in the running early was the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a>, and on Tuesday, general manager Scott Pioli held a press conference about the process and about how it could affect the team moving forward in regards to <span>Matt Cassel</span>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2012/3/20/2887710/chiefs-scott-pioli-peyton-manning">From Arrowhead Pride</a>:</p>
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<p><b>Pioli confirmed that he talked to Peyton Manning.</b> And his agent. He said they communicated, specifically mentioning email at one point, but that Manning had a plan in his free agency process.</p>
<p>"He and I were in communication with each other as we were with his agent," Pioli said. "Clearly, he had a plan and he let me know that. He didn't get into the details. I don't think that's really his place to. He was up front about what he was doing and some of the visits he wanted to take and how we were initially not going to be part of that. I have a lot of respect for Peyton.</p>
<p><b>So why didn't Manning sign with the Chiefs?</b> "He had a plan," Pioli said again. "He executed it. He never explained to me, nor did I ask."</p>
<p>And more:</p>
<p>"His plan doesn't necessarily mean that the other 28 teams that he wasn't going to talk to that there was anything wrong with them," Pioli said of Manning. "He just had his favorites."</p>
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<p>Pioli confirmed that Matt Cassel and the rest of the team were aware of the team's pursuit of Manning as a new quarterback. He stated that the front office made Cassel aware that the team was going to pursue Manning before any actions were taken.</p>
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<p>"I dont want to talk too much about Matt and I's conversation but he was aware of it before, during and after of where we were at," Pioli said. "Matt is aware that there is going to be competition, whether that competition is Ricky and Brady, or Peyton Manning, he knew. There's no reason for us to hide anything. Petyon was available, we were interested and Matt knew about that and it's not like it was going to be something that you hide. Without geting into the details of our conversation, he's unaffected by it and that's what great competitiors do."</p>
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<p>For more on Pioli's comments on Peyton Manning, head to <a href="http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2012/3/20/2887710/chiefs-scott-pioli-peyton-manning">Arrowhead Pride</a>.</p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/20/2888095/kansas-city-chiefs-peyton-manning-scott-pioli-denver-broncosJason Garrison2012-03-20T15:07:44-05:002012-03-20T15:07:44-05:00Tim Tebow Understands Broncos Pursuit Of Peyton Manning
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<p>The drama surrounding the Denver Broncos quarterback position is at a fever pitch today with the introduction of Peyton Manning officially to the Broncos’ media, and many questions abound as to the pursuit of Peyton, the plans of John Elway and the future of Tim Tebow. Yet through it all, it seems that everyone can agree why the Broncos chased Manning like they did — even Tebow himself.</p>
<p>Given Manning’s legacy of greatness in <span class="caps">NFL</span> history, it’s understandable why a team would go after him the way they did, everything else be damned. Even Tebow himself apparently gets why the Broncos made such a public and pointed run at the former Colts quarterback.</p>
<p>As John Elway relayed his conversation with Tim Tebow today at the introductory presser, <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/nfl/status/182195074841583616">Tebow reportedly said</a>, “We’re talking about Peyton Manning. So I understand what you’re doing.” Tebow will likely be praised for saying that, as he should, since he’s the one displaced by such a move. However, it’s also just an indicator of how amazing of a move this was on Elway’s part to get Peyton to sign on the dotted line.</p>
<p>Of course, Manning has to stay healthy and Tebow still has to be traded, so there are major mysteries still to be revealed in this drama. But for now, at least everyone can agree that it was worth it, even the one who should be shaking his head.</p>
<p><b><i>For more on Manning, Tebow and the Denver quarterback situation, check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-free-agency/2012/3/7/2852742/peyton-manning-free-agent-2012">SB Nation storystream here.</a></i></b></p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/20/2888090/tim-tebow-peyton-manning-denver-broncosMatt Conner2012-03-20T09:07:04-05:002012-03-20T09:07:04-05:00Tim Tebow Trade Rumors: Pittsburgh Steelers Presented As Longshot For Broncos Quarterback
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<p>Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports recently put together a list of the <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/eye-on-football/17866091/whod-be-interested-in-tim-tebow-if-the-broncos-land-peyton-manning" target="_blank">potential destinations for Tim Tebow</a>, and there are some surprise destinations. That's good, since the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a> will likely search for any potential home to get rid of Tebow after signing <span>Peyton Manning</span>. The smoke from the fire between the front office and Tebowmania has been fuming for some time, so it's likely to come quick if a trade opportunity arises.</p>
<p>But one destination from Wilson in particular is intriguing, since no one has mentioned it in the past: the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>. The team is certainly a favorite year to year to contend for the Super Bowl, and the addition of Tebow would add another wrinkle for a team that needs a back-up quarterback.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/eye-on-football/17866091/whod-be-interested-in-tim-tebow-if-the-broncos-land-peyton-manning" target="_blank">Wilson writes</a>, "<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Very, </span><em style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">very</em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> unlikely, yes, but no more so than the speculation that the Steelers would sign <span>Tiki Barber</span> or hire Jim Caldwell because head coach Mike Tomlin had prior relationships with both. Pittsburgh won't re-sign third-string quarterback <span>Dennis Dixon</span> and Tebow is basically a bigger version of the same player. Added bonus: he can give the team another power back in goal-line situations and in his spare time help keep <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span> on the straight and narrow."</span></p>
<p>While it would be a reach, it would also make for a compelling storyline to follow. Don't bet on it happening, but it's interesting all the same.</p>
<p><b><i>For more on Manning, Tebow and the Denver quarterback situation, check out the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-free-agency/2012/3/7/2852742/peyton-manning-free-agent-2012" target="_blank">SB Nation storystream here.</a></i></b></p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/20/2886391/tim-tebow-trade-rumors-pittsburgh-steelers-denver-broncosMatt Conner