ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- An office balcony overlooking the Denver Broncos' practice fields affords general manager John Elway a perspective he could not experience when he was the one in Peyton Manning's position as an aging legend accustomed to carrying a franchise.
"I can say this about myself, that you become a cog in the machine rather than the machine itself," Elway said from his office as the Broncos' 39-year-old quarterback practiced on a field below.
Sixteen NFL seasons have passed since the Broncos won a second consecutive Super Bowl with Elway orchestrating an offense that was at its best with Terrell Davis taking handoffs. In three regular seasons with Manning behind center, the Broncos have led the league in both scoring and victories, but their championship drought has persisted. With Manning finally showing signs of age late last season, Elway set in motion a tectonic shift for the organization and its quarterback.
The fallout means the Broncos are no longer living in Peyton's world -- the 14-time Pro Bowler and five-time league MVP is living in theirs. It's odd seeing Manning relegated to the sideline for entire practices during camp, but that's the way new coach Gary Kubiak wants things to be, so that's the way it is. Manning, accustomed to running an offense tailor-made to his liking, is now learning to play within a run-oriented system unlike anything he has run previously. The $4 million pay-cut management secured from Manning -- a concession that would have seemed unthinkable even a year ago -- further established the Broncos' new order.
Fittingly, Manning can earn back the money through team success, not individual achievement.
These changes make the Broncos one of the most interesting contenders for the 2015 season. Here we consider the associated risks and rewards.
Seeds of change
This all began the first time Manning dropped back to pass against St. Louis in a Week 11 game against the Rams.