Mike Freeman of CBSsports says signing Peyton Manning is the biggest gamble of all-time . I disagree. Actually, I think this is the exact opposite of that.

Here's the way I see it, and MHR, please chime in, you have 2 options ... To Tebow or not to Tebow. That's the bet on the table. The biggest gamble of all-time would have been to dump conventional wisdom, and build a system and team around a mobile quarterback with a unique set of skills. What the Broncos did was NOT take the bet. They played it safe. We are not about to spend $90 on Peyton Manning. We are spending that (and then some) to develop a traditional, competitive passing offense. One that will entice free agents, strong talent, and good coaches. IF Peyton wins a championship, awesome, but I think the goal is to get the ship in the direction where Elway and company feel like it has the best chance for sustained success. That is not a gamble, that is the safe play. That is playing it super-tight, and Peyton is the teams first Ace in the hole.

I don't buy into the whole "grooming" thing. There is nothing that Peyton or Elway can teach or tell some kid that he probably hasn't already heard a thousand times. There is no secret to success in the NFL. It is about a system. Brady fits his system, as Brees fits his, Montana fit his, and so on. I feel like this is the move to begin building that system so that when the next great QB talent finds his way into the Orange and Blue, the system is set up to make him a success. We couldn't ever get to that spot with Tebow as a quarterback. The system would be built for HIM to succeed. Him and him alone. While that would be some exciting football to watch, would you bet your business on it? The Broncos didn't. They folded that hand and decided to put their chips in on the smart play. They, like Joey Knish, are not playing for the thrill of victory. They are playing for money. Long term success. They are not making the gamble, they are passing on it. (Get it ... Tebow....passing ... ahem, tough room).