Teammates happy for Brock Osweiler on his new lead role for the Texans

When Peyton Manning officially retired, Broncos fans - and it seems players too - assumed Brock Osweiler would finally get his chance to man the team he ably guided for seven games in the 2015 regular season.

But when it became official yesterday that Osweiler will be the Texans' field general next year, it seemed many - except apparently John Elway - were caught off guard that the Broncos couldn't keep their second-round pick in 2012.

The immediate surprise was also countered with the mantra so many Broncos fans have adopted since TYJE came on board as GM - In Elway We Trust.

And "Brockweiler's" teammates were still very congratulatory for No. 17, who spent three-and-a-half years in relative obscurity behind Manning.

The contract - four years for $72 million - was apparently steeper than Elway was willing to go, which was not a surprise for anyone who knows how Elway looks at free agency.

And with news that Osweiler wasn't responding to the Broncos' negotiation attempts and didn't appear to "want to be a Bronco," Elway wasn't going higher than the reported offer of $75 million over five years.

And given the fact that Osweiler will be getting paid almost as much as Manning did last year and not much less than Tom Brady's two-year, $41 million contract and more guaranteed money than Osweiler, the bull market on QBs is quite apparent. Based on numbers from OvertheCap.com, Osweiler's guaranteed money exceeds that of all but eight NFL quarterbacks. Damn good for a guy who has had just seven starts in four years.

But for Broncos fans, the biggest concern isn't Osweiler now but who will be the guy under center.

Do not worry, Broncos Country, because Emmanuel Sanders and Brandon Marshall are confident.

Oh, and there's always "Uncle Rico."