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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.
Shocked I thought Brock wanted to play with us lol
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) March 9, 2016
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.
@docllv pic.twitter.com/6XW1IajMGK
— Walden Cash (@WC_83) March 9, 2016
And "Brockweiler's" teammates were still very congratulatory for No. 17, who spent three-and-a-half years in relative obscurity behind Manning.
Congrats @bosweiler17! Great for you bro. See u next year
— T.J. Ward (@BossWard43) March 9, 2016
Y'all know good and damn well if you at 1 company and another company offer y'all more at the same position y'all gone! ✌ ️
— Omar C. Bolden (@Os_Island) March 9, 2016
Good to see some of my teammates get paid congrats you guys deserve every penny
— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) March 10, 2016
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.
I like Brock & wish him a great NFL career, but Elway is just a badass. "We want players who want to be #Broncos." pic.twitter.com/Q6m3EnDdsm
— L.Lattimore-Volkmann (@docllv) March 10, 2016
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.
Just for fun, again, Brock Osweiler’s first seven starts versus Brian Hoyer’s https://t.co/WjEBnxVrum pic.twitter.com/wBu7DaXUq7
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) March 9, 2016
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.
Change my number if you want a 240Lb QB.... I can throw.: we'll run the read option lol
— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshh54) March 10, 2016
What QB wouldn't wanna play with 88 and 10? https://t.co/lAv28xTY4Z
— Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) March 9, 2016
Oh, and there's always "Uncle Rico."
#BreakingNews Uncle Rico considered real target to fill QB void. Has great experience throwing n or over mountains. pic.twitter.com/2cgoYX5445
— Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) March 10, 2016