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Horse Tracks: Aqib Talib dishes on the Broncos' quarterback situation

About the only thing the Denver cornerback didn't delve into in his appearances at ESPN was the presidential election.

By Ian St. Clair

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Al Bello/Getty Images

Good morning, Broncos Country!

Aqib Talib was a talkative guy on Monday.

The Denver Broncos cornerback spent the day at the Mothership (ESPN) where he did both radio and TV appearances. About the only thing Talib didn't delve into was the presidential election.

Of course, he was asked about the most talked about issue in Broncos Country and the NFL: Denver's quarterback situation.

"It's a good thing we've got John Elway," Talib said on Sports Center. "He does a great job of putting teams together. He doesn't only bring guys in for their talent. He brings in guys on how he believes they will mesh with the team."

Talib stressed the importance of the chemistry the Broncos have and how that helped them win Super Bowl 50.

"I have been in locker rooms where guys get off work and you don't see them," he said. "In this locker room, everyone meshes really well. That's a credit to John Elway."

The quarterback most linked to Denver is, of course, Colin Kaepernick. The question on everyone's mind: Is he a good fit?

"Who knows? We need to get him in that locker room and get him around the guys and see how it goes," Talib said. "(San Francisco) came to our facility last year (for dual practices during training camp), and he's a good quarterback.

"He has one of the strongest arms in the league, and we already know what he can do with his legs. He has to be interested a little bit."

Despite the fact there is no interest from Denver in Johnny Manziel, Talib was asked about the former member of the Cleveland Browns. He said Manziel is a "pretty good quarterback," and Talib wouldn't have an issue playing with him. But he stressed how much trust he has in Elway to make the right decision.

That explains why, even with the uncertainty at quarterback, there was no doubt in what Talib thinks of the Broncos' chances to defend their Super Bowl title in 2016.

"I think as long as the quarterbacks put in the work and listen to coach (Gary Kubiak), if we put in that same work, I don't see why we can't repeat," Talib said.

There's been debate about whether Von Miller will show up to Denver's offseason programs if he doesn't have a contract in place. Most think Miller would take the same route as Demaryius Thomas last year. But Talib has no doubt Miller will show up, since he told ESPN's Jeff Legwold that Miller told Talib he'll be there.

On the radio show Russilo and Kanell, Talib even dished on the players who left for more money - namely Brock Osweiler and Malik Jackson.

"I tell them it's not always greener on the other side," Talib said. "I've been on the other side before. It may look like $100 million but after about two 3-13 seasons, that whole contract is gone. There's a whole new staff in there. Once the guaranteed money is all gone, it ain't really what it look like. I gave (Osweiler) fair warning, man."

Talib also touched on whether Osweiler may have taken it personally when he was benched in Week 17 against the San Diego Chargers.

"If you're a backup quarterback, then that's your job title," Talib said. "You back up and when the starter comes back, you back, backup again."

At the end of the day, Talib has no doubt Elway and the front office will get the quarterback situation figured out and the Broncos will put in the work needed to defend their title.

"I feel like after the draft, whatever quarterback is set to be our starting quarterback, I feel like everyone will be comfortable with it," Talib said. "We're definitely talented on D, but we still definitely need a quarterback who's a leader and willing to work. It wasn't like we were just absent at the quarterback last year."

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