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I’ll wait.
Since when has the regime shied from a quarterback competition? John Elway orchestrated a full-on controversy in 2012 when he and the team signed Peyton Manning, traded Tim Tebow and drafted Brock Osweiler in the second round. Manning started that season 1-3 and fans began asking about Osweiler...
Then it was Mark Sanchez vs. Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch was drafted in the first round.
This season will be no different than previous incarnations, that the Denver Broncos have planned, but not executed properly.
If you need a quick refresher:
2015: Tyrod Taylor turns down and offer to join Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler in Denver. Denver drafted Trevor Siemian in the seventh round.
2016: Colin Kaepernick denies a trade due to the fact that John Elway wants Kaepernick to take $4MM less for what became his final season. Prior to the draft they traded a conditional 7th round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Mark Sanchez. In September, Denver attempts a trade for the Los Angeles Rams for Case Keenum. The Rams supposedly (and ironically) want a cornerback in return for Keenum. Denver drafted Paxton Lynch in the first round.
2017: Denver does not make an offer to Tony Romo, forges into the preseason with a Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch and the only of age, NFL eligible quarterback in the state of Colorado — Kyle Sloter. Brock Osweiler is re-signed as a cautionary measure against Lynch’s Preseason Week 3 injury. Denver drafted Chad Kelly in the seventh round.
2018: Denver does not make a qualifying offer to Kirk Cousins, but finally signs a free agent quarterback in March — Case Keenum. Lynch, Siemian and Chad Kelly remain on the roster, with Denver looking to deal Siemian. The Broncos made an offer to the Buffalo Bills for Tyrod Taylor prior to the pursuit, but it was not significant enough. Denver drafted Josh Allen Baker Mayfield in the first round.
An excerpt from yesterday’s edition of The Strongside Blitz, sign-up right here:
The Curious Case of Casey Austin Keenum
Keenum a coach’s son, his father, Steve Keenum played college football as an offensive lineman at McMurry University (Abilene, TX) before later taking over as athletic director and head coach. Keenum’s father was also the head coach at Sul Ross State.
Out of high school Case only received one scholarship offer — from the University of Houston. The University of Texas El Paso, Baylor and North Texas all expressed interest in Keenum.
Keenum was recruited to Houston by Kliff Kingsbury.
Does Kingsbury’s name ring a bell? It may, he was a practice squad quarterback for the Broncos in 2005. Signed to the team for two weeks at the insistence of none other than Gary Kubiak.
Kingsbury went on to help recruit Case Keenum to the University of Houston, where Kingsbury won Offensive Coordinator of the Year in 2011 with Keenum as his quarterback. Kingsbury’s offense averaged 50 points and 600 yards of offense per game that year.
Kingsbury went on to take the offensive coordinator job at Texas A&M, where he recruited Johnny Manziel before being hired by Texas Tech as their head coach. While at Texas Tech, Kingsbury recruited and started a Freshman, Baker Mayfield. Mayfield transferred to Oklahoma and Patrick Mahomes took Mayfield’s place as a starter.
Mahomes was named as the starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs this January.
Kingsbury’s current QB prospect is Nic Shimonek who is regarded as a late round/college free agent option.