Denver Broncos NFL 2015 News, Rumors: Should Quarterback Peyton Manning Take a Pay Cut?
Peyton Manning is 39 years old and is approaching the end of his career. He is not the same QB today that he was during his prime. When the calendar flips to March 9 his $19 million dollar salary for 2015 becomes fully guaranteed. This puts the Denver Broncos is a precarious position: Is Peyton good enough to help this team win a Super Bowl title in 2015, or should he play at a reduced salary so the team has more money to improve the pieces around him?
The question could also be should Peyton play at all in 2015, but a guy with his history should be allowed to leave the sport on his own terms.
Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post had an interesting take on this issue today:
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"That Manning wants to play football in 2015 isn't the real question. The issue is how often he will play like a $19 million quarterback. Of course the Broncos want him back, but wouldn't it be wise for Elway to ask Manning to play at a discounted price?" he wrote.
"Get inside the numbers and a smart football man would conclude its unlikely Manning can consistently play at an elite level. A pay cut of $5 million or so could help shore up a shaky offensive line, which might be money well spent by a 39-year-old quarterback," the sportswriter continued.
Pro Football Talk is reporting that Peyton threw for 39 TD's in 2014 which was second best among NFL QB's. He passed for 4,727 yards which was fourth best and had a fourth best QB rating of 101.5. Whether or not that is worthy of a 1$9 million dollar salary in 2015 is the question John Elway must settle for his team.
Michael David Smith makes the argument that a reduced salary cap hit for Peyton would help both QB and team be successful in 2015.
"If taking a pay cut makes it easier for the Broncos to keep free agent receiver Demaryius Thomas and free agent tight end Julius Thomas, isn't that worth it for him? At this point in his life, Manning would surely trade $10 million for another Super Bowl ring. If reducing his salary to $9 million helps the Broncos win a Super Bowl, that might be a deal Manning is willing to make."
