Romo or Rivers?
Siemian or Lynch?
Glennon or Taylor?
Which quarterback would lead the Broncos back to the Super Bowl soonest?
Pause and ponder potential premium possibilities.
(No, not Chris Ponder.)
Who you got?
My preferences in order:
1) Philip Rivers
2) Tony Romo
3) Trevor Siemian
4) Mike Glennon
5) Tyrod Taylor
6) Paxton Lynch
Of course, you and I will have no say-so in the decision, and our endorsement won't matter a whit to the Four Horsemen _ John Elway, Vance Joseph, Mike McCoy and Bill Musgrave _ making the momentous decision.
The quintessential quarterback quandary is who can produce another Super Bowl victory, because 9-7 records without a playoff berth are unacceptable results.
It's Super Bowl or bust.
Elway and Joseph claim they are happy with the two young quarterbacks and there will be an "open competition." But Elway was quick to dump a young quarterback who had won a playoff game when a superstar starter dropped on his doorstep. Wouldn't real happiness be an accomplished veteran?
Can Siemian or Lynch guide the Broncos to the Super Bowl in their second seasons of playing live NFL games? It took Elway three years to reach the Super Bowl and 15 seasons to win one, and he was in the top five quarterbacks of all time.
Maybe someday Siemian or Lynch can be championship quarterbacks, but not any upcoming day.
The four quarterbacks still standing in the NFL are three future Hall of Famers _ Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger _ and this season's MVP Matt Ryan. The Broncos won three Super Bowls with HOFers _ John Elway and Peyton Manning. They went to five more title games with Elway, Manning and Craig Morton (who had been there before in Dallas).
With the new coaching staff, these two quarterbacks and a world-class defense, the Broncos, according to the too-early odds, are 20-1, same as the Raiders and the Chiefs, to get to the next Super Bowl. New England, Dallas and Pittsburgh are the favorites.
Contemplate this prospect: The Broncos acquire Romo and play the Cowboys, and Romo's successor, in Super Bowl LII, 40 years after Super Bowl XII, when Dallas met Denver, which had a former Cowboys' quarterback.
Or how about the Broncos winning SB 52 as a Rivers runs through it? Philip Rivers could go from being the Most Hated Opposing QB to one of the most-beloved Broncos.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, a respected reporter, says Romo's No. 1 offseason destination is Denver. My reliable NFL source has confirmed that Romo "would love to play next year for the Broncos."
Be aware: Romo's agent is Tom Condon, who represented Manning when he elected to join the Broncos. Denver-friendly Condon was instrumental in trying to entice the Broncos into doing a deal with the Eagles last season for Sam Bradford.
Romo, who will turn 37 in April, would be owed by the Broncos a quarterback-affordable $54 million for the next three seasons. The Cowboys would be on the hook for the remaining $19.7 mil.
Rivers, who will be 36 in December, is represented by Jimmy Sexton who, like Condon, is with the colossal Creative Artists Agency. Sexton, for those who forget, was the agent for Tim Tebow. Rivers signed an expensive extension in 2015, but his contract for the next three years with the Broncos would total $35 million.
He has a no-trade clause. My source said he would not drop it for a trade to the 49ers, but would consider a move to Denver. However, the Chargers won't want to trade him within the division.
In both scenarios, the Broncos probably would have to give up a high draft pick or Paxton Lynch.
Mike Glennon once was a starter for the Bucs, but barely has played since Jameis Winston was the first overall pick in '15. Glennon, a 27-year-old free agent, earned $1.5 million the past season. Tyrod Taylor, also 27, underwent offseason groin surgery. If the Bills pick up his option, they'll be liable for $27.5 million next season. Otherwise, he becomes a free agent.
Those are the Broncos' six most viable options.
Who's the best of the bunch?
