I'm finishing up the Experts Auction recap for the magazine, and there was a runaway nominee for Steal of the Auction. It was aging Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who went for just $21 of a $200 salary cap. By way of comparison, Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers each went for close to twice that amount.
Manning faded down the stretch last year, perhaps dealing with an injury, or cold weather, or the reality that He is old. Father Time comes for everyone, and maybe it came for Manning last year.
Everybody agreed that Manning was a steal at $21 -- and yet you voice your opinion most clearly with the way you bid, or don't bid. A steal, yet no one else was willing to bid the $22 necessary to secure him.
Emmanuel Sanders, for his part, believes Denver's new offense under head coach Gary Kubiak will result in lesser numbers for the passing game. In a story at the team website, he says "It’s not going to be one of those offenses where you catch it and you’re going to have two receivers catching over 100 passes. My goal is really to try to get 1,000 yards to just help this team win ball games.”
If Sanders thinks a 1,000-yard season is going to be a challenge for him, maybe Manning was priced about right in the Auction. Lesser numbers for the wideouts and the passing game, lesser numbers for Manning.
Despite that outlook for Manning. his top target Demaryius Thomas was tied for the highest-priced receiver in the auction ($37). Sanders was $24. People may be wary of Manning, but few hesitated to bid up his wide receivers.
--Andy Richardson