Mannweiler is half of a tiny joint municipality in Germany.
Mannweiler also can be the collaborative solution to a Broncos victory over the New England Patriots and the team’s Super Bowl aspirations.
No matter which side the uncompromising fanatics in Denver have taken on the quarterback question and quandary, Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler don’t have to be mutually exclusive propositions.
Dual, not duel. Quarterbacks working together.
The obvious choice going forward the rest of the season would be a parallel world, Marvel Comics-like amalgamation of Peyton’s mind, well-honed experience, leadership and competitiveness blended with Brock’s arm, youthful exuberance, confidence and athleticism. But there is no body, or anybody, with all those qualities and characteristics.
Not even Tom Brady or Cam Newton.
What the Broncos must do now, and from now on (the John Elway refrain), until they are separated sometime in 2016 is have Manning and Brockweiler meld into Mannweiler.
Not head or tails. Unite and conquer.
Consider the 1972 Miami Dolphins, or the 1998 Broncos. Both won the Super Bowl. The Dolphins were a perfect 17-0; the Broncos finished 17-2.
In the Dolphins’ fifth game, starter Bob Griese broke his ankle. Backup Earl Morrall came on for the rest of the regular season and won a playoff game and started the AFC championship. When he struggled against the Steelers, Griese returned to lead the Dolphins to victory, and was the starting, and triumphant quarterback, in the Super Bowl.
The 1998 Broncos, defending world champions, challenged the Dolphins’ perfect record by winning their first 13 games. Bubby Brister replaced an injured Elway in the third game at Oakland, became the starter for Games 4 and 5, and again was the quarterback for the ninth and 10th games.
Despite Brister’s run — though there was some silly debate throughout Denver — there was no doubt coach Mike Shanahan would put Elway back in the starting lineup when he was healthy. The Broncos did lose two of their final six games. Brister took over for Elway in the second defeat after the outcome was settled. Brister would appear briefly in one playoff game and toward the end of the Super Bowl.
Brister was abruptly demoted in 1999 before the first game with Miami. Brian Griese, Bob’s son, was named the starter. Brister was released at the end of the season.
(In his second season, 2001, Brady was sent in by Bill Belichick on the final series of the second game after starter Drew Bledsoe suffered internal bleeding. Brady started the next week in Indianapolis, beating the Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning, who was removed late in the rout, and the Patriots would go on to win their first Super Bowl. Bledsoe was traded during the offseason.)
Manning is hurt. He can’t play. He’s out at least through next week. Many in Denver shriek that he should be booted in his walking boot to the curb, then under a bus. Stay classy, fools.
Can’t we all just watch how Osweiler performs in the next three or so games while you people can shout, squeal “Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie, oi, oi, oi!”?
In the meantime, Peyton, as he did all last week and will do Sunday, will help Brock in the film room and at practice. A wealth of wisdom from Manning provides Osweiler with schemes, reads, plays, tendencies and checkoffs.
When Manning is healthy, he should start again at home against Cincinnati and San Diego in the final two regular-season games. And, if he falters, Osweiler definitely will be poised to take over.
Actually, both can play down the regular-season stretch, depending on the situation, the score and their success. The postseason, as we, and even the fools, have figured out in Denver since 1977, is the only real season. We’ll all know all we need to know about who should play before then.
Peyton and Brock have significant team and personal objectives. They want the Broncos to advance to, and win, the Super Bowl. Peyton seeks to conclude his legendary career with another chance at another ring, and, as an aside, pass goal and collect the $4 million bonus. Brock wants to begin to “leave your legacy” — the tattoo on his business arm — and earn a long-term, big-time contract worth millions.
It doesn’t have to be either or.
Brock and Peyton can converge.
There’s nothing wrong with cheering for Mannweiler.
Woody Paige: woody@woodypaige.com or twitter.com/woodypaige
