Dud No. 1 – Ian Rapoport
For the third time in five weeks, a national media member has thrown gas on the flame that is the Denver Broncos’ quarterback situation.
Peyton Manning suffered another setback in his recovery from plantar fasciitis this week, missing practice on Friday and through the weekend after a return to the field Wednesday and Thursday. Those practices were the first action Manning had seen since Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ian Rapoport joined NFL Network on Sunday morning and offered up an incendiary report that said Manning was “not inclined” to serve as Brock Osweiler’s backup in the event that he is healthy enough to return to the field. Rapoport called the Broncos’ QB situation, “uncomfortable and difficult.”
The report prompted a harsh response from John Elway, Broncos PR and eventually Manning himself. The future Hall of Famer called the report “bulls**t” in the wake of Denver’s 34-27 loss.
Fans will recall Mike Florio’s report following Osweiler’s win his first start (vs. the Bears) that Manning intends to play next season “even if it he won’t be playing for the Broncos.” That was followed not long after by a report from Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, who said the Broncos were backing Osweiler, long-term.
The team vehemently denied all three reports.
Still, these reports have been disrupting the fan base in Denver and causing undue friction with Manning. And not a single one of these reports has openly cited their sources. As a journalistic enterprise, we respect the need to protect confidential sources, but these reports are starting to sound a little “cry wolf-ish.”
Rapoport is just the latest to pile on what has become a sad saga between the Broncos, Manning and the media.
