Just four quarterbacks in NFL history have started at least 10 games in a season at Peyton Manning's age of 39.
After watching injuries turn their quarterback into a shell of his five-time MVP self down the stretch last season, the Denver Broncos plan to use backup Brock Osweiler to spell Manning more often in 2015.
Coach Gary Kubiak disclosed Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting that he has held preliminary talks with Manning about decreasing his reps in meetings, practices and training camp.
"I want to do what's best for him," Kubiak explained, via The Denver Post. "I went through the same process with John (Elway) late in his career, and it was a battle for me and Mike (Shanahan) to do some things with him."
Manning is notorious for hogging practice reps and pleading to remain on the field, as illustrated by last year's mix-up when Osweiler thought he was entering a blowout versus the Raiders.
For all of the handwringing over Manning's fit in Kubiak's established boot-action scheme, the head coach emphasized that the offense will have to be changed to adjust to his quarterback's skill set.
"I'm the one who has to adjust and find out how I'm going to mesh everything together," Kubiak said. "We are going to run his offense and do what he does best, but it's going to be the Broncos' offense.
Osweiler obviously isn't a threat to the starting job, but the Broncos have to solidify their high opinion of his future prospects after coercing Manning into a 21 percent pay cut last month.
One way to accomplish that is by increasing the backup's reps, simultaneously keeping Manning fresh for the playoffs and increasing the Broncos' chances of playoff success.
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