Eric Decker has worked out with the Denver Broncos' new quarterback, Peyton Manning, and sees nothing wrong with his arm strength or acumen. Manning, for his part, is finding those workouts to be "rewarding" as he adjusts to a new team for the first time in his 14-year NFL career.
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"You don't feel it necessarily right now, but you know that it's going to pay dividends for you in the fall, when there's a third-and-5 and there's a pass pattern that you complete to Eric Decker. And you say, you know, 'We worked on that back in April and May, and that time we put in was worth it because it came on a critical third-down conversion or a touchdown pass,' " Manning said in a video posted Wednesday on the team's official website.
"I've seen that firsthand over the course of my career -- that offseason work makes a big difference come fall," Manning said. "You can't just show up in September and expect to be successful, expect to win games. And so this offseason work is critical. And so I've enjoyed the time, getting to know these receivers, they're kind of getting to know me. It's a marathon, no question about it -- it's not a sprint. And we do have some time, and the more we can do it, the better off we're going to be."
Manning missed the 2011 season because of neck surgeries and later was released by the Indianapolis Colts, with whom he had spent his entire NFL career. Manning joined the Broncos on March 20 as a free agent after also visiting the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Tennesee Titans.
