Peyton Manning: 'My gut' says Rodgers won't join Broncos
Peyton Manning wants to see Aaron Rodgers playing in the NFL this season, but the retired quarterback doesn't believe his former team, the Denver Broncos, is a likely destination for the Green Bay Packers star despite months of speculation.
"Obviously, I hope he plays somewhere this year," Manning said Monday on MLB Network ahead of the 2021 Home Run Derby at Denver's Coors Field, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "The fact that Aaron Rodgers might not play this year, I can't fathom it. He's too good of a player. Too fun to watch for the fans."
Manning continued: "My gut is he's not coming to Denver. My gut is Denver's gonna have Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater be their quarterback. At this point, you gotta kinda know what your plan is, you can't be having a new quarterback three weeks before the season."
Manning also said he hopes Rodgers will remain in Green Bay.
The Broncos have been rumored as one of the potential top suitors for Rodgers if he were to become available. A report of the quarterback's discontent with the Packers surfaced just prior to the start of the 2021 NFL Draft in late April.
Manning joined Denver as a free agent in 2012. He captured his second career Super Bowl title, set the single-season record for touchdown passes, and won 50 regular-season games across four campaigns with the AFC West club.
The Broncos haven't made the playoffs since Manning retired, producing an overall record of 32-48.
Lock initially appeared to be the answer under center after the team endured a revolving cast of underwhelming options at the position, but the young signal-caller has failed to cement his place as Denver's franchise player.
The Broncos traded for Bridgewater this offseason and will have a competition for the starting quarterback job in training camp.
Green Bay, meanwhile, has been adamant that it won't part ways with Rodgers, who skipped the team's offseason program and mandatory minicamp amid tensions with the front office.
The reigning MVP said Saturday he hopes to "figure things out in a couple weeks" when asked about his plans for the 2021 season.
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