Welcome back to “NFL’s Believe It or Not.” This week, I will focus on controversial comments from Julius Thomas, Brandon Spikes, and Drew Brees.
Julius Thomas
I will start with Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas, who said, “I don’t think we have any additional pressure because of Peyton’s age.” Peyton Manning is 38 years old and his time in the NFL is extremely limited. He is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, but he can’t play forever. Once Peyton retires, the Broncos will no longer be contenders and they know it. That is why the Broncos signed multiple veteran players and spent an enormous amount of money this off-season. The rebuilding process will be gruesome, but it will be worth it if the Broncos can win a Super Bowl while Peyton Manning is still leading the team. Julius Thomas may not feel any pressure personally, but he can’t possibly believe that the Broncos’ front office doesn’t feel the pressure. The team’s off-season moves prove that they are all-in for this season and the immediate future. An inordinate amount of pressure is certainly there and it revolves around the age of one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Brandon Spikes
Next up, Buffalo Bills linebacker Brandon Spikes emphatically stated, “I think we’re gonna shock the world this season. I’m all in.” Whether or not Brandon Spikes is “all in,” the Bills’ chances of making the playoffs remain miniscule. The Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999, which is the longest drought in the NFL right now. That trend does not seem likely to change with a young EJ Manuel leading the team at quarterback. While the Bills have a solid supporting cast on offense now, EJ Manuel is not ready to utilize them fully. The Bills have done a solid job rebuilding recently, but ultimately quarterback is the most important position. EJ Manuel will need another year to develop his game so that he can lead this team to the playoffs in the future. I’m just not ready to believe that the Bills will be able to reach 9 or 10 wins right now.
Drew Brees
Finally, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees discussed the potential loss of tight end Jimmy Graham, saying, “You’ve got to roll without him. The one game he was hurt back in 2012, I think we threw for about 400 yards. So you find other ways to make the system work.” While the Saints have had success in the past before the arrival of Jimmy Graham, his loss would be devastating right now. He is the best receiver for the Saints and he caught 86 passes for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Losing that dominant force would leave an aging Drew Brees with a big problem. The Saints already traded dynamic running back Darren Sproles this offseason and wide receiver Marques Colston isn’t getting any younger. The Saints must lock up their best offensive weapon as soon as possible.
Make sure to leave your own comments below and come back next Thursday for another edition of “NFL’s Believe It or Not.”
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