Peyton Manning needs to follow the NEW Brady Rule...

Tom Brady just signed a 3 yr/$27 million contract.  That is about 45%-50% of what the market rate is for a top 5 QB.  Hell, an average QB like Joe Flacco on a great team is going to try to demand $20 mill/yr.  That is roughly 15-17% of the salary cap which is expected to be between $120-123 million in the 2013-14 season.  I have no problem with a young player looking to make as much money as he can on that second contract, especially with the lower rookie scale contracts and non-guaranteed money of the NFL, but for an aging star that plays to win rings instead of making money like Manning, it's time to cut that meat!
Cut That Meat!

Manning came back with the health risks of his fused Frankenstein neck to cement his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play and to do that he knew he had to win another Super Bowl or two and deal with Tom Brady and his brother.  First, his brother has two rings and is younger.  The Giants are a smart franchise and always have a shot if they make the playoffs.  Peyton doesn't want to be reminded that yeah, you're great but Eli has more rings.  Then, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are Hall of Famers, first ballot, but Manning doesn't want to be remembered as winning one Super Bowl and being an average playoff QB (so far that's what he is) while Brady goes down as the greatest ever if he wins another.  Peyton needs more meat on his resume to be considered the greatest amongst Elway, Montana, Manning, Starr, etc. and the main way to do that is to trim his salary down. 

The Broncos showed they are not far off from winning the Lombardi.  They had the best record in the AFC.  They were not far from beating the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, but Manning did not play to his level of expectations.  A bigger cushion and some more playmakers and experience could have helped get the Broncos to that level Manning needs to cement his legacy.  Manning needs help and drafting another young player to do that is not going to get it done.  The Broncos need a couple of solid veterans on defense and offense in their most glaring holes.  These are:

• Secondary-Rahim Moore played much better this year but as the AFC Championship game showed he makes some big mistakes at times and isn't the guy you need to patrol the secondary and demand respect.  Champ Bailey showed he needs some help over the top and didn't get it.  Don't get me wrong, he is still a Top 5-10 corner but he isn't as fast as the speedsters like Torrey Smith and he got buttered on his toast.  He needs stronger safety help and not to be put on an island anymore.
• LB-Von Miller is the best defensive player in the league. He can cover, rush and is the ideal guy for any team to build around.  DJ Williams is good but not worth his salary or headache.  Woodyard stepped up and is a damn good LB.  Outside of that, it was a scary year and scarier to think that we depended on Keith Brooking and a whole bunch of average high draft picks/undrafted Free Agents.
• Defensive Tackle-The Broncos are fortunate to have got the production they got from vets like Bunkley two years ago and Bannan last year, but they have not addressed having an all-around DT that can also put pressure on the passing game from the inside.  They haven't had that and need that in today's pass happy NFL.
• Running Back-There is some solid playmakers there but they need another one that is consistent and can be an impact in this offense.
• Receiver-D. Thomas is a Top 5 WR and may only be behind Calvin Johnson right now for the COMPLETE package (sorry Dez Bryant, your head still scares me everyone) but Eric Decker is closer to a #3 REC.  Stokley is a great vet but he is not the speedster breakaway slot the Broncos really need in this offense.
• Offensive Line depth-Manny Ramirez played something like half the season as a starter.  He is not a starter! 

So why do I show these glaring needs?  Because while the draft in the first two rounds could help these areas, they will not solve them, thus I advise Manning and the Broncos to do the following things to win the Super Bowl next season in-house:

• Peyton Manning cuts his salary to $10 million/yr.
• DJ Williams cuts his salary by  at least half or is cut.  He is a solid LB and is very talented but not worth the money or headaches at that price.
• Cut Chris Kuper- Great player but his injuries have made him a liability.  He was average before getting hurt (again) last season.  He was awful against Baltimore.
• Franchise Clady or play hard ball and say you are not Joe Thomas.  Get him to take $12 mill/yr or just franchise him for two seasons and move on.
• Cut Joe Mays-Not a starter and average back-up.  He is a north-south runner.  That is good for RBs, not LBs.
• Renogotiate Woodyard for a longer contract-He is a player that deserves guarantees and to be shown some love

The above should get the Broncos roughly $20-$25 million in room for next season.  That is huge.  The biggest key to this is Manning.  If he truly wants to win a Super Bowl, he will do it.  With that savings, they should then make these moves:

• Sign Reggie Bush-He is perfect for this system, still young enough to be good and probably $5 million a year guy.  You then don't have to rush Hillman.
• Play hard for Danny Amendola-A reception machine.  He is very fragile with a laundry list of injuries but if he stays healthy, watch out.  He is a younger Welker and less costly.  You get him for $6 mill/yr.  Do it!  If not go after Brian Hartline and if not him draft a speedster in the 2nd round or take Tayvon Austin if DT help is addressed in Free Agency or there isn't one worth that pick.
• Draft Jesse Williams of Alabama at DT or go after Randy Starks or Cullen Jenkins to stay with the older vet
• Hope Urlacher is cut by the Bears and if not go after Malaluga of the Bengals/USC.  They need help and depth at MLB either way and a vet that is a solid player would address that.
• Sign Louis Delmas of the Lions.  Give him two years and pay a  bit above market value.  You have Moore and Quinton Carter as solid guys.
• Draft Barret Jones of Alabama in the 2nd round.  Guy is a versatile OL.  Can help at any position but LT.

The Broncos need a handful of impact players.  The key to it all is Peyton Manning.  Mr. Manning, choose another playoff loss with fill-in players and rookies or cut that meat and get some impact players to hold the Lombardi again in 2014!