Broncos Benching Peyton Manning? Vikings to Trade Cordarrelle Patterson?

There are talks that the Denver Broncos may be benching their future Hall of Fame, while the Minnesota Vikings are planning to let go of Cordarrelle Patterson.

Denver Post reported that the Broncos are planning to periodically bench Manning to let him rest and keep him from deteriorating through the season. New head coach Gary Kubiak reportedly discussed matters with the 39-year-old quarterback. Brock Osweiler is the backup quarterback and will most likely be ready to lead the team, after being mentored by Manning for three years.

Kubiak said, "I think as a coach you have to make those suggestions to players. But sometimes with the great ones, the reason they're great is you have to battle them on things like that because they're used to being a part of it every day."

Manning had to lower his salary by 21 percent for the 2015 NFL season. In the meantime, it will also be an opportunity for the Broncos to gauge the ability and potential of Osweiler to lead the team. Osweiler's contract will expire in the following season. Sports World News reported that it will be the first time in Manning's career that he has to stay on the bench without injuries.

NFL.com reported that the Minnesota Vikings are not going to trade Cordarrelle Patterson despite his dismal performance during the 2014 NFL season. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer confirmed that they will not be letting go of the wide receiver.

Zimmer said in a report by 1500 ESPN, "No, no chance whatsoever. Cordarrelle is a young, emerging player who was with his third coordinator in three years. Quite frankly, we need to do a good job of figuring out how we can use him better and he needs to understand where he's supposed to be, the routes and everything." Zimmer added that he admires Patterson's humility and drive to be better.

George Stewart, wide receivers coach of the Vikings, previously said in December 2014, that he believes in Patterson's potential and that they chose him in the first round for a reason. Stewart predicted that Patterson will do well in the future.

Minnesota may be looking for more wide receivers. Patterson has two more years with the Vikings but the team might need some help to garner the results it is expecting. It might take more time before Patterson finally blends with the offensive play and gets more minutes on the field.