Broncos Sign Center Dan Koppen To One-Year Deal 

Former New England Patriots center Dan Koppen will go from snapping the ball to Tom Brady, to snapping it to Brady’s archrival.

No, not Eli Manning. It’s his older brother, though.

Denver Broncos quarterback and four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning will once again play behind a veteran center. The Broncos and Koppen agreed to a one-year deal, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston via Twitter. Details of the contract were not immediately available.

Koppen was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, while also earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2007. Like Manning, who missed the entire 2011 season, Koppen barely played due to a season-ending injury suffered in the season opener.

The move is smart for the Broncos, especially with all that they have invested for Manning already. With Koppen, Manning is once again paired with a smart, veteran center after spending 12 seasons on the field with Jeff Saturday while with the Indianapolis Colts. Additionally, Koppen has more experience to help Manning call out blocking schemes and recognize blitzes than center J.D. Walton. This could go a long way in preserving Manning’s health over the length of his five-year, $96 million contract with the Broncos.

Whether this all translates into a Super Bowl title will wait to be seen. It is a step in the right direction though.

About the author: Michael Cellars

Michael Cellars currently attends Kent State University, where he is majoring in English with minors in writing and psychology. In addition to his studies, he serves in the Ohio Army National Guard. During his free time, he surrounds himself with as much of the NFL as possible, and writes for football websites NFL Soup and Football Nation. Michael’s favorite team is the Green Bay Packers, who he has been an avid fan for his entire life.