Not everyone is thrilled that the Denver Broncos were able to land four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning, especially since the move led to the team shipping Tim Tebow to the Big Apple. For trading the devoutly religious quarterback, televangelist Pat Robertson believes Manning and the Broncos organization deserve to be punished.
"I think the Denver Broncos treated him shabbily," he said recently on "The 700 Club." "He won seven games, he brought them into the playoffs, for heaven sakes. I mean, they were a nothing team. He rallied them together with spectacular last-minute passes and, you know, when they beat Buffalo -- I mean, Pittsburgh, excuse me — it was a tremendous victory."
After lauding Tebow for rallying the team from a 1-4 record (at the time when he became the starter) to an AFC West crown and a playoff win, Robertson alluded to Manning's neck injury.
"So Peyton Manning was a tremendous MVP quarterback, but he’s been injured. If that injury comes back, Denver will find itself without a quarterback. And in my opinion, it would serve them right," he said.
A series of neck operations sidelined Manning for the entire 2011 season and concerns over his long-term health (along with the looming presence of Andrew Luck) led the Colts to release him before a $28 million bonus would have been due.
After being courted by several suitors, Manning chose to sign with the Broncos. During an introductory press conference, Manning indicated that he would be happy to be Tebow's teammate. But less than 24 hours after Manning was introduced as the Broncos' new quarterback, the team traded Tebow to the Jets.
UPDATE: A spokesman for Robertson told The Associated Press on Friday that Robertson was "in no way advocating an injury."
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