Kiszla: With his job on the line, Broncos coach Vic Fangio sits alone in a room to decide between quarterbacks Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater

Sitting successful a country by himself to guarantee the opinions formed volition beryllium his alone, Broncos manager Vic Fangio focuses his eyes intently connected video of quarterbacks Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater, compiling information to marque the astir important determination of his 35-year NFL career.

“I ticker a batch of portion of the quarterbacks by myself,” Fangio tells me, arsenic we basal connected the signifier tract wherever Bridgewater and Lock person waged regular auditions for the astir important occupation connected the team.

Fangio is nary dummy. He knows what’s astatine stake. “It’s a large decision,” Fangio says.

Nothing little than his destiny arsenic Broncos manager could hinge connected his choice.

So portion helium appreciates the input of violative coordinator Pat Shurmur and QB manager Mike Shula erstwhile they huddle to sermon the merits of Lock and Bridgewater, Fangio believes determination tin beryllium paralysis by over-analysis connected wherefore immoderate fixed play breaks down alternatively of producing a touchdown.

“I deliberation sometimes erstwhile you ticker the portion with the violative coaches, it’s bully to do. But not always. Because sometimes the violative coaches person a communicative down each play that begins with: ‘Well, if this feline had lone …'” Fangio says. “I don’t similar the connection ‘excuse.’ I similar to look astatine the portion done my eyes, arsenic a antiaircraft coach. I cognize what a bully backmost should beryllium doing and what helium should look like.”

If Fangio makes the close choice, possibly the Broncos beforehand to the NFL playoffs for the archetypal clip since 2015.

But what happens if helium blows the telephone connected Bridgewater vs. Lock?

With a 12-20 grounds aft 2 seasons successful complaint of a squad with the powerfulness to signifier some the city’s individuality and the temper of its football-crazy citizens, Fangio knows helium could beryllium second-guessed close retired of Denver.

“I’m OK with it. It’s conscionable portion of the operation. I cognize we person expectations. I cognize what everybody’s saying and what their thoughts are,” says Fangio, who hears the noise, but isn’t rattled by criticism.

“It doesn’t fuss me. I consciousness assured that successful each determination I make, and it doesn’t substance which 1 — whether it’s calling a defense, going for it connected 4th down, calling a timeout, picking a quarterback, oregon picking a close tackle — determination volition beryllium radical that disagree with my choice. That’s what makes sports great.”

After surviving for a procreation successful the dog-eat-dog satellite of NFL football, Fangio doesn’t request anyone’s support to beryllium assured successful his coaching ability. But successful a concern wherever the scoreboard is unforgiving, helium understands the necessity of winning present successful Denver.

When I archer him endurance is simply a basal instinct of quality nature, the manager chuckles successful agreement. But erstwhile I inquire Fangio if the prime of Lock vs. Bridgewater volition beryllium based connected what’s champion for the squad oregon what’s champion for his occupation security, determination is not a 2nd of hesitation successful his reply.

Fangio wants me, arsenic good arsenic each instrumentality successful Broncos Country, to cognize what helium has told wide manager George Paton connected this precise subject: No manager worthy his brackish would enactment the temptation of self-preservation supra the operation of the squad into a legit title contender.

“As a caput manager and wide manager, you’re ever discussing what’s champion for today. But you besides ever person an oculus for the future,” says Fangio, neither flustered nor irked by my proposition his prime betwixt Lock and Bridgewater could beryllium influenced by a tendency to clasp his job.

“Something we bash that’s amended for the aboriginal of the squad whitethorn not ever beryllium what’s champion for the present, which is what you’re alluding to, I think. In these cases, I’ve ever said: ‘George, bash what’s champion for the franchise successful each and each decision, due to the fact that I’m bully with that.’ I’d hatred for america to marque decisions that would marque our shot squad a hairsbreadth amended present and wounded the squad successful 2022, ’23 and ’24.”

That sounds to maine arsenic if Lock should beryllium the favourite successful this competition, due to the fact that portion Bridgewater isn’t past astatine property 28 and does person a Pro Bowl quality connected his resume, there’s much maturation imaginable for Denver’s second-round draught prime from 2019.

Fangio offers maine nary coagulated clues arsenic to whether his prime volition beryllium Lock oregon Bridgewater. I bash know, however, the manager thinks the gamesmanship of keeping everyone successful suspense and the New York Giants guessing until close earlier the season-opener is silly

This is simply a determination Fangio cannot spend to get wrong, truthful it’s a prime wherever helium volition trust connected the grounds connected portion and the feeling successful his gut.

“It’s a a large determination that has lone been made harder due to the fact that some guys person done well. I deliberation we person 2 bully quarterbacks that are susceptible of starting successful the NFL,” Fangio says.

“It’s not conscionable going to beryllium my determination with nary input. Everybody is getting their sentiment heard. And past I volition marque the decision.”