We noted this afternoon that the Broncos were trying to make it happen, and now it has happened: Caleb Hanie is heading to Denver.
Hanie has signed a two-year contract with the Broncos, ESPNChicago.com reports.
That will likely make Hanie the No. 2 quarterback behind Peyton Manning in Denver, and if Hanie is the No. 2 it shows that the Broncos are all-in on Manning. If they weren’t totally sold on Manning being healthy, they’d sign a more experienced, proven backup. But Broncos boss John Elway is apparently sold on Hanie as the man to back up the 36-year-old starter coming off four neck procedures.
Last year Hanie struggled mightily after taking over for the injured Jay Cutler in Chicago. The Bears were poised for a playoff run before Cutler went down, but they went 0-4 with Hanie as the starter, and Hanie’s numbers were terrible: He completed 51 of 102 passes for 613 yards, with three touchdowns, nine interceptions and a passer rating of 41.8.