Lombardi: Would Manning Consider Contract Restructuring?

DENVER (CBS4) - The Broncos season is over, and the team's front office now has a lot of free agent decisions to make.

The next couple of months of negotiations and deals will be vital for next season, CBS4's Vic Lombardi said on the morning after the team's devastating 43-8 loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. He told his radio show co-hosts on 104.3 The Fan that the Broncos were at a clear disadvantage in many of the matchups.

"Seattle had power, speed, physicality and depth. They were fast. You don't realize how much so until you see it up close," said Lombardi, who was on the sidelines during the game.

The Broncos certainly have quarterback Peyton Manning to thank for getting them to the big game, but if they want to win it all next year, some changes might need to be considered when it comes to the future Hall of Famer's contract.

"I'm not saying that Peyton deserves a pay cut. Far from it," Lombardi said on the radio show. "If he wants to surround himself with better talent, more speed -- a more well rounded team? Then maybe he has to take a pay cut."

Last year quarterback Tom Brady worked out a restructuring of his contract with the Patriots and the expectation was that it gave New England more room under the salary cap to sign talented free agents.

Would Manning similarly be willing to help absorb some of the costs? He is due to make $20 million next year.

"He makes more in a week than Russell Wilson makes in a year," Lombardi said.

More than a dozen players on the Broncos roster are headed into free agency, including offensive lineman Zane Beadles, receiver Eric Decker and running back Knowshon Moreno.

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- Written by Jesse Sarles for CBSDenver.com