Siemian Has Been in Love’s Shoes

With the Denver Broncos, Trevor Siemian replaced Peyton Manning. On Wednesday, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback offered advice to Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love.

CINCINNATI – Jordan Love is facing the monumental challenge of replacing a four-time NFL MVP.

One of the other quarterbacks on the field for the joint practice between the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals knows the feeling.

With the Broncos in 2016, Trevor Siemian replaced Peyton Manning, who with Denver won his fifth MVP in 2013 and a Super Bowl in 2014.

What was it like to replace one of the greatest players in NFL history?

“I don’t think I thought about it too much,” Siemian said in the Bengals’ locker room on Wednesday. “Obviously, it was a long time ago, but it was easy for me. I wasn’t trying to be Peyton Manning; I had no shot at doing that. I was fortunate to be around some really good coaches and a good team. So, for me, it was easy. I wasn’t trying to be Peyton.”

That sounds so cliché. So easy. In reality, how does a player – especially a quarterback, the most important position on the field – block out the pressure of replacing a legend?

“I don’t think us as players see it that way,” Siemian said. “It’s so competitive, and you’re so hyperfocused on the day to day, week to week. Shoot, everybody’s got pressure here. If you think about that, you’ll cripple yourself pretty easily.

“I don’t care if you’re playing quarterback or long snapper. At a certain point, you’ve got to relish the competitive nature of the league. That’s the backbone of the league. It’s definitely easier once Week 1 comes and you’re playing games and you’re competing and you’re trying to win ball games. That other stuff is a little less significant.”

Trevor Siemian, who replaced Peyton Manning in Denver, throws a pass against the Packers on Aug. 9. (Photo by Kareem Elgazzar/USA Today Sports Images)

Siemian had a strong debut season in 2016. He won eight of his 14 starts and threw 18 touchdown passes vs. 10 interceptions, though the Broncos fell short of the AFC playoffs. He started 10 games in 2017, was traded to Minnesota in 2018 but didn’t play behind Kirk Cousins, and has bounced around with the Jets, Saints and Bears the last four years before signing with Cincinnati after this year’s draft.

Having gone from starter to journeyman in a blink of an eye, it’s no wonder why Siemian wishes he would have stopped to smell the roses a bit while in Denver.

That serves as good advice for Love as he replaces one all-time great who replaced another all-time great. Yes, it’s going to be hard to replace Rodgers, but he worked hard to put himself in the position.

“I had blast when I was there, but just enjoyed it maybe a little bit more or let myself absorb it more,” Siemian said. “I think you’re so driven to get the best version of yourself out there and win football games, you just at times lose sight of how fun it is playing in the National Football League and playing in these games, these big moments. There’s nothing like it.”

Siemian doesn’t know Love and the two didn’t have a chance to talk before or after Wednesday’s practice. Nonetheless, Siemian said he’s “pulling for him” to do well in what, from the outside, anyway, seems like a difficult situation.

Love watched behind Rodgers for three years while Siemian got a year to stand behind Manning. Now, it’s just a matter of time and reps, and putting those lessons to work within the framework of their own game and skill-set. Siemian couldn’t play like Manning, just like Love can’t play like Rodgers.

Every day between now and the Sept. 10 opener at the Chicago Bears will be a good learning experience for Love, as will every game throughout his first season.

“There’s nothing like the game reps,” Siemian said. “Even camp, preseason, they’re good to get, but you’ve got to get live reps and your team’s got to play well around you. It’s an 11-man operation, so you’ve got to have a good team to lean on. I think he’s in a good spot, so I’m excited to watch him play. There’s going to be some bad reps sprinkled in and, hopefully, he learns and grows from them.”

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