In a surprising move, quarterback Brock Osweiler ditched the reigning Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos and signed a new contract with the Houston Texans. According to the athlete, choosing between the two teams was the hardest decision he's ever done.
As part of the $72 million deal, Osweiler will stay with the Texans for four years. He's also entitled to receive $37 million for the first two years of his contract, SB Nation reported.
Before signing with the Texans, Osweiler has been in talks with the Broncos regarding his spot on the roster for next season. Although the athlete has been with the team since 2012, he also saw full action last year when he temporarily replaced starting quarterback Peyton Manning.
During his time on the field last season, Osweiler proved to be a strong addition to the team's roster. His efforts even helped in leading the Broncos to Super Bowl 50.
But, now that Manning has officially retired, the Broncos was looking to promote its backup quarterback to starter. After all, he spent four years training under Manning.
However, Osweiler noted that his negotiations with the Broncos was only available for a limited time. Also, the team hesitated to discuss his new contract's detail until they were sure that Manning will retire.
This, then, opened the doors for other teams looking to snatch a member of the 2016 NFL Season champion. Following the advice from his agent and after reflecting on his career in the NFL, Osweiler decided to go with the Texans.
"To the fans, to my teammates, to the community, to the organization, I promise you one thing," he said during a press conference according to ESPN. "I promise you that I will come in this building every single day rain or shine, and I will give it everything I have."
"Nobody will outwork me and nobody will out-prepare me, and that's the one thing I can promise you," he added.
Of course, Osweiler's decision to join Houston can complicate certain matters for the Broncos. As noted by Forbes, since 2001, the 2016 season will be the first time that a Super Bowl champion will begin its year without its top two quarterbacks.