When evaluating Caleb Hanie, the Broncos saw something on film that wasn’t visible through production.

Hanie, 26, will be Peyton Manning’s backup quarterback after he agreed to terms on a two-year contract Saturday with the Broncos.

Undrafted in 2008 out of Colorado State, Hanie has played little in his four NFL seasons, but he did get two substantial opportunities.

The first was in the 2010 season’s NFC championship game, when he replaced Todd Collins, who was ineffective in relief of injured starter Jay Cutler.

The Bears were trailing the Green Bay Packers 14-0 when Hanie came in with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter. He led the Bears on two touchdown drives and threw for 153 yards in the fourth quarter alone.

But Hanie also threw two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown by defensive lineman B.J. Raji, and the Bears lost 21-14.

Still, the Bears were confident in Hanie late last season after Cutler suffered a season-ending broken thumb. The Bears were 7-3 when Hanie became their starter. They were 7-7 when his four-game audition was finished. He threw nine interceptions against three touchdown passes while posting a 41.8 passer rating.

Hanie played efficiently, though, in a 13-10 overtime loss to the Broncos in December at Sports Authority Field. Operating an ultraconservative game plan, Hanie completed 12-of-19 passes for only 115 yards in a mistake-free game.

The Broncos believe Hanie, a good athlete who moves well, was put in a difficult situation last season because in his final three games he didn’t have star running back Matt Forte, who had suffered a season-ending knee injury, and had to play behind an offensive line that surrendered an NFL-most 105 sacks the previous two seasons.

With the Broncos, Hanie will get a new lesson in work ethic. In his four seasons with the Bears, Hanie first played behind Kyle Orton and then Cutler. Neither Orton nor Cutler are known for putting in extra time on the practice field or weight room, at least not while they played in Denver.

Manning is known as one of the most prepared quarterbacks — both mentally and physically — in the league.