Having enjoyed watching PM in college and my time in Indy it’s a bittersweet thing. Pro sports are business and it’s highly likely he won’t play another game for the Colts given the house cleaning going on there, but who knows. Andrew Luck is still an unknown, but I’m no pro QB scout so only the big dogs in Indy know for sure. I feel if Payton wasn’t owed the $28 mil roster bonus they would keep him if healthy. What a score that could be for Luck: come in for Payton’s last few years and be an understudy of one of the great minds on the game.
I can’t imagine Payton wanting to endure the toxic environment of Rex Ryan, but I did hear on ESPN radio from ‘unnamed sources’ that the Jets would be all about PM if he was available. There is obviously big trouble in that locker room and Sanchez is certainly not a shining star thus far. Cardinals…whew I could see that one happening. Whisenhunt and Miller love seasoned QB’s et al Warner. I bet Payton is drooling about potentially throwing balls to Fitzgerald and Heap. That could be a fun one to see
I’m just bummed to see the end of an era in the AFC South:(
These rumors about Peyton kill me. Even my Dolphins are now allegedly in the fray (apparently PM and Marino are big buds). If the injury is really that bad to his neck, the man should just go play golf and spend time with family. Why even take the chance?
I’m not a Colts fan, but living in the Indy area for 10 years now, I’ve paid attention and gotta say I have a lot of respect for Peyton Manning. He seems like a good guy, and he’s a smart player. With his neck surgery (which everyone is so hush-hush about), I just can’t imagine him playing again, at least not at the level he has. I dunno, I’m no quarterback, nor do I portray one on TV, but when I see some of the hits those guys take, I’d be curled up in the fetal position thinking that I might be one hit from paralysis. If I were Peyton, with young twins at home, I’d be thinking about starting my coaching career in 2012 - I bet he could be good at it. It’s probably not the way he wants to end his QB career, though.
These rumors about Peyton kill me. Even my Dolphins are now allegedly in the fray (apparently PM and Marino are big buds). If the injury is really that bad to his neck, the man should just go play golf and spend time with family. Why even take the chance?
The issue is not the seriousness of the injury. If it is serious and unresolved, he won’t play anywhere.
The issue is the $28 million owed on March 8 and the uncertainty of the injury. Peyton and the Colts are free to renegotiate his deal anytime they would like. If my memory serves correctly, if the Colts cut him he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can do what he pleases … even re-sign with the Colts under a different deal.
There are two things that would cause Peyton to play for another team next year: 1. Money 2. Luck
… cross post from a different site…
You have to believe it’ll come down to one of 4 scenarios…(1) prove you can still play, you stay…(2) prove you can’t still play, you’re gone…(3) don’t prove you can still play and restructure that bonus money, you stay…(4) don’t prove you can still play and don’t restructure that bonus money, you’re gone.
While I really don’t like Manning as a player, or commercial endorser. I have a lot of respect for him as a player. I would like it if he was able to restructure his deal to take a lessor role but stay with the organization or outright retire since I doubt he will be healthy enough not to risk long term damage/injury.
Then again, I can see jerry jones, trading away many draft picks to make a big splash to get him and PM never play a down.
i’ve been a colts fan then a manning fan. if the colts hire tressel and cut/trade manning, i’m in the market for a new team.
irsay has been on record saying that if manning is healthy then he’s not going anywhere. irsay is a strange dude though. i wouldn’t put anything by him. they need to get better in all aspects. i’ve also thought that they could get a couple #1s from someone for manning and more #1s for the top pick and move down but that went out the window when barkley went back to usc.
manning has done a lot of good in indy, especially with riley hospital. i’ve seen him spend time there talking to kids and hanging out.
nothing in this situation would surprise me–manning retiring, gets traded/cut, comes back, top pick traded.
When I saw him on the sideline halfway thru the season and saw how he was standing and walking around and saw how gingerly he appeared to be treating his neck, my prediction was he had played his last game for anyone. Still standing by that prediction.
I’d hate to see him try to play for someone else and stay around years longer than he should have. Retire at the top, certainly he’s made enough money and can make plenty more as a TV analyst.
I know it’s pipe dreaming, but: PM takes offensive coordinator job, they grab Luck and off to the races. I cannot imagine anyone who would know the Colts current offense any better than he does!
I think something along those lines as well, I"m not sure if he’s ever mentioned wanting to go into coaching, but let him retire and sign him as some type position with the team
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You understand how hard it is to keep a player off the field who wants to play, right? If Manning thinks he is heathly, or underestimates the risk, he is playing. Particularly now that his little brother has a chance to surpass him in Super Bowl rings.
I agree too, but could you imagine his frustration knowing he is “coaching” a player that isn’t as good as him in that moment. He is a great leader and he has been the one calling the plays for many years. I know I couldn’t coach someone else when I knew I should be out there doing it better myself.
If the Colts go with Luck, which I full expect, then I think they have to let Manning go. Teams don’t draft a QB #1 overall and let him sit and learn. Even with the restructured rookie deals, I think they would have too much cash tied up under center with an aging group of core players needing replacement or retained at a high veteran salary. Add in the $ Manning is owed with the cloud of uncertainty over his health going forward and I have to believe he has played his last game as a Colt.
Side note: I think the guy could step in right away as an offensive coordinator. He is brilliant at the line of scrimmage and has a tremendous work ethic.
You understand how hard it is to keep a player off the field who wants to play, right? If Manning thinks he is heathly, or underestimates the risk, he is playing. Particularly now that his little brother has a chance to surpass him in Super Bowl rings.
Yeah, but, look at Aikman and Young. Both made the right and the smart call. They looked at their families and decided they would like to be around for them.
You understand how hard it is to keep a player off the field who wants to play, right? If Manning thinks he is heathly, or underestimates the risk, he is playing. Particularly now that his little brother has a chance to surpass him in Super Bowl rings.
Yeah, but, look at Aikman and Young. Both made the right and the smart call. They looked at their families and decided they would like to be around for them.
Good examples. Favre could be considered pretty much the other end of the spectrum on that - he’s a pretty good example of bluemonkeytri’s point. I’m not quite sure his stints with the Jets and Vikings did anything good for him or his legacy.
I keep hearing how it would be great if the Colts draft Luck and then Peyton Manning could just go into coaching. I don’t doubt that Manning would be a great coach but it isn’t happening. There is a reason that these hall of fame QBs or future hall of fame QBs don’t go into coaching…They have plenty of money and who would want to retire from a game they loved playing and immediately go into a job that pays about 1/5 of what they were originally making and working 80-100+ hour work weeks? That would be torture for a guy like Manning.
Marino, Elway, Aikman, Young, Montana…These guys aren’t coaching. They are front office guys, analysts, or involved in other businesses making just as much as a coach, still involved in the game in some way, and most importantly have lives. Manning won’t be any different.
