Manning Out; Garrard Cut

Peyton Manning has started every game since his freshman year at Tennessee. Unfortunatley, the 208 game current starting streak (longest in the NFL) will be coming to an end Sunday.  (First Brett Favre now this).  Manning was listed as doubtful for the Colts season opener against the Texans earlier this week.  But, after doctors didn’t clear him to practice he is officially out.

Manning had offseason surgery to repair damaged nerves in his neck.  It was his second surgery on his neck and now is in the process of letting the nerves in his neck regenerate.  There is no timetable at this time for Manning’s return.  Kerry Collins came out of retirement to sign with the Colts and will start Sunday.   The Colts play the Browns in Week 2 and needless to say the Colts aren’t the same without Manning.

Will the Jaguars be as good without former starting quarterback David Garrard?  We will find out.  Jacksonville drafted Missouri rookie QB Blaine Gabbert and at that point the writing was on the wall.  But, for Garrard to be released so close to the season many are questioning the Jaguars handling of the situation.

They have named former Brown and Buccaneer quarterback Luke McCown as their starter against Tennessee.  It is expected that at some point this season Gabbert will take over the starting job.  Garrard was due to make $9 million this year and coach Jack Del Rio has been told he needs to make the playoffs to save his job.  Del Rio held a press conference saying how Garrard was given every chance to keep his job, but never separated himself from the other quarterbacks.