Peyton Manning’s Unclear Future

The Colts are coming off a 2-14 season in which Peyton Manning didn’t throw a pass or play a down.  As a result of a terrible season for Indianapolis their head coach and general manager were fired.  Jim Caldwell took the team to a Super Bowl a couple of years ago, but now owner Jim Irsay is looking for his replacement.

Where does Peyton Manning fair in all this?  Well Manning says that he and Irsay haven’t talked about Manning’s future in Indianapolis and that he doesn’t know what direction the franchise is going.  What we do know is that the eventual Hall of Fame quarterback is due $28 million in March (if he stays with the team). Manning was quoted as saying,”It’s not a real good environment down there right now..everybody’s walking on egg shells.  There is such complete and total change.”

Of course, the Colts do have the number one pick in this years draft.  There aren’t many that think that the Colts won’t draft two time Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck out of Stanford.  The old western expression,”There just aint enough room for the both of us” comes to mind.  Manning and Luck would represent approximately $50 million toward the cap each season if both played for the team.  There is also word now that there are medical professionals that are saying that Manning’s unique neck injury won’t allow him to ever again play at the same level.

It looks like possibly the greatest quarterback in the league over the last 15 years is on his way out of Indy.  For now Peyton’s brother Eli will play the Patriots in Indianapolis for the Super Bowl championship.  But, this will be an interesting side story as Irsay and the Colts host the Super Bowl.  If you think about teams that need quarterbacks Washington, the Jets,  Chiefs, and Seahawks all come to mind.

Alternatively, if Manning’s career is over (much to his dismay) it will be interesting to have the debate five years from now who the better quarterback was between Peyton and Eli.  Eli is in position to win his second Super Bowl, whereas  his older brother won one in two appearances.  Worst case, if Manning doesn’t play another down he is no question a first ballot Hall of Famer.