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Look Who’s Talking Now
If you like “A 6-5, 230 pound quarterback, with a laser rocket arm” maybe Peyton Manning isn’t for you…
Football scenery in Indianapolis has shifted into the apocalyptic over the past two year. The Indianapolis Colts finished the NFL season with an overall 2-14 record; giving them the proud ownership of the 1st overall pick in the NFL Draft. And it just so happens that Andrew Luck, college football’s most highly touted quarterback prospect since (Indy’s own) QB Peyton Manning, will be foregoing his senior season at Stanford, and entering the 2012 draft.
This unique situation wouldn’t be tracking proverbial substance across the ground if Manning hadn’t sustained a severe neck injury that caused him to miss the entire 2011-2012 season, and is currently putting the future of his playing career in doubt. A $28 million contract option bonus due from the Colts to Manning on March 8th would give the Colts financial justification to part ways with the QB. And the strategic advantage of drafting the young Andrew Luck could make the ”rebuilding” phase of the talent-ridden franchise all the more smooth. (Let’s be honest, all the prime-time Colt’s games last year we’re not fun to watch). Read More >>
Peyton Manning in Seattle?
The rebuilding of the Indianapolis Colts’ franchise is well under way, but one question persists: Will it involve the NFL franchise’s very foundation?
As the Colts move from what was to what will be, the future of quarterback Peyton Manning remains uncertain. Owner Jim Irsay holds Manning’s fate with the Colts in his hands and will make the call by March 8 when a $28 million option bonus is due.
In an exclusive interview with Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz, the NFL‘s only four-time MVP touched on several topics, including how things have changed at the team complex. That, by the way, is where he continues to rehab from Sept. 8 neck surgery that forced him to miss the 2011 season.
“I’m not in a very good place for healing, let’s just say that,” Manning said. “Everybody’s walking around on eggshells. I don’t recognize our building right now. There’s such complete and total change.”
The day after the Colts ended the season 2-14, Irsay fired vice chairman Bill Polian and vice president/general manager Chris Polian. He replaced them with general manager Ryan Grigson.
On Jan. 17, Irsay and Grigson fired coach Jim Caldwell and most of his coaching staff.
So many individuals key to the Colts’ long run of success—115 wins from 2000-09, a league record for a decade; a league record-tying nine consecutive playoff appearances; two trips to the Super Bowl, including a win over Chicago in Super Bowl XLI—no longer are around.
Colts Question At Quarterback!?
Although it’s premature for the Indianapolis Colts to start planning a retirement party for Peyton Manning, it’s not too early for them to start putting together a succession plan for the four-time NFL MVP quarterback.
Colts president Bill Polian told the Indianapolis Star that the team would consider taking a quarterback in the draft “in the right situation” because Manning is moving toward the twilight of his career.
“Quarterback’s an issue, probably not a front-burner issue, but an issue nonetheless because while Peyton’s not at the end of his career, it’s approaching faster than it has in the past,” Polian said.
Manning, who has one Super Bowl ring and made 11 Pro Bowls, hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. Remarkably, he never has missed a game because of injury. But he is 35 and has played 13 seasons.
Curtis Painter, who is Manning’s backup, has played sparingly in two seasons and hasn’t shown any flashes he could be Manning’s heir apparent. The Colts have worked out two quarterbacks, TCU’s Andy Dalton and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, in preparation for the draft. Both players should be available in the second round.
The Colts have the 22nd pick in the first round, but it would be surprising if they would take a quarterback that high. They haven’t drafted a quarterback in the first round since since they selected Manning with the No. 1 overall pick in 1998.
Peyton Manning and Colts Go Extra Mile to Pull Out of Slump
NFL Quarterbacks nowadays stride to the podium for postgame news conferences in jacket and tie, refreshed and prepared for what to expect and what to give. But Peyton Manning here on Thursday night wore his soiled game uniform to the inquisition, the No. 18 with the big ”C” on the front.
Manning knew he might as well work overtime.
He is in that state of mind with three games left and his team once again — finally — sticking its nose above water. The Colts beat the Titans 30-28 at LP Stadium to reach a 7-6 record, kicking Tennessee to its sixth straight loss and a last-place 5-8 record.
The Colts had lost three straight coming into Thursday. Manning was in a funk. An interception-frenzy funk. So his coaches, his receivers, his teammates decided to work overtime for him.
The Colts strode to his rescue.
By game’s end, he was back in his familiar spot, leading the way, carving the defense, triggering the winning plays.
Manning swears he had tuned out all of the spit and fire around him. The critics who wondered if he had not only lost his game, his edge, but also his mind. That ability to know what the opposing defense is doing and kill it before they realize they have been exposed.
“Wherever `there’ is,” Manning said, “I never left.”
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This Time Around Patriots Defense Was Enough to Stop Peyton and the Colts
This year, Bill Belichick was forced to try and let his defense stop Peyton Manning.
It did.
It was James Sanders, the most experienced member of New England’s secondary, who did what Belichick was afraid to let his defense do a year ago in Indianapolis. Sanders picked off what Manning called a “sickening” pass headed for Pierre Garcon by dropping out of double coverage. It cemented a 31-28 win for the Patriots over Manning and the Colts in what has become an annual contest between non-division opponents — one the NFL tries to make an instant classic each season by scheduling it during November network sweeps, almost as a separate entity in itself.
The annual Quarterback Bowl. Brady vs. Manning. Available to most of the nation and available for discussion at water coolers everywhere. (Do they have water coolers anymore?)
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Hits Happen…
The injury to Colts WR Austin Collie in Sunday’s game against the Eagles was scary and unfortunate. The way he lay on the Lincoln Financial Field turf, not moving, his arms in the air, was pretty frightening.
One hopes he will be OK, with no lingering effects.
But the hit that knocked Collie silly was not a penalty and was not a cheap shot. It was football, and sometimes football is violent and ugly and scary, especially with the speed and size and workout habits of the modern-day player. Not every scary hit is illegal or dirty.
The NFL has officials so wary of the big hit that this crew — led by referee Carl Cheffers — threw a flag based on how the play looked, not how it went. The league is right to legislate helmet-to-helmet hits out of the game. They are done with intent, and there is no place for them.
Former Colt Marvin Harrison may be fighting for his Freedom
Marvin Harrison has had a reportedly number of teams show interest as a prospect player after having been released by the Colts, including the Tennessee Titans. Currently a free agent, Harrison would be hard pressed to turn down an offer to play this NFL season given the right circumstances – his main concerns remaining playing time and compensation.
However given his past and more recent troubles which involve allegations that Harrison has yet again been involved in the shooting of a man named Dwight Dixon.
Apparently Dixon was found shot multiple times and left to bleed out in the Fairmount area of Philadelphia. Dixon had already attempted to sue Harrison for a previous altercation in with Harrison had allegedly shot Dixon and lost.
Nailing Down the Top NFL Quarterback
Within the top quarterback food chain who is the best Tom Brady, Payton Manning or Drew Brees in the NFL? Payton Manning is up there but he lost his offensive coordinator and Marvin Harrison so what does that look like? But even within the top three quarterbacks of opinion, should Tony Romo Really be counted out?
Some say Tom Brady, hands down because he comes back to a team that has better weapons the Brees or Manning and he came close to he will come close to his record breaking numbers of two seasons ago. Do we worry about his injuries?
Drew Brees still reached at least 4,400 yards for the third consecutive year. If Manning is a lock for 4,000 yards and 30 TDs, what should we expect from Brady? Fans say Brady should throw 4,800 yards and 50 TDs so the debate goes on.
Others say watch Joey Galloway and Brees will throw more yards. Interesting year for the quarterbacks on the field. Let the instant debate roll!
Peyton Sounds Off
The aftermath of Tony Dungy’s retirement as Indianapolis Colts head coach has Peyton Manning expressing himself.
Recent personell changes to the colts staff include Offensive coordinator Tom Moore and offensive line coach Howard Mudd leaving the team with a $1 million dollar payout as a result of recent pension plan changes by the NFL.
With their positions already filled by Clyde Christensen and Pete Metzelaars it is leading to some disarray with probably more then just Peyton Manning especially since both Moore and Mudd are somehow expected to return in perhaps different roles.
“I can’t tell you what’s going on. I will say I don’t think it’s been the most properly communicated scenario around here. It’s not a situation that I’m just thrilled about. I think the communication has been pretty poor in my opinion. Somebody says one thing, then somebody else says another thing.”
Can Manning Work the Miracle?
Manning, a name seen on the back of most, if not all Colts jerseys, is a name that will go down in history. Peyton Manning, who has been the QB for the Indianapolis Colts for more than a decade, is a future Hall of Famer, and NFL critics and fans alike believe that he’s still got a lot more gas in the tank. Manning is now 33, which is the age where some QBs start to see a decline in their ability, but Manning shows no sign of slowing down. The Colts have recruited a number of spectacular players since Manning has been at the helm including RBs Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai, and WR Reggie Wayne. These players lead the Colts to the playoffs, and some to become Super Bowl Champions in 2006. Regardless of what moves the Colts make in the off-season, who is traded, or who retires, Manning makes the Colts playoff and Super Bowl contenders every year. Amongst current NFL QBs, only Tom Brady can make the same claim.
Peyton Manning enjoys one of the highest QB ratings of all time, sitting at a career QB rating of 94.7, behind only Steve Young, and he’s earned it. Manning is one of the most decorated QBs in the NFL, and will be the same once he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame. With the 2006 Super Bowl still lingering in recent memory, critics and fans believe the Colts could be taking a trip to New Orleans in 2009.
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