11/05/24
January 06, 2012
Theismann: Peyton Manning Won't Play Again: NFL broadcaster Joe Theismann said in a satellite radio interview that the Indianapolis Colts should draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick because of his skill and the likelihood Peyton Manning will never play again. "You have to draft Andrew Luck," he said on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Thursday. "He's as complete a package as you are going to get coming in to professional football. ... I don't think Peyton Manning will be back in a uniform to play football, for his health and for his safety."
Ryan Leaf was the complete package too. I think the Colts should draft Luck and keep Manning, hoping he might have a few more years in his arm.
posted by rcade at 02:07 PM on January 06, 2012
I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play again, but man I'd love to see him have one or two more top levels seasons. It would be a shame for his career to end with this kind of whimper. Manning is one of the all-time greats.
posted by Joey Michaels at 02:20 PM on January 06, 2012
I think the Colts should draft Luck and keep Manning, hoping he might have a few more years in his arm.
Me too. I do think it is tough though when you think about all the draft picks they would get for him.
posted by bperk at 02:43 PM on January 06, 2012
I'd like to see more Manning too. Watching him spaz out before each snap and then repeatedly shred the Jaguars defense twice a year was both painful and awesome.
posted by rcade at 02:47 PM on January 06, 2012
Ryan Leaf was the complete package too.
Oh, we've had enough bad news in Chargerland this week without raising that specter.
posted by LionIndex at 02:58 PM on January 06, 2012
I think the real gamble is keeping Manning (who I believe to be one of the best ever) and taking a chance that he gets hurt, retires, and the Colts get nothing for him.
The Colts are terrible and even though Manning can make a huge difference, they still do not have what it takes to win a championship. The fact that they will only deteriorate from here without a lot of roster changes just makes it more imperative that they get Luck and those draft choices and players that they can get for Manning, which combined could make them very competitive for another decade. Even with Luck and Manning (who can't play at the same time) they will struggle and it will probably make Luck's transition to the pro game that much more difficult. I do feel Manning can help Luck but that help will cost the Colts way too much.
posted by Atheist at 03:34 PM on January 06, 2012
I think the real gamble is keeping Manning (who I believe to be one of the best ever) and taking a chance that he gets hurt, retires, and the Colts get nothing for him.
Either Manning can play and he is one of the best players in the NFL and too valuable to trade or he can't play and his worth would be nothing. Besides the fact that Manning has been the face of the Colts organization for over ten years, the owner loves him and he brings in fans. Plus, no one knows what kind of NFL QB Luck will be. It is a crapshoot. It would be crazy to give up a player of Manning's ability for a player that has never played in the NFL and may never develop into a quality NFL QB.
posted by bperk at 03:51 PM on January 06, 2012
I'd like to see more Manning too. Watching him spaz out before each snap and then repeatedly shred the Jaguars defense twice a year was both painful and awesome.
Watching the Manning-led Colts and the Brady-led Patriots play was a highlight of my season every year, even when the Patriots were on the losing end of the match.
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:56 PM on January 06, 2012
I don't think a Peyton Manning trade is possible. The Colts would take a $38.8 million cap hit.
posted by rcade at 04:12 PM on January 06, 2012
Brett Favre was the face of the Packers and one of the best to ever play the game. Unfortunately, in athletics especially, time catches up with everybody. Manning has had numerous neck / spinal surgeries and that is extremely serious. I believe he will not play again but if he does he has more value to the Colts future with another team then he does in a Colts uniform unless of course he coaches or moves to the office like Elway did. Give the Packers credit for knowing when it is time to move on and think about the future. The best case scenario for the Colts is a season or two with Manning. With Luck on the other hand it could be another decade with one of the premier players at QB. The upside to dedicating to Luck is far greater than milking an aging and injured Manning for a season or two at best. You would think that the is he going to play or is he not drama that plagued Green Bay would be something the Colts would want to really avoid, but that seems to be the case with Manning at this stage. His injury and subsequent surgeries are more serious than has been reported. I really don't believe that a player of Mannings intelligence, with the future opportunities in coaching, broadcasting etc is going to risk paralysis or serious debilitating injury for another season or two, especially since he has already accomplished everything a QB could expect and is a slam dunk HOFer.
Funny as it is, the name Luck is very appropriate, because of course there is a big element of luck as to how this plays out. He is generally regarded by football experts (an oxymoron of sorts) as having the best NFL ready skill set of any college QB in recent years if not ever.
posted by Atheist at 04:25 PM on January 06, 2012
His injury and subsequent surgeries are more serious than has been reported. I really don't believe that a player of Mannings intelligence, with the future opportunities in coaching, broadcasting etc is going to risk paralysis or serious debilitating injury for another...
Yes, I was under the impression that a wrong hit could paralyze, or even be fatal. Either way, I know I wouldn't care to see Peyton Manning carted off the field on a stretcher.
posted by steelergirl at 10:04 PM on January 06, 2012
Hearse?
posted by yerfatma at 10:27 AM on January 07, 2012
No, not a hearse either, I just didn't want to be morbid.
I would rather see him either take a new QB under his wing or retire gracefully and enjoy his twins.
posted by steelergirl at 02:23 PM on January 07, 2012
I agree and have been saying this since early in the season. The Colts are stupid if they remain stuck in the past and don't move on this opportunity to secure their future.