04/26/24
January 27, 2012
Kravitz: 'Peyton Manning is Done in Indianapolis': After Peyton Manning gave an interview to Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz about how everyone's "walking around on eggshells" at the Indianapolis Colts facility because of all the staff turnover, Colts owner Jim Irsay called Manning a "politician" and said he should've kept his comments "in the family." Kravitz said the spat shows that Manning's not going to be kept by the team: "My fervent hope is this doesn't continue to devolve. We are talking about good people in a bad situation, the thorniest situation since the 49ers traded Joe Montana."
Yeah, c'mon Jim Irsay, don't make me root for Peyton Manning.
posted by yerfatma at 10:34 AM on January 27, 2012
Upon seeing the post headline, my first thought was: "First Rob Lowe, now Lenny Kravitz?!"
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:13 AM on January 27, 2012
Jim Irsay should have gotten Ryan Grigson and Peyton Manning in a face-to-face meeting when Grigson was hired as GM. Instead, Grigson and Manning ran into each other at the Colts facilities around 7-10 days after the move.
After all that Manning's done for the franchise, he deserved to be fully in the loop when the GM was hired and the coach was fired. Even if the news about his future is bad.
posted by rcade at 11:53 AM on January 27, 2012
Having seen Irsay on ESPN at lunch, I'm officially rooting for Manning. If Irsay said, "Protect the Horseshoe" one more time I was going to throw up. Actually, he looked a little green around the gills himself; heck of an impression of a professional drinker there, Jim.
posted by yerfatma at 12:34 PM on January 27, 2012
...the thorniest situation since the 49ers traded Joe Montana.
I think this is worse. At least the Niners had a legit QB with Steve Young waiting in Joe Montana's shadow. Outside of a first overall pick, what do the Colts have a QB if they give Peyton Manning his walking papers? They should keep him and trade the number one pick for shitloads of #1s from another shitty team.
posted by NoMich at 12:58 PM on January 27, 2012
"We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us."- Joint statement by both Manning and Irsay
posted by NerfballPro at 02:42 PM on January 27, 2012
I have been saying this was going to happen for a long time. Peyton's health is questionable at best and he is owed 28 mil. first week of March unless he is cut loose. If the Colts pay him and he can't play that money is gone. They are taking Luck, cutting Manning loose. I still feel he will never play another game but if he does it won't be with the Colts. Look for him to accept some of the risk of a short term deal with a contender as Brett Favre did with Minnesota and the Jets or retire. No team is going to lay out huge money for him without tying it to games played or performance as any guarantee deal is too ifffy with his injury situation. Nobody is even sure he can pass a physical or get a doctors release to play at this point.
posted by Atheist at 03:02 PM on January 27, 2012
Manning's upside is way more than his downside. If he can't pass a physical, then he doesn't have to be paid. If he plays, he puts fans in the seats and makes the team a contender.
posted by bperk at 03:36 PM on January 27, 2012
Wouldn't it be fun if Arizona still had all those receivers and they signed Peyton?
Just don't let him go to Washington, the ill-owned place that simply swallows people, both good and bad, and makes them miserable.
posted by beaverboard at 04:20 PM on January 27, 2012
Too bad, but if healthy this could be a great thing for Manning. Give him a chance to play with a team that wants him and likely has a much better chance than the Colts do.
posted by dyams at 04:36 PM on January 27, 2012
I wonder if Jerry Jones is thinking about pulling the ripcord on the Tony Romo era.
posted by rcade at 04:50 PM on January 27, 2012
I'm calling it -- he is going to the Patriots.
posted by bperk at 04:53 PM on January 27, 2012
dyams - I agree and look for a team like the Jets to be interested. Lots of money, lots of talent, defense, receivers, and dissatisfaction with their QB. Not to mention the biggest media market in the country which offers Manning tons of money making opportunities. The only issue is their loud mouthed coach. Oh and I hear he has a brother that plays in town also.
Another team could with the same attributes is the Dallas Cowboys of course it isn't the coach that would keep Manning away it's their owner. I know they are starting to believe that Romo isn't the guy to get them over the hump.
There are other opportunities like Arizona who had great luck with an aging Kurt Warner and still has Fitzgerald, but I think if Manning is ever going to suit up it would only be with a team that has a solid chance at a Super Bowl and has a good O line, running game and fairly decent defense. He isn't going somewhere to get beat up while they get other pieces in place.
Minnesota, Arizona, Seattle,
posted by Atheist at 04:57 PM on January 27, 2012
I think Balmer could really use a Peyton Manning even if he's only 90%.
posted by NoMich at 05:02 PM on January 27, 2012
Does Manning bring his own system with him, or does he adapt to a new OC whose system he may not feel as comfortable with?
And if a team has put in a system specifically for his benefit but he's the only one who can run it, then what do they do once he's done? They can't change on the fly like the Colts tried to do this year.
If he landed in NY, they would have to rename the town with both of the brothers there.
Something dignified -- perhaps British sounding ... like Manningham.
posted by beaverboard at 07:33 PM on January 27, 2012
Manningham sounds too Michigany.
posted by NoMich at 08:51 PM on January 27, 2012
I'm calling it -- he is going to the Patriots.
Ok, I think you're joking, but my impression from reading around was that Brady has been working pretty closely with backup QBs Hoyer and Mallett - and that there's a bunch of speculation that, should Hoyer stay with the team next season, he's the long-term plan for the team.
Manning would be either a rarely used (Flutie-like) back-up QB or they'd have to figure out some way to split time between Brady and Manning. Either way, its not a good future oriented choice for New England.
OVERTHINKING - I DOES IT.
posted by Joey Michaels at 09:07 PM on January 27, 2012
I wonder if Jerry Jones is thinking about pulling the ripcord on the Tony Romo era
Do you think Manning would actually consider playing in the Jerry Jones circus?
I believe he's wiser than that and is in a prime position to call his own shots whether he plays or moves on to another role.
Manning would be either a rarely used (Flutie-like) back-up QB
Manning a backup to Brady? Never happen - first, Manning is the better QB; second, the Patriots aren't really hurting at QB (scratch the Baltimore game, Ed Reed and the crew make 99% of NFL QB's look like Tebow); 3rd, Belichuk would never relinquish control of the offense to his QB, negating Peyton's greatest talent
What about the Broncos?
When you've already got God on your side what else do you need?
So, after blasting all the other opinions, here's mine:
Manning would be a great fit with the Jets - the coaching staff there doesn't have a clue on offense, they don't have a capable QB, and he'd bring some much needed class to the organization.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:47 PM on January 27, 2012
Going to the Jets makes sense, not just because it would provoke a mediagasm with both Mannings in NYC and environs. Not sure if the Jets would want to gain a reputation as the destination for sloppy-seconds QBs, though.
posted by etagloh at 01:01 AM on January 28, 2012
Okay, so you didn't like my Pats prediction, so let me try again.
First, while everyone is throwing around the Jets, I don't see it. If you are Manning and know that you can win a Super Bowl with a low-drama coach like Dungy, why would you put yourself through Mangin?. And, add on to that a locker room that is imploding. But, most importantly, the Jets don't have the salary cap room. They could save $9 million by dumping Sanchez, but then they have no back-up plan if Manning is injured. Anyway, that would still give them less than $8 million to sign Manning.
There would be a lot of salary cap maneuvering were Manning to go to a team that is pretty good. The only play-off team with ample cap space is the Bengals.
Climate + salary cap = Arizona or Seattle
posted by bperk at 06:55 AM on January 28, 2012
Do you think Manning would actually consider playing in the Jerry Jones circus?
The Cowboys are one of the most famous sports franchises in the world, playing in an incredible stadium. The players there don't complain about mistreatment and Jones readily spends money. I don't know why he wouldn't go there, unless he thinks the team's not good enough.
I think Manning would have more around him in Dallas than New York.
posted by rcade at 08:19 AM on January 28, 2012
I was kind of hoping Peyton would decide his neck injury made playing again not worth the risk, and the Colts would make him a QB coach or something. Not sure if he has any desire to get into coaching, but if he can coach/teach half as well as he can pass, well, he could potentially win a Super Bowl as HC some day.
posted by apoch at 08:34 AM on January 28, 2012
Until the Jets get a head coach that isn't a buffoon and has at least a bit of control over his team, I agree they are not a great choice. And if Sanchez is going to go to a backup role, they might as well send him packing. He (Sanchez) seems too fragile emotionally to go to that role, even though he stinks.
At this point in his career, with health still a question, Manning has very few options if he wants to go to a serious contender. Going to just any team that could use a quarterback upgrade doesn't seem like an option he'd choose, unless it was to bring his career full-circle and return to Tennessee, his old college area. They seem to have talent to compete, and I really think Chris Johnson rounds back into top form next season.
posted by dyams at 09:08 AM on January 28, 2012
first, Manning is the better QB
I would like to be the first to publicly mourn late member cixelsyd, who, I assume, is no longer posting because he was struck by lightning.
posted by yerfatma at 11:24 AM on January 28, 2012
$28 million can buy a lot of defense. Especially when you want to build a defense around your new 1st round QB. And you have a good former defensive coordinator as your new HC to lead the way.
posted by roberts at 12:25 PM on January 28, 2012
I didn't think the Colts' defense was as bad as the numbers made them look this year.
I think all those Curtis Painter three and outs on offense just did them in.
One problem I have is that it's hard for me to picture Peyton in another uniform. I can't even picture him in a Vols uniform at this point.
There are some NFL teams whose uniforms would be downright strange to see Peyton wearing. To me the Bucs are one of them.
Somehow, I can envision him wearing a Miami uniform, even though they have a brand new untested HC, are missing some roster pieces and have a nutcase owner.
I could also see him wearing a Cleveland uniform (the white one), but I'd never wish that on him. Plus at his age, he doesn't want to see the Steelers and Ravens defenses 4 times a year.
posted by beaverboard at 02:59 PM on January 28, 2012
I can see him in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform.
posted by NoMich at 03:36 PM on January 28, 2012
Manning a backup to Brady? Never happen - first, Manning is the better QB
You're funny.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:00 PM on January 28, 2012
I didn't think it was possible to like Jim Irsay any less, but this whole fiasco managed to do it for me.
posted by insomnyuk at 04:06 PM on January 28, 2012
Manning a backup to Brady? Never happen - first, Manning is the better QB
For the sake of argument, let's agree this is the case. In his current post-surgery state, with his ability to play in the event of further injury called into serious question, I'd still play Brady (who I think is as good a QB, but we're rolling with your premise) as the starter.
That said, yeah Seattle or Arizona sounds like a good match.
Or Indianapolis.
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:57 PM on January 28, 2012
I'd still play Brady
There's absolutely no good reason for NE to look at Manning as a player. They have huge holes on defense to fill and Brady is a top 10 QB and a lock hof'er. Spend the money on D and they have a good shot for the remainder of Brady's career.
But as the issue was suggested ... Big game on the line and need a drive to win with clock issues - are you telling me you'd pick Brady over Peyton Manning? Not here - the only other QB in history I'd choose in a Championship game is Montana.
I think Manning would have more around him in Dallas than New York
More talent, certainly. Dallas is a mess at the management level. It's sad to see class acts like DeMarcus Ware waste away because their organizations aren't as skilled at their craft as he is.
posted by cixelsyd at 07:05 PM on January 28, 2012
They've been playing below their talent for a while. Dallas looks bad for having missed the playoffs again, but the Giants did too after 15 weeks and look where they are now. If they had a healthy Peyton Manning this season playing for them, a lot of their problems would've looked a lot more surmountable. Tony Romo played well, but he's not in Peyton's league.
posted by rcade at 07:32 PM on January 28, 2012
I was kind of hoping Peyton would decide his neck injury made playing again not worth the risk, and the Colts would make him a QB coach or something.
Hasn't he been calling his own plays? He'd probably be a terrific OC.
posted by rcade at 07:52 PM on January 28, 2012
That said, yeah Seattle or Arizona sounds like a good match
Realistically there are probably no teams where he wouldn't be an upgrade (being healthy), and probably only 5 teams where his addition would be questionable - Green Bay, New Orleans, Giants, NE and possibly the Steelers.
If he needs to go anywhere I would think it would be somewhere that is positioned to win immediately based on the potential consequences of further injury. As much as Larry Fitzgerald deserves a shot to play in a top notch offense Arizona has other major holes to fill also.
SF, Baltimore, Philly, Jets - all these teams are instant playoff contenders by his addition. Anyone think NE and the Giants are in the Superbowl this year if the SF and Baltimore have the slightest upgrade at QB?
He'd probably be a terrific OC
He would/will be the best OC ever should he choose that role (with apologies to Bill Walsh).
posted by cixelsyd at 07:58 PM on January 28, 2012
Anyone think NE and the Giants are in the Superbowl this year if the SF and Baltimore have the slightest upgrade at QB?
Or Denver.
posted by Joey Michaels at 08:25 PM on January 28, 2012
Anyone think NE and the Giants are in the Superbowl this year if the SF and Baltimore have the slightest upgrade at QB?
Joe Flacco was better than Tom Brady in that game: 22 of 36 for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
posted by rcade at 08:37 PM on January 28, 2012
Joe Flacco wasn't playing against Baltimore's defense.
posted by bender at 10:42 PM on January 28, 2012
Or Denver.
So, if Denver had a slight upgrade at QB they wouldn't have been pasted 45-10?
posted by tselson at 11:13 PM on January 28, 2012
Flacco did play a solid game and wasn't the reason Baltimore lost. But solid Flacco will never match Manning.
posted by cixelsyd at 12:56 AM on January 29, 2012
So, if Denver had a slight upgrade at QB they wouldn't have been pasted 45-10?
It would have been more like 45-24. I was just taking a jab at Tebow.
posted by Joey Michaels at 01:00 AM on January 29, 2012
SF, Baltimore, Philly, Jets - all these teams are instant playoff contenders by his addition.
The Ravens and Jets don't have cap room for him. Philadelphia isn't going to have both Vick and Manning on their roster, and they can't cut Vick without a massive salary cap hit. I'm not sure that San Francisco thinks they need a high-priced addition. Considering how close they were in Harbaugh's first year, why devote such a massive amount to an upgrade at one position? I don't think anyone thinks they lost b/c of Smith.
posted by bperk at 09:52 AM on January 29, 2012
It would be great to see if Manning can even take a snap before we have Philadelphia and San Francisco sending their quarterbacks to the bench. Everyone is assuming Manning is going to jump right back in as his old self and start slinging touchdown passes. Teams will have to see quite a bit before they risk a ton of cash. And there's also that minor issue about being able to take a hit by a 255 pound man running full-speed and crashing into his back.
posted by dyams at 11:07 AM on January 29, 2012
The Colts decided weeks ago to part with Manning, according to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora.
I wonder if the Polians were dumped because they disagreed.
posted by rcade at 12:38 PM on January 29, 2012
I wonder if the Polians were dumped because they disagreed.
Quite possibly so, rcade, but the real reason is that they and Peyton Manning have discovered that the Irsay family has all the class of an unflushed toilet.
posted by Howard_T at 05:25 PM on January 29, 2012
...Irsay family has all the class of an unflushed toilet.
I think you're being too kind.
posted by roberts at 07:06 AM on January 30, 2012
PEYTON ALREADY OWNS A HOME IN TENNESSEE, PLENTY OF PEYTON FANS IN PLACE, GOOD O-LINE, RUNNING GAME, DESCENT RECEIVERS, AND SALARY CAP ROOM. WHO BETTER FOR LOCKER TO LEARN UNDER. PEYTON TO THE TITANS
posted by preacher81 at 11:45 AM on January 30, 2012
PEYTON ALREADY OWNS A HOME IN TENNESSEE, PLENTY OF PEYTON FANS IN PLACE, GOOD O-LINE, RUNNING GAME, DESCENT RECEIVERS, AND SALARY CAP ROOM. WHO BETTER FOR LOCKER TO LEARN UNDER. PEYTON TO THE TITANS
Speaking of CAP, your Caps Lock seems to be STUCK.
I'm not sure which use/definition of descent you're referring to, could you expand on this please.
posted by tommybiden at 12:26 PM on January 30, 2012
Got an early candidate for senor scully to swing that newly minted banhammer. Just might need to monitor this situation.
And furthermore...ROFL, LMFAO, LOL, OMFG, etc, etc
posted by tahoemoj at 01:41 PM on January 30, 2012
Liked Michael Irvin's take on Irsay's comments: "The horseshoe is first? The horseshoe is nothing before Peyton got here. You could've taken that horseshoe, and you couldn't have given it away. It wasn't lucky, it was killing you."
posted by rcade at 02:01 PM on January 30, 2012
I didn't realize that was a horseshoe. I thought it was a "U" for Unitas.
posted by beaverboard at 02:34 PM on January 30, 2012
Maybe the real lucky horseshoe was stolen by Art Schlichter in his brief tenure. And then promptly hocked, of course.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:45 PM on January 30, 2012
Irsay has been talking publicly the whole time, but this is the first word we have heard from Manning. I think it is unfortunate that it is turning out like this. Manning deserves better.