Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning: Indianapolis Colts in a fix – Part 2
The Indianapolis Colts are finding it difficult to make a decision about signing their new draft pick, Stanford College’s quarterback (QB), Andrew Luck, amid the uncertainty about the recovery and return of their regular QB, Peyton Manning, despite their
former vice chairman, Bill Polian, speaking of the possibility of keeping both players in the roster at the same time.
His point may be valid in the perspective of Manning’s aggravated neck problem. He had neck surgery back in September of 2011 and is yet to recover from it.
This was his third consecutive procedure for the same injury in the last 18 months.
Despite the fact that doctors have ensured him this time that he is unlikely to suffer the same injury again in future, the claim is yet to be verified. The player has not played any game or practiced since September of last year.
Second of Polian’s options was to sign Luck and later trade him with any team on the National Football League (NFL), if Manning returns and has a sustainable future.
The third option that Polian had spoken of was to sign Luck and keep both QBs side by side on their roster, claiming that the Colts were financially in the position to pay both the players at the same time.
The vice chairman did not mention the $28 million payout in bonus to Peyton Manning, something which is due by March 08, 2012.
There is no word from the team management if they will pay the amount to the QB before the deadline.
If they are going to seek to renegotiate or extend the deadline is not clear yet either.
Polian’s comments were neither backed nor approved by any official from the Colts, including team owner, Jim Irsay.
The only comment that Irsay had come out with was his assurance that Manning would continue to play for the Colts for future seasons to come.
He was speaking in reaction of reports in some section of the media, claiming that Manning might consider any other side for his future football career over his team, the Indianapolis Colts.
Irsay said if Manning returns to play football for another season it will be with them.
As of the latest, the owner plans to meet the player in the upcoming week. No word on the agenda of the planned meeting has been spoken about from either of the sides.
Irsay is seen most likely discussing Manning’s future prospects at the meeting.
Again, there is no clue from the owner if he will find this opportunity a blessing in disguise for his ambitions, using it as a transition phase, replacing Manning with Luck.
The Colts have an option to pay $28 million to Peyton and let him go as a free agent.
It is up to him to sign with any of the teams in the league. It will also be for any of the teams on the NFL to take him off the waiver.
Without confirmation, if Irsay has such ambitions as to replace Manning, the team's decision about Luck still remains unclear.
As a matter of fact, Irsay hopes that Manning plays another season with them, the condition being that he recovers from his injury and is fit enough to play football again.
Football commentators and analysts have described the current situation as the best opportunity for them to hire their future quarterback, Andrew Luck, since he is at the top of the college league and has a long and sustainable future ahead.
This leaves the Colts with a decision on taking the player on board or letting him go to any other side.
The Colts having finished at the bottom of the league can be lucky to have someone as great as Manning’s calibre once again. They could make the 14 years old decision another time and stand benefiting from it.
They could also lose Luck and hope for another QB of his calibre next season, only if they can afford to end up another year at the bottom of the league.
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