Bill Polian again expresses optimism of QB Peyton Manning’s return to NFL in future-NFL News
Indianapolis Colts’ former vice chairman, Bill Polian, is probably the only official in the National Football League (NFL) to have remained positive about return of the quarterback, Peyton Manning, to the previous level of health and fitness.
Polian was optimistic about the player’s comeback to Colts during his tenure, and he has repeatedly reiterated the stance since his dismissal, which, as a matter of fact, came as a result of the VC’s too much dependence on the man.
Bill had hoped for Manning’s return while leaving him active on the roster during the entire 2011 NFL season.
Manning never recovered and at the end it became too late for Bill to realise the failure in finding and grooming a replacement for the quarterback. He eventually conceded the mistake and accepted his ousting by the owner, Jim Irsay.
This never stopped Polian to back Peyton on his recovery efforts. He is as much hopeful now about the player’s comeback as he had been during his tenure as Colts’ vice chairman.
He said of Manning:
"He was able to stand at the left hash mark and throw it to the right sideline, but he didn't get much beyond 25 to 28 yards. He was absolutely on the money and threw with good velocity. I was impressed with that workout and he clearly, clearly had come
a long way since September."
Polian was referring to the session in which Peyton participated along with the teammates to intensify his workout following clearance from his doctor.
That was the only time when the player threw football since his neck surgery in September 2011.
The running back, Joseph Addai, who received Peyton’s throws, echoed similar hopes about the player’s return.
Bill and Joseph agreed that the player had thrown football at such a velocity that qualified him for a return to the side later in the season. Their optimism was well within the wish of the player.
Unfortunately for Peyton Manning, he was asked by the team’s managers to recover through individual workout, instead of joining the team during the training and practice sessions.
Further, he had immediately been ruled out for rest of the season. It proved all too disappointing for the player, his family members and fans.
It is even more discouraging that the team management, particularly the owner, Jim Irsay, is still not satisfied with Manning’s recovery.
Therefore, they are refraining from any sort of commitment that bounds them for taking back Peyton to the side in the near future.
In the atmosphere of dissent and uncertainty, the player is fortunate to have found supporting voices such as of Bill Polian’s to focus his return to the NFL again, no matter even if it is without Colts.
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