Why Indianapolis Colts are at loss without Peyton Manning - II
Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback (QB), Peyton Manning, matters to his side so much that despite there is no more football for them to play this season, he has been making headlines on his recovery from his neck injury and his place in the Colts new lineup.
The Colts, after the end of the regular season, are much more focused on the postseason rebuilding, and it is Manning who has assumed a central place in all the reshuffling and rebuilding process.
Interestingly, the player who has been in the news and controversies all the time, is silent regarding his return.
His father, Archie Manning, and brother, Eli Manning, who is QB at the New York Giants, have in the meantime expressed hopes, respectively, that he will come back. They, however, do not know, When?
His father in his latest comments said he was uncertain about his son’s chances of playing football next season or playing for the Colts.
Colts owner, Jim Irsay, had earlier expressed hopes that if Manning plays football another season it will be with the Colts.
Further, the employer said that he will be having a meeting with Manning in a week time to discuss his future. This is expected to set the future course for both sides, he said.
One of the problems that the Colts face is the difficulty of choice between Peyton Manning and their potential draft signee, Stanford College’s QB Andrew Luck. Luck has announced to go pro next season.
Both players are grownup in their football game stature and both are ranked at the top in their respective leagues.
Only disadvantage for Peyton is his absence for a whole football season for his injury. There is no confirmation how much his injury will affect his game level when he is back next season, if he decides to do so.
However, it is seen being difficult for both players, who are best known in their respective leagues, to be able to play besides each other, and not being felt threatened by each other’s presence on the field at the same time and showoff their skills.
Only person who have commented on such a probability was the Peyton Manning’s father, Archie Manning. In his comments later last year (2011), he said that his son, Peyton Manning, will find it difficult to play along with the rookie QB.
However, Archie was quick to deny his earlier stance very next day, saying it could be possible that both players playing besides each other at the quarterback position in the Colts.
The possibility was endorsed by now sacked Colts vice chairman, Bill Polian, who said that the Colts can afford to have both the players on their pay roster.
So, according to him, it was not a matter of finances for them to keep the both players playing for them.
However, the Colts owner has not spoken on these comments, either supporting or denying them.
The Colts management under the terms of re-signed deal with Peyton Manning has to pay him $28 million in bonus in March this year (2012).
They will then have an option to keep him or let him agent free.
Reports in some sections of media have hinted at the prospects of Colts seeking an extension to the payout deadline. Colts owner, Irsay, however denied these reports, saying they were not in discussion with Manning on any point including the extension in
his bonus payout deadline.
Irsay has also said that he was not sure about the Manning’s health at this point of time. Only meeting with him expected to be within a week will determine their future courses.
A couple of reports have also hinted that the Colts might find the current controversy an opportunity as a transition phase, seeking to replace the veteran Manning with the top draft recruitment.
This could be true given the reasons that Manning has had three surgeries for same injury, neck problem, in the last two years. There is no guarantee if he will not suffer the same injury again.
This provides a good chance to Colts to seek to replace him permanently. However, it is yet to be seen if they do so or continue to rely on their man in more seasons to come.
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