Will Indianapolis Colts turn around without Peyton Manning? – NFL feature
Peyton Manning, the star quarterback (QB) at the Indianapolis Colts, did not a play a game in the 2011 National Football League (NFL) regular season.
It proved to be the worst season for the Colts in last two decades. The team without Manning at the starting position could not pull of a win in first 13 games.
They were on the verge of becoming the only second team to end an NFL season without a victory on board. They managed to escape the possibility courtesy of their surprise wins in their 14th and 15th game of the season.
The absence of one man cost the team their entire season. At the end, it cost almost all managers and coaching officials their jobs.
It was the total dependence on one man that exposed the Colts thoroughly on the field. For the first time over span of about 13 years, the team and the football community, became aware of the poor quality of the Colts players talent.
None of their players could lead their team to a win in the season. The team managers and coach remained baffled with the fact that they have so many players apart from Manning at the team during all those years, and none of them proved to be as worthy as
Manning himself.
This is something that Colts owner, Jim Irsay, is finding hard to swallow. He has further aggravated the situation for himself by firing of head coach, Jim Caldwell, who had successfully groomed the talent like Peyton Manning.
It is also a question for the owner to ponder about why the coach did not have as much influence on other players as he had on Manning.
This could be true given the fact none of other players who had been training under the coach during all those times could not perform as impressive as Manning.
It could have come as a reason for Irsay to announce departure of his former coach, which called a difficult decision to be made.
With Caldwell gone, the owner is faced with the daunting task of finding an equally skilful coach. So far, he is unsuccessful.
Also, it is not just finding of a new coach, the main challenge is of turning around the Colts to be a consistent winner on the field once again.
It will be a difficult task for the new coach given the quality of players he will have on the Colts, and the worst season at their back.
It will be even harder amid the reports that the Colts are planning to cut their star QB, Manning, loose from his contract.
The Colts are due to sign a top draft prize next season. If they do they will be in need of a coach like Caldwell to train and groom the player as their top notch future QB. This what Caldwell had done with Manning.
The team management is expected to be clearer in their strategy about Manning once they are done with the hiring of a new coach.
According to the player himself, who spoke on the issue on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, for the first time, the latest developments at the team do not bode well to his hopes of recovery and chances of return to the Colts.
He had been further told by their new general manager, Ryan Grigson, that the matter was expected to be discussed by the owner himself. He did not specify the timeline for the meeting and its agenda.
The player is due a payout of $28 million bonus by March 08, 2012. It is yet to be known if the owner will make the payment or let the player go free agent.
In case of his release, Peyton has greater prospects of signing by many teams. The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins have already spoken of their interest in pursuing the player if he becomes available.
With Manning gone, the Colts will be left with their prospects of drafting of rookie QB, who could be Andrew Luck or Robert Lee Griffin III.
Having any of the two at their side, it is to be seen if the Colts are able to make a comeback to perform better in 2012 NFL season.
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