Many of us have been putting off the topic of Peyton Manning for much of the year. Frankly, it’s not a pressing matter in a year that has been about as loopy as any of us can remember. That being said, a recent tweet by @EvanSilva brought the issue back to the forefront of my mind:
The tweet pretty much sums up everything that anyone needs to know. The Colts would owe Manning a huge bonus if they decide to keep him. Because of the structure of the contract, the Colts could simply cut ties with Manning and move on without owing him anything substantial.
With the possibility of Manning actually being cut by the Colts, we have to wonder which teams could pick him up. There’s a select few that jump out at me.
Washington Redskins
This is a no-brainer from my perspective. The Redskins have 2 quarterbacks that have started, not due to injuries. That may work in college football, but it doesn’t fly in the NFL. Teams need to have guys they trust under center, and there’s no quarterback that demands more respect around the league than Peyton Manning. For my money, he may be the best player in the history of the NFL at his position. The Redskins have been floundering about since Dan Snyder bought the team, and this sort of “jolt” might be exactly what that team, coaching staff, and fanbase really need right now.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars traded up in the 2011 draft to pick Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick. Since then, Gabbert has shown that he can make all the throws when given plenty of time and room in the pocket. Unfortunately, quarterbacks in the NFL seldom have either of those luxuries on any given play. Nobody is denying that Gabbert has all the tools to be successful, but he’s certainly had difficulty implementing those tools in game situations.
Those factors are exactly why bringing in Manning would be a great idea for the Jaguars. The expectation was for Gabbert to be able to sit for a year behind David Garrard, but that didn’t pan out. Luke McCown started the first two games of the season for the Jaguars, but he was yanked after their blowout loss to the Jets. Manning would give the Jags’ offense the stability that they really haven’t had since Mark Brunell was their quarterback. No young quarterback in the league needs time to develop as much as Blaine Gabbert does, and that’s what Manning would provide.
Cleveland Browns
If Manning were to arrive in Cleveland as a member of the Browns, it would do a couple of things. First, the Browns would be able to build around an elite quarterback instead of focusing on acquiring players that directly help their passer. For instance, they may be more willing to upgrade their defensive front and running back positions knowing that their quarterback will make plays regardless of who is around him. It’s still unclear whether Colt McCoy is the quarterback of the future in Cleveland, and it couldn’t hurt him to sit behind Manning for a year or two.
The other thing this acquisition would do is make the Browns instantly competitive, if not downright good. They would be making a run at the AFC North title from the get go, especially with the defense they already have in place.
