Why do teams want Peyton Manning?!

I wouldn't want him on my team. Some teams think he's the missing piece to their puzzle. Look at the Vikings when they got Favre & the next season he got them to a couple plays short of the supper bowl. Denver is probably thinking the same thing the Vikings were. We have a great defense and made it to the second round of the playoffs. All we need is a better qb.

What I can't understand is why teams didn't watch him workout before they spoiled him. Denver's doing it backwards.

super

You don't think the Ninere are instant SuperBowl favorites if Manning goes out there? You rather take your chances with Alex Smith or in Denver's case, Tim Tebow? The only problem with these moves is the quick fix mentality and mortgaging the future, I'll grant you that. But win now is mandate these days.

If I were a team looking for a good QB, I wouldn't be too concerned about Peyton's questionable playoff record. He's the offensive leader, sure, but losses are not all on his shoulders. As a pure QB talent, Peyton is one of the best to ever play the game. So he's definitely worth a look.

However, if I'm a GM or team owner in need of a QB, I'd definitely be hesitant to sign a 36 year-old player with neck problems. Especially one as expensive as Peyton Manning will be.

Charles Nonhomogenous wrote:

So why the love?

The teams pursuing him think they have the right roster to win the superbowl, minus a good quarterback. A team needs a good roster to make the playoffs, but a team can't win 2 or 3 straight playoff games without a good QB. The Ravens and Bucs from 10 or so years ago were the exception-multiple hall of fame defenders in their prime on the same team. The rules have changed significantly since then to favor the offense.

Think of it this way, what do the teams going after him really have to lose? They don't appear bad enough to tank and get the chance to draft an elite QB, but they have no chance of winning the SB with the one they have.

this is easy wrote:

Think of it this way, what do the teams going after him really have to lose? They don't appear bad enough to tank and get the chance to draft an elite QB, but they have no chance of winning the SB with the one they have.

Apparently the 49ers are now in the hunt -- they seem to be good enough to win without him. Denver? A playoff team -- but with Tebow -- who knows. Tennessee could bring him aboard, but they have the 8th pick overall from last year invested in Jake Locker, who would have to sit. If Manning signed for 3 years, you'd basically be giving up on Locker, who would hit FA before you'd have a chance to really see if he's any good.

All you have to do is look at the Colts with Payton and without Payton. Which team would you rather have?

It is similar to the KC Chiefs when Schottenheimer (sp?) was coaching. With him, they were a perennial playoff team and a dependable home-field winning team. BUT, the owners and town grew tired of not getting to the Superbowl and got rid of Marty. Now what do they have? A team that sucks, can't win home games and rarely can make the playoffs.

It isn't that simple. Bill Polian created a disaster by refusing to ever sign a competent backup quarterback. That was exacerbated by Manning's insistence that he take 100% of the 1st string practice snaps, meaning that the backup never practiced with the starters after the end of preseason.

Bill Polian has a history of creating teams built around 4 stars, mortgaging the future by paying them massive salaries, and ignoring the development of younger talent in favor of the stars. With the Bills, it was Jim Kelley, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith. Once those players aged and retired, the team was barren of any talent and went into a long tailspin. He did the same thing with the Colts, using the same formula -- Peyton Manning, Reggine Wayne/Marvin Harrison, and Dwight Freeney. The only major difference being that Polian let the running game degrade significantly in Indianapolis, when it was a strength in Buffalo.

Regardless, the Colts team was due to fail, even with Manning, I suspect this last year's team was a 9-7 or 10-6 at best (still good, not great). It's no surprise that Polian was ousted, and that the team has had to cut all the overpriced, older talent. They had no defense, no run game, and their high round picks from the last few years are useless. Even Peyton Manning can't fix that.

Peyton >> Luck >>>>> Tebow.

What about Kurt Warner? Retired at 39 but took the Cardinals to the Super Bowl at 37.

In my opinion, what has made Peyton great is not his athletic ability or even his arm strength. You can find plenty of guys who have better athletic ability and comparable-better arm strength. What has made Peyton great is his mind, his understanding if the game. He is the coach on the field. He sees just about everything before it happens. Doesn't mean he can always do something about it, but still...his understanding if the game is probably unparalleled in the game today, except for Tom Brady. Picking up Peyton on a short contract would allow him to mentor Tebow or Alex Smith and turn them into much better QBs - much smarter decision makers, much better game managers. I honestly think that's Peyton's biggest value right now.

There are so many poor QBs in the league at the moment. A semi-crippled Peyton is still a better option than Matt Moore, Christian Ponder etc.

@tinfoil: I think Warner could have kept playing too. His 2nd to last game (playoff game against GB) was arguably one of the top 5 games he had ever played. His last two seasons were statistically about the same as his first 2-3 years in St. Louis as well. One thing about Warner, though, is he didn't make his first start until he was, what, 28? So he had a little less football mileage on his body since I doubt he got hit all that hard in the Arena league or NFL Europe.

As far as Manning goes, his arm may be sound but what about his neck? How much guaranteed money do you invest in the guy? As many said, if you feel you are one player away and your current QB doesn't look like he will get you there, it's probably a risk worth taking.

Because Manning was great, and even past his prime, he is still very good. I can't believe a guy that follows the Colts doesn't get this. Manning is better than Favre and Brady. He made those around him better more than any QB in this ear. Yes he was only .500 in playoff games. That is because everyone around him on the Colts sucked. Even Marvin Harrison was good but nothing great. That was all Payton Manning taking a good receiver and giving him HOF stats. Harrison couldn't hold a candle to Cris Carter let alone Jerry Rice.

As for arm strength. That is what work outs are for. Yes the money is a lot. But pay for athletes is outrageous across the board for established veterans. And its not guaranteed. You may hear numbers of $10-20 million, but likely when you see the details that will only be if he stays healthy. And I'm sure its bonus laden with contingencies such as making the playoffs.

Manning better than Brady? C'mon now. Not even close. The goal of the NFL is championships. Brady has three. Manning has one. It's odd that you'd claim Manning makes those around him better....and Brady doesn't?

The problem with Manning apologists is that they always look at regular season statistics to claim he's the best ever. The NFL doesn't hand out trophies for most 12-win seasons. Championships are what matter and you have to win playoff games to do that:

- 2010, 0-1, lost 17-16 to Jets in wild-card round

- 2009 2-1, lost in Super Bowl XLIV to Saints. Manning threw game-icing INT returned for TD

- 2008 0-1, lost 23-17 in OT to 8-8 Chargers on the road. Colts were 12-4 wild-card team.

- 2007 0-1, lost 28-24 to San Diego in divisional round after bye

- 2006 4-0, won Super Bowl XLI and named Super Bowl MVP

- 2005 0-1, lost 21-18 in divisional round to Steelers after bye

- 2004 1-1, lost 20-3 in divisional round at New England

- 2003 2-1, lost 24-14 in AFC title game at New England

- 2002 0-1, lost 41-0 in wild-card round at New York Jets

- 2000 0-1, lost 23-17 in OT at Miami in wild-card round

- 1999 0-1, lost 19-16 to Titans in divisional round after bye

Now, the Denver Post is reporting an offer of $90 million for 5 years, with $30 million guaranteed.

INSANITY.

Oh please. It takes 22 players to fill all the starting spots on a football team. Having quality players at all those positions is what wins Championships. That is what New England had and what the Colts did not. Hell, Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson won Super Bowls, what does that tell you.

Look at what happens to the Colts when Manning isn't in the game. They fall to pieces. That would never happen with New England with Brady sidelined for a prolonged period.

I'm a Pats Fan and think that Manning is a better quarterback. I'm definitely not the only diehard out there who believes that. Take out Brady - we were 11-5, take out Manning, they were 2-14 - even if you put in the Polian effect that was previously mentioned, that's too much of a difference.

Also: who'd you pick? Trent Dilfer or Dan Marino? (Yeah, Dilfer pretty much kills that argument for all time). It's like thinking Wins are the most important stat for determining who's the better pitcher in the MLB.

New England's roster over the years is full of guys that don't stand out. Yet somehow, Brady is 16-5 in the playoffs, five super bowl appearances in 10 years, three wins, and two mvps. I couldn't name one of their receivers other than Welker. Nor the running back. Somehow they made it to the Super Bowl.

Peyton Manning is Dan Marino with a Super Bowl win. Stat monster who otherwise didn't have much playoff success.

They don't stand out in terms of being hall of fame players. But in their Super Bowl seasons they had very solid players from top to bottom with All Stars scattered in. And the New England coaching, with thanks to a little cheating, was generally better than the Colts had.

Charles Nonhomogenous wrote:

New England's roster over the years is full of guys that don't stand out. Yet somehow, Brady is 16-5 in the playoffs, five super bowl appearances in 10 years, three wins, and two mvps. I couldn't name one of their receivers other than Welker. Nor the running back. Somehow they made it to the Super Bowl.

Peyton Manning is Dan Marino with a Super Bowl win. Stat monster who otherwise didn't have much playoff success.