OT: Colts to Release Peyton Manning

Submitted by a2_electricboogaloo on

The Colts are set to announce that they are releasing Peyton Manning tomorrow.  It's an end of an era, and sad to see—despite the fact that I am not a Colts fan.  That being said, I think it's probably the right move for the Colts in the long run.

As for where Peyton lands, I'm not sure, but ESPN has predictions.  My guess is Miami (sadly, I hate to see Henne get ousted, even though he has struggled there), but we'll see.

Link to the main ESPN story here.

JimLahey

March 6th, 2012 at 7:44 PM ^

That is a massive gamble. I don't care how good Luck is, there is no such thing as a "sure thing". Moreover, Luck will be entering his career following one of the best players in history on a team that absolutely stinks. But that won't stop the fans from expecting instant success.

Isn't it funny to think that Matthew Stafford is only one year older than Andrew Luck? I'm not saying Luck is old, but Stafford is still so young.

Anyways, let the speculation about landing spots for Peyton begin...

WolvinLA2

March 6th, 2012 at 8:07 PM ^

OK - but if you keep Manning and pass on Luck, and Manning gets hurt again, then you're in the same boat, and I promise you there's a better chance that Manning gets hurt at this point than Luck. 

And if Manning doesn't get hurt, you have two more years of maybe being a wild card and maybe missing the playoffs before Manning retires, and you're not in a spot to draft another franchise QB.  Luck is probably a once in a decade QB, so if you have a shot, you take him.

LSAClassOf2000

March 6th, 2012 at 8:51 PM ^

If I run the Colts, Manning's injury has me drafting Luck more than likely. I do tend to agree, however, with the sentiment that leaving him without a mentor in someone like Manning is a bit of a gamble. He may succeed, of course, but I wouldn't want to throw him at the NFL cold necessarily, even if I thought he could make that adjustment well on his own. You are still taking a risk as you do on  any draft pick. 

SysMark

March 6th, 2012 at 8:57 PM ^

I don't know exactly how the negotiations went but unless he was willing to take a lot less it seems keeping him may have been the bigger gamble.  As much as they love him there, and he certainly was that franchise, it was going to kill them on the salary cap.

MQTBlue

March 7th, 2012 at 9:13 AM ^

As a Colts fan I was hoping they would be able to keep Peyton around until he retired. I remember him making a comment of wanting to stick with one team his whole career like Reggie Miller did for the Pacers. I wanted Peyton to be that kind of franchise player.

However even if the Colts didn't fire their GM, coach, and release Peyton they were going to have a lot of rebuilding to do. I guess they just wanted to start from scratch and build their future around Luck instead of Manning and Luck. Still this is quite the disappointment for me and I wish Petyon the best with his future team.

thevictors51

March 6th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^

What I would do I let Peyton stay and have luck as his backup.  Then once Peyton decides to retire the Luck will get his shot....seemed to work out well for Green Bay and Aaron Rogers. I think Peyton has earned the right to stay a colt for as long as he wants. However the NFL is a business as we all know...

WolvinLA2

March 6th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^

It's a money thing.  That's a lot of dough to be paing for one position.

Favre wasn't making what Peyton makes, and they didn't have to pay Rodgers #1 pick money either.  Oh, and Favre hadn't just missed an entire season due to injury.

PurpleStuff

March 6th, 2012 at 7:55 PM ^

As a Redskins fan, this is a very exciting moment.  Dan Snyder is surely running to Peyton's house with a Publisher's Clearinghouse size check as we speak. 

Now it is only a question of how it will all go horribly wrong.  My money is on Peyton being eaten by Albert Haynesworth or getting booted from the league after being found living in a crackhouse with Dexter Manley.

PatrickBateman

March 6th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^

Okay I reported this first in another thread but didn't have enough "MGoPoints" or whatever to make a thread.  Congrats on stealing my info mgoelectricboogaloo.  The system NEEDS to be adjusted to allow responsible posters to start threads earlier than at 100 points.  StephenRKass posts like 18 threads a day, I  should be able to get recognition as well.

a2_electricboogaloo

March 6th, 2012 at 9:12 PM ^

Not to be a dick...BUT (cue dick-ish remarks)

  1. I learned about it on ESPN, not through your comment, and thought I should make a thread.  If I did learn about it from your comment, I would have given you a HT or something.
  2. There are many very good reasons why you have to have over 100 points to make a thread (see every thread created from the iPhone app ever).  Honestly, I do think it should be a bit higher cap, but that happens.
  3. MGoBlog is not about recognition.  Yes, if you do something awesome you should get recognition (like have Brian photobomb you, or interview Lloyd Brady).  However, MGoBlog is more about discussing Michigan sports with other people who love Michigan sports (and a few who do not, but are reasonable nonetheless).

You're new here, as we all were at one point (hell, I still consider myself new-ish compared to a lot of the guys here, as I haven't had an account for a full year yet), but the only recognition this kind of comment will bring you is bad recognition, and you want to be careful or else you will end up in Bolivian, like many before you.  (Not a threat, as I have no real power here, just a friendly heads up)

El Fuego

March 6th, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^

and have loved Peyton since he entered the league.  I would just like to say...

Wish they would have traded the first pick for a shit ton more and drafted someone like Russel Wilson to develop under Manning.  Luck is no guaruntee.  Bye ya'll, I am going fetal right now...

His Dudeness

March 6th, 2012 at 11:40 PM ^

I think this is a great post. The idea that Luck will turn around that team is a myth (even if he is good). That team stiks and they could trade the #1 for a crap load and rebuild the team quickly. They could also keep Manning and let him go out in the way he wants - which the Colts should really do for Manning. They could also draft Russell who I think is getting no pub for how great he is and could be in college. Great idea and really is what I think they should do . Even if Manning never plays again, in this scenario he retires a hero, the bridge isn't burned, they hire him as a coach (which he will be a GREAT one), and they rebuild the team in the process. It's not every day you get win-win-win scenarios placed in your lap. I mean that team is going to stink regardless of what happens next year.

Perkis-Size Me

March 6th, 2012 at 8:35 PM ^

Can't say I'm surprised. Granted, there's no guarantee that Luck will be any good, but on the flip side, everything he's done so far indicates that he will be, and there's no guarantee that Manning will be 100% come next season.

Its the right move for the Colts.

NoMoPincherBug

March 6th, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^

I hope it works out for Peyton.  I honestly did not like him back in the day when he was at TN and I was living in Nashville....but only because there was so much hatred for Michigan and Charles at the time...

However Ive grown to respect and even admire Peyton in his pro career...and most of his commercials are pretty funny too.   The guy is a great QB and I hope that he heals and gets several more years in the league.

That said, Andrew Luck is about as sure thing as any QB that ever came out of college...he is probably better than 1/2 the QBs that are currently in the league already... the Colts are just reshuffling and will be fine with Luck as long as he stays healthy.

mgowill

March 6th, 2012 at 11:41 PM ^

I just can't help but think about this right now.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KOwLaCf0y0

 

Bo knew it.  We know it.  Peyton Manning knows it.  When it becomes about dollars and cents - you throw out loyalty and tradition.  That's professional football.  I love the Colts and pretty much admire Manning.  I also completely understand why he is going to be a free agent.  Best of luck to him in whatever he does.  He is a great human being and a tremendous athlete.