Peyton Should Leave Indy
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- Category: Sports
Why Colts & Manning Should Separate
Peyton Manning has been one of the most consistent and talented quarterbacks the National Football League has ever seen. He has set the standard for being a winner in the modern era of football, making ten (10) win seasons seem casual while racking up four Most Valuable Players awards and two Super Bowl appearances. Manning has made Indianapolis contenders essentially every year has been behind center for them, but now it is time for Peyton and the only team he has ever played for to part ways.
The Colts have owned the AFC South for years, but even before the neck injury heard around the world occurred, many sports analysts general view was that Indianapolis was on the decline and the Houston Texans were on the uptick. Naturally with Manning out, that gap was quickly narrowed and surpassed, as the Texans ran away with the AFC South. The Texans taking the next step in a tough division was not the shocking part of the story, but rather the total collapse of the Colts once Peyton was removed and placed on injured reserve. With Peyton no longer in the huddle the Colts dropped from a consistent team winning at least 10 games per season to a 2-14 team that became the laughing stock of the league. The good news for Colts though was if there was one year to tank a season this was the year, considering that the overwhelming favorite for the top spot of draft was a quarterback named Andrew Luck who was predicted to be the next Peyton Manning. The Colts, with their horrific record, have obtained that number one pick in the draft.
The dilemma for the Colts is that if Manning returns it is uncertain if he will ever be the same after multiple neck surgeries. This is problematic because Manning is the highest paid player in the league, in the twilight of his career and would take playing time from Luck, a player many believe can be great. Of course, Manning has said he wants to finish his career in Indy, and that is a noble thing to want, but the reality is that his departure would actually be better for Indianapolis and Peyton. The Colts by firing the head coach and a number of upper management personnel are aligning their chess pieces to suggest they are leaning toward releasing Manning. This is something that undoubtedly hurts Manning, but it is a sign of change, and Manning should embrace that change.
A Beneficial Divorce
Not all break-ups have to be bad, and Peyton leaving Indy can be a positive for everyone. "Let's be serious for a minute, the Colts have a lot of problems outside of quarterback, and even with Manning, that team is going to probably miss the playoffs", explained a sports writer who covers the NFL for a GPS fleet tracking company based in Southern California, GPS Tracker Shop. "The Colts are in rebuilding mode with or without Manning, and nobody wants to see Peyton go out on a losing skid in Indy. Nobody wants to see Peyton go 6-10 in Indy, only to hear fans yell for a quarterback switch, or how Peton's contract is killing the team. If Manning goes to a contender he can continue to rack up wins, while the Colts can develop younger talent to contend in the future." The situation can have a happy ending, as Peyton moves on to a contender and carries that team with his veteran leadership the next 3-4 seasons, while the Colts adjust to a new head coach, general manager and quarterback. After a short stint and championship run with the Jets, Dolphins or Cardinals, Peyton can return to Indianapolis on a one-day contract and retire with the Colts, essentially starting and finishing his career with the same team.
What do you think is the best thing for the Indianapolis Colts to do?
What do you think is the best thing for Peyton Manning to do?