Peyton Manning To Arizona? He Might Not Even Play In 2012

by Jess Root on Jan 10, 2012 3:00 PM MST in General Arizona Cardinals News

On Sunday, Charley Casserly on on CBS made some waves among Cardinals fans when he suggested that Peyton Manning to the Cardinals could happen if the Indianapolis Colts cut him before his huge contract bonus comes due. However, there is a very, very crucial piece to the whole possibility, and that piece might stop everyone in their tracks.

Peyton Manning might not even be able to play football in 2012.

Archie Manning, Peytons father, appearing on Yahoo! Sports Radio on Monday, said he was unsure if his son would be able to play in 2012 after missing the entire 2011 season while recovering from his third neck procedure in less than two years.

Said the elder Manning:

"I think he's working real hard -- Peyton wants to play. He's got a good attitude about it. He's getting his health back, getting a little better. We'll just have to see what happens."

There was no talk of saying that he definitely is going to come back and that is reason for concern. He has to be healthy if the Cardinals are going to go get him.

Manning's father is not the only one voicing concerns. Colts owner Jim Irsay also said the same thing.

"I've always said that, first and foremost, it's a medical situation, a health situation. Is it safe for him to go on the field? Is it something that he's healthy enough to resume his career? That to me has always been the most important decision. That's something we're continuing to see where we're at."

So while the thought of Manning throwing darts to Larry Fitzgerald and making Andre Roberts and Early Doucet look like Pro Bowlers is attractive in thought, the reality is that he might not even be able to play.

I know, it's a bummer, but it is the reality of it.

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Comments

I'd much rather see an improvement from Skelton and/or Kolb than another FA signing.

by Winter Trabex on Jan 10, 2012 3:36 PM MST reply actions

Manning would be aquired through a trade if that were to happen

Either way though, Manning has a large sum of money due next season. I agree with you that i’d rather see improvement from our guys, then trading away some of our core pieces for a few years of Manning

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by GreaZzy on Jan 10, 2012 3:52 PM MST up reply actions

Not so fast

Manning is due a $28M bonus on March 8th. That is before he is able to be traded per the NFL league year. The Colts won’t pay Peyton $28M to play for another team. Unlike the NBA and MLB, you can’t add cash considerations to a trade in the NFL. The only way Manning would play for another team is if he is waived.

by cardinalbrown on Jan 10, 2012 4:37 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks for sticking a stake through my heart Jess...

by AlaskanCard on Jan 10, 2012 3:37 PM MST reply actions

He would never come here anyway

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by JoeCB1991 on Jan 10, 2012 3:39 PM MST reply actions

Three months ago, Archie Manning said

That there was no way Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck could play side by side. Now, he’s saying the exact opposite. So honestly, I have a feeling he has no clue, just like all of us.

Joe Saunders: "They Giants played a really good game, so hats off to us"

by Skii on Jan 10, 2012 3:45 PM MST reply actions

That was a statement built of pride and denial.

The Colts are perfectly positioned to pick up the quarterback of the future. They can’t count on Peyton Manning ever being able to play again. The only potential impediments to Manning and Luck being on the same roster is money and Manning’s crippled neck.

by hadrarius on Jan 10, 2012 7:36 PM MST up reply actions

My guess

Is Manning and Luck are both on the Colts next season, with Peyton starting, if able, and Luck sitting on the bench and learning from a future HOF, a la Aaron Rodgers/Brett Favre. Luck will take the reigns by at least 2014. Hopefully Manning leaves football a bit more gracefully than Favre did

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by GreaZzy on Jan 10, 2012 9:31 PM MST up reply actions

it would be awesome but.....

Manning to arizona has alwaya been a dream deemed impossible. Even if he is a free agent, he & his agent would demand a buttload of money. Plus, w/ our o-line, his neck would force him to ride the bench after opposing defenses knock him out.

by navajocard on Jan 10, 2012 4:12 PM MST via mobile reply actions

I've heard this before, Remember the Montana rumors.

If Manning leaves the Colts (which I don’t think he will), I doubt that he would play for the Cards for the same reason Montana wouldn’t. Like Montana, Manning is a stationary qb and that does not fair well for him with our stinking O-Line. The 9ers O-line is better then the Cards so I think that makes better sense.

by Gilbertsportsfan on Jan 10, 2012 10:49 PM MST reply actions

We don't need him.

We already have one QB with head issues, why would we want another? Getting rid of Kolb for Payton, same diffidence.

by JRSedona on Jan 11, 2012 9:37 AM MST reply actions

good lord

let’s be blunt, if Manning could go anywhere he wanted, and in this process, he will be able to dictate where, the Cardinals would about his 20th choice.

Due to their offensive lines, he would pick SF, NYJ, Hou, Balt, and I’m not going to list every other team with good OL’s but a liability at QB. He would never, ever, come here with this offensive line.

by KDean75 on Jan 11, 2012 5:33 PM MST reply actions

Still injured could be a plan

I think IF Peyton wants out of Indy because of the inevitable Andrew Luck draft he’s gonna wanna choose where he goes as opposed to get traded to Cleveland. The best way to do that is to say he’s not sure if he’s healthy. If he’s healthy it’s simple for the Colts. Give him his 28 mil on March 8th and hope he mentors Luck or trade him. If his health is an “unknown”, they won’t be paying him that money. If they paid him and didn’t know for sure he was healthy he’s gonna say “I’m not sure I’m gonna be healthy enough to play this season” the day after Andrew Luck is drafted.

To say you would like to see what we have in Kolb and Skelton instead of going after Peyton Manning should rethink that really really hard. I can’t even believe I’m acknowledging someone who would compare Kolb and Skelton to Peyton Manning. If Manning is available…….the only option is to go after him, plain and simple, Cards become automatic Super Bowl contenders. On top of that, if money were an issue, I bet Fitz would take a pay cut.

by Joe Zuppa on Jan 12, 2012 10:51 PM MST reply actions