Should the Colts pass on Peyton Manning for Andrew Luck?

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Eli Manning was the winning quarterback in the Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this past Sunday, but an Indy sportswriter says Peyton Manning stole the spotlight.

The Thursday before the Super Bowl, Peyton Manning’s people announced that the quarterback had been medically cleared to play. Meanwhile, Colts’ owner Robert Irsay’s position was that Peyton had not passed the Colts’ physical nor been cleared to play for the team.

According to CBSSports.com, Indianapolis Star sportswriter Bob Kravitz said, "There's no doubt in my mind that the story (about Manning being medically cleared) breaking Thursday night right around the time every single TV station is doing an exclusive on Andrew Luck doesn't come out unless the Peyton Manning camp wants it to come out. They're putting public pressure on Jim Irsay. It was calculated, it was deceptive, and, yes, he absolutely stole the Super Bowl."

Kravitz continued, "Andrew Luck has got to play, okay? It's not even about the $35 million anymore. I mean, the guy's arm [Peyton's arm] is a noodle, he can't throw like an NFL quarterback, and by March 8, there's no way of knowing whether he's going to be ready or not."

Meanwhile, there are varying reports on Peyton Manning’s rehabilitation. Former Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said he saw Manning throw in late December, and he expects the veteran to return at a high level. Polian said, according to NFL.com, "He threw accurately, with a good, tight spiral, and he threw with velocity.”

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But according to the Chicago Tribune, Mike Lombardi of the NFL Network said, “I've talked to people who've caught the ball for him. He can't throw the ball to his left. He can't throw the ball across his body, because he doesn't feel it."

ESPN compared Manning’s choice of potential new teams to choosing between steak and flounder. Steak would be a team where Manning could run the show, while flounder would be where a coach dictates Manning’s offense. A man who should know, father Archie Manning, offered them his opinion."If Eli orders steak and they bring him flounder, he'll just eat it. But you ought not bring Peyton the flounder."

According to the Christian Science Monitor, Manning’s contract says he is scheduled to receive a $28 million bonus on March 8 if he remains with the Indianapolis Colts.

Even though #18, with support from many other Colt players both active and absent now from the roster, has created one of the most exciting and successful sports franchises in the history of sports, the knee jerk reaction seems to be to get rid of him! I am confident that Mr. Irsay and other so called "knowlwdgable" people will look closely at this decision and ask themselves "ARE WE CRAZY!" I have come to this conclusion for several reasons: 1)Mr. Luck is a tremendous college Q.B. and I hope his talents transfer to the Pro-style arena. There is a chance he is not the second-coming ie. Mr. R. Leaf. The step from college f-ball to the pros is much like the step from highschool to Div. 1. football. None of us have any guarantees Luck will be as effective in this new arena. The proof with Mr. Manning has already been written in the record books and will most likely continue (hopefully with the Colts) Along with his unquestionable abilities on the FB field, and just as importantly, Mr. Manning's many contributions to the community in and around Indy set him far and above what Indy could have ever expected frrom a professional athlete. Mr. Manning has put the Colts and Indy on the pro-football map in the most positive way. As I travel to other cities and states people are constantly commenting on what a great city Indy seems to be and in the same breath how lucky we are to have Peyton as the leader of our Colts. We are very fortunate...hopefully after one losing season we don't make a mistake. You know the Colts may have only won two games last season, but other than the first game of the season when the Texans blew us out, I think the Colts played pretty well considering the defense was on the field for such a long time, eventually tiring. That would not happen with #18 Peyton Manning playing....ask the other coaches in the NFL who are praying for the Colts to release him......STAY WITH A WINNER JIMMY!

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

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