Should Peyton Manning retire?

[rudeguy]

I love the guy as a player and as a human. He is a great guy all around.

But I'd much rather see him ride off into the sunset than go to a 2nd rate team. Anyone else with me?

 

[hg321]

No, He has been medically cleared to play, so why shouldnt he play? Maybe he will turn a mediocre team into a winner.

 

[SirStev0]

So was Syd the Kid. And he is just slowly fading until the Penguins get around to doing the same thing to him.

 

[yinan]

Yes. He has never been really any good. He was only a good QB when he had a lead. If it was an important game and he HAD to make a comeback he would not pull it off. Plus he is a spoiled little bitch. I do not understand how he got hurt since it is almost a capital offense to come within 50 yards of him..

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Yes. He has never been really any good. He was only a good QB when he had a lead. If it was an important game and he HAD to make a comeback he would not pull it off. Plus he is a spoiled little bitch. I do not understand how he got hurt since it is almost a capital offense to come within 50 yards of him..

 

[manimal]

Dont forget PM is one of the best Qbs at staying clean. He doenst get hit alot. If he goes to a good system he should excel.

 

[IAteYourMother]

This needed its own thread? You already voiced this same opinion in the other Peyton Manning threads. Just because people ignore it doesn't mean they didn't read it.

And Peyton was on a third rate team, perhaps a second rate team will be an improvement.

 

[ichy]

I hope he doesn't embarrass himself and end up slumming with some joke of a team like the Washington Deadskins.

 

[Red Storm]

I hope he doesn't embarrass himself and end up slumming with some joke of a team like the Washington Deadskins.

It would be interesting to see him join us here in DC.

 

[mvbighead]

Funny to me how people seem to think of Indy as a power house without PM. Did you watch the 2011 season? It was embarrassing.

You take PM, put him on a middle of the road team (when healthy), and they become an almost instant playoff contender. The key is PM being healthy though. But otherwise, you can expect whatever team he ends up on to improve considerably. Arizona? Miami? A handful of teams out there are a decent QB away from being playoff teams in the hunt for a SB. And, if Wayne follows Manning as is expected (and possibly Garcon too), seeing a Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon WR corps is not going to hurt Manning's chances of success either.

Or, in the case of Indianapolis, you take PM and put him on an inferior team with a horrible defense, and he'll give you a decade's worth of winning seasons.

In any case, if he's healthy, there is no reason he shouldn't play.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Or, in the case of Indianapolis, you take PM and put him on an inferior team with a horrible defense, and he'll give you a decade's worth of winning seasons.

At the end of the day, this is why Irsay decided to clean house and fire the Polians. He had 14 years of Peyton Manning and only 2 Super Bowl appearances to show for it. Irsay finally realized that the Polians, particularly in the last few years, were the reason why the Colts didn't have more Super Bowl wins and appearances and he knows with Manning, they should've had more wins.

I am still disappointed in Irsay, however. I feel he lied to us.

 

[krunchykrome]

Yes, retire as one of the greatest QB's of all time. He has nothing left to prove and he has a ring. Otherwise, he'll end up on the Redskins and his legacy will be tarnished.

 

[Miramonti]

He should be free to do whatever the fvck he wants, even if that means failing. He's great because he's an awesome player who loves competing, and no one should be disappointed or let down if he continues playing. Even if that means at a lower level. Nothing on the field can take away from what he's accomplished already.

 

[DougK62]

He's going to be a really fun person to watch still, even if he doesn't play again. If he decides to hang it up he'll still be a public figure, maybe a commentator. The guy is so likeable, smart, and funny that he'll excel at anything.

If he decides to play again, I'll cringe every time he goes down. I'd really hate to see him permanently damaged from playing football. Then again, I think he has some good years yet. He could easily do a Joe Montana and play for a few years on another team and put up good numbers.

 

[NeoV]

"He has never been really any good. He was only a good QB when he had a lead. If it was an important game and he HAD to make a comeback he would not pull it off. Plus he is a spoiled little bitch. I do not understand how he got hurt since it is almost a capital offense to come within 50 yards of him.."

That is the new 'worst sports post of all time' on ATOT - holy crap

As for those of you saying the problem with the Colts was the Polians - they just went through one of the most successful stretches any team has ever had. Just because they didn't win 8 super bowls doesn't mean there was anything wrong - the Patriots were very good at the same time, the Steelers - much as it pains me to say it -were very good for many of those seasons as well.

If Peyton is healthy, there is no reason for him to retire. My guess is that since he's made ~175M from playing already, plus at least that much from endorsements, he is in a situation where he will pick the team that wants him that has the best chance of winning - also - going to assume that Reggie Wayne goes with Peyton.

Redskins - decent D, bad O - line isn't good, WR's aren't good, RB's are ok - do have a high #1 pick to help
Miami - decent D, Offense could be interesting - good WR's, good left tackle, RB's ok
Seattle - D is young, stud RB in Lynch, WR's are pretty good, O-line isn't too good
Jets - D is solid, RB's good, O-line solid, WR's - Holmes is a headache, plax is FA - NY issue
KC - O line needs help, but RB's and WR's (is Charles ok to play next season) could be very good - D is ok - Cassell contract - lots of cap room though
Ariz - young D, Fitz, can B.Wells stay healthy, O line isn't great, Kolb contract
CLE - outside shot, but have 2 #1 picks to add more O help, great LT in Thomas, decent D - if they were to draft T.Richardson and a RT with their first 2 picks, sign Wayne/Manning, and either re-sign Hillis or add another RB - that's suddenly a potentially potent offense

It's going to be interesting, I'm hoping he is well enough to play and not putting himself at any further risk.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

As for those of you saying the problem with the Colts was the Polians - they just went through one of the most successful stretches any team has ever had. Just because they didn't win 8 super bowls doesn't mean there was anything wrong - the Patriots were very good at the same time, the Steelers - much as it pains me to say it -were very good for many of those seasons as well.

The Polians weren't the problem -- Chris Polian was the problem. I think Bill was still fine and the rumor was that Irsay just wanted to fire Chris, but Bill wouldn't fire him so he had to fire both. Their draft quality went down immensely once Chris took over that responsibility and by all accounts, he was an arrogant asshole. There was an article on the Indy Star quoting sources inside the Colts Complex and it painted a very bad picture of him. It wasn't long after that article that Irsay fired them.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

if he is capable, and still enjoys playing, and someone is willing to pay him to do so, he should continue to play until one of those criterion is not met. even if stars do play into decline, who cares? doesn't change any of their accomplishments. and there is no evidence he is in decline even... he could come back better than before! of course it was still the right decision to release him... too much money on the line and not enough info on his condition.

i hope skins get him, if only because it may prevent them from giving up 61 future first round picks to get RGIII (worst front office in NFL...)

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm starting to think that maybe Denver would be the best spot for Manning and Wayne. You can see the plan forming:

 

[Deeko]

No, he shouldn't, not if he can still play. Remember how different Indy was in 2011 vs 2010? He can go to a 2nd rate team and turn them into a contender. Put him on a team that already has some pieces around him? He could win a Superbowl next year. And frankly, I hope he does. It will serve Indy right.

 

[Deeko]

Yes. He has never been really any good. He was only a good QB when he had a lead. If it was an important game and he HAD to make a comeback he would not pull it off. Plus he is a spoiled little bitch. I do not understand how he got hurt since it is almost a capital offense to come within 50 yards of him..

Do you remember when he led the biggest comeback in AFC Championship history against Tom Terrific in 2006? And then won the Superbowl two weeks later?

 

[yinan]

No, but the team he beat could have been beaten by a team of mildly retarded midgets.

 

[mvbighead]

It will serve Indy right.

I don't get this bit... as though somehow Indy had it out for him.

The reality of the situation is that losing 14 games last season put the Colts in the driver's seat to draft Luck, the most highly touted prospect since Elway or whatever they're saying. Their premiere QB has been out all season and the outlook at times was grim. So with a 28 million bonus sitting there, and the CBA (making the contract much, much lower) making the drafting of Luck an easy decision, the problem was that they would have to move on from 18 as their decision was practically made for them.

From the press conference, it seems there were no hard feelings. Both sides wanted this to end differently. My bet is that if it were the draft that involved Bradford and Ndamakong Suh, the Colts would be the proud owners of a dominant defensive lineman, and not a new QB. As Bradford wasn't exactly a slam dunk (though he did have an impressive workout), the question at that time was which would have the larger long term impact. For the Colts, I'd see Suh making one hell of an impact.

But with this year, there was Luck and RG3. Both QBs. No clear cut top overall choices besides those two. So with a 28 million dollar bonus on the horizon, and an older, potentially less durable QB getting that sum, the decision was made for them.

I firmly believe that had the Colts won two or three more games, the Colts would have a Claiborne or Blackmon instead. The situation sucks for both sides, but from what I saw, neither side appeared to have it out for the other.

 

[Deeko]

Of course the Colts draft a QB. No one is suggesting they don't. However, ponder this:

Brett Favre -> Aaron Rodgers
Joe Montana -> Steve Young

What do these situations have in common? An upstart, talented QB learned on the bench behind an all time great, and then became pretty damn good himself. The Colts were in a position to do the same. Maybe Luck pans out....maybe he doesn't. If he doesn't, maybe he would have, had they kept Peyton for a couple more years.

I can understand the Colts being wary of his neck, or being reluctant to give him $35 million in 2012. But they could have restructured his deal. Instead, they released possibly the best quarterback of all time. In all likelihood, it costs the Colts their chance at being good for the next couple of years, and it could end up damaging their new QB's long term prospects. Remember David Carr? Joey Harrington? Tim Couch? There are a lot of occasions where a potentially great QB got thrown to the wolves right away, and who knows what could have happened to them in a different situation.

I understand why they did it. I do. But I won't blame anyone for scoffing at Jim Irsay if Peyton wins another ring or two somewhere else.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I don't get this bit... as though somehow Indy had it out for him.

Just read a report that Manning wanted to stay with the Colts but Irsay NEVER discussed renegotiating his contract. That stinks if true.

I firmly believe that had the Colts won two or three more games, the Colts would have a Claiborne or Blackmon instead. The situation sucks for both sides, but from what I saw, neither side appeared to have it out for the other.

Funny you mention that. I had the same discussion with a friend earlier. There were 2 or 3 games last year that the Colts should have won, and had they won those games, they would've dropped completely out of the running for Luck or RGIII. Had they won those games, Irsay probably keeps the Polians and I doubt they would've traded up for either QB, so WR and secondary would've probably been their biggest needs.

 

[mvbighead]

Just read a report that Manning wanted to stay with the Colts but Irsay NEVER discussed renegotiating his contract. That stinks if true.



Funny you mention that. I had the same discussion with a friend earlier. There were 2 or 3 games last year that the Colts should have won, and had they won those games, they would've dropped completely out of the running for Luck or RGIII. Had they won those games, Irsay probably keeps the Polians and I doubt they would've traded up for either QB, so WR and secondary would've probably been their biggest needs.

I dunno about the reports sometimes. In any case, the writing was on the wall as to what was going to happen. The biggest problem in all of this, IMO, is Luck and RG3. Hell, even if we had the top overall choice, and Luck nor RG3 were options, I doubt they'd be getting rid of Peyton. Polian, maybe. Caldwell, maybe. But if there were another top talent at some other position, I think they'd consider it.

As it seems, Luck is projected as an A+++++++ type of player, and RG3 is rated as an A+ type of player, and there seems to be much less interest beyond those two. Kalil maybe a A- type of guy, but it doesn't seem that the interest is there to jump ahead of Minnesota at #2 and grab him. I just wish there had been a "Jake Long" type of prospect that made the Colts think, hmm, a line with Jake Long at LT and Castonzo at RT... one more year of Saturday, Ijalana at G, and maybe one more year with Diem at G... that could be a solid enough line to make the running game work, and give Peyton a real shot at winning a SB.

Then again, it could be all about money too. Who knows. As it is, it just seems that the stars aligned for it to end this way. Hanging onto Manning would've meant delaying the progress of Luck, and a considerable expense in addition to that.