Somewhere, Matt Ufford is drooling at the prospect of Peyton Manning wearing neon and silver.
According to Dan Pompei, the Chicagoan sports columnist who does a weekly Sunday piece for National Football Post:
Based on the buzz around the league, the Seahawks could be the early frontrunner for Peyton Manning, assuming he is released. Pete Carroll needs a quarterback and is believed to have a strong interest in at least exploring Manning. The Seahawks could offer Manning an attractive scenario. They have a young team with some fine skill players to put around him. They play in one of the league’s loudest stadiums. Manning wouldn’t be subject to the same kind of scrutiny in Seattle that he would in a lot of other markets.
Pompei also makes the argument that Seattle's team physician, Stan Herring, is one of the country’s preeminent specialists for spinal injuries. Reggie Wayne might also go with Manning as a "package deal."
Former Colts quarterback and Manning friend Brock Huard has already penned an open letter to Peyton, practically begging him to come to the Pacific Northwest. Mike Florio also thinks the Seahawks will land Manning.
Personally, I'd have no problem with it.
Peyton and Reggie in Seattle would be a fine addition to that division. Remember, just two years, the NFC West was a complete joke. If a presumably healthy Peyton and Reggie transplanted to the Land o' Starbucks, that means Peyton would be facing Jeff Fisher in his own division again (Fisher is now the HC in St. Louis) and he'd be going toe-to-toe twice a year against the man he replaced in Indianapolis, Jim Harbaugh.
Also, the Colts do not play the Seahawks in the regular season next year, which is a huge plus. The Colts and Manning must part and go their separate ways. Having them play each other the year that parting takes place doesn't help anything.
0 recs | 39 comments
Fine
I wouldn’t mind it at all. I mean, part of my wants Manning to ride off into the sunset, but I know that’s not happening.
I’d rather Manning end up in the NFC than the AFC
TrueBlue87 - February 20, 2012
I would be okay with this.
Seattle is a great town, my favorite city in the States. Very beautiful. I have many connections there. I think it would be cool to see the Seahawks being really competitive again.
Addai Another Aday - February 20, 2012 via iPhone app
IF Peyton is released...
I think Seattle would be a great place to go as well because I personally wouldn’t have to see my Colts play him every year… The pakage deal scenario with him and Reggie is ideal as well…
But I will forever hold the belief he is coming back until the Colts tell me he isn’t… Speculating does no one any good, but we have enough free time to do it. Damn…Is it March 8th yet?
JohnHandburgers - February 20, 2012
You beat me to this....so you saved me some typing
So I’ll rec it.
tim55 - February 20, 2012
Where ever he landed I really hope he parts ways with Irsay. I am a Colts fan but I do not like the way Jim handled all this thing.
And I hope he is healthy to play at his best so Irsay will be so ungry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do not say nothing Peyton and when the time comes make Irsay feeling like sh…..
Violeta C - February 20, 2012
Is English your second language?
pattymac - February 20, 2012
IRSAY
has to look out for the best interests of the Colts, not Manning. Plenty of the stuff coming out is from Manning’s camp in hopes of putting pressure on Irsay to pick up that option.
javen - February 20, 2012
I just don’t get the anger toward Irsay. Both sides have handled this poorly.
However, like Irsay said, it’s about the horseshoe. The Colts are bigger than Manning.
I like Irsay and think he’s a good owner. There is no coincidence it took Bob Irsay’s death and Jim taking over for the Colts to get good.
TrueBlue87 - February 20, 2012
My thoughts exactly
have a rec
AB_Positive - February 20, 2012
And another.
Chopaholic - February 20, 2012
Rec Party!
James Broschat - February 20, 2012
And that was also when Manning was drafted which also helped BTW.
People seem to forget Jim was a GM of the Colts once upon a time and wasn’t very good. That being said he’s not the worst owner in the NFL I just think this whole thing with Manning could’ve been handled a lot better.
I wish he wouldn’t talk so much right now
CF4L - February 21, 2012
How Did Peyton Handle It Poorly?
He has only had one major interview the entire season. An interview after his personal traner was fired out from under him. Last two weeks I have heard nothing from Peyton. I have just heard all the noise about how he is bad for Indie. That is from Fans as well as the owner. What if he says I will come back for 1 mill. Sounds like no one wants him even for that price!
Chuck136 - February 21, 2012
Once again
Who cares!!!!!!! He could go play for the Pats for all I care. If its not the Colts then I’m not worried about it. If he plays Indy, I would hope they knock him around!!!
Dito29 - February 20, 2012
First Edge, now maybe Peyton?
Is Seattle the new landing spot for former great Colts?
Ayrshire - February 20, 2012
it would become the Colts "bone yard"
danorocks17 - February 20, 2012
Don’t forget about Raheem Brock, Marcus Pollard and Adrian Moten.
BoilerUp1982 - February 20, 2012
Edge>
He went to Arizona, not Seattle. :-)
JTBLA - February 20, 2012
Did you see the picture above?
Ayrshire - February 20, 2012
Lol!...
(206)NightRidah - February 20, 2012
That's as far away from Indy as you can get and in the NFC
That is a best case scenario for Colts fans who can pretend that Manning just retired.
Pretty good scenario for me personally as well because I could go see Manning play in person…
(206)NightRidah - February 20, 2012
What would really be difficult
to take is if Peyton went on to bring a couple of championships to Seattle in the few years he has left,….when he only got one in Indy in 13 years. Not saying it’s likely, but it would be tough. Although, I’d be happy for Peyton.
Ayrshire - February 20, 2012
I hope it's Seattle or Arizona
Coltsfan1345 - February 20, 2012
I'm sticking to -
He’s coming back – until I hear otherwise. He’ll leave either because: a) he’s not healthy b) Irsay drives his contract down to where it doesn’t make sense financially to Manning to come back.
Otherwise, I think he’s staying. He has roots down in Indy, I think he likes the Mid Western folk, and he’d love to play for one team.
but, as Tim55 sez, it don’t matter what I think until March 8th – and then we knows.
buymymonkey - February 20, 2012
Yes he’s going to stick around for a rebuilding project with the limited time he has left? Why?
Please you can live anywhere in this world with the amount of $$$ he has where you play really doesn’t matter.
CF4L - February 20, 2012
What options..
Would the colts have in trading him and wayne, wouldn’t Seattle have to foot the bill for the contracts and thus mitigating the cap hit, maybe we could get an extra pick or two. Didn’t know if that was an option.
Navy Colts Fan - February 20, 2012 via iPhone app
Won't happen
Wayne’s a FA, he can pretty much go wherever.
Manning would amount to an NBA sign-and-trade, and no team is taking that $28M cap hit up front right away, even for Peyton Manning.
We’re in rebuilding mode. Take a deep breath, have a beer, enjoy the ride as we see what Luck can bring the ol’ Blue and White.
AB_Positive - February 20, 2012
I could see this but I have a hard time thinking he’d want to be in the same conference as his brother.
I think he’ll go to another AFC team if he’s released. Its a weak conference and a far easier path to get to the SB
CF4L - February 20, 2012
Love it
I love the Seahawks and if Manning goes there, Hawks will finally have an explosive offense for a year. Hasselbeck had no one to throw to, Sidney Rice had no one throwing to him. Tavaris Jackson has been substandard. Seatlle already has a good secondary and a pretty good defense, I would love this. I don’t know if Manning wants to play outside or not though…
KBUnitz - February 20, 2012
awesome, KBU
you can be a seahawks fan then
personally i hope manning retires
omahacolt - February 20, 2012
I guess
I missed the part where the Seahawks have some fine skill players to put around Peyton Manning.
Doug Baldwin?
Sidney Rice? (who has Bob Sanders’ injury disease)
Marshawn Lynch? Had one great year and is one year away from being a 30-year-old RB.
Ben Obamanu?
kmbryant09 - February 20, 2012
Carlson is solid.
And he will re-sign, if Peyton is there.
And let’s not forget Reggie.
Rice isn’t anywhere near Bob when it comes to injuries. He has played 13, 13, 16, 6 and 9 games so far.
And the reason he only played 6 games in 2010 was because he decided to go for the surgery way too late (in august 2010). He simply made a stupid decision, but that doesn’t make him prone to injuries.
Baldwin showed a lot of promise, and we know what Peyton can do with even the most average of receivers.
Peter Storgaard - February 21, 2012
Really? I just don't see it...
I’ve also heard that Sidney Rice needs like 2 more surgeries this offseason, and has battled concussions this year. He’s frail.
Carlson is an average NFL Tight End.
Doug Baldwin showed promise.
Compare that situation to Miami (good OLine, top10 WR, average (but solid) TE, slot receiver, and receiving RB), Arizona (good running game, best WR in the league, plays in a dome, good/great defense, been through this before with Kurt Warner), or even the Jets (great defense, coach that loves Manning, some weapons in Holmes and Keller), and I just don’t get why Seattle would be the favorites.
If people are speculating that Manning PREFERS Seattle, that’s one thing. But suggesting that Seattle offers the best surrounding talent for Peyton just seems a bit ridiculous to me…
kmbryant09 - February 21, 2012
I wasn't saying that Seattle was the best landing spot.
I just thought you were being a bit too harsh in your criticism.
And you could make a lot of arguments against the other teams as well.
Miami: Plays in a much tougher division, no running game, Fasano is worse than Carlson.
Arizona: Fragile RB, no receivers outside Fitzy, a lot of money invested in Kolb.
Jets: No team spirit, too much attention, too many issues with a lot of the players.
I myself think Arizona is the best landing spot, but there are positives and negatives with every landing spot.
Peter Storgaard - February 21, 2012
Seattle
Plays in bad weather
No running back (going to sign a 29-year-old?)
Lack of weapons
Every team has negatives. As for the positives, I don’t think Seattle is even in the top 3.
Realistically, Miami is a top TE away from having a stacked offense – 2 studs on the OLine, Bush seems to be revitalizing his career and they have a 2nd rounder behind him, a top10 WR, and a good slot WR (Bess). Their defense is pretty solid, although they need 1 more pass rusher. As to your points, they do have a running game (11th in rushing yards, 15th in ypa – and they played from behind a lot) – look what Bush did the 2nd half of the season. The division is tough, but Manning is very familiar with the Patriots and the Jets – 2 teams that he consistently torches. And Fasano is no worse than Jon Carlson.
Arizona has perhaps the 3 biggest attractions out there – they play in a dome, they have Larry Fitzgerald, and they’ve done this before with Kurt Warner a few years ago. They also play in a weak division (like Seattle, obviously). They have a surprisingly good defense, they too probably need another pass rusher and some OLine help. As to your points, yes Wells is fragile – but if Manning lands in AZ, Wells will be a 50/50 back with L. Stephen-Howling (or another RB brought in) who excels in the passing game. They lack receivers outside of Fitz, but that’s basically the same situation in Seattle – without Fitz. And I believe Wayne would follow Peyton to Arizona. They can get out of Kolb’s contract by the middle of March with very little cap hit.
Again, I just don’t see what’s so attractive about Seattle.
kmbryant09 - February 21, 2012
I obviously agree with you on Arizona
And I’m still not saying Seattle is THE most attractive spot. Nor is it awful either.
Miami sure has some positives, but the division is a big issue to me. So is their lack of cap space. Seattle don’t have this issue, and could bring in some quality veterans to help out Peyton.
And even though Seattle isn’t playing in a dome, they still have one heck of a home field advantage.
Peter Storgaard - February 21, 2012
Yeah, not really aiming my argument at you...
Just at those who believe Seattle is a very attractive spot for Manning.
As for home field advantage, I don’t really see how it effects Manning. It’s more of a crowd noise that helps their defense out by making things difficult on opposing offenses. If anything, playing in Seattle is a bad thing because of the cold and rainy weather.
It just seems that every positive thing Seattle has going for them, another team has it better.
kmbryant09 - February 21, 2012
kansas city is where peyton will go to
niageriannit1 - February 21, 2012
never going to happen
omahacolt - February 21, 2012
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