A Thought On Discussing The Inevitable Discussion: Peyton Manning- Part Tres

We would have to take his current contract, which is huge. Would put too much of a limit on who we could pursue in free agency

The team is in need of an overhaul, youth movement, whatever you want to call it. Time to stop kidding ourselves, this team is no longer a Peyton Manning away from a Super Bowl. With such gaping holes at OL, WR, DB, and (hopefully not) RB, the Vikings are in no position to get #18.

I was hoping this would have gone away after the post on the subject the other day…. BAH HAHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah Right.

“Is adding a veteran QB- granted, one, who if healthy, probably has about 4 more years of very high-level play still left in his tank- entirely a wise move with our current QB situation?”

No. Unlike a few years ago, we have two very viable QB’s that have proven they can lead the team, when the team is healthy. Of course, with T-Joke, we didn’t have that and Rosenfels never got the chance to sink or swim. Also, this team, in 2 short seasons, is nothing like it was in 2009. Manning would be slaughtered and given his recent injuries, would almost be garuanteed a career ender. In this case, even if he came at a bargin price, he stil isn’t worth the money. We need an O-line and Def. Secondary. We don’t need nor have the ability for another “Mentor”.

“probably has about 4 more years of very high-level play still left in his tank”

Since you brought up the Favre comparison in some respects, let’s look at that. Again, This is not a T-Joke needing to be tutored. We have the young QB’s who have the ability to be go getters and think on the feet. Alot of team would love to have one, let alone two, young QB’s with franchise possibilites.

Also, as for possibly 4 years left IF he is able to come back let alone match what he was before, you have to take that with a grain of salt. In the last 6 seasons of Favre’s career, he only had 2 winning seasons. Last one with the Packers, and the first with us. Other then that, they resemble someone who should have retired a few years before and definate down swing and who’s “tank” was sucking fumes. Now, Manning hasn’t had a losing season sine 2001 I believe, however, you look at his last several seasons before the injury, and you see a slow rise in INT’s and a slight up and down the last few seasons he has played. Yes, Some could be attributed to WR core not being the greatest, but Favre made our’s look stellar. But at times still looked shakey. So while Manning may have a few years left, and if he was as before, whose to say he wont start getting more erratic in a few years as well? And, like Favre, he has been known to to force things to be the “Hero”.

Could he get us back to the NFCCG? Maybe, a BIG maybe, but unlike a few years ago, highly doubtful. We need to solidify our line and Defense. And with drafting and possibly free agents, we need as much money to accomplish that for a braod range of players, not another single person stop gap that may or may not work at all.

the kids!

Seriously though I think there are two ways teams in the NFL build themselves. The first is a quick fix you patch up holes with FA signings and solid rookie talent. You don’t really invest a whole lot in development as you can always pick up someone better in FA. Not necessarily true but these teams seem to always want at least a play off spot and often this is the only thing they get out of it. The other way is the slow burn, teams spend a lot of time on the draft working their base level of skill up over time. Then when they have a high base they pick up a FA or two and swap that around year to year, keeping a solid core but working on for consistency instead of the home run.

Hrm there’s a baseball analogy all set up. So do you take the guy that can get you on base every time or the guy who has a chance to slug it out of the park? I personally will take the base hitter. Teams that try for the gold tend to be the Cowboys, Vikes, Redskins they tend to try and get past the basics with a little bit of money. The problem is the NFL is just to random to ever be predictable. You can have the best team in the nation and still fail with a single injury, bad call or heck a bad game. Meanwhile the teams that work the slow burn tend to hover around the play offs every season giving themselves more chances for the gold. Honestly, I don’t think anyone can say that luck and chance don’t play at least some role in a super bowl season.

So I would rather not pick up some crazy expensive FA, I would rather increase the median skill level of the team and try to have a team that can hold together for the long run and make multiple play off shots, and one day bring home the big enchilada.

with an offense he can fit in and has been working with his team.

It’s taken years to build an offense around Peyton. He routinely did snaps in gaelic.

Peyton fits in Indy, who understands him. Any place else is a crash and burn.
It takes time to re-establish timing and adjust to different receivers. It could be a 2-3 year project before playing at a high level again.

Not a chance with the Vikings. Peyton never needs to play another down and become first ballot HOF. This is one unfortunate-effect of the lockout, where the NFL prohibited Peyton having access to trainers and medical support through this recovery.

For one, this Peyton talk has to cease until March 1st. It is news hype and does not need the prime time media airtime until a week prior to actual decision time.

If Peyton is not a Colt, he will not play. He will not play for any other franchise!

Ponder is no guarantee. Anyone who says that is delusional. He has not proven that he can play in every game. He has just as much chance of being the next Matt Leinart. Webb is still developing and needs more reps throwing from within the pocket.

Manning will be released and not traded. If they pay him then they are going to keep him.

If he is released then he gets to go where he wants and it is probably not going to be the Jets or the Redskins. Here goes an article that makes some sense …

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8264abc5/article/with-indy-seemingly-turning-the-page-where-will-peyton-end-up

“Washington’s offensive line is every bit as bad as Indy’s and the roster is deprived of skill players. The Redskins also have a history of turmoil and instability. And don’t forget, in the NFC East, he’d be facing little brother Eli twice a year.”

“The Jets? Don’t get me started. With all the dysfunction in that locker room, Rex Ryan’s bluster, an overwhelming media glare and the constant hysteria of two Mannings in New York… No way I see Peyton walking into that cauldron. Not his scene.”

LaCanfora thinks it could be Arizona or Seattle. Arizona would have to improve their line and sign a free agent WR to go with Fitzgerald. But both are in the NFC West which could be up for grabs despite SF doing well this past season.

It could be Miami.

I doubt it is here as this team is going to be rebuilding. I would not put any money on Peyton wanting to come here and play behind this line. No way. Even if they did get Kalil they still need a guard or two. AP is not going to be back to 100% and we need a top WR to go with Percy. Too many holes on this team. And I did not even mention the awful defense.

Would any of you want to come to Minnesota with this current team?

The only position group on this team that you can feel comfortable about is the DE group. That is it. Everything else needs some serious attention. RB could be thought of as OK but AP may never be the same and even Toby had a meniscus. If Toby goes down early next year then who plays?

The answer is still YES though. Peyton Manning is a Hall of Fame QB. If they can somehow get him then they should do it. In 2009 the Vikings brought Favre in who carried the team all the way to the NFCCG. When he left they went 6-10 right away.

The money could be done easily too. The Vikings will have plenty of cap room.

I’ll take Manning all day every day and twice on Sunday.

But he ain’t coming here no matter how much they wanted to give him.

if because Manning has been far and away my favorite player for quite a few years now. I respect how much understanding he has for the game and how it’s almost like an art form when he plays quarterback. I’m sure you can tell how much respect I have for Manning. He would have an insane wealth of knowledge to teach our younger guys. And I really get the feeling, because of the kind of man he is, that he would be willing to share as much as he could, unlike old number 4. I would absolutely love to see Manning in purple.

Unfortunately, it would never happen. The way that this team and organization are at this exact moment, I’m honestly afraid that we might not be able to attract ANY big name free agents. Manning will continue to be my favorite player. Unless he goes to the Jets. I cannot stand Rex Ryan.

With Manning, the Colts were a perennial Super Bowl contender. Without him, they are the worst team in the league. He single-handedly makes awful teams relevant. I understand the neck is an issue, but if he could do it in Indy, why not here?

Don’t get me wrong I would love Manning on our team but he would get killed behind our O-line, and yes, I know he made Charlie Johnson look better than he is with his quick release but we need WR"s who get open consistantly and can stretch the field.

if you are willing to fire your OC then go for it.

I was listening to Mike & Mike this morning and they were talking about Peyton’s plan to NOT ask for some huge amount of up-front money to whatever team he goes to next. I’m paraphrasing, but apparently Peyton wants to ‘earn’ his money coming off this neck surgery. He’s going to a team for cheap (allegedly).
Now, either he’s being the normal class act that he always has been or he knows more about the severity of his neck injury than anyone else, sans his doctors. Either or both of these are completely believable.

Ponder needs more time. Let’s not forget he was supposed to watch and learn from McNabb in 2011. Instead he was thrown to the lions (err…Packers :p) after only about 6 games. I’m actually still behind the idea of giving him a year or two behind a vet/mentor… and I can’t think of anyone more qualified than Manning. I think Ponder showed a lot of great stuff and I believe if we had any kind of OLine and more receiving weapons all the NFL gurus would be talking about him right up there with rookies Newton and Dalton.

I know many of my fellow Norsemen here were pissing their pants for Joe Webb when he would come in (when defenses hadn’t gameplanned for him) and put on a show… and I love Spiderman… but I’m still very apprehensive about his potential to be ‘the future’.

If Manning isn’t asking for the world as far as a contract goes, you have to figure the Vikings will take a shot at him. He’d be coming into a team with Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Kyle Rudolph, Michael Jenkins, likely a good FA WR, and (hopefully) Matt Kalil on a further improved Oline. Not too bad. Also, he’s worked with Frazier before when he was the Special Assistant to the Head Coach in Indy in 2005. He’s a guy that Musgrave wouldn’t even have to coach… and as we all know, Manning is a coach on the field.
Then again, the 49ers might more attractive to him, being that they were one game away from the Superbowl… and now big brother likely wants to pull even with Eli for rings ASAP. The question is- would Manning want to put up with a hotshot like Harbaugh?

Regardless, like KJ said, this is an unavoidable topic for us. Honestly, would anyone here really be mad if we got Peyton effing Manning healthy for a few seasons? Peyton Manning.

Vikes already tried with one Manning already, Archie was not the answer. Peyton would be just another immobile QB that would be little more than target practice for opposing defenses with the problemaic O-line. Stay the course, Ponder and Webb are the eventual solution.

There’s a better chance of the Vikings upgrading their QB position by drafting RG3 than there is of them signing Peyton Manning.

All the issues that were there before, are still there now. To answer the question about the trade, in no way does it makes sense to give up our first round #3 pick for Peyton Manning. Again, we have so many holes to fill that we can address with that high round pick. Trading that away for Manning would be about the dumbest move possible. Like I said above, it might get us a small upgrade at the QB position, but how is that going to address our major deficiencies along the OL, DB, WR, etc? It’s going to make it even harder to fill those needs, and I’d argue that Manning alone isnt’ going to get this team, as it is right now, any further than McNabb/Ponder/Webb could last year. We need that #3 pick for something other than another QB, be it Manning in a trade, or even Luck/RGIII.

As for the free agent thing…I’d rather us use our free agent money on a WR, or even Safety. We need to make some big splashes in free agency this year, and we have the money to do it. Wasting that on Manning will again, only get us a potential short-term benefit. If we use it on a young WR and/or S, we can make some longer term impacts with that money instead.

That Peyton is fully healthy, and has full arm strength… I don’t think it is a smart decision.

First, Peyton is going to want to run his offense. That means that Musgrave will spend a few years as a glorified positions coach, as trying to have Manning learn a new system would be counter-productive.

Second, he is going to want a lot of cash.

Third…. and arguably most important: We still don’t have a solid O-line. Has anyone seen Peyton Manning run? The guy is slower than Bryant McKinnie.

While he does have great pocket awareness, and can move around and avoid pressure well… we still have yet to learn how to create a pocket, so what good does his pocket presence provide us?

Now, I think he would be a great mentor for Ponder. But that is not what we would hire him for.

I would not be mad if it happened, but I can find better ways to improve our team.

It’s not happening, it won’t happen. No cap room, No offensive line, we don’t need the “tutor” thing again, and more then likely, no nerve which will equal little to no arm.

If Peyton Manning’s neck is 100% healed, playing MVP caliber football, and signs a deal with no guaranteed money and based on incentives………………the answer for me is still a big fat HELL NO!

living here in indy and a life long viking fan, it seems there is developing very quickly real bad blood between irsay and peyton, who has been nothing but a claas act and a role model for that franchise. peyton has apparently been cleared by the doctors to play but per irsay, not by the team, appparently to be paid. granted the 28 mil is a huge amount of cash, but lets get one thing straight, peyton was almost single handedly responsible for the popularity of colts football here and the new stadium deal irsay was able to extort from the city. thus the money is really not that much in the grand scheme of things. peyton would no doubt bring to any team what he has delivered in indy and if the vikes had a shot a getting him, i’d say go for it! this is a team that built the dallas cowboy super bowl teams in exchange for a unproven running back. peyton manning would be well worth such consideration, although i would hope we would do our due dilligence.

I have some news that just hasn’t been poured out to the public yet. I volunteered for the Sports Corp here during the Super Bowl, and talked to people within the Colts organization.

The reason he his current deemed ‘not healthy’ isn’t due to his neck problem. His neck and ‘bone regeneration’ blah blah, is cleared. The doctor has said he is fine to play football again, and he is not at any more risk than anyone else in the league.

What is wrong with him is that he can’t throw. His nerves were damaged and he quite literally cannot throw the ball. I don’t really understand all the scientific or neuro-biological stuff, all I know is that currently it is like he is throwing with his left hand… it’s all wonky.

He has been throwing with colts receivers lately and none of them have even come out and spoken about his abilities. This is the number one concern to me. I know that his receivers LOVE him, and the fact that none of them have even said something like “he’s improving” or “he is starting to look like his old self” bothers me.

This guy may never be able to throw like he used to.

If he comes here it will be a new offense . It will be getting his timing down with our receivers. No offensive line. High salary. Questionable health. Better off letting the younger guys compete for it.

Totally dumb idea.

MOVE ON! NEXT!