Peyton Manning - The Sweepstakes

bostinno.com

By most accounts, Peyton Manning will not be wearing the white and blue of the Indianapolis Colts for the 2012 season.  All that remains is the meeting to decide his fate in Indianapolis with owner, Robert Irsay.  In the meantime, Manning is fast at it working his arm and body showing all to see that he will be capable of performing on the field for the 2012 season. Anyone who has watched the career of Peyton Manning knows, it would be foolish to count him out and think that his playing days are over. 

No question it will be hard for Indianapolis to say goodbye to Peyton Manning.  He is loved in Indianapolis.  He will not retire with the Colts unless Irsay chooses to rebuild around him.  Chances of that are remote.  Most likely, the Colts will use their number one overall draft choice to take Andrew Luck of Stanford and Manning will be released.  Here's where the fun begins for all fans of the NFL.

When was there ever a free agent the likes of Peyton Manning available?  Never!  Manning was voted four times the Most Valuable Player of the National Football League.  Manning is a consistent winner.  The best argument for what Manning brings to the field is this past year when the Colts failed miserably without him.  Let the sweepstakes begin.  Who's in line to change their destiny, winning ways and formula for success. 

Few teams in the NFL should be excluded from the Manning sweepstakes.  Unless you have a comparable quarterback, Manning could turn your franchise around in just one year.  Of course, Manning is the one who gets to choose so one has to give consideration to where he would like to play.  That will exclude many teams right away.  Manning will want an effective offensive line.  Manning will want some skilled offensive weapons.  Manning is accustomed to running the offense his way and will want to play for a team that largely will turn over the offense to him.  Given those parameters, the search for the winner of the Manning sweepstakes narrows.

Review of NFL franchises, it would seem to me that the sweepstakes comes down to four teams.  The four include the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins and the Arizona Cardinals.  All four teams need a quarterback and all four teams would immediately challenge for the Super Bowl with the addition of Peyton Manning.  Even though Seattle meets most of the parameters, it is unlikely that Manning would want to play that far away from what has been his home.  That takes us to three competitors for his services, the Redskins, Dolphins and the Cardinals. 

All three teams have the money to add Manning to their roster.  All three have good offensive lines and skill players.  All three teams would benefit from Manning's on and off the field leadership.  In the end, the sweepstakes will come down to where Peyton Manning feels he has the best chance to win a Super Bowl.  My guess is that he has poured over film, reviewed team rosters and talked to others about coaches.  My guess is that money will play only a minor role in his decision.  No question, winning will be the primary goal. 

My best guess is the Washington Redskins.  It would create quite the buzz.  Then again, the team that I haven't mentioned, the New York Jets could enter the sweepstakes too.  Two Super Bowl Manning quarterbacks playing in the same city.  I really don't think that will happen because of the Jets personality.  Doesn't really fit the likes of Peyton Manning.  No, I think Washington wins the sweepstakes and Manning will be playing in our nation's capital for 2012. 

If Peyton plays in 2012, in my mind, there is no doubt that he will not only be the Comeback Player of the Year but more than likely, vie for his fifth Most Valuable Player award.  No matter what, the next few weeks will be exciting as the sweepstakes unfold.