Peyton Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday, and 12 teams have reportedly already contacted the four-time MVP winner’s representatives about playing for their squad next season. Five of those 12 teams have yet to be identified, but sources claim the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and New York Jets have expressed interest in acquiring him. It is no secret that each of these teams is looking to upgrade at the quarterback position, and (a healthy) Manning would surely fit the bill.
Here are 10 more teams that should probably consider inquiring about Manning’s services. Try to keep an open mind with each of these suggestions, and with every squad, ask yourself, if this were my favorite team, would I rather have the incumbent quarterback or (a healthy) Peyton Manning?
11. Buffalo Bills
It’s true that Buffalo handed current starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick a six-year, $59 million contract extension midway through last season, but it’s also true that Fitzpatrick won only two of the Bills’ final 10 games after signing that deal. I don’t want to speak for a Harvard man, but my guess is the incumbent Bills quarterback was shocked when he discovered how much money Buffalo’s front office was offering him, and that if asked to take a pay cut in order to bring in a much better quarterback, he probably would.
Let’s face it: The Bills would be much more of a threat with Manning under center gunning deep spirals to Stevie Johnson and company. It’s not that Fitzpatrick is a bad quarterback, it’s just that he’s the perfect backup. Not even Mark Sanchez can say that.
10. Minnesota Vikings
We all saw what rookie Christian Ponder could last season, and he did a respectable job breaking even in touchdown passes and interceptions (13-13—Marc Bulger made the Pro Bowl once with 22-22; it’s not so bad). But clearly, he is not the answer to a woeful Vikings squad that finished a putrid 3-13 last year.
Depth at wide receiver is not one of Minnesota’s strengths—though Percy Harvin is an exceptionally versatile weapon—but with a healthy Adrian Peterson in the backfield and Manning under center, I actually struggle to think of a more dangerous trio than that of Adrian, Percy and Peyton—APP for short, of course. Just imagine if Reggie Wayne signed on…
9. Houston Texans
Houston? But they made the playoffs last year! And their starting quarterback (and backup) got hurt before the postseason even started! And they still won a playoff game! Just imagine how far they would have gone had Matt Schaub been healthy!
I can’t argue with any of this, but that’s all I can do: imagine.
The fact of the matter is that Schaub did in fact get injured and that he has never personally led the Texans to the playoffs during his five years with the team. He’s also 30 years old, and you can’t look me in the eye and tell me that Schaub will ever be as good as Manning (not to mention conference rivals Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Tim Tebow etc. I’m kidding about Tebow…though he has won playoff game).
With Arian Foster running the ball, a rejuvenated Andre Johnson going deep and Manning running the offense, I think I just found an even more dangerous trio. Now, what if Reggie Wayne signed on?
8. Dallas Cowboys
I haven’t met one Cowboys fan over the last half-decade that hasn’t expressed to me at one point or another how infuriating it is to have Tony Romo quarterback their favorite football team. Romo definitely has the skills to be a successful quarterback; it’s just rare that you’ll see him utilize those skills over the duration of an entire season (his 1-3 record in the postseason can attest for that).
The three-time Pro Bowler will also be turning 32 in April, and he isn’t getting any younger. To be sure, neither is Manning, but I think most Dallas fans would feel a much greater sense of ease with Peyton calling the shots in crunch time than Tony.
Bryant. Austin. Witten. Murray. Manning. Imagine the possibilities.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
There are few situations in the NFL more dismal than Jacksonville, and there are few players in Jacksonville more dismal than Blaine Gabbert. The former Missouri quarterback had a disappointing rookie year, highlighted by his paltry 64.3 QB rating, and whether or not he can succeed in the league (not to mention whether or not he wants to) has already been called into question.
The Jags have the one of the best running backs in the human bowling ball, Maurice Jones-Drew, and while they’re thin in the wide receiver department, Manning is an alchemist of sorts and can work with pretty much anything you give him to use, especially tight ends. Mercedes Lewis has three inches and 25 pounds on Manning’s former TE target, Dallas Clark and has a fantastic vertical jump.
If the Blaine Gabbert experiment is going to have any hope, having a guy like Manning around to mentor the mercurial 22-year-old couldn’t hurt.
6. Atlanta Falcons
What about Matty Ice? Indeed, what about Matty Ice? The Falcons starting quarterback is undoubtedly talented and has proven that by leading Atlanta to the postseason in three of his first four seasons in the league. Impressive, but Matt Ryan still has not won a single playoff game.
His greatest chance to take the Falcons to the Super Bowl came at the backend of a tremendous 14-2 season, when they hosted a divisional round game in 2011. But the Aaron Rodgers we know and love showed up and pummeled the overachieving hosts, 48-21, and went on to lead the Packers to their first Super Bowl in 15 years.
Ryan’s most recent postseason performance—a 24-2 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants—wasn’t much better.
Don’t you think another quarterback might be able to better maximize the overabundance of talent that is Roddy White, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner? Manning could be that guy.
5. Oakland Raiders
Not that Manning would ever want to don the silver and black, but if one thing’s for sure, it’s that Carson Palmer is not the answer in Oaktown. The former Bengals quarterback was handed a golden opportunity to seal a Raiders playoff berth at home on the final game of the season after Tim Tebow’s Broncos fell to the Chiefs, but didn’t answer the bell, as San Diego stormed the bay area and spoiled Oakland’s postseason dreams.
There is talent abound at wide receiver with Darrius Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore leading the way, two targets Manning could have a real field day with if he signed for the late Al Davis’ ever-intriguing side.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Did I say Jacksonville was the most dismal situation in the NFL? Sorry, I meant Tampa Bay. The promise of plentiful sunshine would be the main (and only) reason for Manning’s relocating to the west coast of Florida, and I’m not sure even he could turn around this ship that has already sunk.
3. San Diego Chargers
I know, I know: Philip Rivers is a solid quarterback. But he hasn’t really won anything since becoming the team’s starter back in 2006. He’s been to one AFC Championship, and every year, it seems like he is the central reason behind the Chargers underachieving.
Also, doesn’t the Manning family owe something to San Diego? The least they could do is send their eldest son to play for the team that almost drafted him back in 1998.
One more thing: Rivers, for whatever reason, continues to be an unpopular figure throughout the league, and more significantly, has never played in the Super Bowl. Manning is as likeable as they come and has played in two Super Bowls, winning it all in his first one.
2. Chicago Bears
Speaking of likeable characters, how about Jay Cutler? It was a real shame the former Vanderbilt quarterback got injured (again) last year just as the Bears were starting to make a playoff push. Then again, it was unfortunate when he got hurt during the NFC title game two years ago and refused to—sorry, couldn’t—return. The Packers knocked off backup Caleb Hanie in Chicago to advance to the Super Bowl where they defeated the Steelers.
Bears fans deserve a reliable quarterback they can count on, and who better than Peyton Manning to take them to the Promised Land? Four matchups featuring a combination of Manning and Aaron Rodgers/Matthew Stafford would make for prime-time television every time.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Too soon?
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