The Peyton Manning debate

[PLATO]

Draft Luck, Cut Manning, and use the 28 million to get some decent players around Luck?

or

Draft Luck, Play him and let him grow under Manning's teachings?

or

Draft Luck, Play Peyton, and let Luck develop "normally"?

[Mojotronica]

Draft Luck, Play Manning and let Luck carry a clipboard and develop his game. Assuming that Manning is able to play again.

[Al B. Sure!]

So they're definitely drafting Luck? I always imagined before Manning's injury that the Colts would draft a 2nd or 3rd round developmental guy, develop him for 2 years or so while Peyton played and then bring him out. Guess they're going all in for Luck.

[PLATO]

Draft Luck, Play Manning and let Luck carry a clipboard and develop his game. Assuming that Manning is able to play again.

That's an awful lot of money they could use to get some kind of a supporting cast though. Also, how likely is Manning to get hurt again? Will he be able to still throw like he did before? I think that he gets the $$ if he is there in March, so not really all that much time to evaluate his recovery...

[Mojotronica]

My preference hinges on Manning being healthy enough to play. If he's not, I'm always skeptical of the idea of dumping a rookie QB on the field to adjust to the NFL on the job. I think it can ruin a good QB prospect.

[Al B. Sure!]

Dumping a rookie in there with the way they played this season will probably be disastrous. The Colts are garbage without Peyton.

You really think the Colts will do Peyton dirty like that by just cutting him, though? I don't know. He's done too much for the Colts for them to be like that. I know it's business but I can't see them not doing right by him.

[SlowwHand]

Draft Luck, Play Manning and let Luck carry a clipboard and develop his game. Assuming that Manning is able to play again.

Ditto.

[Mojotronica]

Dumping a rookie in there with the way they played this season will probably be disastrous. The Colts are garbage without Peyton.

You really think the Colts will do Peyton dirty like that by just cutting him, though? I don't know. He's done too much for the Colts for them to be like that. I know it's business but I can't see them not doing right by him.

It would be a public relations disaster if the Colts appeared to be snubbing Manning. Whatever they do, they have to get Manning to make an appearance supporting it.

[flash9286]

Keep Peyton then trade him in 2012, Draft Luck, Win Superbowls.

[OzzyKP]

Draft Luck, Play Peyton, and let Luck develop "normally"?

Do whatever Green Bay did with Favre/Rodgers. Seems to have worked out for them.

[Imran Siddiqui]

At least Peyton would likely be far more gracious to Luck than Favre was to Rodgers.

[SlowwHand]

Peyton Manning has class. His contribution as a mentor, before and after Luck took over, would be extremely valuable. Best case scenario for Colts fans is Manning playing 2 years while Luck learns; then Manning as Number 2, still the mentor.

[OzzyKP]

Well that's the real question. Does Peyton have just two more years in the tank?

Marino played 17 seasons, 20 seasons for Favre (or more?), 16 for Elway, 16 for Montana, 18 for Unitas. Manning has 13 now (well 12 since he was off this whole year), do you think he'd bow out after 15?

[SlowwHand]

I can see him wanting to keep his ties with Indy. Play a couple more, back up a couple more, then coach or go the Denver-Elway route.

[PLATO]

Peyton Manning has class. His contribution as a mentor, before and after Luck took over, would be extremely valuable. Best case scenario for Colts fans is Manning playing 2 years while Luck learns; then Manning as Number 2, still the mentor.

I agree with this totally. However, I know Peyton and I really think he would have a hard time being a backup if he was able to play. This year on the sidelines has been very frustrating for him. I think that as long as he is able to play then he will want to be the man. Problem is that no one yet knows if he is able to comeback yet and the deadline to do something is 90 days away.

I think Irsay and Peyton will sit down with the Docs and make a decision after the season is over. Irsay will put a lot of stock in what Peyton will want I believe, but at the end of the day he HAS to rebuild that team and $28million goes a long way....