Can you picture this guy in Seattle?
Possibly the greatest quarterback of this generation will hit the free agent market next week. Though he is a slightly tainted version of his old self, coming off four neck procedures, Peyton Manning is still a highly touted and well-respected commodity in the National Football League.
After sustaining a season-ending injury before last season even began, Peyton Manning’s future has been riddled with as much uncertainty as the American economy. With a $28 million contract extension on the line, the Colts’ ownership has decided to cut ties with their beloved hero and began a new era with the stud Stanford slinger, Andrew Luck.
Dream with me for a second. Envision a majestic looking Manning barking out an audible on a crisp Seattle afternoon at Century Link Field. Imagine that white number 18 on the front of a jersey contrasted by deep-Seattle blue. Replace the horseshoe with a shimmering hawk encasing his brilliant football mind. Can you picture it?
Sure it might be a long-shot, sure Seattle isn’t necessarily the marquee team or market people might associate with a marquee name like Manning, but when it comes to the Seahawks, I dare to dream big. And I assure you, I’m not just blowing smoke.
Over the past few weeks, the Peyton to Seattle idea has generated significant buzz within NFL media circles. ESPN’s John Clayton, aka ‘the professor’, recently tweeted that he considers the Seahawks and Redskins to be the current frontrunners on the Manning sweepstakes.
Other outlets like the National Football Post have speculated on the Manning to Seattle possibility saying, “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 Manning buzz is certainly understandable when you consider the obvious need at the position, the team’s wealth, the venue, and the formidable young core the team already has in place.
First, consider who owns the Seattle Seahawks. Perhaps the name Paul Allen rings a bell? Not only is Allen the richest owner in the NFL, he is also heavily engaged in team decisions and has expressed a strong desire for his team to succeed. Just recently, upon the news of Marshawn Lynch’s new contract, Allen promptly tweeted with boyish glee, “Beastmode will be back!”
Another noteworthy point is that Pete Carroll is the type of coach Peyton Manning could develop a strong marriage with. Carroll is a rare breed in the NFL. Rather than asserting dominance over players, he listens and understands them. Wherever he goes, Manning will demand a say in the offense as he did in Indianapolis.
Despite popular belief, Peyton Manning prefers anonymity. Even though he’s become a marketing icon and the NFL’s poster boy, he prefers smaller, more structured markets. Brock Huard, Ex-teammate, and former Seahawk, thinks the fit in Seattle would be preferable to more hectic markets of New York, Denver, and Dallas.
Lastly and most importantly, Manning will want to play for a winner. Before you scoff at the idea of winner and Seattle in the same sentence, look at the roster Pete Carroll and John Schneider have constructed. The team already has a top-ranked defense in place, and with a developing young core of offensive linemen and receivers, the Seahawks are a good quarterback away from contention, and league-supremacy. Even at 80 percent health, Peyton Manning is the good quarterback the Seahawks are looking for.
Now that we know Manning’s tenure with the Colts is finished, the rat race will begin next week with the start of free agency. However, with cash and confidentiality to offer, Seattle, the darkest of dark horses, could end up winning big in the Manning sweepstakes.
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In the fear of alienating its fans, the Seahawks have to make a play for Manning. It’d be a PR disaster if they didn’t put themselves in the Manning mix. Could you just hear, “Nah, we’re confident in the quarterbacks we have, we’re not interested in Manning.”
Whether they’re really serious or not about bringing him in is another question. It seems to go against Schneider’s philosophy of building a team. I see the Seahawks making a bigger play on Matt Flynn.
Then again, nobody ever knows what Paul Allen is thinking. This is a guy who texts the Trail Blazers coach during games, but seems to be hands off with the Seahawks. But even if he opens the vault for Manning, will that even be enough to persuade him. I don’t think so.
I’d love to see Manning in a Seahawks uniform–imagine the new unis and Manning in it. The allure is undeniable. But I think when it’s all said and done, he’ll sign with another team and the Seahawks will have remained Manning’s fifth or sixth option.
I agree. I think they need to make a major play for Manning, but I think management is more concerned with making decisions in the interest of football rather than public relations. I think they are serious about Manning, but I agree that it seems like a long-shot at this point. Hopefully they can entice him to visit. If he does, you know Paul Allen and co. will fly him in on a sea-plane and lay out the red carpet. When all is said and done, I think he’ll end up in either AZ or Miami.
The Jets put their football interests ahead of PR and signed Sanchez to an extension, effectlvely getting out of the Manning sweepstakes. The fallout from that move will be huge among Jets fans for a team that’s had public relations disaster after disaster.
But that takes the Jets out of the running and now that the Redskins traded for the Rams pick, that’s two less teams to compete with the Seahawks. So maybe the Seahawks drop to Mannings third or fourth option.
I still predict that the Dolphins get Manning and we get Flynn.
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