Peyton Manning won't delay $28M bonus (1 Viewer)

[FreeBaGeL]

I can't fathom Peyton coaching. Guys that are that good are rarely great coaches, they expect too much of their players who have almost no chance of matching what they were able to accomplish.

Isn't Peyton a little bit of a unique case though? When was the last time that there was someone that was as much of a "coach on the field" as Peyton is as a player? Unfortunately none of us really have any insight into how the organization is actually run, but it certainly looked like Peyton had as big an impact on that offense from a schematic standpoint as he did as the guy actually slinging the ball around.

 

[identikit]

Report: Manning Cleared To Resume NFL Career

ESPN Cites Sources Close To Recent Examination

http://www.theindych...508/detail.html

 

[sho nuff]

Report: Manning Cleared To Resume NFL Career

ESPN Cites Sources Close To Recent Examination

http://www.theindych...508/detail.html

Wow...could change quite a few things.

 

[Doug B]

Wow...could change quite a few things.

I read that more or less as "medically cleared, kind of, to take an 'average' NFL hit in 2012 (no Tatum-Stingley stuff)." I think that nerve-regeneration issue is far, far more important than "medical clearance". I don't take that to mean "100% back, baby!".If Peyton Manning comes back to the NFL in 2012, and performs at even 80% of his pre-surgery abilities, I'd consider that one of the most shocking developments in sports history. Just an opinion based on reading the media tea leaves.

 

[JamesTheScot]

Wow...could change quite a few things.

I read that more or less as "medically cleared, kind of, to take an 'average' NFL hit in 2012 (no Tatum-Stingley stuff)." I think that nerve-regeneration issue is far, far more important than "medical clearance". I don't take that to mean "100% back, baby!".If Peyton Manning comes back to the NFL in 2012, and performs at even 80% of his pre-surgery abilities, I'd consider that one of the most shocking developments in sports history. Just an opinion based on reading the media tea leaves.

That's my take as well. It means he can take hits now. But it doesn't say what % of normal he is in terms of what HE can do.But if he maintains his current position and refuses to renegotiate with the Colts, that would seem to indicate they he thinks his arm will be OK in time to score a nice contract with a good team this offseason.

 

[squistion]

Irsay: Colts have not cleared Manning to play

Rebutting an ESPN report from Thursday evening, owner Jim Irsay tweeted early Friday that the Colts have not medically cleared Peyton Manning (neck surgeries) to play football in 2012.

It's clearer now than ever that Manning's camp fed ESPN's Chris Mortensen the news of his supposed medical clearance. "Peyton has not passed our physical," says Irsay, "nor has he been cleared to play for the Colts. Team statement coming on Friday." Colts doctors are reportedly worried about the nerves in Manning's neck and triceps. While Peyton is notifying

Source: Jim Irsay on Twitter Feb 3 - 2:06

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/227395/irsay-colts-have-not-cleared-manning-to-play?rw=1

 

[Touchdown There]

Irsay: Colts have not cleared Manning to play

Rebutting an ESPN report from Thursday evening, owner Jim Irsay tweeted early Friday that the Colts have not medically cleared Peyton Manning (neck surgeries) to play football in 2012.

It's clearer now than ever that Manning's camp fed ESPN's Chris Mortensen the news of his supposed medical clearance. "Peyton has not passed our physical," says Irsay, "nor has he been cleared to play for the Colts. Team statement coming on Friday." Colts doctors are reportedly worried about the nerves in Manning's neck and triceps. While Peyton is notifying

Source: Jim Irsay on Twitter Feb 3 - 2:06

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/227395/irsay-colts-have-not-cleared-manning-to-play?rw=1

Stop rooting for Peyton Manning to not play football again. It is bad karma.

 

[squistion]

Irsay: Colts have not cleared Manning to play

Rebutting an ESPN report from Thursday evening, owner Jim Irsay tweeted early Friday that the Colts have not medically cleared Peyton Manning (neck surgeries) to play football in 2012.

It's clearer now than ever that Manning's camp fed ESPN's Chris Mortensen the news of his supposed medical clearance. "Peyton has not passed our physical," says Irsay, "nor has he been cleared to play for the Colts. Team statement coming on Friday." Colts doctors are reportedly worried about the nerves in Manning's neck and triceps. While Peyton is notifying

Source: Jim Irsay on Twitter Feb 3 - 2:06

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/227395/irsay-colts-have-not-cleared-manning-to-play?rw=1

Stop rooting for Peyton Manning to not play football again. It is bad karma.

I am not rooting for him to not play again. I own him in one league, so I have a vested interest in seeing him fully recover. I am just reporting the latest from Rotoworld.

 

[GregR]

I think anyone expecting a quick resolution beyond the Colts cutting him are barking up the wrong tree. He's not healthy. What team is going to sign him until he's medically cleared? I think retirement is the most likely scenario, or a signing toward the summer if the nerve repair kicks into overdrive.

I think it depends on what Peyton is willing to play for and what kind of contract he'll do. If he's expecting a normally structured contract that pays him Brady and pre-injury Peyton money, then I agree no one is going to sign him until he's healthy.If he's willing to sign a deal with less money guaranteed money initially, but with escalators based on playing time, and structured so it's not painful to cut him after year 2 if he's still not healthy, I could see a team making the gamble.

I just don't know what team would do that. If you sign him, and aren't sure he's going to be healthy, you're taking an enormous risk to the makeup of your team. Alex Smith, for example, is flying high right now. 49ers seem ready to make him a commitment to the tune of a 3-4 year deal. All of the sudden they sign Manning to a "pay or bust" incentive deal and what happens then? If Manning plays, everyone puts on their big boy pants and just sucks it up as a reality. But if Manning never sees the field? It sets back what was an amazing turnaround.

Case in point on structuring his contract:

Peyton Manning is willing to structure his contract in a way that could expedite how quickly he is signed if or when the Indianapolis Colts release him.

Manning is completely open to creating a contract in which he would be paid little or no guaranteed money up front and he would have to earn every cent he makes strictly through performance, according to sources.

An example of how it would work is that Manning's contract could wind up having a big roster bonus due on the first day of the season, and another big bonus based on the number of games he starts in a season. It is a formula that can be used for the length of the contract, limiting the amount of guaranteed money paid up front and ensuring that Manning would have to play to earn his pay.

Manning's open-mindness on the contract will alleviate many of the concerns that teams have about a player facing questions about his arm strength. Manning still is waiting for the nerves in his neck to regenerate so he can attempt to recapture the play that has made him one of the top quarterbacks in NFL history.

A 2010 study of 99 players with neck injuries showed that 76 percent successfully returned to the playing field. Eight quarterbacks were part of the study, including Chris Weinke and Brad Johnson.

Weinke and Manning have been in contact with each other because their cases are similar, according to Weinke, who won a Heisman Trophy and national title at Florida State a year after a neck injury that required a fusion and total nerve regeneration.

Weinke's words to a frustrated Manning were more than encouraging, and his recovery timeline suggests Manning could be playing somewhere, if not Indianapolis, in 2012.

The Colts must make a decision whether or not to pay him a $28 million option bonus due March 8 to extend his contract for four more years. If they opt not to pay him the bonus then Manning would become a free agent.

Manning's doctors have medically cleared him to be able to resume his football career after three surgeries, including a neck-fusion procedure. Colts owner Jim Irsay, however, said Thursday night on Twitter that Manning hasn't been medically cleared to play by Colts doctors.

Adam Schefter is ESPN's NFL Insider. ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen contributed to this report.

 

[SacramentoBob]

I am rooting for Manning to be healthy and to play somewhere else in 2012.