Protect Ya Neck: Peyton on the Market

Today it was confirmed by sources close to the Indianapolis Colts' camp that quarterback Peyton Manning has been released to free agency.  After 14 seasons, over 54,000 career passing yards, 11 Pro Bowls, and 1 Super Bowl Championship,  Manning enters the free agent pool for the first time in his career.  Colt's owner Jim Irsay, along with his front office, felt it was time to move forward with the organization, placing all focus on the NFL Draft first pick frontrunner, Stanford Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck.  Manning's release, stemmed from a neck injury alongside four follow-up surgeries, did not come as much of a suprise due to ESPN's typical over-coverage of the topic, but it does make free agent talks more interesting this NLF off-season.  It has been rumored Manning will land with teams such as the Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals, and even my San Francisco 49ers.  Throughout this on-going report, I have thought of two main questions and I happily discuss them below.

Were Jim Irsay and Colts management right in automatically moving on from Peyton?

I knew the release of Peyton was coming eventually.  It has been widely publicized the Colts are taking Andrew Luck number one overall and having to pay both Luck's rookie contact alongside Peyton's $28 million bonus did not make sense.  However, what suprised me was why the Colts were so adament about Luck so early on.  Sure, Peyton had a nasty neck problem that some said could be career ending and had already sidelined him an entire season; I know that is a big deal.  However, does that mean Irsay and the rest of his staff should have completely given up on him?  Just the other day, hidden video footage of Manning launching footballs across Duke's football field like a goddamned catapult made me think Jim Irsay may have dropped the ball (pun intended).  Upon hearing of the neck injury, shouldn't the owner, GM, and anyone else involved rally behind Peyton and make sure he can get the best medical care possible so he can return to winning your organization football games?

Whether or not it was the right decision for the Colts to try and keep Peyton or release him is not the point.  The point is Peyton Manning deserved support from the Colts.  Peyton Manning is the Colts.  The only reason Manning did not win multiple rings in Indy is because of Tom Brady and everyone knows that.  Manning constructed an offense that was simply unbeatable at times.  I, for one, am not a believer in placing all eggs in a preverbial basket and putting complete trust in a rookie quarterback to lead a team to success.  Has it happened?  Yes.  Do I think it will happen with Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 season?  No.  Success for Luck will happen eventually, but not in the first three years.  Luck is unwilfully stepping into hostile territory.  Like I said, Peyton is the Colts.  Not only is Peyton the Colts, but many believe he is the heart of Indianapolis (think Favre leaving Green Bay).  Colts fans will continue rooting for their team, but watching Peyton being pushed out will sting them for some time.

Would I sign Peyton Manning to the 49ers, foregoing the up-and-down relationship with Alex Smith?

Now, all these free agency talks have blown up over the span of the last 24 hours.  Where will Peyton go?  Who does 18 want to play for?  What situation would fit best for both team and quarterback?  Recently, Bay Area sports talk shows and reporters have sparked discussions about whether or not the San Francisco 49ers should persue a relationship with Peyton Manning.  Rather than put up with another two seasons with one year game manager, six year bust quarterback Alex Smith, the 49ers could sign an MVP quarterback with a fantastic track record and an unmatched mind for the game; I'm talking Russell Crowe in A Beautfil Mind type shit.  Trusting that the surgeries have gone well, many media personalities, along with fans, have voiced an overall opinion to go after Peyton and sign him for a two year deal.  49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has said repeatedly that Alex Smith is "his guy," but many wonder, "Wouldn't Peyton Manning be your guy, too."

Let me say this without too much emphasis because I am thankful for what Alex Smith did for my 49ers this past season, but: I WANT PEYTON MANNING IN THE BAY AND I WANT HIM HERE NOW!  I cannot believe this is even up for discussion.  In my view, Peyton Manning is an offensive genius who rips apart defenses for pure satisfaction.  With running back Frank Gore on the back end of a hard working career and Kendall Hunter still learning the running back ropes, Peyton would be able to come in for a few years and give the 49ers something we have not had since Steve Young: a passing attack.  Also, it has been rumored with the departure of Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, another free agent and former teammate of Manning's, will follow Peyton to whichever team he chooses.  So, not only would the 49ers have an actual mentor for back-up quarterback Colin Kaepernick in Manning, but Reggie Wayne could potentially take that prima donna of a wide reciever Michael "Crabby-Patty" Crabtree under his wing, teaching him how to play with a pair of testicles.  I do not see why 49ers Owner Jed York and General Manager Trent Baalke would overlook this up-grade.

I know Harbaugh loved working with Alex Smith during last season, but c'mon... It's Peyton Manning.  As a caller said today on KNBR, "It's Peyton Manning, you don't need words to describe what that guy can do."  What do my 49er faithful think?