2011 NFL Free Agency: Could Peyton Manning Land Somewhere Besides Indianapolis?

Recently, there has been much made about the negotiations between the Indianapolis Colts and star quarterback Peyton Manning. Or lack thereof. The Colts have yet to sign the four-time MVP, despite the fact that this is their No. 1 priority. An offer was made in mid-February, but nothing was ever agreed upon.

Due to the high-profile nature of Manning, the confusion caused by the labor negotiations and Bill Polian's recent statements about the end of Manning's career, it has been questioned whether or not Manning will return to the Colts in 2011.

Let me be clear on this: Manning will be a Colt in 2011.

Continue on to see the top five reasons Peyton Manning will be taking snaps at Lucas Oil Stadium next season.

1. Money, Money, Money

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 02: (L-R) General manager Bill Polian, team owner Jim Irsay and Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts look on during Super Bowl XLIV Media Day at Sun Life Stadium on February 2, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo

Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, has continually said that he will make Peyton Manning the richest player in the National Football League. Rumor has it that this deal will be larger than Tom Brady's four-year, $72 million contract. Irsay has also stated that it will likely be a five or six year deal.

Before anybody says that Manning would take less in order to be on a "winning" team, I'd like to dispel that notion. As many (often times more intelligent) people have stated before me, Peyton cannot take less. Peyton is the face of quarterbacks in the National Football League and is the "gold standard" when it comes to contracts. If he skimped on his contract, it would make it much harder for other quarterbacks to negotiate fair deals.

Due to the cap (if it continues to exist), it is likely that about 1/3 of the teams would be able to spend the amount of cash necessary to sign Manning, many of them with established quarterbacks (or are a losing team with no more to offer Peyton than the Colts do). Irsay is more than willing to deal the money and is planning on it.

2. Manning Is Merely Waiting for a New CBA

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 09: National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA) executive director DeMaurice Smith talks with the media following meetings at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service building for extended labor negotiations March 9

A new collective bargaining agreement has yet to be settled, and it makes sense that Manning would wait for that before agreeing to any contract with the Colts. Manning himself is a plaintiff in the suit against the NFL and has a lot invested in the next CBA.

It's fairly obvious that Manning is waiting to see the details of the new agreement, if there is one, before signing. It's a much better strategy from a bargaining position; the longer he waits, the more desperate the Colts' front office will become. That, combined with whatever new details are in the CBA, could make the contract very different from what would have been signed before the old CBA expired.

3. Jim Irsay Will Do Whatever It Takes

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Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, left, talks with team owner Jim Irsay during Media Day prior to Super Bowl XLI at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida on January 30, 2007. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Indianapolis is Peyton Manning's town. The Colts have invested an incredible amount into Manning, and owes much of their success to him.

Jim Irsay knows this.

Irsay will do whatever it takes to keep Manning here. If Manning wants a different coach, different turf or more free agent signings, Irsay will do all that he can to make it happen. Shoot, Irsay would buy a trained monkey if he thought it would keep Manning happy.

If all else fails, the Colts would use a franchise tag (if one remains with the new CBA) to keep Peyton for one more year, and continue to try and negotiate with him.

Manning is the face of the Colts; the face of Indianapolis. The fans of the Colts would, and should, have a tough time having faith in the front office if they failed to keep Peyton in Indy.

4. Manning Is Invested in Indianapolis

Indianapolis is Peyton's Place alright, but not merely because of his play on the field, but because Manning has invested his time and money into the city.

Manning has started numerous charities and non-profit organizations in Indianapolis. Such projects include PeyBack, Project 18, Peyton's Pals and donations of millions of dollars to local non profits. The culmination of this investment was the renaming of St. Vincent's Hospital in 2007 to “Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent."

After living in Indianapolis for 13 years, Manning has invested his money and time in the community and has always been loved by the locals. He's been the epitome of class during his time in Indianapolis and has never expressed any desire to leave.

5. The Colts Fit Manning Perfectly

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts attempts to pass the ball to Jacob Tamme #84 against the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, India

The Colts have built their entire team around Manning and his talents. They've continually brought in players that have the intelligence and talent to work in a Manning-directed offense. They've built a defense that thrives on having a lead. They've given Manning more control over the offense than any other player has in the league.

The Colts look for players that work hard and have the right technique: Route running, pass blocking, etc. Manning covets these characteristics, and weapons such as Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai and Austin Collie are brought in specifically to work in a Manning offense. Manning, this offseason, has already begun working out with Austin Collie, something that I doubt he would spend his time doing if he was planning on leaving.

Last year, when answering questions from local fans, Manning said "If I couldn't play for the Colts, I would probably stop playing football." Now, while this doesn't necessarily mean that Manning would never play for anyone else, but it does speak volumes to the loyalty that Manning has for the franchise, and to think that he would now leave them high and dry is a bleak one indeed.