Peyton Manning: Why Manning's Injury Proves Colts Shouldn't Take Andrew Luck

Peyton Manning's career is in jeopardy, as the Colts have officially ruled him out for the last two games of the 2011 season and Colts GM Bill Polian says he doesn't know if Manning will ever return. At 35 years old, with 14 years in the league, a full recovery and return to previous form would be foolish to count on if you're the Colts.

Conventional wisdom would point to selecting Andrew Luck with the top selection in the draft. He is the best QB prospect most experts have seen in at least 14 years, perhaps since Peyton himself was emerging from the University of Tennessee or even John Elway, per Mel Kiper Jr. With all that said, in a QB-heavy draft, it would be better for the Colts to trade down to land more picks.

Manning's injury and the frailty of the QB position leads me to this line of thinking. Manning has been extraordinarily durable throughout his career. Before this season, he had never missed a regular season game. 

Can the Colts hope to select another QB who will be as durable as Peyton was? That would be highly unlikely. Only six active QBs with four years in the NFL have missed less than four games over the past four NFL seasons (Eli Manning, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers).

Peyton has carried this team for at least five seasons, and the team hasn't missed a beat before now because of his amazing durability. The Colts can't expect to grab another QB who is as great or as durable; not even the seemingly sure-thing in Andrew Luck.

That is why the Colts should trade down selecting either Robert Griffin III or Matt Barkley. The Colts would still be attaining a top-notch QB prospect, but they would also be creating a more balanced team.

No team should fall apart the way the Colts have this season because of the absence of one player, even if it is the QB.

The collapse is as much a testament to the Colts subpar roster as it is to Manning's greatness. The Colts can't afford to gamble that Luck can have the same impact on the team, nor can they afford to put all their eggs in one basket again.

Obviously, the Colts have several holes beyond the QB spot, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The best way for the Colts to get on the right track would be to add picks to a talent deficient roster.

There may never be another Peyton Manning. The Colts must prepare as though that is the case.