Peyton Manning: Colts QB Reportedly on Jets' Radar

The New York Jets dabbled down the aging star quarterback road before, and it looks like they may give it another shot.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News spoke with PFT Live and told the ProFootballTalk crew that he believes the Jets have an interest in Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning. Mehta says the Jets would “make a legitimate inquiry” because of coach Rex Ryan’s “affinity” for him as the best QB in the league.

Ryan has publicly backed Sanchez and never mentioned Manning, but that’s because he would get in trouble with the league for “tampering” with a player before the free agent and trading period gets under way.

Remember in 2008 when the Jets were sick of Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens and decided to roll the dice on Brett Favre. While the season was ultimately deemed a failure, one has to wonder what could have been had he not injured his shoulder in the first half of the season.

The Jets have a strong foundation on defense and a terrific offense line. The glaring problem this year was the play of QB Mark Sanchez. He regressed significantly in his third year in New York and there are plenty of fans that are ready for a change.

Manning’s neck is obviously going to be a road block, and the nerve generation process has to come naturally, but if the Colts do decide to draft Luck and make Manning available, he’s going to cost a pretty penny. Will the Jets be willing to pony up?

The Jets roster is built to win right now and if the organization feels that Sanchez can’t make significant strides in the offseason—why not give Manning a shot?

He would instantly diffuse the Santonio Holmes drama and would be able to attract a bevy of free agents that would love to catch balls from one of the greatest QBs of all-time.

There are going to be plenty of Manning rumors over the next six months and here is the first one.