Peyton Manning Rumors: Mike Shanahan Must Bring No. 18 to Redskins

If the Redskins are going to compete in 2012, they will need to make a big splash. There is no bigger splash than Peyton Manning. 

The Redskins' quarterback situation was awful in 2011. Going between Rex Grossman and John Beck is never going to produce a good season. 

One thing is clear; the Redskins need a change. Fortunately, help may be on the way.

Friday, Jan. 13 at 5:14 a.m. EST.

Bram Weinstein of ESPN tweeted that there is a good possibility that the Redskins will bring in Manning, along with long-time center Jeff Saturday. 

The NFC East is a wide open division. Don't let the fact that the Giants are in the NFC Championship Game fool you. This division was won with a 9-7 record. As we just saw with the Colts, Manning makes a pretty big difference. 

In 2010, the Colts were 10-6 and AFC South Champions. Manning did not have a great year, but was still better than what the Redskins would have ever imagined in 2011. 

Completion Percentage	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
66.3	4,700	33	17

Compare that to what the Redskins' passers did this year.

Completion Percentage	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
58.5	4,058	19	24

Manning, at his worst, is a gigantic difference maker. If the numbers aren't telling enough, look at the record of the 2011 Colts without Manning. They were 2-14, the worst team in the NFL. 

If that wasn't enough, Steve Wyche of NFL.com has projected that the Browns will trade up to the No. 2 pick and draft Robert Griffin III, eliminating a huge option for the Redskins at No. 6.

Given that the Browns have two first-round picks, this is not a trade to scoff at and assume Griffin will fall to the Redskins. Even if the Browns don't make the trade, they still pick ahead of Washington. 

On top of all of that, you have Jeff Saturday included in Weinstein's tweet. That removes a great deal of uncertainty that would surround a change of environment. Saturday and Manning came into the league in the same year, and are clearly familiar with each other. 

The Redskins have no choice but to make this a reality. They need to improve their quarterback situation, and Manning would clearly do that. With him under center, the Redskins would instantly become contenders in the NFC East.

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