Peyton Manning Rumors: Why Cardinals Make the Most Sense For Manning

While it may not be the ideal way to leave the only franchise he’s ever known, releasing Peyton Manning is the right move to make for his future of both No. 18 and the Indianapolis Colts franchise.

Forcing him to help groom Andrew Luck would be a cold blow to the ultra-competitive Manning. Letting him pick his next destination is the best gesture the Colts organization can make right now.

With a fresh start and no contract obligations, teams will be lining up to sign the future Hall of Famer.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has already singled out two teams that are sure to have a strong interest: the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins.

With the lack of playmakers and new coach down in Miami, Manning doesn’t have the time to help a team that’s at least two years away from contending in a strong AFC East despite the addition of a Hall of Fame QB.

He needs to pick the Cardinals.

With Beanie Wells at running back and Larry Fitzgerald at receiver, Manning will have the best weapons at his disposal since the heyday of Edgerrin James and Reggie Wayne.

Sure the defense is incredibly young, but with Patrick Peterson getting better by the week, the unit was incredibly strong by the end of the year. They didn’t allow over 23 points in a game in their last nine despite playing in four overtime games. This is an up-and-coming unit, make no mistake about it.

Manning needs a fresh start and doesn’t want to be playing the Colts on a regular basis. It’s an awkward breakup and I’m sure Manning just wants to move on at this point. Playing in the NFC ensures playing Indy only once every four years.

This wouldn’t be the first time Arizona scooped up a Super Bowl quarterback on the back end of his career.  Remember Kurt Warner?

After looking like nothing more than a backup for the Giants in 2004, he went to sunny Arizona and played for another five years including a Super Bowl appearance. It worked out splendidly for both parties involved.

Manning is going to have plenty of phone calls to return once the Colts finally decide to release him, but he doesn’t need the Dolphins, Redskins or headache-inducing New York Jets.

He needs the Arizona Cardinals.