Why Peyton Manning Won't Play for the Cowboys

The Peyton Manning rumors are heating up and people are talking about Peyton joining the Dark Side and Jerry Jones in Dallas.  While adding Peyton to the Cowboys means we get Eli vs. Peyton twice a year, it doesn't fix the biggest of the Cowboys' problems.  There are many other football issues in Dallas that won't allow this to happen.

Tony Romo

Romo's current contract will expire in 2013 but until then, Romo is owed a ton of money on the six-year deal worth $67 million.  Age is also a question for Romo.  When his contract ends in 2013, Romo will be 33.  Also, Romo has proven to get small when the stage is the biggest, so a market for Romo might be limited.  

Granted, there are teams that need immediate QB help but Romo has showed that he doesn't have Super Bowl moxie.  If you are to trade Romo, what will you get in return? If he is to be cut, then he will still be owed some money and in a trade, a team might ask the Cowboys to pay a chunk of his remaining salary.

The Secondary

Rob Ryan runs a complex defensive scheme that is based on having a secondary who is highly skilled and very intelligent while the Cowboys have neither.  Terence Newman is old and just doesn't have the top-flight speed to cover anymore.  Gerald Sensabaugh is overrated and does not have the mental aptitude to run the secondary.

Orlando Scandrick has an awesome name and that is it.  Mike Jenkins has a good future in front of him. Jenkins earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2009 and is the only Cowboy DB that I get feel is a solid NFL player. Alan Ball and Abram Elam are unrestricted in a secondary that needs a lot of help. 

The Rest of the Defense

Keith Brooking, Bradie James, Anthony Spencer are unrestricted free agents along the front seven.  Keith Brooking has been in the NFL since 1998, so he has some miles on his wheels and the team may opt to not bring him back.  Bradie James saw Sean Lee turn into one of the better young LB's in the game this year.  While James brings leadership to the table the Cowboys have the future locked up with Lee.  James and Brooking are both in limbo because of Sean Lee.  

Anthony Spencer is a nice player to have on the opposite edge of DeMarcus Ware.  Keeping Spencer in Dallas is a priority for the Cowboys this offseason.  With the defensive line Jay Ratliff is serviceable and Marcus Spears can disappear and doesn't deserve the high praise he can get from time to time.

The Draft

If the Cowboys trade for Peyton Manning it will delete the Cowboys 2012 draft.  The Cowboys have one pick in every round of the draft this year but of those seven picks, how many will they have to give up to obtain Manning?  The Colts could easily ask for the Cowboys' first round, third round and sixth round pick in the 2012 draft, or perhaps the Colts could request more in return.  Peyton Manning is one the greatest QBs of all time and that will drive up the cost to get him.  Trading away the draft for a 35-year-old QB could be a little too risky even for Jerry Jones.

Jason Garrett and Peyton Manning Clash

Jason Garrett has taken a lot of heat during his days as the head coach of the Cowboys.  He will receive even more feedback if Peyton Manning runs his offense.  Manning makes all his calls at the line and is considered a "coach on the field." If he succeeds in this offense, Manning will get all the respect and praise. That hypothetical event will turn into many critics saying that Jason Garrett isn't a good coach he just has Peyton Manning on his team.