Peyton Manning Trade Rumors: Why Indianapolis Colts Won't Trade QB

Many people are wondering why the Indianapolis Colts are willing to let Peyton Manning walk away for free.

If he leaves and regains health, they will have let a future Hall of Famer and the face of their franchise walk away with a few years left in his arm.

That doesn't happen very often.

Unless the Colts choose to keep Manning and give him what he needs to make another run at a Super Bowl, they have to cut him loose.

In fact, they have $28 million reasons to cut him loose before March 8.

The Colts must have medical reasoning to cut Peyton loose, and many expect it to happen in the coming weeks. If they wanted to trade him they'd have to pay the $28 million first. In order to even consider that, Manning would have to be healthy.

Manning isn't healthy. He isn't receiving the bonus, and he isn't going to be wearing a Colts uniform next season either.

Plain and simple, they'll be parting ways and there will be no trade—Manning will walk for free.

There are plenty of rumors as to where he'll end up too. Teams like the Jets and Cardinals—both heavily invested in young quarterbacks—have already expressed interest.

Other teams like the Redskins and Dolphins, two teams without quarterbacks, are also heavily interested.

The Colts have no control over where he goes once he's released, though.

Sooner than later, Manning will be a free man.