Three Reasons to Believe Peyton Manning to Jets Could Work

Of the approximately 17,311,119 (give or take) rumors making the rounds regarding the playing future of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, one is gaining a bit of traction with the media—especially in light of the New York Giants hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as champions of Super Bowl XLVI.

That rumor, which has been speculated on here at Bleacher Report and elsewhere, has Jets owner Woody Johnson making a big splash after the Jets' disappointing 8-8 season by acquiring the four-time MVP to be the new quarterback for the Jets should the Colts release him.

Some reporters have already expressed their displeasure with the idea of bringing the forehead to the Big Apple, but there are a few reasons to believe that Peyton Manning in a green uniform isn't the worst idea ever, or even necessarily a bad one.

First, with all due respect to Mark Sanchez, who is a capable NFL quarterback, Mark Sanchez is, well, a capable NFL quarterback. The third-year pro has had a good run with the Jets, including two trips to the AFC Championship Game, but he's never posted a quarterback rating of over 80, for every great throw he makes, he makes one that leaves you shaking your head and "The Sanchize" appears at times to be a bit too enamored with the glitz and glamour that accompanies being the starting quarterback for a team in New York.

Maybe Sanchez's development has stalled, or maybe we've just seen the youngster's ceiling, but it's hard to argue that 80 percent of Peyton Manning isn't better than 100 percent of Sanchez, and a fully healthy Manning and Sanchez shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence.

Also, Peyton Manning would likely be of great help in healing the Jets' fractured locker room, as, simply put, Manning isn't going to put up with the sort of sniping and grousing that was apparently rampant behind the scenes last year. Manning is a 14-year veteran, the consummate pro's pro and the equivalent of having another coach on the field, and you can be assured that Manning would not hesitate to put his foot down should shenanigans arise.

And given what the Jets would have to invest to get him, that would be one big foot.

Lastly, and possibly most importantly, after a season that started with head coach Rex Ryan gumflapping that the Jets were Super Bowl-bound and ended with the crosstown Giants winning it all, the Jets need a spark as a team, with their fans and with the New York Media.

Granted, it would all depend on Manning being healthy, but if he is, then Peyton Manning in a Jets uniform could be not just be a spark but a two-pound block of C-4 that shatters the Patriots' stranglehold on the AFC East and gets Gang Green out from under Big Blue's shadow.

Or it could end up like the Brett Favre signing.

You know what they say: No guts, no glory.