Peyton Manning: Why Cleveland Browns Should Target Colts QB

With respect to the potential destinations which Peyton Manning and his questionable 35-year-old neck have potentially been linked to for residency next season, the list contains several locations.

In fact, real estate agencies in those cities most prominently mentioned, such as New York and Miami, might be practicing potential pitches, much in the way respective owners of bidding franchises are also in pitch-polishing mode.

Since, on the surface, all that is required to be a contestant in the melange towards Manning sweepstakes, is the proverbial question-mark quarterback and a portentous amount of bank; where then do the Cleveland Browns chances of landing Manning reside?

Furthermore, how would such an ambitious hypothetical (and we as Browns fans are if nothing else, eternally ambitious, especially within the context of a hypothesis such as this one), work practically, given the current state of the franchise, and uncertain state of Manning?

When I proposed the idea to one lifelong Cleveland fan, who may or may not have also been a lifelong family relation of the author, his response conveyed, what we will simply refer to as harsh pragmatism:

“Sean, not to burst your bubble but the chances of that happening are ZERO, though the thought has crossed my mind and it's intriguing (sort of like the "mushroom smokers" who urged the Tribe to pursue Prince Fielder). Unlike the Indians, the Browns' handicap isn't insufficient funds.

"The blunt truth is that high-profile, Hall of Fame-bound superstar free agents with arguably something left in the tank never sign with Cleveland franchises. Cleveland is considered one of the least appealing locales (bad weather, deficient night life); the Browns have been perennial losers; and Shurmur is not a glamor coach. If Manning leaves Indy, he will land in a glamor city (Bears, Jets, Dolphins).”

It is worth noting that the above excerpt is from a lifelong Cleveland Browns optimist, who despite his sordid references to narcotics and glamorous cities not named Cleveland, does believe in the city and it's professional sports teams! However, with optimism like that who needs optimism.

And the rationale for why it can't happen does not end there, the additional questions that any NFL quarterback whose name begins with Peyton and ends with Manning, might pose to such suggestion are many.

Why would I want to play for a team who has had two winning seasons since 1999? Can that offensive line be trusted with my surgically repaired neck? Who I am going to throw to? And do I really want to be bothered with the West Coast offense at this juncture of my career?

All really legitimate and well articulated questions, Peyton, and the kind of questions that would be expected from a quarterback whose legacy is lasting, despite the uncertainty of future performances next season following the third neck surgery of said legacy-laden career.

However, let us return to the land of ambitious hypothetical, you know, that place where all possibility and potential prosperity exists in its purest form. The happy place of this Browns fan, and hopefully one to one and a half others who care to imbibe in this “it's just so crazy, it might work” journey.

So we as optimists are also realists and somewhat front office savvy, as such, realize that Manning arriving next year via Cleveland Hopkins International Airport cannot result from a trade that sends current players away on a departing flight.

Much less as a package that mails away vital draft picks, so then we must lure him with our cap space-created free agency dollars, of which the Browns have around $20 million.

Which is at least enough to secure the chips necessary to pull a chair up to the table, and negotiate in the short term, meaning the next couple years.

For all those who will ultimately whitewash the speculation of Manning to Cleveland, despite the Browns bank to potentially do so, with the timeless standard rebuttal “Why would a legend, still potentially able to be successful, want to play in Cleveland?”

I respond with the fact that from a fanbase loyalty standpoint there is no better place in the league to play.

Although this loyalty may be ingrained in hardship, it nevertheless is a testament to the resiliency of such a fanbase, which has sustained motivation beyond all unfortunate circumstances.

This is especially evident towards superstars, take LeBron James pre-Decision, as as example of the level of fan infatuation that can happen for a player in Cleveland, and you get an idea of the kind of support Manning would have in Cleveland.

Which could prove all the more reassuring in an upcoming season where plenty of people are going to question exactly how well Manning can perform after vertebrae infusion surgery.

And as much as speculation conveniently concludes that a player like Manning only wants to play for a team that has a shot to win now, what about the fact that he has a ring, he has the MVP trophies and the passing records.

Where is the challenge, the omnipresent motivation for any athlete? Would not the ultimate challenge be to return a franchise with a storied past of respectability and glory in its history, to a level reminiscent of such precedence?

This is exactly the kind of challenge he incurred when he was drafted by the Colts back in 1998, what better challenge at this juncture in his career than to come back from neck surgery, and help a franchise and a city come back from its recent professional football doldrums?

As to the potential players to surround Manning, we make a pledge to shore up that receiving corps in the draft, with perhaps a Justin Blackmon with the fourth pick in the first round, and go after some help for the right side of the O-line with the 22nd pick in the first round.

And that other Peyton, last name Hillis, well with all the upgrades in personnel he is sure to bounce back from a subpar 2011 season, and if not we have some later round picks to find some more of what you need, Peyton.

If all of the above sounds like Christmas in February lunacy and hazy logic, it just may be, but then it just may be the kind of free agency pursuit of a player named Peyton that could restore life back into a franchise and a city that could not be begrudged for finally attaining such restoration.