Peyton Manning: Why Colts QB Should Retire Now Despite Interest from NFL Teams

By almost any calculation, it appears that Peyton Manning's career with the Indianapolis Colts is over.

It's a shame to see someone who's spent his entire time in the NFL with one team depart that team on such a sour accord.

The former MVP is not without plenty of potential suitors, though.

The Miami Dolphins have shown some interest.

With the mediocre play of Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets may throw their hat into the ring.

The Washington Redskins have seemingly a problem at quarterback every year, so they could look to Manning to change that.

You could almost name any team, with the exception of the Giants, Patriots and Packers, and it has been listed as a possible destination for Manning.

However, should Peyton Manning really consider playing next year?

The most pressing problem for him right now is his recovery from injury. While he is medically cleared to return to action, there are serious question marks as to whether his arm will be ready for the NFL season.

Arm strength, while not the greatest indicator of overall talent, is essential in playing quarterback.

It's highly doubtful that even if he is ready when the season begins, Manning will ever be 100 percent. While at 35-years-old he would never be in his prime again, however, the neck injury threw his career trajectory off significantly.

This is why Peyton Manning should simply walk away from the NFL right now.

It will never happen this offseason. Manning clearly believes that he has a lot to offer an NFL team.

He has been one of the fiercest competitors in the league during his 14-year career. That competitiveness is what is making Manning refuse to see the reality of the situation.

Moving to a new team in this situation can do more bad things to his legacy than they can good.

Winning a Super Bowl with a different would be great for Manning and a superb way for him to show Colts' management that they made a mistake in drafting Andrew Luck.

But how often is it that a story like that unfolds?

Sure, Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game and is as sure of a lock for the Hall of Fame as anyone else in the league.

Just like Brett Favre.

Favre had so much goodwill on his side following his last year with the Packers. He had won Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year for 2007. But then threw almost all of those positive feelings out the window.

To Manning's credit, he has never flirted with retirement in any way that Favre did.

Favre returned and did what was thought to be impossible: He damaged his reputation. The lasting memory many football fans will have of No. 4 will be the constant coverage of his on-again, off-again retirement by ESPN and his disappointing years in Minnesota.

Football fans want to remember Peyton Manning for the great quarterback he was. No one wants to see him end his career like that of Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith or Johnny Unitas.