Peyton Manning Rumors: Indianapolis Colts QB Has Plenty Left in the Tank

Whether he stays with the Indianapolis Colts or becomes a free agent, Peyton Manning is going to be a productive passer for years to come.

Before this past season, Manning had proven to be one of the most durable athletes in football and had not missed a game in his career.

That all changed on September 9, 2011 with the most widely publicized spinal surgery in history. Manning had a disc removed from his neck and had two vertebrae fused together. The words "fused vertebrae" conjure up images of a career-ending procedure, but this is not the case.

Joseph C. Maroon, a neurosurgeon who does work with the Pittsburgh Steelers, said:

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"This didn't ruin his career—it saved it, because it's going to get him out of pain and stabilize his spine, and he should make a full recovery." 

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Manning's surgery is actually fairly common among NFL players, and many have returned to the field after going through the procedure. In fact, Dr. Wellington Hsu, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Northwestern, published a study that showed players who elect to have the operation stand a greater chance of returning to action than those who chose physical therapy.

There is some disagreement in the medical community over Manning's chances to return at full strength, but many of the field's leading practitioners have given positive outlooks.  

The most concerning part of Manning's surgery is the possible nerve damage to his throwing arm. The quarterback is in the midst of a recovery period in which he is trying to regain his arm-strength and full range of motion.

It is possible that a nerve in Manning's neck was pinched badly enough that he will never fully regain his throwing abilities, but it is also just as likely that he makes a full recovery. Most, if not all, of what has been written on his health is speculative.

However, in this guessing game, doctors' opinions mean the most. Dr. Neel Anand, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles said this about Manning's rehabilitation period:

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"In this particular case, he himself will know. Such a top-level athlete will know—can they throw? Can they use that arm? He's the best judge to know if he's really recovering."

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From all indications out of the Manning camp, Peyton is ready to go.

According to Don Banks of SI.com, the Colts QB "strenuously" tried to demonstrate that he was capable of playing at the end of last season. Manning convinced the Indy brass to hold a private workout and let him throw passes in a red-zone situation.

He took snaps from Jeff Saturday and tossed balls to Joseph Addai, and those who observed the workout said he had 80 percent of his arm-strength.

Those at the private training session also said that Manning was visibly fatigued after throwing just 30 passes. However, this workout came before the Colts' Week 16 game against the Texans, just 14 weeks after his surgery.

According to Sanjay Gupta, a medical correspondent for CNN, the procedure comes with an 8-12 week recovery period. Obviously, Manning's timetable will be extended, as he would have to get back into playing shape after fully rehabbing the muscle group affected by the surgery.  

While little is certain about the quarterback's future, being at 80 percent of his former self just three-and-a-half months after the operation is a positive sign. 

All the hoopla surrounding Manning's neck has put the Colts in a bind. The team has the first pick in the upcoming draft and will almost certainly take Andrew Luck.

Heading into the offseason, the Colts' roster will include the most promising young QB in football as well as a future Hall of Famer with health risks who is due for a $28 million roster bonus.

Indy owner Jim Irsay attempted to reframe the issue of Manning's contract by making it seem like it was all up to the quarterback. Irsay said:

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"We can work out the contract if he wants to come back. We want him to make the call. He's earned that. We want him to have the chance of finishing his career here if that's what he wants to do."

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What the owner failed to mention is that coming back would involve a massive pay cut for Manning and a nonstop media frenzy over the competition between himself and Luck. This is hardly an ideal situation.

Even if the Colts decide to keep him for a season, it seems implausible that they will let Luck ride the bench past his rookie year. Manning's time in Indianapolis is expiring quickly. 

If the franchise shops their All-Pro QB, the phones will be ringing continuously until he his traded or released. 

Even with the calculated risk that comes with his four neck surgeries, several NFL teams would be thrilled to bring Manning on board.

The Dolphins, Redskins, Cardinals, Seahawks and Jets have all been rumored to be extremely interested in the quarterback if he becomes available.

Manning's future in regards to injury may still be uncertain, but there are enough positive signs to garner massive interest from suitors around the league.

Whether the Colts trade him this offseason or the next one, Manning has not thrown his last touchdown in the NFL.