New York Jets and Peyton Manning a Match or a Matchstick?

If the New York Jets' recent history is any indication, going all-in for free agent quarterback Peyton Manning would be a big mistake. This has nothing to do with the failed Brett Favre experiment in 2008, and everything to do with both Manning and the Jets' current situations.

Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay's press conference seemed to last forever, but it didn't take long after that for the suitors to start stepping forward and the Jets were among the first, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

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How about this: The Jets have inquired about Peyton Manning's interest in playing for them, according to a source. Story to come: #nfl

— Manish Mehta(@TheJetsStream) March 7, 2012"

They seem pretty eager...I wonder how Mark Sanchez will take the news. 

The Jets have dropped hints at their interest in Manning over the past few weeks. When asked about him at the NFL Scouting Combine, head coach Rex Ryan did absolutely nothing to dispel the notion that they could be in the hunt for his services. Now, we know why.

But should the Jets actually pull the trigger?

Beyond the fact that Peyton simply doesn't seem like a Rex Ryan guy, the move doesn't make sense on either end of the spectrum.

Peyton is a better quarterback than Sanchez over the course of his career to date. That's indisputable.

But will Manning be the same old Manning when he returns to the field, and will he continue to be the same old Manning when he gets hit repeatedly—a fate that would be all but certain if right tackle Wayne Hunter is starting in 2012, as general manager Mike Tannenbaum said on WFAN.

Coming off four neck surgeries in the past 12 months, it's safe to say there are a few question marks around Peyton's ability to absorb those hits like he used to and whether it's safe for him to do so.

Besides, the Jets simply have too many other needs: running back, wide receiver, tackle, linebacker and safety. With the salary cap issues the Jets currently face (around $7 million in cap space after restructuring D'Brickashaw Ferguson's contract), they would have a hard time filling all the remaining holes.

As for the notion that they can restructure enough deals to make space, their biggest contract is due to none other than Sanchez ($14.2 million). How will he feel about restructuring his deal to usher in his replacement?

While this has nothing to do with Manning, it's fair to point out that the last time the Jets went all-in on an aging quarterback, they did so with a head coach in Eric Mangini who was on the hot seat. The end result got him fired.

Would Rex suffer the same fate if the Jets failed to reach the Super Bowl? Worth thinking about, considering he's also considered by some to be on the hot seat. And if he wasn't before, adding Manning would probably put him there.

Anything less than a trip to the big game would be unacceptable.

Manning certainly makes the Jets a better team, but to go all-in, the Jets have to know without a doubt that they'll be a complete team; a Super Bowl team.

Contending with the AFC Champion New England Patriots, it's debatable whether the move makes them the favorite to win their own division, much less to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

That alone would make the move moot.

Follow @ErikFrenz