Peyton Manning Suitors: Why They Will and Won't Work

Peyton Manning was officially released by the Indianapolis Colts this week and is now available to be signed by the NFL team of his choice. ESPN is reporting that no fewer than a dozen teams have reached out showing an interest in his services.

Manning stated on Wednesday that he hadn’t begun his analysis on where he’d like to play. I find it inconceivable that the most cerebral quarterback in the game hasn’t begun to analyze his options.

He has almost certainly tasked his agents to provide a complete analysis of every potential roster in the NFL, including how long the primary talent is under contract and what the committed salaries will be in coming seasons. He will want a stable roster with ample cap room to make any needed upgrades.

A few teams make a lot of sense for both Manning and the franchise. Most being mentioned only favor one of the sides, though.

Manning hasn’t discussed his expectations, or what it will take to sign him, but assumptions can be established. He will likely want to maintain compensation on par with Drew Brees and Tom Brady. He’ll most certainly want to play for a team with a legitimate shot at winning a championship. Manning will also demand at least a baseline of talent at wide receiver.

There are other assumptions circulating about Manning. Some believe he’ll want to stay in the AFC to avoid playoff matchups with the New York Giants. Others contend that climate is a driving factor, as in a team that plays in a domed stadium.

My favorite assertions come from analysts that believe they know what kind of market Manning wants to play in. Some claim he wants to be in a major market like New York, while others contend he prefers a town with a lower profile.

For now it is simply speculation, but the following pages offer another look at 12 suspected teams that have a need, interest or tie to Manning.

11-12: AFC South Options Aren’t Promising

There is some speculation that Manning would like to stay in the NFC South to have two shots a year at beating Jim Irsay, Andrew Luck and his former team. I don’t see it happening.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could use better quarterback play than they received in 2011 from Blaine Gabbert, but they need a lot of help at wide receiver and other positions. Things were so bad in Jacksonville that they brought Mike Sims-Walker back to help last season…a wide receiver that was cut by the St. Louis Rams.

The Tennessee Titans would have talent around Manning, but they are preparing to turn the reins over to Jake Locker. Bringing in Manning would mean their top-10 draft pick would complete his rookie contract without having an opportunity to start unless Manning missed time to injury. That isn’t the way to build a football franchise.

10. Cleveland Browns

While I’m still not convinced the Browns have given up on Colt McCoy, they have bigger issues than quarterback. Their defense is improving, but they don’t have a running back or NFL-caliber wide receivers. They may have the money to make a run at Manning, but they don’t have the player capital to make it happen.

It would also be difficult to convince Manning to join a division where he’d be competing against the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers.

9. Houston Texans

The Texans are certainly a team on the cusp of greatness. They won a playoff game with a backup quarterback in January and have a quality defense.

However, the Texans also have Matt Schaub, a player they believe in and that fits their system. Gary Kubiak runs an offense that features bootlegs and an active quarterback. That is Schaub, not Manning. Even if they could come up with the cap room to sign him, Manning isn’t a good fit.

8. Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins have been high on the list of potential targets for Manning, with many analysts listing them as the top potential landing spot. This just doesn’t add up, though.

The Redskins are run by a meddling owner, and even though he has taken a step back in recent years, his fingerprints are still all over their roster.

Washington’s offense is not a good fit for Manning’s style, as it relies on a mobile quarterback. More important, the team seems to be much more than a quarterback away from being a contender. They have a great tight end but lack top receivers, and their running backs leave much to be desired.

Washington is still a few years away from being competitive, and signing Manning would actually do more harm to the process than good. They need to finalize a trade to draft Robert Griffin III, and then use the money they’d pay Manning for supporting talent in free agency.

There is one more reason the Redskins don’t seem viable. The Manning family is very tight, and some have speculated that Manning would like to stay in the AFC due to paternal pressure to stay out of the same conference his brother plays in.

Just imagine Peyton making this call: "Hey, dad, it’s Peyton. I know the family legacy is important to you, and that you are hoping to add a few more rings to the mantle. But I decided to play in the same division as Eli. Now the odds of us both making the playoffs just got a lot smaller. Aren't you proud?"

7. San Francisco 49ers

Of all the teams that seem to be a quarterback away from dominance, the 49ers are at the top. However, they continue to insist they aren’t interested.

“We haven't had Peyton in here nor are we even talking about those things internally right now,” GM Trent Baalke said on Wednesday. “Is he going to play? I don't know. That's for the doctors to make the decision on and for him himself."

The rationale for turning away from Manning could be the quarterback already at the helm of the franchise. No, that’s not a reference to free agent Alex Smith.

Jim Harbaugh is running the offense and he is doing it his way. He likes to have control, and keeping a signal caller like Smith as his starter ensures things will be done his way.

Manning, on the other hand, would want to be the field general and commander-in-chief when the 49ers have the ball. These two hardly seem likely to coexist. Manning may be better served playing for a defensive-minded head coach that doesn’t mind stepping on the toes of his offensive coordinator.

6. New York Jets

There are several issues with the New York Jets making a play for Manning. First, there is the minor issue of what to do with Mark Sanchez. He hasn’t stepped up to show he is a franchise quarterback, but so far the team is supportive of his future.

The other issues are just a bit bigger. The Jets are heavily cap-strapped. As good as they’ve been in the past, it eventually becomes difficult to keep pushing money into future years.

The Jets also have issues in the locker room. Instead of coming together following a rough season, players were pointing fingers and attempting to assign blame. Fact is, they lack talent at wide receiver and the team is simply headed in wrong direction. Adding Manning would just keep pushing them further down a bad path.

5. Denver Broncos

The biggest advantage for the Denver Broncos is they are in the easiest division of the supposed preferred conference. Tim Tebow managed to lead his team to an 8-8 record and the playoffs last season, so just imagine what Manning could do in the Mile High City.

The problem is, Tebow seems to be the guy in Denver. But even if John Elway is ready to bring in Manning, he lacks the receiving targets and elite defense he could find elsewhere.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

If Peyton Manning is intent on staying in the AFC, Kansas City might be the best place for him to land. There is an assertion that he’ll choose the Chiefs because of the similarities to Indianapolis. That won’t be an important factor for Manning. Neither will the weather concerns or playing outside.

The Chiefs have a solid defense, but will be making a few changes in the secondary. They have an elite wide receiver in Dwayne Bowe and should have one of the best runners in the game, Jamaal Charles, back in the lineup in 2012. They also have the salary cap room to make the move.

However, the team is in dire need of upgrading their offensive line. With the 11th pick in April, they should be able to grab a solid offensive tackle or the top guard in the draft, David DeCastro.

The other question is if the Chiefs are ready to turn away from Matt Cassel. There is talk they want to bring in Jason Campbell to push Cassel, but are they ready to basically burn their bridge with their 30-year-old passer? He has three years and a cap-friendly $22 million remaining on his six-year, $63 million contract.

3. Arizona Cardinals

What’s not to like with the Arizona Cardinals? They have a defense that is better than most realize, they are in a very warm climate and play in a stadium with a retractable roof that is open when the outside temperature is between 71 and 76 degrees…so basically never.

The biggest attraction with the Cardinals is Larry Fitzgerald. For my money, he’s the best wide receiver in the business and would have a field day with a quarterback like Manning. We'll try to ignore his fickle nature, as just last season he was lobbying heavily for Kevin Kolb.

Reports are that Manning's representatives have inquired about the Cardinals' real interest in signing him and that Manning is intrigued by joining Fitzgerald.

Sounds perfect, right? There are a few concerns in the desert, though. The team is thin with receiving options after Fitzgerald, even though that could be partially fixed by signing Reggie Wayne. They also lack an elite tight end, which is a position Manning values.

The biggest thing that will give Manning pause is that the Cardinals offensive line is one of the worst in football. They need two tackles and a guard, but as the links show, options in free agency are thin. They may be able to draft a left tackle, but the top three options could be gone by the time they pick.

As for Manning working for the Cardinals, they have one small issue to contend with. They signed Kolb to a multiple-year contract, and they still have financial ties to him in 2012. Some mention his pending $7 million roster bonus as a drop-dead date for making a decision, but his contract guarantees him $20 million.

The team will be paying him that money regardless, and releasing him will accelerate the $8 million in prorated signing bonus money into 2012. Either way, they could be facing over $25 million in cap costs at the position if they sign Manning.

2. Miami Dolphins

Much of the noise covering this story makes it sound as though this deal is already done.

There are reports that Manning wants to stay in the AFC and avoid cold weather as much as possible. He already has a home in South Beach, and the Dolphins offer a defense that is good enough to help make the team competitive.

The offensive talent has some appeal. Reggie Bush is a powerful draw, so long as he continues the resurgence of his career, and Brandon Marshall is a quality receiver. Throw in Reggie Wayne and there are a few targets for Manning.

Anthony Fasano leaves a bit to be desired at the tight end position, but that is an issue Manning might overlook. A bigger concern with the offense is the blockers; the Dolphins allowed the most sacks as a percent of drop backs in 2011.

Jake Long is the only quality blocker, although Mike Pouncey has potential. But Long is entering the final year of his contract, and a franchise tag in 2013 will cost them at least a $13.4 million.

There is another issue that follows the Dolphins. The same ownership that craves a high-profile free agent will also drive him away. The front office has been dysfunctional for several years, witnessed last offseason with the botched handling of Jim Harbaugh.

There is a real possibility that Manning won’t want to be tied up in that mess.

1. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are certainly one of the top teams that can make a run at Manning. They have a definite need to upgrade at quarterback and the cap room to make it happen. Rich Cimini reported the Seahawks will come out “checkbook blazing” to get Manning.

However, Pete Carroll’s team is typically summarily dismissed as soon as they are mentioned. Rationale for why Seattle isn’t a viable option is rarely given, but the prevailing belief is the remote geography and wet weather will keep Manning from considering the Seahawks as a viable option.

I find it difficult to believe that Manning will let an extra hour on a plane become an obstacle.

If he believes the Seahawks give him the best opportunity to win, weather will also lose importance as a factor. Besides, the amount of rain in Seattle is severely exaggerated. The Seahawks have averaged just one game of precipitation per season since CenturyLink Field opened.

A bigger weather concern is practice time. The team utilizes an indoor practice field on the beautiful shores of Lake Washington. It will be much easier for Manning to get and stay loose in the controlled climate of the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

He’d also be working with Stan Herring, one of the country's preeminent spine injury specialists. He’s also a member of the NFL's Head, Neck and Spine Committee.

Manning’s goal is to win a championship or three before he retires. When he does complete his team analysis, he’ll find that Seattle has one of the best young defenses in the NFL.

They sent three members of their secondary to the Pro Bowl, they have a talented run-stopping front-seven and most of their defensive stars are contracted for at least two more seasons.

They do need to replace two linebackers and add a pass-rushing defensive end, but they have options at those positions in free agency and the draft.

Seattle’s offense is largely underrated. Some analysts use their poor showing in 2011 as rationale for why Manning wouldn’t want to sign with the Seahawks. However, the primary issue is at the quarterback position.

A newly-signed Marshawn Lynch went to the Pro Bowl last season, and wide receiver Sidney Rice and tight end Zach Miller also have Pro Bowl talent. Seattle has several quality receivers with a great blend of speed and size.

With the expected addition of Reggie Wayne, Manning would be able to run a diverse, potent offense. Seattle has a promising young offensive line, but injuries have been an issue.

There is talent on the roster, and most players have several years left on their contracts. Lynch, Rice and Miller are all on contract through 2015. Most of their offensive linemen are signed for the next three seasons, which is a likely duration for Manning.

Carroll has also said he’s willing to adjust the offense to one suitable to Manning’s talents.

As for the overall quality of the team, they were fairly competitive in 2011. They notched solid wins over the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens.

Seattle ended with a 7-9 record, but they were either leading or within one score in the fourth quarter in eight of their nine losses. I do believe that good teams win those close games, but the team’s primary issue was at the quarterback position.

Tarvaris Jackson is the kind of quarterback that won’t lose a team many games, but he doesn’t win many, either. He led exactly zero fourth-quarter comebacks last season in six opportunities.

Fans in Miami and Arizona are erecting billboards to attract Manning. Perhaps it is time for the fans in Seattle to take it up a notch and rename some of their main attractions.

It could just be temporary, but imagine…Peyton Place Market (no, I don’t mind them removing my name from the venue). The overall region could be known as the Peyton Northwest, and the body of water next to CenturyLink Field could be changed to Peyton Sound.

In honor of how he can blow up a defense, the volcano could be renamed Mt. St. Mannings (which would also be a tip of the cap to his father, Archie, who will likely have a bit of a say in the elder son’s destination). Starbucks could even replace the mermaid with a Manning.

Now if only the team had a tie to Microsoft…