Colts 2011 Preview: How Long Can Peyton Carry the Team on His Shoulders?

Peyton Manning came into the NFL as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. Since he has put on a Colts jersey, he has been asked to be the man in Indy. Battling through a treacherous 3-13 season his rookie year, Manning used that season as a learning curve, and turned the Colts into a perennial power house the following season with the greatest improvement in one season to the next—leading the Colts to a 13-3 record and ultimately the best record at 115-45, (71.9 percent winning percentage) for any team, in any decade in NFL history from 2000-2009, including nine postseason appearances, four MVP awards ('03, '04, '08, '09) one Super Bowl ring ('06) and another Super Bowl appearance in 2009 (lost to the Saints).

Over that span Manning has also set numerous passing records, and maybe the most impressive stat, has never missed a start in his 13-year NFL career, solidifying himself as a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, and one of the greatest players of all-time—if not the greatest.

But how long can Peyton Manning keep this up? How long can he put the Indianapolis Colts on his shoulders and carry them through a 16-game regular season and deep into the playoffs?

These are questions that will be tested and answered more than ever in the 2011-2012 season. Manning is coming off his second neck surgery, and he is now 35 years old. He just came off a season last year in which he was hit and sacked more then ever since his rookie year.

He had a young, inexperienced offensive line, and an ungodly amount of injuries on both sides of the ball last season, which didn't help make life easier, especially considering two of his main targets into the playoffs were overachievers—WR Blair White, an undrafted rookie free-agent out of Michigan State, and TE Jacob Tamme, a fifth-round pick in his second year out of Kentucky.

The following is a list of Colts starters and key reserves who missed time due to injury last season.

Offensive Starters and Key Reserves to Miss Time in 2010

Starters (as of Week 1)

-RB Joseph Addai (9 games)

-RB Donald Brown (3 games)

-WR Austin Collie (7 games)

-WR Pierre Garcon (2 games)

-TE Dallas Clark (8 games)

-TE Brody Eldridge (2 games)

-OL Johnson (1 game)

-OL Richard (2 games)

-OL Muir (2 games)

 Key Reserves

-WR Anthony Gonzalez (14 games)

-RB Mike Hart (8 games)

-TE Tom Santi (IR)

Defensive Starters and Key Reserves to Miss Time in 2010

Starters (as of Week 1)

-S Bob Sanders (15 games)

-LB Clint Session (11 games)

-CB Jerraud Powers (6 games)

-CB Kelvin Hayden (5 games)

-LB Gary Brackett (4 games)

-DB Jacob Lacey (4 games)

Key Reserves

-CB Justin Tryon (4 games)

-S Marvin Bullit (12 games)

-KR Devin Moore (12 games)

-LB Kavell Conner (4 games)

For the first time since his rookie year, Peyton looked out of place. His timing was off with his receivers and backs, mostly because he was handing the ball off or throwing to a different guy every play.

It wasn't the presence or confidence we've seen Peyton display, commanding this previously unstoppable fire-power offense over the past decade. It was not his fault.

Peyton Manning took a beaten and bruised team to the playoffs once again before losing to the New York Jets 17-16 on a last-second field goal by Nick Folk. To even take this team to the playoffs is a mystery in itself.

With the number of injuries the Colts sustained in 2010, no other QB could have come close to accomplishing what Manning did with what he had to work with (with the exception of Tom Brady in NE and Philip Rivers in SD). Not only did the offensive injuries take a toll on Manning, but the defensive and special teams ones did as well.

How many times did Peyton Manning start inside his own 20-yard line? I'd say over 50 percent. This put more weight on Peyton’s shoulders to go the length of the field with an already beaten up team time and time again.

Peyton has been accustomed to starting deep in his own territory, mostly because the Colts have NEVER had a decent kick returner. You're going to sit here and tell me that there isn't a guy off the street (ex former truck diver turned all-pro Michael Lewis from the New Orleans Saints in years past) for example, that can't get on the field and get the team some decent field position? It's time for the colts front office to start giving Peyton some help, and that help needs to start now.

Every year in free agency the Colts go quietly. Sometimes re-signing players, sometimes having players go for way more money then they are worth (ex Dominic Rhodes to the Raiders, $33 million; Brandon Stokely, Broncos; Marcus Pollard, $22 million from Detroit) just to name a few.

I understand the Colts and GM Bill Pollian have always built through the draft, and it has worked. That's fine, but eventually you are going to have to go out and sign a Ronnie Brown (signed with Philly) or a Lee Evans (signed last week by the Ravens).

These are all-pro type players who signed with Super Bowl contending teams for less money. They are low risk because if they don't work out you can cut them, and high reward if they reach their potential, which Peyton has always and shown he can provide for his teammates.

Bottom line is Peyton Manning is the entire Colts Organization. If he goes down, the Colts are back to their 3-13 ways. He is the QB, the head coach, the offensive coordinator, the franchise. It is time to give the man some help through free-agency and take a load off his shoulders.

The Super Bowl is in Indy this year in February, and Peyton just inked a new deal making him a Colt for life. What better way for the Colts to further reward Peyton and show their appreciation for an unprecedented career by adding a couple weapons before Week 1 to get them back to hoisting that prized Lombardi Trophy.