Why Colts Fans Shouldn't Worry About Signing Kerry Collins

Colts fans I know started freaking out when Kerry Collins was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. If the Colts signed a veteran QB that must mean Peyton Manning's rehab is taking longer than expected and won't be able to take the field in Week 1.

As well, most of the media has assumed the same thing. Chris Mortensen even came out and said that he has sources that say the Colts organization doesn't believe Peyton Manning will make it on opening day.

I have to ask, does anyone actually think Manning will miss a game this season? The guy hasn't missed a start in his entire career, and I'm sure that's going to continue this year. I want to explain why, I think, Peyton Manning will start (and play) Week 1, and how the Kerry Collins signing is a good move by the Colts.

Manning's Injury:

Do you know how many snaps Manning has missed due to injury in his entire 14-year career? Once, in 2001 after the Miami Dolphins broke his jaw. He missed one snap, then came back in with a broken jaw and continued playing.

I don't see a man, who endured a broken jaw, missing a game because his neck isn't fully healed. No matter your opinion of the man, he's tough as hell.

In fact, after the injury, Manning was more worried about simple things like eating instead of the fact that he would be playing in a full contact sport, likely to make his broken jaw hurt worse, or worsen the condition.

Playing through the pain didn't seem to trouble him as much as figuring out how he was going to eat properly.

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"I can't eat any solid food, just milkshakes, things like that," Manning said yesterday, struggling to talk a day after the injury. "But I've got to try and maintain my diet."

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Again, does anyone see this guy missing a game?

Kerry Collins Signing:

I have another question for the people out there, do you know who the Colts backup quarterbacks are? The current quarterbacks on the roster are: Mike Hartline, Peyton Manning, Dan Orlovsky and Curtis Painter.

Of those quarterbacks, the quarterback with the highest QB rating is Dan Orlovsky with 75.4. Dan Orlovsky may be best remembered for running out of the back of the end zone. Would you trust that guy with your offense?

Meanwhile, Kerry Collins had a 82.2 QB rating on a poor Titans team last year. He also had 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Though he only had a 57.6% completion rate, he's not expected to be elite, just better than what the Colts had.

As for those saying this isn't a Colts organization move, I seem to remember the Colts drafting a pass rusher in the first round of the 2010 draft as an insurance measure. This is a move that is a win-win for the Colts and Kerry Collins.