Why Peyton Manning's Injury Could Be a Good Thing for Indianapolis Colts

News came out that Peyton Manning, the heart and soul of the Indianapolis Colts, would be out for at least the first game of the season. At first glance, a person would notice Manning's consecutive starts would stop on Sunday at 227, 70 short of Brett Favre's all-time record.

Manning means everything to the Colts—no team has been so dependent on one player in NFL history. First off, Indianapolis has one of the most complex playbooks in the NFL, and Manning has all the responsibility to make sure everything is running at top speed. Whether it's making checks or calling an audible, Manning is completely in charge of the offense in a way no other player is.

Manning sets the tone for the Indianapolis Colts team and is the face of the team. Where Peyton Manning goes, the Colts go. When Manning fails, so do the Colts. I can't even fully comprehend what the Colts would be without Manning.

Now, I wouldn't be making such hubbub about this if Manning would only be out for one game. However, today I read an article that gave me goosebumps. It basically said Manning would not be out only one game, but the entire season after undergoing another neck surgery.

My immediate reaction to this news was this was the absolute worst news possible for the Indianapolis Colts. How bad would this team be without its leader, Manning? What talent does Indianapolis have other than Manning? The only other players capable of making a Pro Bowl are Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Dwight Freeney, who are all declining in skill. The backup to Manning: newly signed 38-year-old Kerry Collins, who came out of retirement to join the Colts.

When I asked one of my friends what they thought of the article, they responded by saying "0-16 lol." This was meant as a joke, but it could turn out to be the truth.

Let's take a look at the Colts' schedule this season, assuming Manning is out for the year. The Colts will have the third most difficult schedule based on 2010 records (.520 winning percentage)

at Houston—LOSS

vs. Cleveland—LOSS

vs. Pittsburgh—LOSS

at Tampa Bay—LOSS

vs. Kansas City—LOSS

at Cincinnati—toss-up (WIN)

at New Orleans—LOSS

at Tennessee—LOSS

vs. Atlanta—LOSS

vs. Jacksonville—toss-up (LOSS)

BYE

vs. Carolina—LOSS

at New England—LOSS

at Baltimore—LOSS

vs. Tennessee—LOSS

vs. Houston—LOSS

at Jacksonville LOSS

This brings the record to 1-15, which I project to be tied with Cincinnati, with Indianapolis getting the worst record because of Cincinnati's head-to-head win.

Herein lies the positive of Peyton Manning missing the season: the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft and the right to pick Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

Manning is getting up in age at 37 and doesn't have many years left as the Colts' signal caller. Indianapolis hasn't done much to prepare to replace Manning when the time comes, investing only a sixth-round pick in Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter. And although Painter is going on his third year on the Colts, they have shown no confidence in him, evidenced by the signing of Collins.

Luck is the highest rated player in the past several drafts and has the entire package as a player. If anyone was creating a perfect quarterback, Luck would be the product: He has mobility, arm strength, accuracy, smarts and a will to win. Luck has been compared by many to Peyton Manning, and no one would be a better candidate to replace Manning than Luck. 

One year of losing for the Colts would be well worth it for at least 10 years of stellar play by Luck.