Colts Make Offer To Peyton Manning

by Collin McCollough on Jan 23, 2011 2:01 PM EST in News

Credit to radtad for first linking this story in a FanPost. According to Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, the Colts have met face-to-face with Peyton Manning and presented a contract proposal to their Pro Bowl quarterback.

According to sources, the offer (unsurprisingly) is more lucrative than the four-year, $72 million dollar (with $48.5 million guaranteed) contract offered to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. We already assumed that would be the case, as is evidenced by this article.

Reportedly, Colts president Bill Polian is attempting to offer Manning a deal based around a five-year time frame that would allow the Colts the financial flexibility to surround Manning with some significant free agent talent. To quote ESPN:

Sources say team president Bill Polian presented a pitch Thursday that the Colts want more cash flow to build the talent around Manning with a more aggressive offseason that could include a few key free agent signings. Even though the Colts will remain a franchise that builds around the draft, they have signed just four free agents since Manning signed his last $98 million contract in 2004.

If the Colts can come to an agreement with Manning and if a new collective bargaining agreement is in fact negotiated, we very well could see an unusual offseason sight in Indianapolis: a free agent spending spree. It's worth noting, in that case, that there are a few high profile free agents that will potentially be available on the open market in some Indianapolis areas of need, included but not limited to: Patriots guard Logan Mankins, Cowboys tackle Doug Free, Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and Baltimore safety Dawan Landry.

The team is working with a March 3 deadline to get this deal done, so look for an announcement sometime in February. Manning will be the league's highest-paid quarterback -- for how long is anyone's guess -- but key to this contract will be literature. The Colts will have to structure it so that it allows them to add some pieces to compliment Manning and set the team up for some serious title runs down the home stretch of Manning's illustrious career.

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Finally

If we do get a deal like that we could return to champion form. But besides Oline we need to improve our defensive strategy and get more aggressive in the run game

{ ZuKeO}

by BobInBlue on Jan 23, 2011 2:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions

This is music to my ears.

Exactly what I want to hear from Bill Polian.
Do what is needed to win Bill…don’t be afraid!!!

by DFree on Jan 23, 2011 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Beastly combo

Patriots guard Logan Mankins, Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane

COLTSFTW

by Nathan Brummett on Jan 23, 2011 2:21 PM EST reply actions

I would love Mankins, but you are talking big bucks and I don't think they'll do it.

I could see someone like Mebane though.

by strandedincarolina on Jan 23, 2011 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

After the Jets ran over and through every inside O-lineman the Pats had who wasn't Logan Mankins...

I doubt they’d let him go now. He’s clearly head and shoulders above the other inside guys and having a sub-par replacement would just get him killed in a division full of 3-4 defences with scary Nose Tackles.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Jan 24, 2011 12:48 AM EST up reply actions

they may

they don’t likem to pay Bellichoke is a tight wad

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Jan 24, 2011 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

He will for key players

Brady got paid before Manning did with the highest contract in NFL history; Wilfork is the highest-paid NT in the league. He just doesn’t overpay particular positions; the ‘cheapness’ thing is really a myth. If the player is irreplaceable, the Pats will pay. If they can draft a replacement for cheaper, bye-bye.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Jan 24, 2011 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

Wonderful news...

It’s good to hear Polian at least mentioning free agents. He NEVER even suggests that anyone out there could help the team. A new leaf?? Chris putting his stamp on things a little more? Makes me wonder.

Bleedin' Blue for as long as I can remember. Can you believe we get to be fans while our team has the greatest QB of all time?!?!?!

by emiller17 on Jan 23, 2011 2:34 PM EST reply actions

so...

does this mean Curtis Painter will be forced to ride the pine ONCE AGAIN!!!?!?!?!?

come on, its time to turn the page and look to the future.

by Jamison1 on Jan 23, 2011 2:58 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

I have never been so frightened by a post as I was when I saw Jamison suggest this...

Lets go do what we do.

by Coltsince89 on Jan 24, 2011 10:04 AM EST up reply actions

don't worry

I never want to look to the future with this team. I don’t want to think about Peyton not playing. maybe when he gets too old, we can robocop him and keep sending him out there as part cyborb.

by Jamison1 on Jan 24, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

but would not hurt to have a backup who can do something like the 3rd string QB for the

Bears just as insurance cause you know if yoiu have the insurance you won’t need it but if you do not have it eventually you will wish u had it

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Jan 24, 2011 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I’ll believe it when it actually happens,., What did you expect Polian to say?

He knows without Manning this team will end up like the Jaguars.

He’s like that sleazy used car salesman that tells you what you want to hear but you really know you can’t trust him in the slightest.

by CF4L on Jan 23, 2011 3:07 PM EST reply actions

I don't know how sleazy Bill or Chris Polian may be . . . . .

. . . .and I really, seriously doubt if a class act like Jim Irsay would ever tolerate sleaze of any nature in his organization. What I DO believe, however, is that Irsay has a calendar somewhere in his office, and he fully comprehends the precious few seasons left in Peyton’s career and that the window is indeed closing. So, I will bet the ranch that he tossed BP his wallet and told him emphatically to do whatever the hell it takes . . .just put more than enough talent around Peyton to make a run for the ages! Use free agency where best utilized, and the draft to fill in and add depth. Plus, with the guys we have coming back off of injuries . . . .this team might be absolutely LOADED the next couple years. Keep John Elway’s Farewell Tour in mind, then kick it up a notch! Like Emeril !

by oldecoltsfan on Jan 23, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

You Might Add...

I agree, but on Irsay’s calendar, there is a special notation
on February 5th, 2012, which says: “Note to self-win Super Bowl
on home field”. This extra incentive, added on to the possibility of
no cap next year, could cause a serious buying spree. After all,
how many chances in your life do you get to stick your tongue out
in public at Jerry Jones?

by Ufansince65 on Jan 23, 2011 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah real classy to call the fans losers for calling you out for throwing away a possible perfect season in 2009. Also throwing the O-Line under the bus and yet doing nothing to fix it either I might add. I’ll believe it when I see it I hope they prove me wrong but I’m not expecting it.

Bill’s always been full of it.

by CF4L on Jan 24, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

I will grant you the lack of class aspect, CF4L

But, there is a huge difference between stupid public relations blunders and being downright sleazy. Just sayin’. Polian is not sleazy, that was my point. And, that Irsay would banish him if he was.

by oldecoltsfan on Jan 24, 2011 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

I don't believe that Polian called fans "losers"

It was my impression that Polian said that fans don’t know nearly as much about football as the professionals. I could be wrong of course, but that was my impression.

Peyton Manning= Better.

by JesusNinja13 on Jan 24, 2011 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

that was disappointing

called out the O Line and it was worse this year!!!! bad letting Lilja go and bad letting Scott go before him

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Jan 24, 2011 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

Also, Nnamdi Asomugha and Jared Gaither.

We rise. They fall.
Proud to have my own tag on KSK
http://monkeybiziu.deviantart.com

by MonkeyBusiness on Jan 23, 2011 4:40 PM EST reply actions

Yea !!!!

I hope its true. Its the only way to improve in a short period of time. We get 1 or 2 known players on O-Line , same on D—Line, L B, or safety and kill the injury bug, we’re back in the hunt BIGTIME!!!!!!!! These comments have been made many times by alot of posters this year. Maybe someone in the Colts finally sees the reality of the situation ?

by RvHauler1 on Jan 24, 2011 7:56 AM EST reply actions

@ Ufansince65

You are spot on right !! I had the same thought after submitting the above comments.
But, for certain, the prospect of playing and winning next Super Bowl at the House that Peyton built is incentive enough to pull out all the stops. Great point !

by oldecoltsfan on Jan 24, 2011 8:54 AM EST reply actions

This is good news

Does having extra cash for free agency mean that Peyton’s contract will be loaded with incentives based on post season success? It sounds like a trade off: like less guaranteed money, in exchange for some first class linemen and a headhunting safety.

by caldwellmotivatesME on Jan 24, 2011 9:09 AM EST reply actions

Manning's the Man

Manning has proved his worth! Now is the time to offer a contract load with guaranteed money so the colts can…Sign/Draft the lineman needed to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Sign/Draft (1) Strong, Tall and Fast receiver (like a Calvin Johnson) manning needs to counter the defensive backs that were drafted to counter Peyton’s passing abilities. Garcon is OK but his hands don’t work sometimes. Manning is at his best when the Colts can run the football and are able to manipulate the defense with play action passes. He can freeze the bast of linebackers and DB’s.

by team colts on Jan 24, 2011 9:31 AM EST reply actions