Peyton Manning Throwing, But Still Not Cleared To Practice

by Brad Wells on Dec 14, 2011 2:43 PM EST in 2011 Colts News

The news earlier today was indeed exciting, but let's temper things with a few dunks into the icy cold ocean known as 'reality.'

Peyton Manning is throwing the football. That's confirmed by the team, and it's on schedule with what Manning said he would do after he was cleared to 'ramp up' his rehab. It also seems likely he is doing this throwing in pads and with a helmet, and that the people he's throwing to are probably named Austin Collie and Dallas Clark.

However...

The reality is Peyton still has not been cleared to fully practice with the team. Is throwing to Clark and Collie considered 'practice?' Yes, in a way. I categorize it more as rehab, and Austin and Dallas are donating their time to assist Peyton in that rehab.

What it is NOT is Peyton back under center, conducting formal practices with the Colts No. 1 offense.

Again, it is very encouraging news to hear Peyton is throwing. He couldn't do that back in August. So, there is indeed improvement, and when you're the fan of a 0-13 team, you'll take any kind of positive news you can get.

The next Manning-related event we all hope to see in the coming weeks is his official return to the practice field, leading the No. 1 offense. That is what Manning has worked for all season. If he can do that, and if people see him zipping the ball around again, it will answer a lot of questions about his health and career going forward.

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Is it accurate to say he could not throw in August?

I don’t recall seeing any reports that he couldn’t throw, just that he was experiencing an unacceptable loss in velocity and some pain.

New Math: 2011-18 = 0-16

by EVLGNUS on Dec 14, 2011 3:00 PM EST reply actions

Well..

I think he threw with the low velocity before the neck fusion surgery, and then after that surgery he could not longer throw.. and I think the neck fusion took place in late august… soooooo… More or less :P

by icedude on Dec 14, 2011 3:08 PM EST reply actions

The latest surgery was September 9th,

but that was my point. Obviously he hasn’t thrown since the surgery, but was he not able to throw at all before just the surgery, or just throwing with less zip and more pain than was acceptable?

New Math: 2011-18 = 0-16

by EVLGNUS on Dec 14, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

I went to training camp in August

At mid day, they kicked everybody out. I was standing next to one of the trailers out of sight and watched PM throwing the ball to a few receivers. He seemed to be throwing with velocity and on the money. I only observed a few throws though until they booted me out.

by tlenker on Dec 14, 2011 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

Is there any thought that Manning is just in this for the upcoming bonus?

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 4:07 PM EST reply actions

really?

Have you even been following the Colts at all?

Yeah, that makes perfect sense with the fact that he signed for less money this last year. And with everything Peyton has done so far in his career.

by ColtsFanInTexas on Dec 14, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

You are a real fan, as I would expect, but let's step away from fandom for a moment

$28 million is a lot of money.

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

i think manning

is in this to win. i think he structured his salary this way so that if he didn’t recover in time, the team would have to make a decision on him or on the future, but likely not both.

by coltsfanbeforemanning on Dec 14, 2011 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

I agree, there is a decision. I also think that decision will revolve around that $28 million bonus. It's a lot of money for the team and for Manning.

Let’s say Manning isn’t 100% in three weeks time, when the Colts season is ending. I’m pretty sure, in those three weeks, he won’t be subjected to any contact. I’m not sure he will be subjected to any contact before March 8, for that matter. So, how sure can either the Colts or Manning be on March 8 that he is worth the $28 million bonus?

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

good question

I don’t know… but honestly unless the owner is on crack (which may be true), I can’t see him paying that much money to a guy who is coming off a pretty serious injury. Its a business afterall and I doubt sentimentalism will go very far if he gets hurt again next year and we are terrible and miss out on the next great QB.

Its really our pitiful team’s fault for putting the Colt’s in this position where we will likely be able to draft Luck.

by coltsfanbeforemanning on Dec 14, 2011 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

if my opinion matters

(and it really doesn’t), I would think Manning would want his team to be “all in” with him and not draft a QB so highly when those draft picks could be used to support him. Manning hasn’t been known to be a mentor or to even want to mentor. This is the guy who takes all the reps for first and second team and he has kicked out the kids from other Colts players from the hotel rooms because they were interfering with his ability to watch film.

Does this tell you that he wants to have somebody grilling him while watching film and somebody to share practice reps with?

by coltsfanbeforemanning on Dec 14, 2011 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

You answered that question. He wants to win and he won't let anyone stand in his way.

No doubt about that.

Then it comes to payday. Yes, he might have gone easy on the team when he negotiated his last contract. There is a fine line, even for Peyton Manning, how much can he take and how much should he leave for the rest of the team in order to be competitive.

So, on March 8, does Peyton Manning want that $28 million, even if he doesn’t know he can play effectively, without pain, with the Colts, and win? Because the only win situation on March 8 is the bonus. There is no game that day.

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

yep

But he actually did go easy… he could have asked for $20 – $25 million a year (which Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees will surely get).

He’s a union guy, he’s going to take enough money to make sure it doesn’t affect the market so that it doesn’t hurt his peers, but at the end of the day, yes I believe he will want that $28 million and no I don’t think he will restructure his contract.

by coltsfanbeforemanning on Dec 14, 2011 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

sorry more specific

his deal turns out to be $18 million a year, exactly the same as Brady. Peyton could have asked for up to $25 million and likely gotten it. He is actually the one that put in that $28 million roster bonus for himself so he could give the team the option to cut him if they saw fit, but if he’s coming back tot he Colts, he wants that money.

by coltsfanbeforemanning on Dec 14, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

You are answering my question, which I probably stated incorrectly, now that I look at it again

Of course, it’s not just money he cares about.

However, on March 8, $28 million is at stake. And as you state, he wants that money. On that date, there is still no way for the Colts or Manning to know if he will be healthy and ready to play in 2012. Not knowing if he will be healthy and ready in 2012, will he take the money?

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

he will take that money

99% chance that he takes that money if he comes back to the Colts. He took $23 million this year… and he’s not giving any of that back so I imagine he will take that full $28 million next year without question.

However, Peyton himself will know if he is 100% or not and if he isn’t, he will retire.

by coltsfanbeforemanning on Dec 14, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

and he keeps the $28 mill regardless?

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

no

if he isn’t healthy, he will retire before he makes the Colts cut him (aka not pay $28 million).

If he is healthy, and the Colts are willing to pay it, he will take that money. Guaranteed. And he should.

by coltsfanbeforemanning on Dec 14, 2011 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

In about 9 months we may know the rest of the story if they do give him the money

I’m almost predicting that the Colts ask him to take a physical before March 8. If he doesn’t meet their expectations, whatever that may be, they don’t give him the $28 million. If he meets their expectations, they give him the $28 million and they try to trade the top pick. If they go with Manning, they try to improve the team around him for the near future, expecting to have him lead the team for the next 3 years minimum.

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

What I meant by the rest of the story in 9 months:

He may pass a physical and the team might give him the $28 million, but we may still find out 9 months from now when he is tested in a preseason game if he is truly healed.

"All our lives we're taught to get in line. The ones who conform never discover." - Undrafted Free Agent and NFL Rushing Leader Arian Foster

by Rip Jersey on Dec 14, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

I strongly disagree with this

Is throwing to Clark and Collie considered ‘practice?’ Yes, in a way. I categorize it more as rehab, and Austin and Dallas are donating their time to assist Peyton in that rehab.

Should read – “Austin and Dallas are sick and tired of having shitty balls thrown their way, so they decided to treat themselves to a handicapped Peyton Manning”

"No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive"

by Z.Pain on Dec 14, 2011 4:54 PM EST reply actions 9 recs

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand

Recced.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.

by Brad Wells on Dec 14, 2011 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

wrecked

Whenever you get stressed, always remember: RDWHAHB

by danorocks17 on Dec 14, 2011 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

It's good news for a change and I for one welcome it !!!!

by RvHauler1 on Dec 14, 2011 5:00 PM EST reply actions

Dude,

If he just started throwing, I doubt that he is firing the ball yet. Plus they’ll need the day after to see whether he has any soreness the day after. I am sure they have a step by step rehab that will be followed to the letter. Unless there is a published rehab procedure out there somewhere, anything other than what is published via the team, or Peyton himself is conjecture and not worth speculating on. I would expect it to be at the very least a few days to a week before he is taking snaps in practice.

by tim55 on Dec 14, 2011 5:08 PM EST reply actions