Irsay says will draft QB even if Manning healthy...

not even sure he will be healthy by march so who knows

IMO they still need a QB, before the season started and it look like Manning might play I thought they should go after Nick Foles out of Arizona. He is the most underrated QB in this draft but is not worth the top overall pick when Luck or Griffin are there.

Release Manning so that he can sign with the Jets or Ravens a few hours later (presuming that he is healthy) with the Colts getting nothing in return? No, Irsay is not going to do such a thing.

The idea that they’ll have to release Manning because of finances is nonsense. The rookie cap means that Luck’s contract will pay him $23 million over 4 years. The Colts can easily structure that deal in a way that allows them to retain both QBs for a season, or even 2. Cam Newton got $14 million in year one, but will get $1.4 million in year two. The Colts can simply reverse it … give Luck $2 million in year 1 to sit on the bench, and $15 million in year 2 when he becomes starter. Or they can just pay him $5.75 million for the next 4 years … it doesn’t matter. Either way, it is not an issue that is going to cause Luck to hold out over, because he gets the same amount of money regardless. Plus despite what Archie Manning claims, Luck is perfectly willing to ride the pine behind Manning on a team that (barely) won 2 games last year, and will be bringing in a whole new coaching staff and front office.

They also won’t have to do so because Manning is unhappy either. Manning is under contract: he can either play or retire. The Colts have already stated that if Manning plays in 2012, it will be for the Colts or nobody. The best scenario would be for Manning to get a clean bill of health from the doctors (both the Colts and a second opinion) and throws for 4200 yards and 30 TDs with a 93 passer rating and puts up an 8-8 record (enough to generate the consensus opinion that the Colts would have made the playoffs with a stronger supporting cast). Not a league MVP type year, but one good enough to where the Colts could get a couple of 1st round picks (or at worst a 1st and a 3rd rounder) from a team that fancies itself as being a QB away from contender.

That would be in everyone’s best interests. It isn’t in Manning’s best interests to remain with the Colts, who are 3 years away from contending for anything beyond an AFC South title. And it isn’t in the Colts’ best interests to release Manning when they can get something – indeed something substantial – for him. And it isn’t in the best interests of Manning’s reputation and legacy to react poorly to the Colts’ doing what is best for the long term interests of the organization, especially since the organization has done A LOT for Manning.

pick up Manning’s $28 million dollar option and trade him after one year they will have a cap hit of over $30 million. Not going to happen.

I agree Peyton’s definitely a goner. The Colts will have to figure out some way to make this work financially. Cutting him would be stupid since you don’t get anything in return for the GREATEST player to ever play the Qb position (in my opinion). It is going to hurt see Peyton go but things need to be done for the future since the Colts have ZERO chance of winning an SB right now (will prob get to playoffs with Manning – considering he has already done it before). The Colts should trade Manning (maybe get 2 1s or 1 1 and 2 2s) and get Luck and look to the future since there is no present right now.

but he can’t be traded. If the Colts don’t pick up the $28 million option he will be released and they will take a cap hit and he will be a free agent. If they pick up the option and he is traded the cap hit to the Colts will be over $30 million. They won’t do that.
If healthy, which I don’t think he is, the most likely scenario is the Colts refusing the option and he signs an incentive laden deal with the Colts or another team.

because you never pass on a franchise qb. i have been saying it for months