Jim Irsay Has Reportedly Seen Peyton Manning Throw And Is 'Pleased'

by Brad Wells on Feb 9, 2012 12:12 PM EST in Colts News

Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz said Tuesday on the Tony Kornheiser Show that Peyton Manning currently has a "noodle arm."

"They say he’s not throwing like an NFL quarterback yet. That doesn’t mean he never will. This thing is going to take time. Structurally, he’s sound. Structurally, he can take a hit."

Today, Dave Furst, Sports Director at WRTV-6 (ABC) in Indianapolis, says he has spoken to Jim Irsay, and that Irsay is "pleased" with how well Manning is throwing.

Fresh #JimIrsay on #Peyton coming up at 5 @rtv6. Says moving March 8th deadline being discussed. Saw 18 workout and is pleased. #Colts
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) February 1, 2012

Now, my initial skepticism of Furst's tweet was in regards to the word 'workout.' A 'workout' is very different than 'throwing.' Peyton can run, do jump jacks, and all that sort of stuff now that his neck is stable. The issue is his arm.

Later on Furst, got some clarification on what the 'workout' might have entailed:

@LovinBlue Peyton's agent confirmed today that moving date was possible. Irsay says hes seen him throw...
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) February 3, 2012

Again, I still see no direction connection between Irsay seeing Peyton 'throw' and him being 'pleased' with the throws, and even in that there could be some subjective speculation. Peyton might be throwing ducks out there, and that might 'please' Irsay because it makes the seemingly inevitable decision of cutting Peyton that much more obvious.

I've reached out to Dave and asked for further confirmation.

All of us want to see Peyton back and playing at a high level in 2012. However, seemingly conflicting stories like the Kravitz and Furst reports are going to be common until we see Peyton throw in a real game.

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Comments

This is bullshit.

I really doubt this. If Peyton was throwing well, peyton, his agent, his dad and everyone he knows would be SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS about it.

by coltsgolfbeer on Feb 9, 2012 12:15 PM EST reply actions

Eli said he was good to go that could mean anything

I do think that it is rather vague as to what exactly is pleasing Irsay. He could be pleased that Manning isn’t throwing NFL caliber and finds it much easier to cut him.

by CF4L on Feb 9, 2012 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

I wait with baited breath. Conjecture be damned.

Now I lay me down to sleep, please make Peyton healthy and stay with the Colts. Thereby making everything right in the world.

by tim55 on Feb 9, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions 9 recs

Apparently Mort was on the radio

and said something about the Colts being the favorites to keep Peyton, I did not hear this though. Can anybody confirm this?

by Tony Ugoh on Feb 9, 2012 12:27 PM EST reply actions

He's signed with us

And wants to stay. So based on that, I will confirm

i don't give autographs

by muncie_in_this on Feb 11, 2012 12:10 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

Moving the date past the start of the League year (March 13th) could have salary cap implications

Off-season roster bonuses follow different cap rules than in-season roster bonuses. There are exceptions (I wouldn’t be surprised if Manning’s contract was exceptional, considering the size and status of the player involved), but pushing the date past the start of the league year could open up a new can of salary cap worms, so to speak.

It’s really complicated stuff, to say the least. I dug a little into the semantics of each type of bonus and how they could be used to maneuver and manipulate cap space, and there are no absolutes. Every contract is different and each player’s situation is unique. It’s close to impossible to know the implications without seeing the exact language of the deal.

I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.

by BoilerUp1982 on Feb 9, 2012 12:28 PM EST reply actions

I Think That They Would Have Until June 1 To Fish Or Cut Bait On That Contract

Teams generally release veterans in March as a favor to them in order to maximize their ability to find the best deals in free agency. (It also minimizes resentment with the players on your team on how their old teammates were treated.)

The real issue with delaying the decision is that the Colts need to be making their draft/free agency plans. If they take Luck, then logically picks 2-7 would mean getting as much talent (OL etc.) to surround the kid with so that he will be able to stay upright and have a chance. The same is true of free agents: letting Manning go would perhaps free up the cap room to keep Reggie Wayne around for a season or three to play with the young QB.

But if they keep Manning – and hammer the salary cap in the process – then they have no choice but to release veterans, try to leverage Luck into as many picks as possible (Cleveland has two #1 picks and no QB, so there is a place to start) and rebuild the team for one last Super Bowl run with Manning 2-3 years from now.

Another issue: Luck and Manning are different QBs. I am not certain that Luck would be as effective in a team built/rebuilt around Manning. The best way to maximize the chances of winning a Super Bowl with Luck is to build the team around his skills and game. The same is true of Manning: holding onto Manning while building around Luck for the future would impede any chance that Manning has of winning a Super Bowl. At Stanford, Luck succeeded in a power-running, play-action offense that is very similar to what the Giants did with Eli Manning in 2007, and what the Steelers did with Ben Roethslisberger before Arians was the OC. Why stick Luck in a Manning offense, or why make Manning play in a Luck offense?

Taking RG3 would solve some of these issues, as RG3 didn’t play in a pro-style offense in college and would have to learn a system either way. But Luck is a better prospect than RG3, and winning Super Bowls – or winning more Super Bowls – long term is more likely if you take the best guy now and go with him instead of taking the 2nd best guy because he can coexist with the current guy.

Bottom line: Manning is going to be gone in 5 seasons max, and as early as 3 seasons. A lot of fans don’t want to face that reality, but Irsay has to.

by an_auburn_fan on Feb 9, 2012 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

RG3

If Cam Newton hadn’t gone apeshit this season, would we even be considering RG3? How much did RG3 rely on his legs? Aaron Rodgers is about as mobile as I think is necessary. The injury risks are just too great with the size and speed of LB’s these days. Those hits will add up on Cam…

by SmallMarketBigPlays on Feb 9, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

different between RG3 and Cam...

Is that Cam is a big dude. Cam Newton has 3 inches and 30 pounds on RG3. Those hits are going to impact Robert a heck of a lot more than on Cam.

by JCub3d on Feb 9, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

The other difference

IS RG3 isnt purely a runner QB, he thinks to throw first. Cam is a runner through and through.

RG3 had more passing yards and passing TD’s then Luck this year

Go Blue!

Revenue - Expenses = Profit

by dezznutz1001 on Feb 9, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

UMM

Cam being a runner really put a damper on his yardage this year…oh wait he broke the rookie record with over 4000 yards passing.

by Bradman721 on Feb 9, 2012 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

Where did you get this from?

I think you are confusing Cam Newton with Tim Tebow.

Cam does both fantastically… this is why people are enamored with RG3, but I see RG3 missing games every season because he is going to get beat up just like Vick.

by JCub3d on Feb 9, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

He Doesn't Run Like Vick

First off, RG3 runs like a track guy … straight line with little change of direction, vision or instinct. Vick runs like an RB … like Marshall Faulk used to. Because RG3 won’t be nearly as effective as a runner as Vick, he is going to be forced to rely primarily on the passing game, meaning that he will run less, run AWAY from defenders when he does run instead of towards them like Vick (and Steve McNair) and take fewer hits.

Second, Vick runs like that because he has to … he can’t run an NFL offense because of his lack of height, accuracy, ability to run the playbook/read defenses/go through progressions. Even though he is playing more like a QB in Philadelphia than he did in Atlanta, he still has no chance unless he is a QB/RB hybrid. But RG3 doesn’t have those limitations, and can play the position properly.

Where without 4.3 speed Vick would probably be selling insurance right now (not a bad job!), Robert Griffin III is still a very good college player and NFL draft prospect were he a pocket passer (Baylor runs the shotgun-spread, but you get my drift) who couldn’t run a lick.

by an_auburn_fan on Feb 9, 2012 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

RG3 Rarely Relied On His Legs

RG3 only ran a little bit more in 2011 than Andrew Luck did in 2010. RG3 is a passing QB. The only issue with him is that Baylor didn’t run a pro-style offense. Instead, they ran a shotgun spread offense that didn’t require him to make NFL throws and reads (whatever that means) very often. And the fact that RG3 only had one great season where Luck had 1 very good season and 2 great ones.

Doesn’t matter anyway. I already stated why Luck makes much more sense than RG3.

by an_auburn_fan on Feb 9, 2012 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

Actually...

this is a misconception. I am giant Luck fan, but in doing some research, I found out that the 3 full years they played, their overall numbers were almost identical. So if Luck had 3 good years, RG3 did too. The numbers are there, you can see for yourself.

by drkato9 on Feb 9, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions

Numbers Are Misleading

Andrew Luck played in a rather conservative, run-oriented, pro-style offense that really wasn’t conducive to putting up monster stats. (For instance, he only had 161 yards against Washington this year because his team had an unreal 450 rushing yards!) Robert Griffin III – of whom I am a huge fan as you can tell – played in a shotgun spread offense where he had a lot of chances to put up garbage yards, like his 33 completions for 425 yards in a 59-24 (really 49-3 when they called off the dogs) against Oklahoma State.

With spread QBs you have to look at their ability to win close games, especially against teams with equal or better talent, and also consistency, or close to it. RG3 didn’t take the step from being an exciting player who puts up big numbers to being a guy who regularly makes plays to win games (both during games to swing momentum and at the end of games to win them) until this season. Maybe that knee injury set him back in terms of learning some of the intricacies of the position, but things are what they are.

As much as I prefer RG3 personally – and I was following the kid before he became a star as I do kinda sorta pay attention to Baylor, the “Protestant Notre Dame” (I know, insert joke here) – Luck is the better player and pro prospect.

by an_auburn_fan on Feb 9, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Right, June 1st could also be a cut-off date, but we don't know for sure without reading the contract - which will never happen

I do know that once the league year starts, roster bonuses and signing bonuses are fundamentally changed in how they an affect the salary cap. Off-season and in-season bonuses affect the cap differently, so whether or not we cut him by March 8th or June 1st cold matter significantly.

I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.

by BoilerUp1982 on Feb 9, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

i disagree auburn fan

not taking luck is foolish no matter who is on the roster

by omahacolt on Feb 9, 2012 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

the fact you say it's foolish means absolutely nothing and that auburn might have a point.

fan boys like you hype this kid up so much he’s going to crush under the weight of being manning’s successor.

by BigMan74 on Feb 9, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

wrong

i am not hyping him up. just stating that we need a qb and he is the best qb coming out this year.

so not taking him when given the opportunity is foolish. football 101 big guy

by omahacolt on Feb 10, 2012 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

I'm an RG3 fan and I think he will be a star

But Luck is the better prospect and is pro ready…RG3 needs to sit a year or two because he didn’t play in a pro style. If Luck gets signed quickly and comes into all of the camps and establises rapport with WRs I think He will come in day one and probably put up 20-24TDs 16-20 INTs And throw for 3500 yds as a rookie…

Remember he will likely have Garçon Collie and Tamme who are established legit starters and have played in big games and made plays. If he has Clark also that’s even better as he still has some gas in the tank. It’s not like a typical 2-14 team that’s completely talentless…With a respectable QB they would have been a 6-7 win team last season. They are not a SB contender but not the worst in the league talent wise…

Cam is different and the exception not the rule. He is 6’6 250 an built like a tank…he is the only guy that can run like that and hold up…I think Cam could be a football Michael Jordan once he masters the mental aspect and I think he will win multiple SBs if Carolina surrounds him with talent via the draft…

RG isn’t Cam…he is more of an Aaron Rodgers type. I’m not saying he will be as good but he has a similar skill set IMO…

I think Luck RG3 an Cam are all going to be legit franchise QBs in 4-5 years and will bump into each other a lot in the playoffs downstream

by (206)NightRidah on Feb 10, 2012 7:13 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

And all of the fans that cant fathom another QB in Indy...

Y’all need to get the hell over it…because the NFL was great when Peyton was a little kid watching his pops…it will go on after Peyton is retired and a VP or announcer.

The Colts are not going to contract because Manning is injured and had to be cut. Therefore you go and get the best QB you can get. We all wanted to see Manning make another run or two at a ring but lets not be stupid and downgrade Luck.

Virtually everyone that has seen him in the business says he is an elite once a decade type of prospect. Does that mean he can’t fail? No, but it means that he is likely going to be very good if not great

I think the 13-14 win seasons were over but I think he may have taken a 9-10 win team and got hot and won another one…but that probably ain’t gonna happen so we should be glad a good prospect has fallen to us. Many teams are patchwork at QB for 15-20 years

by (206)NightRidah on Feb 10, 2012 7:22 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I don't think Irsay would say he's "pleased" at seeing Manning struggle to throw

He’s eccentric, not sadistic.

I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.

by BoilerUp1982 on Feb 9, 2012 12:42 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Well keeping Caldwell as head coach tells me he has a sadistic side.

by SoCalHoosier on Feb 9, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

touche

I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.

by BoilerUp1982 on Feb 9, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

Hilarious.

by Ayrshire on Feb 9, 2012 1:48 PM EST up reply actions

If Manning Agrees to Push that Date Back

He is going to really limit his options in free agency. Teams won’t be able to sit around hoping that he’ll be available.

by ThanksALot on Feb 9, 2012 12:54 PM EST reply actions

Yeah I’ll believe it when I see it

by CF4L on Feb 9, 2012 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

There have been teams that put their entire stock on less (Favre anyone?)

"We make all the right moves…as long as we have a time machine!"
- PMoney's suggestion for shirts here

by 18forPrez on Feb 9, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah and look how stupid that turned out to be…

by CF4L on Feb 9, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

Not Teams ... TEAM. TEAM.

The only team that was willing to put up with Favre’s nonsense was the Minnesota Vikings, and the guy who did it, Josh Childress, no longer has a job precisely for that reason. Plenty of folks did theorize that Childress allowing himself to be strung along by Favre prevented the team from getting a better option at QB in free agency, trade or draft. Also, Favre actually was hurt by his lack of practice time with the team, which really became an issue in that disastrous second season when the schedule was tougher, he had injuries at WR, and began spraying INTs all over the place.

The Favre experience is precisely why no one is going to put themselves through that again. And another thing: with Favre, there were no questions about his arm strength. Yes, that does count. No one doubted that Favre could make NFL throws.

by an_auburn_fan on Feb 9, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions