After the Colts 19-16 loss to the Jaguars in the final game of the 2011 regular season, a loss that assured them of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning spoke to the media. Naturally, the subject of the draft and the likely selection of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck came up.
Manning told the Indianapolis Star after today's game that he hasn't thought about [the draft] a whole lot.'
'I think I can co-exist with any player I've ever played with,' Manning told the Star.
Manning missed all of 2011 with a neck injury which required (at least) three surgeries to make stable. He is now throwing again, and his health going into the off-season will be THE story in the NFL. The complimentary story is whether or not the Colts will take Luck and have him and Manning on the same roster in 2012.
In terms of the salary cap, it can work. But, realistically, with Luck likely to get drafted by the Colts, it only makes sense that Peyton Manning will not be in their plans for 2012. Indy is 2-14 because their roster is old, talentless, and lacking playmakers. The Colts are in full rebuilding mode. Manning will be 36 when the 2012 season starts. It's unlikely he will want to be part of a rebuilding process. This is assuming he is even healthy enough to play, let alone play at 'The Manning Level' we are used to seeing him play at.