Risky Investment

In the coming weeks NFL teams will be going crazy to try and fill their roster and address needs. Some people may be thinking Manning is the top free agent, but they are just not correct. I will give you 5 reasons why Peyton Manning isn’t worth the money and risk.

1. Playoff Record

I know this may shock a lot of people; Peyton holds a 9-10 playoff record. I know he has been with the Colts, but for a top free agent, and “best quarterback ever” that is a poor playoff record. He has played against some pretty bad teams and lost (2010 Jets) and doesn’t always come through in the clutch and will go to a team that probably doesn’t have the same offensive talent as some of the teams he has played with in the past.

2. Age

Manning is going to be 35. Most professional athletes fall off when they hit their early to mid thirties. I know that Peyton has been really good at avoiding hits, and saving his body, but father time still has an effect. Not playing a game last year saved his body, so at least he should be fresh.

3. Team options

If Manning wants a real shot at the super bowl, he will have to create it himself. The teams that are the closest to a championship already have quarterbacks of the present. The Giants, Packers, Saints, Patriots, Ravens, Steelers and Falcons all have young quarterbacks who can lead their respective team to the title game. There are rumors about the Texans, but they wouldn’t just dump Matt Schaub, especially when he was playing his best football before he got injured. The Cardinals are a defense away from being competitive. The Seahawks don’t have a consistent offensive line, and their defense is getting older. The Broncos who really could use a real quarterback, won’t give up on Tebow. The Dolphins are the only team that makes sense, and even they don’t have a straight shot at wining the division let alone the conference.

4. Health

I guess this goes with age, but I will put it in a subcategory. Manning has had 4 neck surgeries and hasn’t taken a snap in a year. His body will eventually give out at some point. The biggest question about his health has to be in the future. How can his body handle a linebacker running full speed and nailing him to the ground? I don’t think James Harrison, Patrick Willis or Ray Lewis will take it easy because they feel bad Manning is just coming back.

5. Money

So Manning has 3 years left (my personal guess), and will demand around 15-17 million dollars a year. So the max contract would be 51 million dollars over 3 years. Only Tom Brady and possibly Drew Brees would have annual salaries bigger than that. If you take into consideration the salary cap, and the hit of 15 million dollars, then half the teams I mentioned aren’t really feasible options.

In the end, signing Peyton Manning might be more of a headache than a good idea.