Manning is due a 28 Million dollar bonus in March, and with the Colts holding the first overall pick in this years draft, all signs have pointed to selecting Andrew Luck from Stanford. So the decisions need to happen of what to do with these two guys. Will the Colts release Manning? Will they trade Manning? Will they draft Luck and sit him behind Manning? These are reasonable questions and with the money that Manning is due it adds more stress to the Colts organization. If they drop Manning they are saying goodbye to one of the most impressive careers we have ever seen. The new year will start with Andrew Luck, who is a quarterback that is NFL ready according to the NFL scouts, but one that has not played a single play in the NFL. How can you give up a guaranteed strong QB for someone who is a chance?

Is the 28 Million a problem for the Colts to pick up on a guy that is not guaranteed to play in 2012.

Recent news is coming out that Manning is willing to work out a deal, either pushing back that 28 Million to another date or even cutting that money down so the Colts can sign him for the 2012 season. Another option is to release him, and he would not be able to sign with a team right away. That would give the Colts a chance to resign him before anyone else. It goes without saying that Manning wants to finish his career in Indy, and he will take all the necessary steps to make that happen.

A 2010 study of 99 players with neck injuries showed that 76 percent successfully returned to the playing field. Eight quarterbacks were part of the study, including Chris Weinke and Brad Johnson.

Weinke and Manning have been in contact with each other because their cases are similar.  Weinke won a Heisman Trophy and national title at Florida State a year after a neck injury that required a fusion and total nerve regeneration.

Manning’s doctors have medically cleared him to be able to resume his football career after three surgeries, including a neck-fusion procedure. Colts owner Jim Irsay, however, said Thursday night on Twitter that Manning has not been medically cleared to play by Colts doctors.

So with Manning willing to adjust his contract, is there a reason he should not be back in Indianapolis?

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When Colts owner Jim Irsay had comments about Peyton Manning, calling him a “politician” , those comments could have gotten out of hand starting a fight through the media. However, Manning and Irsay were too smart for that. They knew doing that would only make things worse, and lets be honest things are not too great right now in Indianapolis.

With the uncertainty of Manning’s neck, and the decision the Colts have to make regarding him and whoever they draft with the number one pick, they have a lot on their minds. It would have been so easy to get nasty with comments, destroying the relationship between the Colts and Manning. However, they have stayed true to themselves and will do so no matter what the end results are. Manning and Irsay were seen taking pictures together Thursday night at the team meeting. Have they put their differences aside and decided to put the Colts organization first? Only time will tell or maybe March will be the answer for us. In March Manning is due a 28 Million dollar bonus.  He may be released and if the Colts decide to let him go he will be free to sign with anyone.

Manning is very eager to get out there and play and all signs point to manning playing. That is how Manning’s agent also feels.  In a statement today he made it very clear what Peyton’s intentions are, “Peyton certainly expects to return to playing,” said Condon, “And he wants to play, he’s enthusiastic about it. I think that the rehabilitation is going very well, and I think he believes that also. He’s made a substantial amount of progress, and so we anticipate him playing football next year“. Condon would go on to say, “Manning’s neck is structurally sound but admitted that the nerve generation in his right arm could take a couple of months and up to a year to heal dating from the surgery the four-time MVP had last September”.

Even Peyton is not oblivious to the situation at hand. He is not going to rush back onto the field. He will be smart and realize that he needs to remember life after football. The issue now is not so much the neck but the nerve in the neck. That nerve affects his grip on the football. Sometimes the hands go numb or are very tingly, making him lose his strength. So it is not so much when Manning plays if he can, it will be if he can play at a top level like everyone is used to, including Peyton.

Peyton Manning is one of the hardest working players out there, and if he has a chance to play he will.

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However late evening Thursday, owner Jim Irsay released a statement via twitter:

Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts. Team statement coming on Friday.

February 3, 2012 12:25 am via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite

@JimIrsay

Jim Irsay

The news from Irsay now has everyone a little confused and wondering what the real story is with manning? Will we ever trust what we hear, or will we go with the first thing we hear? One thing is for sure even the most dependable sources have been wrong with the story on Manning.

We will all be waiting with anticipation for the news from the Colts tomorrow, hopefully for all parties involved that Manning has been cleared so we can all move on from this.

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The incorrect reports were shut down today with the news that Colts fans were hoping to hear: Peyton Manning has been medically approved to play. What does that mean? What it means is that Manning will be ready for the 2012 season wherever it may be. In fact, the doctor who cleared him to play said “If you were my own son, I would tell you to go out there and play”.

Now that the news is officially out, Colts owner Jim Irsay can’t use the injured Manning as a scapegoat to release him.

This news now officially opens this question: what will the Colts front office do with Manning and the first overall pick in the draft? For weeks, the speculation has been that Manning will be released because of  his neck injury but that is now out the window. The Colts’ front office has a very important decision to make; do they cut Manning to make room for Andrew Luck? Or, do they draft Luck and keep Manning? Those questions will be answered in the next few weeks.

Peyton Manning is more than just medically cleared to play. If somehow the Colts would have made it to the Super Bowl, he would be probable and playing this Sunday. Many people have complained that with the Super Bowl this Sunday, the news about Peyton is taking away from the two teams who are playing in it. With Peyton’s latest news, he will surely be the big news in Indianapolis with or without a Super Bowl in town.

One thing is for sure: Manning, who is now healthy and will be playing in 2012, but the question is where?

Greg Manusky, who was just a month ago fired from the San Diego Chargers after running their defense only a year, was recently interviewed for the Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator position. Prior to the San Diego job, he worked as a dc for the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons.

Manusky will be working closely with new head coach Chuck Pagano, and together they should have  a very interesting defense. In San Diego, Manusky brought a lot of blitzes and was successful in disguising them. He will bring toughness and eagerness to the position, which has been lacking for years. Especially after the 2-14 season and the firing of  defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, in week 12.

The Colts are in dire need to bring toughness to the defensive side of the ball, and this new hiring may be just what they need. With Pagano and Manusky working together, only good things are to happen. Now the decision will be to play a 3-4 or a 4-3, and the resigning of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis will have everything to do with the answer to that.

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There are other players on this team and with free agency starting mid March, some usual faces Colts fans are used to seeing may be gone soon. Jim Irsay came out and said they will do everything they can do to keep Piere Garcon and Robert Mathis. These two players are very important to the comeback for the Colts in 2012. But what about freeney and Wayne? Those two have been the faces of the franchise-next to Peyton of course. The Colts front office absolutely has to sign these four players to be able to get back to the playoffs, where they belong.

The dominate play of the Colts throughout the years has been because of the outstanding dedication and hardwork from these guys. I call them blue collar guys because they put in the hardwork, dedication, and have been known to play through injuries. They also never gave up this season; a season of winning only two games. These players are role models and veterans that the younger guys can look up to. More teams need players like them, and that is why they will be sought after by many teams.

The Colts will have their hands full resigning these players, and even though this off season is a rebuilding one, it is key to rebuild with these four players, no matter who the quarterback is.

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@ClaytonESPN just told me Peyton Manning is likely headed for retirement, not just parting ways w/Colts. Stunning. I'm in total denial.

January 29, 2012 10:26 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@AmyLawrenceESPN

Amy Lawrence

It looks like we’ve seen the last of Peyton Manning.  Earlier today, a report came out saying that Manning was struggling to regain arm strength.  Although this tweet isn’t exactly rock solid, John Clayton knows what he’s talking about.  If Manning is struggling this much in rehab, retirement is the best option.

Manning has made millions upon millions of dollars.  He’s won a Super Bowl.  He has nothing left to prove in the NFL.  Why risk a permanent debilitating injury when it’s not necessary?  The media back and forth with Colts owner Jim Irsay seemed to spell the end for Manning in Indianapolis.

Of course, this could change.  Likely does not equal certainty.  Manning could improve in time to be ready for next season.  I just don’t see the point.  Retire now and retire gracefully.  No need to become the next Brett Favre.

Once the news reached Irsay that he had made this decision on Manning, he spoke out on Twitter. ”

No he hasn't been released nor was a decision reached weeks ago

January 28, 2012 11:11 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite

@JimIrsay

Jim Irsay

It’s obvious that a decision has not been made official. Irsay has until March 8th and to make a decision now would be crazy. He may already have his mind made up, but he’s still going to see how Manning’s injury situation unfolds during the next month or so. It’s going to be a tough decision, healthy or not. $28 million is a lot of money and for a 14-year old veteran who has been told he may not be released after a neck injury and several surgeries, but we are talking about Peyton Manning. He can make any team in the league a playoff/Super Bowl contender for the next two or three years if he gets released by his doctors.

From the owner’s side, you have to look at it this way: a chance to make it back to the Super Bowl for the next couple of years or save the $28 million, draft Andrew Luck, and spend some of the money towards bringing in defensive players for new coach Chuck Pagano who is a defensive guy from Baltimore and contend for the next 10 to 15 years. It’s going to be a tough call and Irsay is going to be the one to make it.

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Butler began coaching with the Steelers under Bill Cowher, and has been coaching linebackers for the past nine seasons. The former Seattle Seahawks linebacker has coached an impressive roster of impact ‘backers for the Steelers, including  defensive player of the year in 2008 James Harrison.

The hiring of Butler adds another experienced coach of the 3-4 defense to join Pagano. The rebuilding Colts appear ready to completely remake the defense that has been a problem for Indianapolis. The Colts could get Butler way from the Steelers because of his contract was up.

With the signing of Butler, it means the new Colts have stolen two coaches from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Butler was the linebacker coach and very instrumental in forming the hard hitting, blitz happy, linebacker crew they had in Pittsburgh.

Since the three main positions have been filled up, the rest of the staff can now be put into place. It is safe to expect that we will see a 3-4 on the defensive side, and a toughness brought to this team that we have not seen in years past. This Colts team will be a football team that will not rely so much on the quarterback, but instead on their defense.

Keith Butler is expected to fly into Indianapolis on Tuesday to review and sign the contract.

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The Arians hire makes perfect sense, and it is starting to show what they plan on doing with Manning and Luck. Arians worked with Manning for his first three years. He is excited to come back to Indianapolis because it is a great opportunity for him, and maybe so he can help Manning finish his career. It is the perfect scenario for all parties involved. Manning finishes his career in Indy, Luck learns from the best and gets his opportunity in the future. Arians becomes one of the most sought out offensive coordinators in the game and head coach Pagano, has a successful first few years with the Colts. Oh yeah, don’t forget Jim Irsay. Irsay will not become the owner that everyone loves to hate. Instead he was smart and kept Manning, let him retire as a Colt on his own terms- everyone wins right?

Yeah, maybe in the perfect world this happens. I believe hiring Arians is the right choice. He was able to mold Manning, in his first three years, to the quarterback he is today. Maybe the Colts are thinking he could do the same thing with Andrew Luck. At least we know they have an offensive coordinator that has done a great job in the past, and the future is bright for the Colts offense no matter who is under center.

One thing to think about that I find kind of funny is that a former Raven and a Steeler coach will be working together.

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