Some Possibilities For Peyton Manning If He’s Let Go

In what will most likely be the biggest story line of the offseason, the Colts will have to decide whether or not to pick up Peyton Mannings $28 million option before the start of the next league. There’s really very little doubt that the Colts will take Stanford QB Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in the draft so keeping Manning at the price tag would be a huge amount of money allocated to the quarterback position, especially considering the players that they’ll have to re-sign.

This brings us to the hypothetical situation where the Colts may actually cut Manning rather pay his enormous salary and making him a free agent. One rumored option in particular could be the San Francisco 49ers.

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area writes that it’s “unrealistic for the 49ers to invest greatly in another quarterback. They’ll pay Smith like a starter, and he’ll be only 28 years old next season. And they traded up in the second round a year ago to pick Kaepernick. They’re leaving the door open for Kaepernick for the future, too.”

Maiocco adds that league sources have suggested that Alex Smith could get a new deal in the range of two-three years that could be him $8 to 11 million per season. Not bad considering where he was last year.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News made an appearance on Pro Football Talk Live and discussed the possiblity of Manning signing with the Jets.

Mehta said that the Jets will check in on Manning if he becomes available depending on his health.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan has shot down the idea in the past as an attempt to show support for Mark Sanchez but the growing criticism about his ability would make it tough for New York to not consider every available option.