Since the Indianapolis Colts have locked up the #1 pick in this years draft, it’s a safe assumption that Andrew Luck will be taken first overall. Colts owner Jim Irsay reitereated yesterday that he intends to bring Peyton Manning back next season but the team has an interesting dilemma to deal with.
Mannings contract will force the team to make a decision about Manning before the end of the league year as he has an option due on March 8th. The option would pay Manning a staggering $28 million so there’s a chance that the Colts could pass on his option. Since the option is due before the start of the 2012 league year, Indy can not trade Manning before deciding whether or not to pick up the option.
It seem as though the Manning and the Colts could just renegotiate when the option is due but Andrew Brandt of National Football Post mentions that teams are unable to renegotiate contracts following the end of the regular season.
“Per the CBA, Article 13, section 8, (a)(iii): No contract renegotiations may be done for a current season after the last regular season game of that season.”
If Irsay is serious about keeping Manning at quarterback then he’ll be forced to allocate a lot funds to one position despite having some key free agents to deal with like Robert Mathis, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Jeff Saturday. It also becomes very hard to trade a quarterback who will be 36 and is making $28 million and receive value in return. Overall, the Colts offseason will hinge on whatever decision they make regarding Peyton Manning.
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