ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen have reported that both the Arizona Cardinals and the Miami Dolphins can be added to the list of suitors for QB Peyton Manning.
The Cardinals were brought up as a speculative option a few weeks ago but it was quickly shot down. Miami will need to upgrade the position or at least that’s what Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said yesterday. You can add the Jets and Redskins to that list as well.
Earlier in the week we posted from Andrew Brandt in which he mentioned that keeping Manning and drafting Andrew Luck with the #1 overall pick would cost the team $50.0 million for the upcoming season. Almost $35 million of that will come from Manning’s deal alone as he has a $28 million bonus that will be due in a matter of weeks.
Then there’s the question of Manning’s health. As of now there hasn’t been any indication that he’ll be healthy enough to justify the investment that Colts would have to make in order to keep him. The most likely scenario is that the Colts will be forced to release him early on in the offseason. This should by him some extra time to get healthy and will allow him to meet with prospective teams and figure out how he fits into their system.
Colts owner Jim Irsay has mentioned that he would like to keep him but it really seems impossible unless Manning is capable of playing or proving that he’ll be ready for the 2012 season. He could also renegotiate his contract to stay with the team but reports have indicated that he’s not willing to do so.
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