Peyton Manning Can’t Throw The Ball To His Left?

Mike Lombardi

The NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi was a guest on today’s BS Report, hosted by Bill Simmons, and mentioned that Peyton Manning is unable to throw the ball to his left and still lacks the necessary velocity.

“He can’t throw the ball,” said Lombardi. “I’ve talked to people who’ve caught the ball for him. He can’t throw the ball to his left. He can’t throw the ball across his body, because he doesn’t feel it. People that catch the ball for him say he doesn’t really have velocity on the ball yet.”

Lombardi added that he’s skeptical about the kind of impact Manning’s will have next season. A few weeks ago, it was reported that Manning had been cleared by doctors but Lombardi mentions that until he’s cleared by someone other than his own doctors and is able to throw the ball will velocity, it’s hard to say that’s going to be worth bringing in.

All fair points that will have to be addressed before prospective team’s can actually consider signing him if and when he’s released by the Colts.

Former Colts O-Line Coach Pete Metzelaars

Pete Metzelaars mentioned that Indianapolis was hopeful that Manning was going to be able to return to the field at some point during the 2011 season.

“We were so dependent on him and what he did,” said Metzelaars, via the Indianapolis Star. “The whole offensive structure was built upon what he could do and how he did it. The way his injury took place, there was always kind of the thought that ‘Well, he could come back, he might come back, maybe the recovery time is going to be x.’ … Unfortunately, he never did.”

Metzelaars comments help to illustrate the fact that the Colts chose to never prepare a contingency plan in case something happened to their franchise quarterback. Yes Manning had never missed a game before this season, but the fact that they never took the time to develop another quarterback shows just how spoiled they were during Manning’s career. The Patriots lost Tom Brady for the season a few years ago but still managed to win 11 games with a quarterback that didn’t even play in college and yet the Colts were lucky to pull out two victories late into the season. Hopefully Indianapolis has learned a lesson here and develops someone that can step in if something happens to Andrew Luck.

Chris Mortensen

Mortensen said that he “doubts” that the Arizona Cardinals would sign Peyton Manning while appearing on Mike and Mike.