5801

He’s an upgrade over first half of the season Jackson, but not second half. Jackson has been downright Alex Smith-like lately.

5802

I’m still hoping the Raiders will pay Campbell enough to keep him on as a second QB and work with T. Pryor. Probably not, but I’m not seeing Palmer as much of an upgrade over Campbell myself, and it would be awesome to let the two men actually compete for the starting position next year.

5803

A lot of it will depend on where the Raiders are in relation to the salary cap. Not sure what Palmer is supposed to make for next year, but I have read that the raiders had some cap issues this year and Palmer took a pay cut to work out the trade. So they might not be able to afford to keep basically 2 number one qbs.

5804

Here’s a fun question: with rumors that Peyton might be released by the Colts (if they draft Luck), what team picks him up?

My guesses:
Jets
49ers
Seahawks

My assumption: Peyton will only go where he believes he could win a Super Bowl in the next few years. Likewise, the only teams that are interested are those that don’t already have a QB they’re committed to for the long haul.

5805

Release Manning? Not happening next year. For starters, they will need to prepare and evaluate Luck at the NFL level for at LEAST 1 season before throwing him in, only desperate teams throw rookies in to start at QB. Also, with the current Rookie Salary cap, Luck will be costing them next to nothing. But I understand why you would hope they do release Manning, if your team has a crap QB. The only situation I see Manning leaving Indy next year is in a trade where the colts get something good for him, and Luck demonstrates during training Camp that he has a full grasp of the Indy offense that relies heavily on the QB calling plays and protections at the Line.

5806

They owe Manning $23 million if he is on the team next year. Rumor is that he’s willing to forego/renegotiate that money, but if he’s not, they would be crazy to pay him for another season where he doesn’t play.

5807

Well I think it is a given if he can’t play next year he gets released. All of this speculation about trading or keeping him hinges on his being healthy enough to play.

5808

I think they would take their chances if they didn’t have to pay him a $23M bonus. It would be great for them to have both men on the team and you have to wonder how much they’d get for him in trade.

5809

Here is an update on Peyton http://www.sportsoverdose.com/topic/peyton-manning-injury-update.html According to the three articles, he is nearing the end of his rehab, and according to the owner, will be a colt next year.

Colts Owner Jim Irsay:

Money, Irsay insisted to NFL Network’s Rich Eisen before tonight’s home game against Houston, would not be an issue. Manning is due a $28 million team option March 8, which kicks in the last four years of his contract. “I think if the situation is where he’s back and he’s healthy, Rich, I see him coming back and playing here,” Irsay said.

“I don’t see that being the issue,” Irsay said of the money. “Look, I paid him $26 million this year and he didn’t play. I knew it was an iffy situation going in.

5810

We’ll see. They don’t have Luck yet in any case.

5811

People need to forget the trade talk with Peyton, at least for next year. A trade would kill the Colts in terms of how it impacts the cap and no team is going to take his salary and contract. This has been explained over and over again.

The Colts will either keep him another year or cut him. Those are the only outcomes.

5812

Nice of you to wait until after we set the record :)

Hell of a game. Both teams stepped on their own dicks more than once but it sure made for a nalbiting finish. The funny part is, although I am of course happy the Niners won (because if they don’t get the 2 seed they’re pretty much fucked) I’m kinda sad both the Cards and Hawks are out of it. I would have liked to see 2 NFC West teams make the playoffs, if only to shut everyone up about how bad the division is - a sentiment that I think is going go away starting next season. Seems every team in the division except the Rams got a significant upgrade.

5813

If he can’t play by next year I would have to wonder if he would just retire. But you are prob right without such a high bonus they would keep him even if it was still in question if he could play or not.

5814

I have doubts Manning would just retire. He is probably going to play somewhere else for a few seasons and if the team he is playing on isn’t contending, then he might fade away. But I guarantee there is more than one team that would love to gamble with him under center.

5815

True, if he is healthy, but if he isn’t healthy enough to play by next year I could see him just walking away as if it hasn’t healed enough by then it most likely never will.

5816

Yeah.

5817

Is my understanding correct in that as long as you beat the Rams, you get the no2 seed, regardless of Saints record in their two final games? I’m not so good at this kind of math.

5818

Yes. San Francisco has the tie-breaker if the 49ers and Saints end up with the same record.

5819

Manning makes any team a contender. Cardinals for example.

5820

Yes, GEE THANKS Pittsburgh and Seattle for forcing me to rely on the Rams for a NOLA bye. Still, they beat the Saints, so who knows…