Colts Want Peyton Manning To Practice

Added on Nov 01, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

While the present Colts continue to rack up losses, team vice chairman Bill Polian has an eye toward the future. And not surprisingly that future concerns the long-term health of quarterback Peyton Manning and whether or not he’ll be able to practice before the season concludes. While it’s extremely unlikely Manning will play again in 2011, Polian hopes he’ll be cleared to at least throw some passes.

With the Colts pretty much guaranteed of a Top 3 pick in next April’s draft, Polian wants assurances his franchise signal-caller is on the right track for a return in 2012.

“I think it’s important for him to feel like, ‘Hey I’m back, I can do the things that are necessary to say I can play like I want to,’ ” Polian said Monday night on his weekly radio show. “The bottom line is he needs to feel good about being back and doing the things he wants to do.”

The bottom line is Manning has to prove his surgically repaired neck is sturdy enough to resume his career. Polian realizes the end is near, but the real question is will that end occur sooner or later. If it’s sooner, the team must secure better insurance than Curtis Painter and Kerry Collins.

Of course most pundits agree the best and safest insurance policy available is Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who has been pegged the consensus number one pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Should the Colts find themselves sitting atop the draft order, Luck will be a tempting selection even if Manning is fully recovered.

Polian has been around the game long enough to know that franchise quarterbacks are hard to find. If you get a chance to grab one, you don’t hesitate. If Peyton does come back, odds are Indy won’t be in a similar position to land someone of Luck’s caliber. This season’s failures could end up being a blessing in disguise.

Manning is no fool. He’s aware of the grumblings. No player wants to see his replacement drafted while he’s still on the roster. However, Polian has to think about the Colts after Manning. To do otherwise would be a mistake.

Source: NFL.com