Peyton Rumor Mill Working Overtime

Added on Jan 31, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

While the Patriots and Giants are being poked and prodded on Super Bowl Media day, a player not even participating in the Big Game continues to dominate the headlines. Of course that player is quarterback Peyton Manning. Will the Colts release or trade him? Is his neck fully healed? Can he play in 2012? Will he retire if he can’t? The questions have been flying fast and furious, but the latest rumors regarding Manning’s future don’t sound promising.

A Yahoo! Sports report claimed Manning’s rehab from multiple neck surgeries isn’t progressing in a positive direction. According to sources close to the situation, the nerves in his arm are sill weak, which is limiting the velocity of his throws. Some doctors even went so far as to suggest it could be another year before Manning’s playing future can be properly assessed.

ESPN’s Amy Lawrence tweeted on Sunday that NFL insider John Clayton believes Manning will be forced to retire due to the damage in his arm being too severe for him to regain the strength he had prior to surgery. This is Clayton’s opinion, but the fact that no one in the Colts organization, including Manning, has revealed an accurate medical prognosis is troubling.

On the flip side, Peyton’s brother Cooper thinks his little bro is determined to resume his career, although no timetable has been set for a return.

“What I do know is Peyton is going to do every single thing a human being can possibly do to get ready to play again,” Cooper Manning said from his office in New Orleans. “Where, when and how he’ll play, that’s all up in the air. But as far as his body goes, Peyton’s smart, he’ll know what to do. Anyone predicting what will happen now going forward is just wasting their breath. But he is working as hard as anyone can work to get out there again.”

It is a waste of breath to speculate, but until Colts owner Jim Irsay makes a decision on whether or not to pay Manning his $28 million bonus, the rumor mill will continue to churn.

Sources: Yahoo!, Rant Sports