Five Future Scenerios for Peyton Manning

The deadline for the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning coming to terms is down to just a few weeks. What will happen to the guy? Will Peyton keep playing football or leave the game? We all don’t know yet so here’s a few guesses.

Keep Playing

If he can play look for Peyton to give it one more shot. He’s not the type of guy to just give up on something and due to him be extra competitive you just now he’s trying his best to get back on the field. It might not be with the Colts but the need for a leader at QB is always in huge demand in the NFL.

The Colts could trade or cut Peyton before the huge contract kicks in and that opens the debate for all the teams out there to consider risking signing Peyton. Teams like Washington, Seattle, Arizona, Miami or the Jets could easily jump into the mix and make it interesting. 

Although, I must admit it would be weird to see Peyton in a uniform other than Indy’s.

Maybe the Colts and Peyton agree to a new contract and agree to try again. OK. I thing that’s for the best. It also works for out best for fans and it surely works for the QB they will draft in April who we all think will be Andrew Luck.

And who better to learn the game from than Peyton Manning?

Start Coaching

And speaking of teaching Andrew Luck the ropes why not consider letting Peyton Manning do what he does best…control the offense. If he’s not physically able to play the game it doesn’t mean he’s not mentally able to compete.

Peyton was a one-man team in Indy and maybe he could slide right into the QB coach or offensive coordinator position and continue to yell out the plays and audibles to the linemen from the sideline. There are few coaches or players out there that know more about the game than Peyton so just tossing his expertise aside would be a huge loss for the Colts (or possibly another team).

Just Retire

If Peyton is physically capable of playing the game by all means he should give it a shot. Personally, I wouldn’t risk it if there were any doubt at all. There are now reports that Peyton has had four neck surgeries over the last few years, one more than previously mentioned.

The fact is Peyton has messed up his neck big time and unlike a knee or an elbow, you mess this up and it’s a lot trickier to fix.

I wouldn’t mess around with a neck injury and that comes from someone who had one in the past. It took me a few years to bounce back from that without all the medical attention that Peyton received and without the physical pressures of playing the game.

So maybe Peyton says ‘Nah, I’m going to take some time off’ and just leaves the game all together for a few years.  Maybe coaching and playing have had their fill with the guy and he retires to his home to watch reruns of “The Golden Girls” and playing bridge with his neighbors.

Endorsements and Acting

There was a time in Peyton’s prime when I swear every third commercial featured the guy. There were Sony commericals and credit cards and satellite TV and Gatorade. It appeared that Peyton was everywhere. He even showed up on Saturday Night Live and left us with this gem:

NFL players transitioning into acting is no new thing. Several players tried and failed but some made it through to the other side like Bubba Smith, Merlin Olsen, and Alex Karras who made names for themselves on the big and small screens.

If Hollywood offers up some nice endorsements or even a TV series for the guy, the next thing we get might just be our new favorite actor. I mean I’m all for having ‘Football Cops’ finally happen!

Announcer

Peyton could retire from football as a player but keep active in the public eye by jumping into the announcers booth. Plus that way he could keep some of his endorsements since he would still be in the public eye.

ESPN recently announced that former Philadelphia Eagles star QB Ron and Monday Night Football announcer would be leaving the booth. Personally, I won’t miss everything he says ending with an upward inflection but his skills as analyzing the players and game have left a void that the highly skilled Manning could easily jump into.

It’s the least likely scenario on the list but it’s a great gig that could help keep Peyton in the game and spotlight for a long time coming.