Eagles should pursue Manning
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles should pursue Manning
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
All good things must come to an end, so says the English proverb.
Or maybe it was noted 21st century wit Russell Brand that said it.
If Peyton Manning’s release from the Colts today reminded us of anything, it is that no player – even the NFL’s greatest – is bound to one franchise. We’ve seen it before (Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Brett Favre), we’ve seen it locally (Reggie White, Brian Dawkins) and we’ll see it again (Tom Brady?).
It’s hard to argue with Indianapolis’ decision to dump Manning and begin a new era with Andrew Luck, but if Manning is expendable then any player on any other team is as well. That includes Michael Vick. It’s why the Eagles should seriously consider pursuing Manning, who could hit the waiver wire as soon as 4 p.m. today.
(Andy Reid apparently told Les Bowen of the Daily News today that the Eagles weren’t going after Manning, but I once recall the Eagles coach saying the same thing about Vick. So we’ll wait until Manning signs elsewhere before we eliminate the Eagles from contention.)
I’ve dropped messages with several of my Eagles contacts about the team’s interest in Manning and have yet to receive a single answer. I wouldn’t read the silence one way or the other. Surely, Reid and Howie Roseman will do their due diligence on Manning, a certain Hall of Fame quarterback. I was told a few weeks back by one team source that the Eagles had already had an internal discussion about the possibility.
Not that that should be much of a surprise. Nor should it be a shock that the Eagles are holding off on delivering a definitive “no” on Manning because they want to explore whether they could even enter the conversation.
But how far are they willing to take it? Would they bring Manning in for a private workout? Would they give him a physical?
Let’s stop right here for a moment and say plaintively that the Eagles getting Manning is a long shot – much longer than the odds they were spotted in the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes last summer. The Eagles will have to outbid possibly as many as a half dozen teams to land Manning.
Miami, Washington, the New York Jets and Seattle have already made it clear that they will aggressively go after the 36-year-old. Arizona, Kansas City, San Francisco and Houston could also make a play for Manning. There are also a number of potential sleepers that could be involved.
So there’s that.
There’s also the thorny issue of trading Vick. He’s a proven commodity in this league, but his salary ($18 million guaranteed) next season and the fact that, well, he wasn’t very good in 2011 are obstacles to getting a deal done. Vick, needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway), also brings a certain amount of baggage.
Manning will get a decent amount of guaranteed dollars in his next contract, even with the neck concerns, so the Eagles won’t be able to carry both salaries. Vick’s overall contract, though, could make him appealing to other teams. He’s due only $2 million guaranteed for 2013.
But let’s say the Eagles are able to outbid their opponents and they’re able to unload Vick, would Manning even want to come here? There have been reports that he doesn’t want to play in the same conference as his brother, Eli, which would eliminate any NFC teams and certainly any that play in the same division as the New York Giants.
The Redskins have been considered the favorites by many because they are one of the few teams with the wherewithal to get Manning. But they, too, would be ruled out if Manning wants to avoid seeing his brother twice a year.
The Eagles would seem to have one advantage over most – if not all – of the teams listed above. They have a high-powered offense with some of the best skill position players in the league. A number of those teams have top-ranked defenses, however, while the Eagles do not.
Despite the long odds the Eagles would be doing themselves – and their fans – an injustice if they weren’t to chase Manning. Vick is an above average quarterback, and should benefit from his first full offseason as a starter in six seasons, but once-in-a-lifetime quarterbacks aren’t often there for the taking.
There is risk. Manning even admitted today that he wasn’t all the way back. But there’s also a certain amount of risk in staying with Vick when there is plenty of evidence that he doesn’t have what it takes to win a Super Bowl.
All good things must come to an end.
Reid should consider his possible end when weighing whether to pursue Manning.
Can't believe so many people want a QB who may be done. Tired of the facination with "names" in this town. Plaxico Burress is done too.— bobbyd24- The only thing that makes him attractive to the Eagles front office is that he is a veteran player near the end of his career, coming off a major injury. Otherwise, they will have no interest— Luriesucks
- Pee Wee Roseman is on it. Pee Wee has plenty of football cards of Peyton and has read the stats on the back. If nothing else he will bring Peyton in to autograph one of his football cards. Pee Wee Roseman is on it!— kelprod2
- There is absolutely no chance of this happening. To even entertain the topic is ludicrous.— Dave Clemens
- Manning throwing to Djax and Maclin with McCoy at RB makes the Eagles instantly the best offense in the league. This is a no brainer. Many players have come back from this injury. Manning is ten times the qb Vick will ever be.— philliesphan79
- The article was written to get readers it does not serve any factual purpose. They have a lot of money invested in Vick+ he had a poor showing last year so he has little value in a trade= bring in a potentially injured QB that will cost even more than Vick.
McClane, in your next "article" write about why the Eagles should sign Burris and Randy Moss. Then lock up a long term deal with DJax, extend Maclin, Cooper and Avant before moving up 10 spots to #5 pick and draft Blackmon.— willbert31 - If the Bengals can get a #1 for Carson Palmer...The Eagles can definitely send Vick to a team (Cardinals,Buccaneers,Vikings,Redskins)for a couple of #2's,easy. — bearsfriend
- I would love for this to happen. You get Manning for another 2-3 years and draft RGIII, groom him for the future, trade Vick and that awful contract. What better mentor for him than Manning. Manning at 85% is better than Vick at 100%.— RU95
- Ummmm... If your "mobile" QB got injured while behind the o-line last year, what makes you think that an immobile QB will do better with the same line?— Hoofty
- I would LOVE to see Manning behind center for a four or five year stretch. There are a million reasons why it will NOT happen though. Fortunately, Payton probably will dismiss us early, without prejudice, because he would have to play the Giants twice a year. I have read that neither he nor his family want to see the brothers go after each unless it's in the Supe-Bowl.(Now THAT is a damn shame for most of us that would LOVE to see them play twice a year. Not to mention the playoffs! WHEEEEE! Here's a thought I keep having: Imagine Payton throwing to the current receiver corps of our Iggles, and having the time to do so that Mc5 had in the hay-day of the O-Line. Boggles the mind doesn't it?— TBear
- Bad idea. Hope that Manning goes the Arizona. Get Kolb back for a song. He's proved he can win a few games year for the inevitable times when Vick gets hurt.— Doug Harrison
- I say this, plaintively: please don't ever say that word again when you
want "plainly." They have different and distinctive meanings, as do
"simple" and "simplistic."
As for the Brilliants dissing others who don't get that Peyton doesn't want to play in the NFC East - that "certainty" has just been sports-talk noise. Far as I can tell, neither brother has said anything remotely
definitive about anything regarding Peyton's eventual destination.
Pretty sure Archie and Olivia are the only family members who have already
cast their vote against:-).
As for grabbing a healthy Peyton becuase he'd be better than Mike?
Probably would. Regular 16-game grind. But post-season? His body of work, to be generous, has been mediocre. No Super Bowl wins are guaranteed if he comes.— dud dew - The Vick experiment is over and has been a huge failure. Get Manning!— ej610
- The Eagles will sign Manning, have him add about 20 pounds -- actually, he isn't far off the desired weight now -- and turn him into a pass-rushing defensive end.— iceman
- Do you think that immobile Peyton Manning would be successful with the Eagles offensive line?— Mike Mangan
