Eagles should pursue Manning
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Eagles should pursue Manning
Jeff McLane
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.
Unless they plan to play Manning at MLB, any QB they put behind center won't put the Eagles over the top. Defense is broken.— SilliBilli- I would rather have Manning at 46 over watching Vick play another seasoning Philly. Manning can read a defense.....a skill MV cannot grasp.— bdoh
- Good, then hire him as an offensive coordinator with hopes of becoming a Head Coach here down the line. Do you really want to see Trent Edwards play THAT bad? — bearsfriend
- I would rather have Manning at 46 over watching Vick play another season in Philly. Manning can read a defense.....a skill MV cannot grasp.— bdoh
- STOP ALREADY.....The contract would be a low ball offer with lots of incentives.....and offer that would be an insult to Peyton....but then that is the way Joe does business...so don't even think about it....besides can you imagine "Control Freak Reid" giving up the adjsutment of plays at the line of scrimage to someone other than his genius.....Yeah right....The FO is not even in the picture with their numbers and certianly a man with Peyton's class would not want to deal with the ilks of Joe and Howie.....and the ego of Reid...— nuggett
Comment removed.- Hey Genius ... He is not coming to play in the NFC East and play against his little brother twice a season!! ... Take a chill pill and relax .. I doubt if he will play in the NFC period .. The Manning are family, that comes first .. Papa Archie doesn't want one of his boys playing against the other in the playoffs unless it's for a Superbowl!— sjerphilly
- Please stop! Anything that brings Reid back after next season I am against. I don't care if this guy wins a Super Bowl. He should have been in at least 3 and won 2 Super Bowls. He is the most boring interview there is in sports and lets be perfectly honest if your not winning Super Bowls you should have to at least be entertaining.— take that!
- You don't want Manning here because we would win a Super Bowl? Talk about crazy!
— ej610 - Get Tulloch.— NC Eagle Fan
- Interesting idea, Jeff. If Manning were up to playing 16 games. I see him going two games. If the Eagles want to make a drastic move, then draft RG III. Though I don't think he's going to be a big time QB.— armchairGM
- Jeff, NO, NO, NO! Manning said today that while he is throwing the ball well, he's not 100%. I do not believe he'd be ready for opening day, and he does not have enough here to turn this team into a champion, no matter what condition he is in. Can you imagine Vick handling that? He would scream "TRADE ME!" from the rooftops...but who's gonna take him? Do you realize how much money Manning is going to want? Banner will NOT pay it! Manning also will NOT deal with Andy and Marty, and their ridiculous play calling; he'd overrule them on the field right and left because they have shown an utter lack of appreciation of any game situation. Do you realize what kind of compensatory picks the Eagles would have to give up to the Colts? Do you also realize this is mortgaging what little future this team has? NO! This team needs to rebuild, and besides, the big deal free agent game didn't work out too well last season, now did it?
- Manning will pick the team he wants to play for. Forget the Redskins, Manning is 36 and wants a Super Bowl not a bunch of money at the bottom of the toilet bowl. If the Eagles really want him, they should have initiated contact 10 seconds after his official release from the Colts.— billtfla
- Comment removed.
- MidStaterUXB, -#1- Manning was cut by the Colts, so anybody can sign him and not have to give any compensation to the Colts. -#2- Teams only have to compensate when they sign Restricted Free Agents, players with 4 years or less. -#3- A team that chooses not to resign one of their unrestricted free agents may get an extra compensatory pick in the following draft at the bottom of a given round if the NFL deems it so. The Raiders might get awarded a 3rd or 4th for Asomaugh this year, but its not taken from the team that signed him.
