Mark my words — Peyton Manning won’t be in an Indianapolis Colts uniform next season.
Over the past few months, Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay have squabbled in the public eye over Manning’s future with the organization. Manning continues to recover from the neck fusion that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season. Meanwhile, the Colts have the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, where they will presumably take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
Everyone sees the writing on the wall. There’s simply no way that Manning will play in Indianapolis next year, especially since no one knows exactly when the four-time MVP will be ready to suit up.
Coincidentally, the local football team here in the desert has been lacking a capable quarterback since Kurt Warner retired in January 2010, one year after leading the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl appearance.
The team has already positioned itself to jockey for Manning’s services when the Colts finally decide to release him.
On Feb. 8, the Cardinals hired Frank Reich as their wideout coach. From 2008-11, Reich coached quarterbacks and wideouts in Indy, thus giving the Cardinals a direct link to Manning.
Anyone sensing another Super Bowl run for the Cardinals?
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