Back for OTAs or Out to Pasture: Have we seen the last of Peyton Manning?

[Section15Box113]

Will be interested to hear his post-game comments and watch how this unfolds.  Definitely a shell of himself over the last half of the season or so. 
 
Will time off do him good and we see him in camp?  Or was that it for a worthy adversary?
 
Here's your home for all news and speculation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[Old Fart Tree]

He looks D-U-N done.

 

[drtooth]

At 38, he looks as bad as he ever has.  2nd all-time in passing yards,, 1st in TD's, 3rd in passer rating, etc.  However, he only won 1 Super Bowl and has an 11-13 career post-season record (with 9 one-and-outs).  What is his legacy and where is he in terms of all-time QB's? 

 

[theapportioner]

Barring a recurrence of his neck issues (if so, he shouldn't have been playing in this game in the first place), I can't see him giving it up. I think it's more likely he'll drag it out like Favre did, retiring 3 years too late.

 

[Stitch01]

I'm hesitant to write him off after the "is Brady done" talk earlier this year, but if there isn't an injury involved he sure looked like Father Time beat him over the second half of the year. No toucher velocity on intermediate and deep passes down the stretch. If it looks like the Denver roster is taking a step back I think he's done

 

[Dogman]

6-21 on throws over 5 yards in the divisional. 
 
Done.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I think he's back looking for #10.

 

[ifmanis5]

We'll be seeing him in every commercial for the next decade. So, no.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

One of the best "modern" qbs. Within 20 years, if the rules don't change, there's going to be 3,4, or 5 like him, stats wise.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

He knows whether he has a nagging injury or not, and thus a good idea whether this is an irreparable decline or not.  That's a huge factor here---if he had a leg issue that'll heal, it's very different than if what we saw last 6 weeks is what he is now.
 
It's interesting that, after saying he'd definitely be back, he hedged in the pre game interview with Nantz/Simms.   Combine that, his performance, and rumors of management changes with the team, and I can imagine he's thinking about hanging it up, which surprises me.
 
My best guess overall?  I think he may be done.

 

[Turrable]

He'll be back, he's too dedicated 
 

 

[Tony C]

It's really a tough position for both he and Elway. Over the course of the season he's still an upper tier QB, but a pattern is now set that he goes downhill as the season progresses and by playoff/cold weather time is average at best. He's gotten old. Tons of franchises (Buffalo and NYJets, etc) eager to make the playoffs would be happy with that, but Denver is still a very talented team that has to feel they have all the parts in place for a Super Bowl except for a QB. It's only a $5 million cap hit (and would free up $16 million in cap space), but I still think you have to bring him back. Is there any way they could go San Antonio Spur on him and rest him much more during the regular season? I think they have to consider that.

 

[Senator Donut]

He'll be back, he's too dedicated 
 

That is phenomenal.

 

[AbbyNoho]

I just can't imagine him playing a last game without giving the media a chance to spend the whole time talking about how it is his last game. 

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

If you're Andrew Luck, would you sign up for Peyton Manning's career right now?

Me neither.

How about Rapelistberger? Flacco? Stafford? Ryan? Wilson?

If I'm any of those guys, I'm hoping for more...

 

[Jnai]

If you're Andrew Luck, would you sign up for Peyton Manning's career right now?

Me neither.

How about Rapelistberger? Flacco? Stafford? Ryan? Wilson?

If I'm any of those guys, I'm hoping for more...

 
Oh stop it. #1 in Career Passing TDs and a ring? There's a good chance that Ryan, Luck, etc never get a ring or even 25% of Manning's TD total.

 

[Quiddity]

He looked pathetic tonight and has for much of the latter part of the season. 2 minutes left in the game, he should be throwing it down field, instead he's throwing passes under 5 yards. Talent-wise he's done and we will never see him get further than he did tonight. But there are still a few all time records out there he needs to attain, right? He'll come back simply for that.

 

[Jnai]

It's really a tough position for both he and Elway. Over the course of the season he's still an upper tier QB, but a pattern is now set that he goes downhill as the season progresses and by playoff/cold weather time is average at best. He's gotten old. Tons of franchises (Buffalo and NYJets, etc) eager to make the playoffs would be happy with that, but Denver is still a very talented team that has to feel they have all the parts in place for a Super Bowl except for a QB. It's only a $5 million cap hit (and would free up $16 million in cap space), but I still think you have to bring him back. Is there any way they could go San Antonio Spur on him and rest him much more during the regular season? I think they have to consider that.

 
Can't really rest guys in the NFL. Even a few more losses would be either out of the postseason or on the road for extra playoff games.

 

[BornToRun]

I just can't imagine him playing a last game without giving the media a chance to spend the whole time talking about how it is his last game. 

Or taking the time to let the wideouts pretend to play keep away with his social security checks.

 

[twibnotes]

Isn't Denver losing a ton of talent next year? Hard to see manning coming back to play for a team that isn't positioned for a SB run.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

I think the NFL equivalent of resting him would be to position him as a game-manager in a ball-control, running, defense oriented team.
 
I don't think it'll happen, but if you told him your plan was to make him a guy throwing 450 passes a year (Russell Wilson/Alex Smith territory--and yes, he can't run like they can) and lean on the running game, that would be different for him.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

He could come to NE and be the OC when McD leaves.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

 

[Soxfan in Fla]

Holy crap I'm dying. That's perfect.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Oh stop it. #1 in Career Passing TDs and a ring? There's a good chance that Ryan, Luck, etc never get a ring or even 25% of Manning's TD total.

Roethlisberger, Flacco and Wilson already have a ring and each is young enough to have a very reasonable hope for more.

Luck's career stats may not reach Peytonesque levels...but they figure to be damned good and again, certainly a reasonable hope for multiple rings.

Ryan's sort of ridiculous, I grant you.

 

[theapportioner]

You'd think he could afford a nicer couch.

 

[Dollar]

Is there any way they could go San Antonio Spur on him and rest him much more during the regular season? I think they have to consider that.

Yeah, it's either that or expedite the construction of a Retractable Roof by Papa Johns on top of Mile High Stadium...

 

[Ralphwiggum]

Fucking awesome.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

The other Peyton Manning thread has funnier pictures.

 

[Phragle]

I'm hesitant to write him off after the "is Brady done" talk earlier this year, but if there isn't an injury involved he sure looked like Father Time beat him over the second half of the year. No toucher velocity on intermediate and deep passes down the stretch. If it looks like the Denver roster is taking a step back I think he's done

 
Peyton Manning is no Tom Brady, and shouldn't be compared.
 
----------
 
Manning's last 6 games: 230 YPG, 6.8 YPA, 77.9 Rating.  I don't know if he'll retire, but he'll never be someone to worry about in the playoffs again.

 

[Kliq]

He clearly could not throw the ball deep down the field, and even a lot of his shorter passes that he had been nailing with precision for most of the season and tonight he couldn't even hit throws. And while the Colts played very good, smart defense today, they are not necessarily a great defense. I echo what others have said, in that if he played on a team like Seattle where his running game and defense could carry him, then sure, he could play next season. But the Broncos are not they, they are very specifically designed car for Manning to drive, and he can't seem to stay on the road.

 

[Stitch01]

I think the NFL equivalent of resting him would be to position him as a game-manager in a ball-control, running, defense oriented team.
 
I don't think it'll happen, but if you told him your plan was to make him a guy throwing 450 passes a year (Russell Wilson/Alex Smith territory--and yes, he can't run like they can) and lean on the running game, that would be different for him.

Denver sort of did that for the second half of the season.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Denver sort of did that for the second half of the season.

 
Agreed.  And during that timeframe his answer on returning went from "Definitely" to "Some things have changed...."
 
So we'll see.  I do think if he buys in he could be somewhat effective in that role; bad as his arm appears, it's only somewhat worse than Alex Smith's, and though he has nowhere near the mobility he's a lot smarter and more experienced.

 

[bernardsamuel]

While I don't think we've seen the last of Peyton Manning, we did see the "end" of Rob Gronkowski during that de-pantsing tackle yesterday.  More seriously, I think that the loss of Manning's arm strength might be irreversible (if I had ten spare dollars, I'd ask our good doctor DRS for a more informed opinion).  Nonetheless, I think that Manning will be back in the next season, just because it's so hard to leave on a down note.  As regards legacy, while it is very tempting to belittle the face and the advertisement-hungry demeanor, seriously the courage in coming back from the neck issues might be in the same discussion as Schilling's courage in 2004 (if we were impartial, though of course we're not expected to be, and we're not).

 

[bosockboy]

Seems too much risk of having a whole season of tonight and entering Mays/Mets territory. And I think Thomas lands somewhere else (DeMaryius).

 

[Al Zarilla]

Seems too much risk of having a whole season of tonight and entering Mays/Mets territory. And I think Thomas lands somewhere else (DeMaryius).

Good point, or Unitas/Chargers or Namath/Rams to keep it in the sport.

 

[j-man]

i am here to take my lumps    
 
u guys most likely  wont have to worry about denver for a while    good luck next week    

 

[PedroKsBambino]

i am here to take my lumps    
 
u guys most likely  wont have to worry about denver for a while    good luck next week    

 
Tough game, and nothing for you to be ashamed of!    Do suspect there are big changes for Denver---but there's still a lot of talent on that roster.

 

[Old Fart Tree]

Yeah, you're never as bad as you look when you lose. That said, I'll be interesting to see what happens; there's a lot of talent on the roster, but I wonder if Manning is done for good.

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

i am here to take my lumps    
 
u guys most likely  wont have to worry about denver for a while    good luck next week    

 
Not much you can do when your hall of fame QB's arm is falling off.  Was confounding that Fox did not stick with the run.  It's not like the Colts were shutting it down.  That assumes, of course, that anyone other than 18 is calling plays.  

 

[tims4wins]

i am here to take my lumps    
 
u guys most likely  wont have to worry about denver for a while    good luck next week    

You're a very level headed fan, seems like you appreciate the ride you've had with Peyton and understand that some manner of a rebuild is in order. Don't be a stranger here!

 

[snowmanny]

i am here to take my lumps    
 
u guys most likely  wont have to worry about denver for a while    good luck next week    

You don't deserve any lumps. There's a seat on the bandwagon if you want.

 

[54thMA]

i am here to take my lumps    
 
u guys most likely  wont have to worry about denver for a while    good luck next week    

There aren't going to be any lumps, this forum doesn't operate that way, we're all fans of our teams, no need to kick someone when they are down.
 
This is sports, the toybox of life and at the end of the day, it's not life and death.
 
Sorry your team lost, it's never fun or pleasant when it happens, been there, done that.

 

[Spelunker]

So, that happened

 

[lars10]

I think Luck presents problems, but the throws were there all day for Manning if he could have made them.  Sanders was open on several plays..the screens were there and a whole lot else.  If Manning had ANY accuracy today then they'd have had a field day.  Brady scores at least three or four TDs if he's in there today.  Manning was not Manning...the Colt D didn't shut him down.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

If you're Andrew Luck, would you sign up for Peyton Manning's career right now?

Me neither.

How about Rapelistberger? Flacco? Stafford? Ryan? Wilson?

If I'm any of those guys, I'm hoping for more...

This is a ridonkulous question. Of course he does...in regards to Manning

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I think he's quoting a post from Orange Mane.[/quote
Things are not pretty over there to say the least.

 

[j-man]

 
Tough game, and nothing for you to be ashamed of!    Do suspect there are big changes for Denver---but there's still a lot of talent on that roster.

yeah i think they will be big changes    
Manning is done or heading for a  10-6 reg season  wild card loss to SD  
 
J Thomas will not be back  some team will pay him  8-9$ a year    
DT is 50-50 will want 12-15 mil a year   might be worth it i think DT lost 2-3 Mil today     
Clady needs a pay cut  
if manning does not retire there is a change we could miss the playoffs    in 15    
O Franklin and Varqzez are our best line man  now  and franklin is a FA   
if del rio leaves Knighton  will go with him   unless Denver pays him 11 mil a year  which is too much  
denver if manning leaves will have about 50 mil in space   30 mil if he stays       

 

[DJnVa]

 

[RG33]

I think a lot depends on whether or not he had a legit nagging injury these last two months that were causing his really poor play. He clearly lost something the last 6-8 weeks and wasn't the same player. The other component will be what kind of roster and coach turnover the Broncos have. Demaryius and Julius are free agents, Welker will most likely be cut, his OC may be on his way out of town to become a HC, and I wouldn't be shocked if Fox was in some trouble. I think if there is big turnover and his recent performance was more age/fatigue related, he may actually retire.