John Clayton: Peyton Manning to retire?
For many the thought of seeing Peyton Manning play for another team is unbearable. Peter King said yesterday he's "struggling" to regain strength in his throwing arm. John Clayton followed up with a dire prediction:
@ClaytonESPN just told me Peyton Manning is likely headed for retirement, not just parting ways w/Colts. Stunning. I'm in total denial.
— Amy Lawrence (@AmyLawrenceESPN) January 30, 2012
As long as no "official" statement regarding Manning has been made, let's just hope the best. This tweet is nothing new.
I would rather see Peyton play for another team than retiring. I would always cheer for Peyton, so choosing between seeing Peyton playing in the NFC and retiring I would always choose the first option
@Cuberaser And Peyton´s interview today was much more optimistic, since he went as far as saying that doctors were encouraged by his progress. So I agree, we will not know until an official report.
I'm just not ready to not see Manning in the NFL. Even if it's not for the Colts, I want to see him playing again. Just terrible that it had to end like this.
Likely being the key word, just another educated guess, I think it is a good educated guess though, has not been much coming out about Peytons nerve situation, I am assuming this is along the same lines that Clayton is thinking.
I heard some one say that Peyton requested to be cut, or traded; cut does not make sense because he would be giving up even the chance to make 28 Million and for all he knows this could be his last NFL pay check unless the situation gets better. Trading him can not happen for a while, and for that to happen Peyton would have to be healthy first, and I can not see a healthy Peyton leaving Indianapolis unless the situation between him and Jim, and Grigson just gets really ugly, from what I have heard he sounds like he really wants to end his career as a Colt.
1 Like
None of this is anything new, guys. It's the same info I've been hammering on for weeks. It's not any more set in stone than it was before.
No one knows if Peyton will be able to play. He's not close enough for anyone to say that he definitely coming back. The Colts' treatment of him is proof enough of that.
King and Clayton are finally just realizing that everyone close to the situation has been worried about this for months. KIng's piece today said basically the same stuff that people have been saying locally.
None of this is new. I've been trying to prepare everyone for it for awhile now.
We still know nothing. Nothing. The little we do know isn't all that encouraging, but it's no guarantee of anything.
All this is what makes me laugh at doctors going on ESPN saying he has a 90% chance to recover. It's pure unadulterated BS. No one has any idea what the real percentage is, but I've not heard anyone with actual knowledge of Peyton's situation put anything close to that kind of number on it. They all lean toward retirement.
Peyton may well play again, and he may well play in 2012. I wouldn't bet on it though. The odds are very much against it, and the odds of him playing for the Colts ever again are nil.
Basically, all these reports do is confirm that the smattering of 'positive' reports from December aren't to be taken seriously on any level.
1 Like
And while you have been saying it for months, those of use trying to live in the dream world where Peyton plays five more years with Indianapolis have had an easier time discounting that information when it comes from only one source. Not saying that your credibility is suspect, because frankly, it's not. It's just easier to ignore something when it's one person. When everyone else comes out saying the same thing it's alot harder to ignore. And as far as what doctors have said on ESPN, I certainly haven't done any fact checking on their individual claims, but ostensibly they would be quoting randomized controlled trials of therapeutic interventions to correct those statements. Not quite BS, maybe wrong in the case of Peyton Manning, but it's like every other probability based analysis. 90% may have been accurate or may still be. @Nate Dunlevy
3 Like
@Nate Dunlevy I think many fans sort cordoned off a place in their minds (I know I did) that still allowed for optimism for a comeback, even though "rebuild", "Luck", and "draft" fully occupy my other three brain cells. It's easy to sneer when Jason LaCon-whats-his-name declares Manning a goner, but when KIng and Clayton get in on the action, my heart starts to break a little. I know you get this a lot, but thanks for all the straight-shootin' an common sense.
I still can't bear the thought that Tom Brady might win another super bowl in OUR HOUSE and there's not a thing we can do about it.
2 Like
Something tells me that this is now all about Irsay and Peyton finally getting together and mutually deciding on what the best way to do this is for each ot them.
Put me in the camp of those who believe this decision to release Peyton was made weeks ago. It is in Irsay's best PR interests for Peyton to just retire and never play again.
Here is what irks me though... that this has anything to do with an on-field safety issue or Peyton's quality of life going forward. I understand Bill Simmons getting this wrong on his podcast and even Chris Berman and the boys on NFL countdown.
But what I don't abide by is when Mr. Irsay makes this an issue, like he is saving Peyton from harm's way. Please don't make this out to be anything more than a business decision.
This is all about if Peyton will ever be able to throw a football at an NFL caliber level again. Even if he "retires" I believe the chances are that be it in five months or a year, the time will come where his arm strength will come back and Peyton will succomb to the siren song of the NFL and try to play again.
As a Colts fan, I know it's selfish of me to say, but I'd prefer he retire than play for another team.
@kk5b I have already accepted that he won't be a Colt next year. I would feel ok with him retiring or moving on to a team like the 49ers. With the Niners he wins 2 rings in his last 3 years and puts all this stupid Manning vs Brady debate to bed. Peyton = GOAT.
@kk5b
My thoughts exactly. I can live with a "new era" if Peyton retires. A lot of people talk about him playing for another team, but seem to forget he would have to pass a physical. He won't retire if he can pass a physical to play for the Colts. If he can't pass a physical here, he can't pass one anywhere else. I hate that he probably won't play ever again, and especially that he won't play for the Colts. I hope Mr. Irsay ofeers to him - when feels ready - to come back to the Colts to take a coaching position. QB coach and eventually OC is in his future if he wants it. He loves football too, too much not to come back to it in some position or another. Lord knows he can pick anything he wants. Commentator (NFL Network, not ESPN PLEASE!), any offensive coaching position (I bet he could even coach the offensive line!), front office maybe (director of player personnel to start, maybe even GM - his level of intelligence and ability to remember almost everything would serve him well their) or maybe even become part owner with Irsay to insure a proper direction when Irsay decides to retire himself. All speculative as anything else we're hearing, but all just as possible. One thing is for sure -I only wish the best for Peyton and his family and that whatever he decides and whatever direction he decides to go after that decision, I hope he is healthy, happy and can continue enjoying football in some form for the rest of his life. Peyton, if you have to go, we (all the fans, and all of us COLTS FANS) will miss you dearly....we all wish you the BEST in all that you do!
There is no reason for Peyton to hurry up a decision like this.
March 8 is only a deadline for the Colts to decide whether or not to opt out.
There would be no reason why Peyton couldn't rehab with a private trainer until around July or August, and judge where his progress is at that point, before making any decisions about retirement.
I'd like to note that John Clayton isn't reporting this. It's coming from Amy Lawrence's Twitter and it's not a verified Twitter page. If this was an actual report Clayton would have officially reported it to ESPN.
Also, this must be spreading around, and Clayton's not denied it. As a stand up journalist, if he thought it had no basis, he wouldn't want his name associated with it and would've rescinded it. maybe he still will, but his silence on the issue directly is somewhat telling as well.
Yes, but it's starting to have a similar haze of smoke around it as the news of his third surgery did last fall. Once real names start getting attached to the rumors -- JMV then, Clayton now -- the chance that it's for real goes up dramatically.
@pierrezombie And Peter King says Peyton is still struggling, looking doubtful.
Put it all together and the Magic 8 Ball says, "Ohhhh, crap. CrapcrapcrapCRAP!"
@squirrel What's weird is that I can't imagine what incentive either Manning or Irsay could have for letting this get into the news cycle now. It's such a huge distraction from SB week any way you slice it.
Oh, duh. Maybe it's a leak -- one of the numerous people who've been shown the door recently? I guess that'd explain why no one is actually reporting it yet. Smoke, meet fire.
If true, you have to think it wont be announced until after the SB. This would almost eclipse the event .....
To be honest. The more and more I think about it. I'd rather see him play for another team then forced to retire.
1 Like
@LovinBlue@Sinn0331 If this situation happens, my thought process is he's going only if he can start, so unless this hypothetical involves Brady getting hurt, it does settle the Brady/Manning debate, if BB chooses Manning over Brady.
1 Like
I agree completely. As much as it would suck not seeing him in Indy, I'd rather he go out on his own terms. Seems like it would be selfish not to want anything else for him. At least the divorce won't be as messy as the Favre/Green Bay divorce. Peyton seems like he'd be mature enough to realize that a team can't e expected to pay THAT much for a guy whose future is THAT uncertain. Although Music Man did make some good points in his article the other day. Crap, now I don't know what to believe. Either way, wherever he goes would automatically become my 1b. Go Niners/Cardinals/Ravens/Chiefs/Redskins!
@Fondue@Sinn0331 But what if he went to the Jets? I just don't know if my heart could handle that. I must say that I'm utterly conflicted on this. First and foremost, I would feel terrible for Peyton. But this could ultimately end up being best for our franchise. No tough decision, no incessant comparisons of Manning/Luck (Favre/Rodgers). But not seeing Manning throw another down, take another snap. That might be worse. Still, he's already sealed his first ballot HOF status, but would like to see him add to his resume.
@Fondue@Sinn0331 Well, I'd root for Peyton no matter where he went, but Jets will never be 1b. If he went to the 9ers under Harbaugh (unlikely) I'd probably be a raging 49ers fan haha. I guess I've never forgiven the Jets for routing us 41-0 in the 2002 playoffs. Rex Ryan certainly hasn't helped since.
The irony...the iron man forced to retire because of injury,fucking sucks. He always said ya never know what play could be your last, play like it.
Peyton won't let anyone cut him. If he can't play - and not just play, but play and be Peyton F. Manning - he's going to take the decision out of everyone's hands and retire.
1 Like
@squirrelThat's what I think people are forgetting. Peyton is a HUGE perfectionist. He probably could get to a point where he could play, but if he can't play at the highest level, I think Peyton would retire.
1 Like
@squirrel Interesting point. This would be the only way for him to go out "on his own terms," given that the injury itself already prevented that.
1 Like
Now I know this is the most likely outcome, but is there any reason that this statement is more final than plenty of other pundit predictions or is he just another guy spouting an opinion?
@naptown_ninja "mangerines" ... oh ... my ... wow. Can I please haz that as my new catch phrase?
I guess if he had to leave, it's the best way. Could use him as an OC or something? But then again, knowing him, he will continue to work out and gain strength and come out of retirement for another team. I'm sure he didn't want to end it this way. Sad too, as I'm sure the doctors told him an operation would fix the problem (or a good chance to).
