Phil B: Why is the Manning decision taking so long?
Are we there yet?
Are we there yet?
1.) Irsay is putting off releasing Manning in hopes the QB will realize he should retire. That’s not going to happen, but Irsay couldn’t be blamed for wanting to take as much time as possible in case Manning has an epiphany and realizes it’s the smart move.
Those ten guesses about the delay show just how confusing this situation has become when in fact it should be dead simple.
This is an easy question to answer. Both sides are doing what is in their own best business interests, as they should. It is not in Irsay's (the team's) best interest to cut Manning before he has to. There is a post elsewhere on this site that claims that what Manning needs is time. That is so. He needs time to show teams he can play at his usual level of proficiency. 31 teams can give Manning that time before deciding whether or not to pursue him to play QB. One team, the Colts have to pay $28M for the privilege. The Colts have the advantage/disadvantage of freezing out the other teams but it breaks their cap structure to do so if Manning isnt everything he was previously, So why would Irsay make that decision one moment before he has to? Waiting gives him a) the best possible insight into Manning's recovery and b) more opportunity for some sort of a compromise to be worked out contractually..
