[Bob Allen] Peyton Interested in Playing for Texans

[Keith]

Man, a whack rumor like this in February goes a day without being posted? Y'all be slippin.

So Boob Allen says it and Jabba McClain denies it. This is like when an resistable force meets a moveable object. WHAT WILL OVERCOME THE OTHER???

Someone I know who is close friends with the Manning family says Peyton is definitely interested in coming to the Texans. Manning will be released by the Colts early next month and will be a free agent. The person who knows the Mannings says Peyton wants to play on a team that has a chance of going to a Super Bowl, and the Texans fit that description.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...all&id=8542447

Think about the Texans’ offense.

That’s not Manning’s offense. He doesn’t roll out and throw the boot. He’s a pocket passer. Manning will go to a team that plays the same offense and is willing for him to basically run it because that’s what he did so well with the Colts until his three neck operations.

So forget about Manning coming to the Texans. It’s not going to happen.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans...or-the-texans/

I don't know what's funnier, that Allen is breaking an unsubstantiated rumor or that McClain thinks Schaub's lisfranc'd foot mobility is irreplaceable.

Even the Washington Post is laughing at Allen.

Allen’s problem is that he’s unskilled at the art of sports-sourcing lingo. A better formulation would have been this: “The Houston Texans are among the teams that have drawn the attention of longtime Indianapolis Colt Peyton Manning, according to a source close to the Manning family.” That’s how other sports-news outlets would have reported such a tip. Along with a little feedback from the Texans, of course.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...MWDR_blog.html

[Nconroe]

Yeah, heard the rumor news yesterday.

Just figure such a risky idea given Manning's unknown recovery status and risk to his long term health plus likely cost that other teams likely to jump aty his availability way before Texans.

Likely replacing QB not on top 5 list of things Texans need to be doing.

Apparently Schaub's rehab is going well, perhaps even ahead of schedule.

For Mannings to let the rumor out does seem feasible to help any bidding to get his services.

I do wish Peyton health and success if his football career can continue safely.

Too bad if things don't somehow continue in Indy for him after all he has done for that team and town.

[HPF Bob]

We've found a cheaper keeper now in TJ Yates so the idea of throwing money at Manning makes no sense at all, particularly when we have a perfectly good starter that just needs to be kept away from Albert Haynesworth, Jared Allen and Drayton Florence. That sounds doable for next season based on our schedule.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

We've found a cheaper keeper now in TJ Yates so the idea of throwing money at Manning makes no sense at all, particularly when we have a perfectly good starter that just needs to be kept away from Albert Haynesworth, Jared Allen and Drayton Florence. That sounds doable for next season based on our schedule.

Haynesworth just got cut by the Bucs. I wish him a miserable retirement.

[barrett]

If he was healthy (a big question mark), and he will sign an incentive based deal (which he has indicated), than it is a no-brainer. A %95 Peyton on our team last year walks to a superbowl.

As for the fit, I am not at all worried about it. Manning is a great play action QB. I think Indy was always near the top of the league in using and converting off of play action with him. And he even operated off of the zone stretch PA a ton in Indy, just without the boot. And if a guy like Schaub has the mobility to boot, it proves it is more about good feet than about speed. Manning has good feet and ball handling.

I'd let Mario walk in a heartbeat if it meant signing a healthy Peyton. It is a QB league and the only thing better than the ability to kill an elite QB is to have one of the 5 elite guys yourself.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by barrett

I'd let Mario walk in a heartbeat if it meant signing a healthy Peyton. It is a QB league and the only thing better than the ability to kill an elite QB is to have one of the 5 elite guys yourself.

Wow. Talk about fool's gold. I know you've been big on keeping Mario but then you'd throw him away for, at best, a two-year rental when we already have a pro-bowl caliber QB and now a playoff-tested backup? Even if Manning were in top condition, this is a terrible idea.

[WMH]

I stopped listening to Allen's report when he said that he heard it from someone who is close to someone who is close to Manning....or something like that.

Kubiak isn't going to give up control of "his" offense. Not going to happen.

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

We've found a cheaper keeper now in TJ Yates so the idea of throwing money at Manning makes no sense at all.

Comical to even contemplate preferring Yates to Manning. I wouldn't loose any sleep if we cut Yates tomorrow. He showed me nothing but inaccuracy and bad decisions in his limited starts.

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Even if Manning were in top condition, this is a terrible idea.

That's ridiculus....

First of all,
Mario is as good as gone, regardless if we sign Manning or not. The Texans aren't gonna pay the oft' injured DE $20 Million a season, especially considering how well Brooks played in his abscence. Fools Gold would be to keep him with a bloated new contract.

And second,

You need good QB play to win in the playoffs, not a guy with accuracy issues throwing in to triple coverage on multiple occasions. Yates' decision making is as suspect as your assertions.

[HPF Bob]

It makes no sense to pay a big contract (and it will be a big contract) to have Manning wear a clipboard and say "Attaboy Matt" or vice versa if Manning starts over Schaub. If we kept Mario (and I'm not fully in that camp), at least we would still be giving plenty of time to all three OLBs rotating them in and out. You don't do that with quarterbacks so it would be a waste of money unless one gets injured.

As for Yates, do you forget he beat the Bengals not once but twice? Plenty of QBs look bad against the Ravens. Given he was pressed into service with little preparation, I thought he did fine. I'd be happy to put him as the #2 quarterback behind Schaub and spend the money somewhere else.

Who has been backing up Tom Brady? Drew Brees? Aaron Rodgers? Guys they've paid a pittance to and have rarely been burned by the decision. Peyton Manning is too old to be anything except a short-term investment.

Really, I'm astounded some of you are even seriously entertaining this. Even if he's not damaged goods, he and Schaub both cost too much to be stuck to the bench.

[chuck]

I don't think it's feasible that Manning would end up a Texan but if he did there is no way that he and Schaub would be on the same roster. I don't think anyone is envisioning that.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

I don't think it's feasible that Manning would end up a Texan but if he did there is no way that he and Schaub would be on the same roster. I don't think anyone is envisioning that.

Thank you Chuck. In my pipe dream there is no way we have them both.

Even more suprising than Bob thinking I was talking about Manning as a backup was his assertion that it was a bad decision to sign Manning even if he was totally healthy.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by barrett

Thank you Chuck. In my pipe dream there is no way we have them both.

Even more suprising than Bob thinking I was talking about Manning as a backup was his assertion that it was a bad decision to sign Manning even if he was totally healthy.

I mean, we're obviously inhabiting a fantasy land by even having this discussion but a healthy Manning plus Reggie Wayne as a #2 (as you [I think it was you] suggested) and I'm making hotel reservations in New Orleans.

The Texans don't have the money, they don't have the answers as to the guy's health, Kubiak has a man crush on Schaub - there are plenty of reasons why this will never happen. But yeah, obviously, if you have the chance to have a healthy version of what may very well be the best quarterback ever to play football I think you probably want to give that a long look.

[HPF Bob]

So, just to be clear, you would let Mario Williams walk and trade (or cut) Matt Schaub just to sign a 36-year-old quarterback who might be just one good blow to the head away from being back on the IR even if he was completely healthy?

Yes, Manning has had a Hall of Fame career but do we really dump two younger, healthier Pro Bowlers for an old QB with a questionable neck?

I suppose if we shopped Schaub for a pair of #1s and could make that deal, it could be doable but you'd then need to get another franchise quarterback ready in 2-3 years.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

So, just to be clear, you would let Mario Williams walk and trade (or cut) Matt Schaub just to sign a 36-year-old quarterback who might be just one good blow to the head away from being back on the IR even if he was completely healthy?

Yes, Manning has had a Hall of Fame career but do we really dump two younger, healthier Pro Bowlers for an old QB with a questionable neck?

I suppose if we shopped Schaub for a pair of #1s and could make that deal, it could be doable but you'd then need to get another franchise quarterback ready in 2-3 years.

The only reason you play this game is to win superbowls. A healthy Peyton Manning on this Texans team with the offensive talent around him and our defense is about the biggest superbowl favorite of the past half decade. I trade away a half a dozen good Schaub years for that any day of the week. Especially since Manning is asking for an incentive based contract with no gaurantees.

If you could be assured of Peyton's health and you didn't coach the Patriots, Giants, Saints or Packers you take a long look at this. Of course his health is not a sure thing right now and probably won't be by the time he signs. So it will likely be a team with more incentive to roll the dice. As long as Schaub is recovering we don't have that incentive for at least another year (until we see where this team goes in a healthy year).

[chuck]

If I knew Manning were completely healthy I would take him in an instant and sort out the rest later. I do not know that, cannot know that and, frankly, assume that he is not healthy so this whole fantasy is a rhetorical cul-de-sac.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

If I knew Manning were completely healthy I would take him in an instant and sort out the rest later. I do not know that, cannot know that and, frankly, assume that he is not healthy so this whole fantasy is a rhetorical cul-de-sac.

I agree with all of this. If it wasn't the offseason I would dismiss it. But since I have no actual football news to contemplate, I can compare a hypothetically healthy Peyton vs a hypothetically healthy Schaub (and even as a huge Schaub fan that is no comparison).

[HPF Bob]

Remind me again how many Super Bowls Peyton Manning won and what quarterbacks did he beat to get those rings. Thanks. I'll hang up and listen...

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by WMH

I stopped listening to Allen's report when he said that he heard it from someone who is close to someone who is close to Manning....or something like that.

Kubiak isn't going to give up control of "his" offense. Not going to happen.

I am guessing that the source Allen is using is Spencer Tillman, a person that has worked with Archie Manning on college football half time shows. This has the sounds of a controlled leak by the Manning's to scare the Colts.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Remind me again how many Super Bowls Peyton Manning won and what quarterbacks did he beat to get those rings. Thanks. I'll hang up and listen...

Are you serious? Your argument for keeping schaub instead of manning is he ONLY won one superbowl?

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I am guessing that the source Allen is using is Spencer Tillman, a person that has worked with Archie Manning on college football half time shows. This has the sounds of a controlled leak by the Manning's to scare the Colts.

Don't you think Irsay moved away from Peyton a long time ago ?