@the-gipper said:

Well, he was the starter and helped score the only TD in the game which was only a 16-13 game.

How did the Colts win that game...and win that season, with an aged Unitas?

Great defense and running.

So, its a lesson to be learned. Any number of SBs EDIT were won by teams who had less than a stellar performer at QB.

The Browns need to build their defense and offensive line. Then fill in with the QB they need. And honestly, that may not happen for a couple of years.

Well, since we missed out on RGIII, may as well go the Steeler's route and wait until another Rothlisberger drops into our lap. I just hope it's this year or next- I'm not getting any younger.

@mld-woody said:

The 49ers could potentially be beastly next year

Sign Manning

Sign Wayne and Moss

Draft whoever

QB: Manning

WR: Wayne, Moss, Crabtree

TE: Davis

HB: Gore

plus they already have a great D

What the hell, maybe the Browns should go after Randy Moss. Why not? Get him for nothing. Give him an incentive laden contract. If he blows up, nothing is lost but a little money.

I mean, what "lockerroom chemistry" is there with the Browns that he can destroy? Their winning attitude?

Sign Manning

Sign Wayne and Moss

Draft whoever

QB: Manning

WR: Wayne, Moss, Crabtree

TE: Davis

HB: Gore

plus they already have a great D

@tour2ma said:

FYI... Johnnie U was knocked out of SB V in its 2nd Qtr. His stats were 3/9 for 88 yds w/ 1 TD and 2 INT. And 75 of his 88 yds were on one play, a TD pass to Mackey. So he hardly won the game for the Colts.

Well, he was the starter and helped score the only TD in the game which was only a 16-13 game.

How did the Colts win that game...and win that season, with an aged Unitas?

Great defense and running.

So, its a lesson to be learned. Any number of QBs were won by teams who had less than a stellar performer at QB.

The Browns need to build their defense and offensive line. Then fill in with the QB they need. And honestly, that may not happen for a couple of years.

@the-gipper said:

OK, but: Unitas: 1 Super Bowl win.

FYI... Johnnie U was knocked out of SB V in its 2nd Qtr. His stats were 3/9 for 88 yds w/ 1 TD and 2 INT. And 75 of his 88 yds were on one play, a TD pass to Mackey. So he hardly won the game for the Colts.

As for where Peyton lands... still believe that SF has to be in the mix.

@brownrebel said:

To those that said I was wrong about point #4 being incorrect on the title post, here is an ap link. The issue is nerve regeneration in his muscles/arm (ie strength). He has no more inherent risk coming back than anyone else.

http://m.apnews.mobi/ap/db_6719/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=pi2NzYIk

Check

@hoorta said:

Gip, there's a difference between "playing" and "playing at the highest level". Manning is going to expect to get paid at the highest level. I won't bother to look it up on Pro football reference, but I'm betting at least 1\2 the guys you put on your list were totally washed up the last couple of years of their careers.

Batch- bench warmer. McNabb dumped by Eagles and Vikings. Collins active @ 39- I think there's some folks in nursing homes that are still "active" @ 90.

OK, but: Elway: 2 Super Bowl wins

Unitas: 1 Super Bowl win

Montana: took team to AFC title game

Favre: took team to NFC title game

For someone as supremely talented as Manning, I see him having 3 more years of playoff caliber play....assuming his nerve has regenerated. Sure, it won't be with the Browns....and unless it was with the Browns who would care if he flopped around like fish because he was too old and hurt? I just don't think he is too old or too hurt.

http://m.apnews.mobi/ap/db_6719/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=pi2NzYIk

@the-gipper said:

No, by all indications as long as his nerve has regenerated he can be as good as ever. And it is not like other QBs haven't be productive who were as old or older as he is.

John Elway won 2 SBs at the age of 37 and 38.

Mark Brunell and Jeff Garcia were around to age 41.

Favre was in an NFC title game at age 40.

Charlie Batch is 37

Kerry Collins was active last year at age 39.

Matt Hasselbeck is 36.

Jon Kitna is 39.

Delhomme was 36 last year.

Donovan McNabb is 35.

John Unitas was 37 when he QBd the Colts to a SB win in 1970

Testaverde played til he was 41

Warren Moon played til he was 44

Marino and Montana played til 38....and they took teams to the playoffs in their last year or two.

No, a 35 year old Peyton Manning....as long as his nerves have healed can play several more good years.

(Note: the reports are that he is in no worse danger of serious injury than any other QB is even with his fused disks. Again, the only thing that could be problematical is the regerneration of the nerve, and all indications are that that process is either complete or nearly complete)

Gip, there's a difference between "playing" and "playing at the highest level". Manning is going to expect to get paid at the highest level. I won't bother to look it up on Pro football reference, but I'm betting at least 1\2 the guys you put on your list were totally washed up the last couple of years of their careers.

Batch- bench warmer. McNabb dumped by Eagles and Vikings. Collins active @ 39- I think there's some folks in nursing homes that are still "active" @ 90.

@browns2012 said:

As much as I don't want to admit it, I think it's true. Manning was with the Colts for about 14-15 years. Since he's been with the team for that long and the age he is now, it's going to be hard for him to find another team. If he eventually does find another team, how long will he last with that team before he realizes that he wants to retire. I think it's best that he retires because he's a bit old. He's 35. So in about what 3-4 years his body is going to turn against him and he won't be able to perform to the best of his ability like someone younger than him. Maybe his time is up. Sorry Manning but maybe you need to retire.

No, by all indications as long as his nerve has regenerated he can be as good as ever. And it is not like other QBs haven't be productive who were as old or older as he is.

John Elway won 2 SBs at the age of 37 and 38.

Mark Brunell and Jeff Garcia were around to age 41.

Favre was in an NFC title game at age 40.

Charlie Batch is 37

Kerry Collins was active last year at age 39.

Matt Hasselbeck is 36.

Jon Kitna is 39.

Delhomme was 36 last year.

Donovan McNabb is 35.

John Unitas was 37 when he QBd the Colts to a SB win in 1970

Testaverde played til he was 41

Warren Moon played til he was 44

Marino and Montana played til 38....and they took teams to the playoffs in their last year or two.

No, a 35 year old Peyton Manning....as long as his nerves have healed can play several more good years.

(Note: the reports are that he is in no worse danger of serious injury than any other QB is even with his fused disks. Again, the only thing that could be problematical is the regerneration of the nerve, and all indications are that that process is either complete or nearly complete)

@usfbrown said:

Seriously?

1. He would never come here.

2. There is no way of knowing his health status.

3. He doesn't have many years left.

4. One big hit and it could end his career or leave him paralyzed.

As much as I like Manning, no thanks. We need a long term answer at qb, not a band aid.

As much as I don't want to admit it, I think it's true. Manning was with the Colts for about 14-15 years. Since he's been with the team for that long and the age he is now, it's going to be hard for him to find another team. If he eventually does find another team, how long will he last with that team before he realizes that he wants to retire. I think it's best that he retires because he's a bit old. He's 35. So in about what 3-4 years his body is going to turn against him and he won't be able to perform to the best of his ability like someone younger than him. Maybe his time is up. Sorry Manning but maybe you need to retire.

Heckert: Browns won't chase Peyton Manning

By Marc Sessler NFL.com

The pipe dream that was Peyton Manning-to-the-Browns is over before it began. Cleveland general manager Tom Heckert, on the mend from heart surgery, dismissed the idea of entering the chase for the ex-Colts quarterback, now a free agent.

"That's probably not a direction we're going to go," Heckert told The Plain Dealer on Thursday, hammering home the reality that the Browns are unlikely to sign a big-name free-agent quarterback this offseason.

It's unlikely Manning was intrigued by the thought of playing for an under-construction Browns team with a distinct lack of weapons on offense, but what about Baylor's Robert Griffin III?

RG3's on Cleveland's radar, but Heckert clarified that the Baylor quarterback isn't the only passer the Browns find intriguing in next month's draft.

The GM "gushed about" Oklahoma State's Brandon Weedon, and added him to a list of four quarterbacks the Browns favor, including Stanford's Andrew Luck, Griffin and Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill.

"I really like (Weedon) a lot," Heckert said. "We're going to see him (throw) tomorrow (at his Pro Day). He's mature and he's telling you it's a positive. He's a really interesting guy. He's super smart."

Lost in all of this is Colt McCoy, the gritty if underwhelming starter who soldiered through a trying 2011 season with the Browns.

"We still think Colt can play in this league and it's our job to help him out," Heckert said, adding that McCoy could see major improvement, "If we catch more balls, if we protect him more."

Browns fans will agree: Two phases of the game in short supply in Cleveland for far too long.

Sign a big name WR (or whichever one he wants) continue to add to our already solid D in FA then draft him some weapons

I mean, it'll never happen, and probably isn't even that smart, but it'd still be cool to watch Manning play in a Browns uni

Zombo said:

Yeah, I agree Peyton could take over the WCO, he'd be changing plays at the line and shit, it would be awesome.

But that would ruin the fun of the Holmgren, Shurmur and Chili science project ... they want to develop someone in their system ... hot have someone better than them take it over.

Zombo

Aside from that, Manning I am sure wants to go somewhere where nearly all the pieces are in place to compete for a title....all but the QB.

And based on everything I have been hearing and reading that place is probably, in this order:

1. Miami. Top receiver in Brandon Marshall, plus Reggie Wayne who is from Miami could come in as a #2 receiver in a package deal. Quality pass catching/rushing RB in Reggie Bush. One of the best LTs in the game with Jake Long. Plus a defense that is probably better than any he ever had in Indy.

2. Arizona. They have the receiver in place, plus they seem to more flexible with their offensive system. They would certainly be a challanger in that division with Manning there. If Beanie Wells can stay healthy they have the RB. Plus I understand that Peyton and Whisenhunt are tight.

3. Seattle. They would need to bring Reggie Wayne in with Manning to bolster their receiving corps, but with him and Sidney Rice that could be a decent group. They have the RB with Beast Mode Marshawn Lynch....sort of an updated Edgerrin James. They have a decent young OL.

The defense I am not sure of.

The other reason these 3 would be more attractive to Manning?: Domes or good weather. I heard where Manning is barely over .500 in November, Dec., and Jan. in away non-dome games.

Zombo said:

The Browns are committed to their WCO system. Peyton comes with his own offense. That ends that conversation.

I hope he goes to the NFC, because wherever he goes, he's going to win.

Zombo

Bill Polian brought up an interesting point yesterday. He mentioned he fact that Peyton is obsessed with offensive football. He studies offenses that aren't his own. He's been known to pull coaches for hours long chalk/film talks at the Pro Bowl between practices, just to get a deeper understanding of how these offenses tick.

Bill asserted that aside from the terminology, which would take Manning about a day and a half to master, that Manning could execute an entire WCO gameplan right now. And, he'd love it... The way a 12 year old attacks a new video game. It's just the way he's wired.

That said, he's not coming to Cleveland. But his options are wide open.

-jj

@choco said:

lmao...

you realize limited mobility in his neck is gonna impact his ability to scan and see the field, right? do you even know what fused vertebrae are? watch him turn his body when talking at the press conference...youre a fool if you think he's gonna be the old manning.

Exactly...

He has more of a chance to have a terrible season than he does a great one. He'll be learning a new offense, new players, timing, shaking off rust, and coming back from a FREAKING BONE FUSION IN HIS NECK!

Yes, he was one of the greatest of the current NFL era.

@represent said:

Peyton Manning is now the most highly sought after nfl free agent in history i don't need to argue why. Yes he will do good on any fucking team in the NFL all 32. A Proven Captain period. You are a fucking joke to dismiss his entire career and skillset.

lmao...

you realize limited mobility in his neck is gonna impact his ability to scan and see the field, right? do you even know what fused vertebrae are? watch him turn his body when talking at the press conference...youre a fool if you think he's gonna be the old manning.

@mld-woody said:

I love how the reactions among fans between the Manning situation and the Lebron situation are the polar opposites of each other.

1) LeBum wasn't 35 years old coming off of say an ACL tear, and had already won a Championship for the Cavs. You didn't hear a peep from Cleveland fans when Ilgauskas went ring chasing in his last year, and I doubt there was much outcry in Salt Lake City when Karl Malone did the same.

2) A better analogy would be to assume Larry Bird (French Lick Indiana) had played for the Pacers, not the Celtics. After his rookie contract was up Larry Legend said "adios, I'm taking my talents to LA to play with Magic, gonna win 7-8 championships." You think the folks in Indy wouldn't have been seriously pissed?

@clevelandmilidh said:

Just to throw another crazy possibility out there. Drew Brees is in a contract dispute with the Saints. New Orleans is Payton Mannings hometown. Payton's only two years older...... Hey crazier things have happened

Brees got tagged and he's not happy about it. That's where the dispute comes from. That would be a ridonkulous story though.

@choco said:

you just make me shake my head. so gullible. i suppose you watched his video and now think he's just fine and will be the peyton we all come to know and respect. other people realize that was a heavily edited promotional video made to put pressure on irsay...

so the great prognosticator thinks manning can go to a new team and instantly turn them around? you also believed we'd go 11-5 last year (oh yeah, it was a joke, right?). its a better bet to put money down on the opposite of whatever you say....

Peyton Manning is now the most highly sought after nfl free agent in history i don't need to argue why. Yes he will do good on any fucking team in the NFL all 32. A Proven Captain period. You are a fucking joke to dismiss his entire career and skillset.