INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—The Indianapolis Colts thought they'd suffered a big blow when they ruled their four-time MVP quarterback out for the season opener. Now they may have lost Peyton Manning(notes) for the entire season.
Manning underwent more neck surgery Thursday, his third procedure in 19 months, and his return this season is uncertain.
Losing Manning for any stretch of time is something the Colts would love to avoid, and it's certain to throw the race for the AFC South wide open. Manning hasn't missed a game in 14 NFL seasons, with 227 consecutive starts, including the postseason.
Rehabilitation from such surgery is typically an involved process,” the team said in a statement, calling the procedure “uneventful.”The Colts said there would be “no estimation of a return date at this time. We will keep Peyton on the active roster until we have a clear picture of his recovery process.”
Oh, just kidding. I'm all right. I'll get over it. No, really, don't worry. What? Oh, that's nothing, just got a little dust in my eye.
As a fan who'd like to see the Colts win as many games as possible, I think this "no estimation of a return date" might be a mistake. A team that's waiting -- anxiously and uncertainly -- for its star to come back will play one way, and a team that's made its peace with his absence will play another way. The Colts will be less tentative and more able to train and improve as a cohesive unit if they just write him off for the season and pick a permanent replacement. It might be better for Manning, too, to have the year to concetrate on getting healthy.
I mean, it's not like we have to feel sorry for him or anything:
The uncertainty regarding Peyton Manning's ability to play football in 2011 doesn't appear in the five-year, $90 million contract that Manning signed last month.
According to a source with knowledge of the deal, Manning received a $20 million signing bonus. As long as he doesn't leave the Colts via a voluntary retirement, none of that money can be recovered.
If he's not placed on injured reserve by then end of the week, another $7.4 million will become guaranteed, via a $3.4 million base salary and a $3 million roster bonus earned if Manning is on the 53-man roster for any one game in 2011.
Even if Manning is placed on season-ending IR, the fact that he passed a physical means that he'll be owed the full $3.4 million, unless the Colts would work out an injury settlement for something less than that and relinquish his rights, an outcome which is highly unlikely.
Suhweet.
