Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning, A divorce should come soon; Peyton Manning is not going to stick with the Indianapolis Colts.

Now begins the dance between the broken quarterback and the desperate suitors. The Washington Redskins seem like the perfect fit, but what about the Miami Dolphins or Seattle Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals?

Or what about this?

What if Manning just walked away for good? Strangely, retirement hasn’t been discussed much in the endless debate about who has been the least fair to whom: the Colts to Manning or Manning to the Colts. But what remains for Manning to prove now that he is nearly 36 and at the end of a Hall of Fame career with his neck cut open multiple times by a surgeon’s knife? What glory would he get from pulling the Cardinals to 8-8?

Manning’s injury was serious. The spinal fusion surgeries he underwent are often procedures retired players get long after their careers are done and the risk of greater injury from contact is gone. This isn’t to say Manning can’t play again after his operations. Obviously doctors have told him he can. But at what risk? Can he whip his head from side to side at the line of scrimmage as he once did? Will he be able to turn quickly and spot a receiver deep downfield, look to see his blockers or whirl around to find a tackler just before he’s hit?

A man who saw Manning late last summer said he called to the quarterback from behind and Manning turned in an awkward Frankensteinish way to see who it was shouting his name. Yes, that was a few weeks following Manning’s last surgery and presumably Manning is better. Those who saw him in Indianapolis during Super Bowl XLVI didn’t describe a stiff monster walk. But they also didn’t see Manning swirl his head the way he will need to on the field. Nor did they watch him throw. Few have seen him throw, and those who have are keeping those observations silent.

Still word leaks out. Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz, who has spoken with Manning in recent days, described Manning’s passing arm as “a noodle.”

Peyton Manning Injury

Peyton Manning Injury, Prior to kickoff on Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium, Fox Sports NFL info man, Jay Glazer reported that injured Indianpolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning put on pads after practice earlier this week to throw to some teammates. He also indicated that Manning was hoping to find his way onto the field for a few snaps in the remaining two games of the season.

The idea sounded crazy at the time but other media confirmed the throwing sessions took place, although not the intent of Manning’s efforts to get back on the field.

After the Colts finally won a game by beating the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, it didn’t take long for focus to shift back to Manning and the pre-game report. Colts Vice Chairman Bill Polian addressed the report after the game and left no doubt that he didn’t expect Manning to take the field in the final two games of the 2011 regular season.

According the Paul Kuharsky, reports that Polian said doctors have already ruled out a possible return for Manning.

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning could soon be throwing footballs to his teammates, the best news Colts fans have heard since this miserable season began. While the Colts and the four-time league MVP are still trying to find out what the next part of his rehabilitation program entails, lifting weights and throwing balls are apparently going to be part of it.

“Throwing will be part of the next progression,” Manning said Friday before heading back to the team’s weight room. “I will be doing some throwing and I have been doing some throwing. But now we’re going to ramp it up a little more.” Manning called the news encouraging and said he would like to practice or even play this season if he’s cleared. Vice chairman Bill Polian said he is pleased with Manning’s progress

“It’s great news that the fusion has healed,” Polian said after speaking at the Big Ten Football Awards Gala. “It’s on schedule, so we just keep going from here.”

It was welcome news in a winless season that began with Manning underdoing his third neck surgery in 19 months back on Sept. 8. He has not practiced since having a single-level spinal fusion that doctors hope will not only alleviate pressure on a damaged nerve that had caused weakness in Manning’s throwing arm but allow the 35-year-old quarterback to return to his perennial Pro Bowl status.