Peyton Manning Rumors: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals Interested In Manning If Available

Monday, February 6, 2012

IndianapolisColts.com

By Kris Knox
Featured NFL Writer


Peyton Manning will return to play football in 2012, at least according to the quarterback himself.

“Doctors and I have been in good, constant communication,” Manning said in a recent ESPN interview, “And I’m very encouraged by what they’ve said. Everything’s right on point, I’ll be cleared and ready to play.”

With that statement, it appears that the NFL world is getting the announcement it has been waiting for—well, sort of.

While everyone would be glad to have Manning back in the NFL next season, questions remain as to where exactly he will be playing. The once unthinkable idea of Manning playing in a non-Colts uniform seems to be creeping close to reality.

Manning is owed a $28 million roster bonus on March 8 and if Indianapolis decides not to pay, he will become a free agent and able to sign with any team he chooses. The Colts seem locked in on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in April's draft, so keeping Manning at that price will not be a realistic option.

So if Manning is not going to return to Indianapolis, where does he go?

The Washington Redskins have already been mentioned as a possible landing spot for the four time league MVP, but to be fair, the Redskins seem to be linked to every big-named free agent—every year. There have also been rumors of interest in San Francisco, where Manning might be enough of an upgrade at quarterback to get the 49ers into the Super Bowl.

One interesting potential scenario, presented by ESPN's Adam Schefter, has Manning going to the Arizona Cardinals. According to Schefter, the Cardinals absolutely will pursue Manning if he becomes an available free agent.

Manning in Arizona would present an interesting situation, as the Cardinals sent a second-round draft pick and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to Philadelphia last off-season for Kevin Kolb, with the hopes that he would be their quarterback of the future.

Unfortunately, Kolb was mostly a disappointment in 2011, struggling with mechanics and going just 2-6 as a starter. There is a possibility that the Cardinals could keep Kolb in order to groom him under Manning, but Kolb's $64 million contract makes it more likely that Arizona would simply cut their losses and let him walk after one season. The team responded better to backup quarterback John Skelton last season and he would surely provide a more financially feasible option as Manning's eventual heir.

Adding fuel to Schefter's speculation is the fact that Arizona's star wideout Larry Fitzgerald is expected to join Manning for a dinner date sometime this week in Indianapolis. Fitzgerald has long been an active member of the Cardinals organization and has been pushing hard to bring in an elite quarterback, so this could certainly be seen as a recruiting trip.

While the 49ers appear to have a stranglehold on the NFC West, Manning could provide enough firepower to make things interesting in the division. The Cardinals made some significant strides during 2011 and a duo of Manning and Fitzgerald might just be enough to push Arizona back into the NFC playoff picture.


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