Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
When Jim Irsay said Peyton Manning was a politician, he didn't say enough. Manning is a great politician. As evidence, check out the news, via ESPN's Chris Mortensen, that Manning has been "medically cleared." Stampede Blue has a great cross-section of immediate reaction, including hints that maybe, just maybe, this news means nothing at all. From Mortensen's report.
What remains in question is the timeline in which Manning's nerve regeneration to his triceps will improve to the point where he is throwing passes in the manner that helped him win four MVP awards during his 13-year career.
Or, in layman's terms: Peyton Manning is medically cleared to play football. He just can't throw. Such a revelation means as much as finding out that I'm medically cleared to play football. For the record, I can't throw, either.
The most newsworthy part of this report is its timing and existence. This information isn't much different than what Robert Watkins, Manning's surgeon, said in November. 72 hours before the Super Bowl, it's hard to think Manning isn't putting his own agenda ahead of the city of Indianapolis' time in the spotlight. He's allowed to play this however he wants, but we're talking more about the Manning who's not playing Sunday than the one who is.
Things like that rarely happen by accident. But good politicians make it look that easy.
4 comments
1
Mar 7
Comments
Oh, please.
Less than a week ago, people “close to Manning” were talking about his imminent retirement due to his debilitating neck issues, which put him at risk of life-altering injury if he were to ever step onto a field again. This may be him protecting his value on the free agent market, but I don’t see anything wrong with that. If you were a free agent on the writing circuit, would you want sources “close to you” suggesting you may never be able to safely write again?
I gotta stop takin' my baths durin' Peter's shenanigans.
by MichaelProcton on Feb 2, 2012 10:16 PM EST reply actions
You got it twisted.
They were talking retirement because he couldn’t throw, because of the nerve damage. This has never been about the fusion in his neck. It’s always been about whether or not his nerves regenerate and whether or not he’s ever able to build his arm strength and endurance back up to a level that will allow him to be an NFL quarterback.
His neck has been structurally fine for quite some time and this latest piece of information clearly came from the Manning camp, and it clearly pushed the right buttons to make Irsay lash out. Not that hard to see the motives here.
And by the way, is his free agency going to take that big of a hit if he waits until next, after the Super Bowl stuff dies now? Four days ain’t gonna change anything.
CougCenter
by Brian Floyd on Feb 3, 2012 2:51 AM EST up reply actions
I was thinking the same thng
He is medically cleared to play, but he may not be the same player. If he is a free agent teams should give him a low guarantee with the big money coming from incentives.
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by Jeremy Mauss on Feb 2, 2012 10:38 PM EST reply actions
Not fair to Manning
To me this is much more a case of Irsay being a bad politician. He’s trying to spin this into a debate on Manning’s health so he doesn’t look like the bad guy when he cuts him in March. Manning’s just trying to defend himself. None of us know how Manning will perform if he can go in 2012, but he’s at least earned the right to prove he can’t play before Irsay pushes him out the door.
by krc106 on Feb 3, 2012 12:43 PM EST reply actions
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