“BREAKING: Peyton Manning eats In-N-Out Burger. They don’t have that in Florida. He obviously prefers Arizona.”
The speculation as to where the former Indianapolis Colts star will wind up has reached near-unbearable levels. Much like the summer of 2010 when LeBron James decided to “take his talents to South Beach,” the media has covered Manning’s every move, be it relevant or not.
Understandably, this is one of the biggest storylines in the current sports world. Manning is a franchise-changing quarterback that is deserving of attention, but there is a difference between live-tweeting every second of the quarterback’s life and keeping a close eye on relevant moves.
That being said, Manning did spend some time in Arizona while on a tour to meet with his suitors, speaking with star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, coach Ken Whisenhunt and others.
The Cardinals’ quarter back situation is dire. After trading for the relatively unproven Kevin Kolb, who missed significant time last season with several injuries, the team had to rely on second-year quarterback John Skelton and a ragtag group of other backups.
Manning solves all, or at least most, of these issues for Arizona. Manning is 36-years-old and returns after missing an entire season because of four separate neck surgeries, but there are similarities to the possibility of signing Manning and when the Cardinals took a chance on the aging Kurt Warner.
At the very least, there is no doubt Manning will sell tickets. The Cardinals have been searching for a marquee name to pair with Fitzgerald since Warner retired in January 2010, but have yet to find that player. (Sorry, Kevin Kolb, Derek Anderson, John Skelton and company.)
Still, there is the chance Manning shakes off his injury woes and returns to the Hall of Fame form he’s known for, and that’s what the Cardinals are hoping for in their quest to sign the 14-year veteran.
In the event that chance becomes a reality, Manning to Arizona could make a lot of sense. The team already has some quality pieces — Fitzgerald, rookie sensation Patrick Peterson and three-time Pro Bowler Darnell Dockett — that simply need a dynamic field general to put them over the top.
Then again, there is the chance signing Manning could be a complete bust. No one has truly seen him work out, and while medical reports suggest Manning will be just fine, a sport that is so physical does not lend itself to an easy recuperation from such a major injury. It would be one thing to take a flier on an aging superstar, but the price tag for Manning will likely become large enough that simply “taking a chance” won’t be a valid excuse if he doesn’t pan out the way the team expected.
We hope it’s as easy as which state has In-N-Out, but the transaction is far more complicated. Manning is a once-in-a-lifetime franchise quarterback and most Valley residents hope his second franchise wears red.
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