Ten-Point Stance: Peyton as a free agent still ...

That pressure wrecked him? That statement is as idiotic as Ditka's trade to select him. Williams made his choices and only He is responsible for same.

lol-- I like ya Mike-but are we really going to blame Ditka for Ricky Williams' addiction to weed? For his inability to deal with the fame that the Heisman trophy and being the leading rusher (at the time) in college football history brings? Come on man - I am not saying Rickey is a bad guy, quite the contrary, he seems like a good guy, but his poor decision making is the responsibility of Ricky Williams not Mike Ditka..

Chump of the Week....M.I.A. M.I.A. was an absolute nobody until her middle finger episode. Now, everyone is talking about her. Chumps of the Week: The media she played to get her name on people's lips.

Yeah Rob, because no one had ever heard her huge song "Paper Planes" and she was such an absolute nobody that she performed during the Super Bowl...

If it actually happens Peyton will be the Biggest! Also Indy will become the Biggest GOAT in the history of the NFL, because they really think the HYPE around Luck makes him good enough to replace Manning. Dream on Indy, and get very comfortable will 1, 2, and 3 win seasons for a long time.

With you on Reggie vs Manning, but the reason is simple: Peyton is no longer in his prime. If he had bolted after his Super Bowl win, he would have been the biggest FA ever. As for the two-bit rapper: stop extending her 15 minutes of fame. Moving along to Ricky Williams, I wish him the best, but he seems like a football version of Jaco Pastorius. I hope that isn't how it ends for him.

Reggie & Peyton ... Go Vols!

It will be interesting if Peyton ends up in Washington. Peyton and Eli will end up playing each other twice a year. Then we will be inundated with comparisons between the two.

Report: Rehabbing Manning can't throw to left Appearing on Bill Simmons' BS Report, NFL Network's Mike Lombardi said people who are catching Peyton Manning's (neck surgeries) passes as he rehabs say Manning not only lacks velocity, but can't throw to his left. "He can't throw the ball," said Lombardi. "I've talked to people who've caught the ball for him. He can't throw the ball to his left. He can't throw the ball across his body, because he doesn't feel it. People that catch the ball for him say he doesn't really have velocity on the ball yet." Lombardi is skeptical of any franchise hinging its hopes on Manning. The hope, of course, is that Manning will regain feeling in his arm as the nerve regenerates.

Peyton Manning is done....he needs to realize this..3 neck surgeies,its over...he cant throw to the left,or 25 yards..noway he passes a physical.What team will pay him?

Well, the Colts management knows they will not keep Peyton Manning. If the Redskins do sign Peyton, and I don't think they will, it will be the worst place for Manning to play. As for the 49ers being this year's surprise team, I'm not so sure, all they needed was a good coach...and they got one. As for Drew Brees and the Saints, it's funny hoe money QBs and football teams make strange bedfellows.

Ricky Williamd had a chance to be great, and Mike Ditka took an opportunity to become an idiot all in the same draft. The Saints situation was bad, but he excelled as a Dolphin...then he was gone, like a magical character from a Disney movie, and then he was back, but never the same. He doesn't care about money or fame and for this he should be applauded...he's doing what he should be doing, not play football. I loved him as a Texas Longhorn, but he was a strange guy, even before he was a pot smoker.

lol-- I like ya Mike-but are we really going to blame Ditka for Ricky Williams' addiction to weed? For his inability to deal with the fame that the Heisman trophy and being the leading rusher (at the time) in college football history brings? Come on man - I am not saying Rickey is a bad guy, quite the contrary, he seems like a good guy, but his poor decision making is the responsibility of Ricky Williams not Mike Ditka..

1. Ever had an entire draft class bet on you? Did the team you were drafted by suck for decades? Were you 22 when it happened? Let's not start setting the bar for how much pressure you can put on a 22 year-old kid before he breaks.
2. Having said that, different people respond differently to pressure. Cam Newton didn't fold, and neither did Peyton Manning. So there is some truth in what you say. However, I will maintain that since you can't know what a 22 year-old kid can take mentally and emotionally, you can't lay all or even most of the blame on him if he folds under the kind of pressure Williams faced.
3. Also, I always thought getting away from football for a while was one of the few responsible things Williams did in those years. What's the old saying about the heat in the kitchen? If you know you can't take it, isn't walking away the right choice?
4. Josh Hamilton.

Ditka was obtaining a great RB...and he did. How was he to know the kid was a headcase and couldn't handle pressure? Heck, that's the NFL, dude -- pressure!! And it still wasnt a bad trade....look at Ricky's career, including 1800 yard rushing seasons...then look at MANY full draft boards of MANY teams through MANY years, and youll often see zippo production, or maybe one decent player. So Ditka HIT on one (yes, 10,000 career yards and 1800 seasons ARE a hit!) and traded away the rest. STILL, better than hoards of team's full drafts.

No, "stupid" would be paying Manning his $28million and then trading him.  The cap hit is enormous as all $28million, plus this year's salary hit this year's cap rather than being spread out over 3 or 4 years.  Before the option, I doubt you're going to find a trade partner willing to (1) give the Colts a good player or draft pick and (2) pay Manning $28million all the while taking the risk that his arm strength does not come all the way back.  If the decision has been made to make a change at QB then there is just no way you pay him the $28million bonus and then try to trade him.  You just keep your money and let him leave as a FA, use the money to sign multiple other players, including Luck and some more WR and help on D. 

Cap hit would be 6 million, that is the accelerated number....   Colts would have to pay the bonus of 28 million BUT if they decide to trade for players under contract they would not have to pay the bonus to those players or take the cap hit for their signing bonus... Works both ways.  If there are teams interested in Manning and willing to trade for him there is a value on the player.   Thats what I am saying.  I understand you philosophy about not paying a bonus and trading because the team that gives the bonus takes a hit, but they also get it back in the contract with the player or players they get who have also already been paid the bonus.   

So trade him to a team desperate for a QB and receive equal value (or close to) in players back.   Getting something for Manning and essentially getting something for the bonus you just paid him in players who have been paid a contract signing bonus already. 

You kinda make it sound like it is a one way deal.  I will give you an example of what I mean.  I DON'T think this will happen, just an example of what I am talking about made simple.  Jags want Peyton, willing to trade Jones-Drew straight up.  Say Jones-drew negotiated a new contract last year and was paid 20 million signing bonus, Manning was paid 28 million.  They trade straight up, Colts have to adjust the cap on the bonus for Manning, but Jones-Drew.  Getting at least some of the money back from Manning.

Now don't pick apart that deal, I know it wont happen and it is much more complicated.   But the idea is that the Colts cap hit is moot if they get players back that they don't have to use signing bonus against their cap.