Post 4 - "What are you doing?!?!"

For anyone interested in professional football, they know the big headline free agent that is searching the market right now: Peyton Manning.

The Indianapolis Colt, the home team of the future Hall of Famer for 14 years, finally made the tough decision and held their press conference on Wednesday March 7. With the number one draft pick and the ability to pick up college star Andre Luck, the Colts were conflicted whether to keep the previously injured Manning and build the team around him or draft Luck and build from the ground up.

Manning’s stats have been matched by very few and he is arguably one of the best in football today. In his 13 year (excluding this last year since he didn’t play) career, he has completed 4,682 passes, thrown for 54,828 yards, thrown 400 touchdowns, and received an overall quarterback rating of 95.

Luck, considered to be a future prodigy for NFL football, has had a very successful college career as well. In his 3 year career, Luck completed 713 passes, threw 9,430 yards, and threw 82 touchdowns.

If we multiply Luck’s numbers by 5 to give him nearly the same amount of time played (plus an additional 2 years) as Manning, Luck’s numbers turn out to be 3,565 passes completed, 47,150 yards thrown, and 410 touchdowns completed.

Comparing them, we have to see that even with Luck’s additional 2 years (averaged) played; he still only beats Manning in one category: touchdowns by 10. Also, Luck’s numbers come from playing in college. Manning played in the entire new level of the NFL and his numbers are more impressive.

Is Peyton Manning getting old? The answer unfortunately is yes. However, with numbers continuously being put up that leave the Colts in playoff contention each year, my question is “What are you doing?!?!” You have arguably the best quarterback in NFL history and you’re letting him go! Maybe a readjustment at the managerial level need be done rather than at the quarterback spot.