Prior to the lockout, the Indianapolis Colts placed the franchise tag on quarterback Peyton Manning, a $23.12 million marker that will eventually give way to one one of the richest contracts in NFL history.
A second neck surgery in 15 months prompted questions about what it's going to take to sign the 35-year old future Hall of Famer, including from Sports Illustrated's Peter King on Twitter on May 25.
"Manning is 35. Unsigned. Two neck surgeries in 16 months. Are the Colts sweating a little bit over signing him for 5 years?," King tweeted.
King received a callback from Italy from Colts president Bill Polian on Monday.
"We've got little or no worry," Polian said of Manning's neck surgeries on Monday. "This was just a minor procedure to relieve a little pressure on the nerve. I told them (Colts officials) to call me if there were any further problems, and no one's called."
Manning was quick to point out that he recovered from last year's surgery in one-to-two weeks. All Manning did in 2010 was run his consecutive starts streak to 208 games as he led the NFL in pass completions (450) and attempts (679), throwing for a career-high 4,700 yards with 33 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, earning a ninth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl.
That said, a second operation to alleviate pressure in the neck caused by a nerve, a procedure Polian suggests might have a non-athlete in traction, is certainly nothing to scoff about. With 2009 sixth-round pick Curtis Painter the only other quarterback on the roster, the Colts shouldn't wait too long into Manning's next contract before starting the process of identifying its next franchise quarterback.
0 comments:
Post a Comment