Should Colts Trade Peyton Manning, if They Get Andrew Luck?

The Indianapolis Colts are at all time low. They are at the bottom of the league, and continue to struggle with quarterback Curtis Painter leading the way, they are not looking good, and won’t with the team that is out there. The biggest question is, should they trade Peyton Manning, if they get the number one pick in the 2012 draft, and select Andrew Luck, QB from Stanford.

Luck is considered to be the best thing to come out of the draft since John Elway. He is compared to Elway in several ways, the emotion, the gritty, and bulky quarterback. I am a Luck believer. I think he has the potential to be one of the all time greats, but not everyone lives up to their potential. For example, Ryan Leaf, and JaMarcus Russell. Both those players had amazing potential, and I think Luck hasen’t been as good as people have demonstrated. He is one of the best QB’s in the NCAA, but I like someone a little more. Matt Barkley. I think he is a more NFL ready QB, and I think he would make a bigger impact for the Colts, or any team that picks him. I think Barkley shows that he has a better arm than Luck, and I think that Luck hasen’t given me enough to say he is the best thing since John Elway.

Peyton Manning has come off of his 3rd neck surgery, and I think he is more than capable to play in this league for 3-4 more years at a high level, but if Luck does become the next Elway, the Colts have to decide: do they want a good Manning for 3 more years, or a Franchise QB in Luck for 15 plus years.

I think what you do is trade Peyton Manning. As crazy as that sounds, it has to be done. I think Manning is not going to carry the Colts like he use too, and I think he has proven that he can do everything in the NFL, and I don’t think he has anything to prove to the NFL, and himself anymore. If you trade Manning to the Dolphins, I bet you would get at least 3-4 good players, and or a bunch of draft picks, that you can rebuild your team around Andrew Luck.

I understand how hard that would be to trade the man who has done everything for the organization, and I think that is something that has to be done, and I don’t think you have to keep him, as a life time achievement award. But once again if you do trade Manning, and Luck some how turns into a “bust”, how are the fans and organization going to live that down.

If Manning leaves the Colts, I think he will be very good for many teams like the Dolphins, Rams, Vikings, and Jaguars. I think he can definitely be a pro-bowl player if he leaves, but the question is for how long.

Many people are saying that, why not pick Luck, and have sit? That is interesting, but why keep this kid from being able to play, and be a great player, if you could just put him out there, and have him start being great right away. Also, I don’t think that Manning wants to be the teacher, I think he wants to play, and be the starter. Just like Favre, and Rodgers, Brett didn’t want to help Aaron, and I think that is the same thing with Manning, and Luck.

So in conclusion, I think the best thing for the Colts would be to trade Peyton Manning for several draft picks, and rebuild a team around Andrew Luck, and look toward the future.