COWBOYS 101

The day is coming when the Indianapolis Colts will have to bite the bullet and say goodbye to one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise. Peyton Manning will not be a Colt next year, that much is certain. Indy is going to use the first pick of the NFL draft on Stanford's Andrew Luck, and they are not going to have both QB's on their roster in 2012. While rumors have been circulating for months now, centered around both Manning's health and possible destination, it seems like a forgone conclusion number 18 will make it back from multiple neck surgeries and be under center somewhere next season.

So let's play fantasy general manager, shall we? You're the boss, and your team is maybe a player or two away from making a serious run at the Lombardi Trophy. Unless you have a franchise quarterback in place already, are you the slightest bit intrigued with what will be the most talked about free agent in NFL history? Would it be worth the gamble to put the future Hall of Famer in your teams jersey? A roll of the dice, for sure, considering Manning missed an entire season and there are no guarantees when dealing with a soon to be 36 year old quarterback coming off neck surgery. But let's say he is healthy, and fully recovered. You will not only be getting one of the greatest pure passers and field generals the game has ever seen, but one who would figure to be highly motivated by the naysayers and those that have proclaimed little brother Eli as the new king of Manning quarterbacks.

Do you open your checkbook and take a shot, hoping Manning is still Manning? Peyton has already stated he would be open to signing a performance driven contract and not demand a huge signing bonus, which means he probably won't break your bank or destroy your salary cap. If Peyton is still Peyton, and he can take your talented-but-missing-something team deep into the playoffs, how do you say no?

If you're Jerry Jones, do you kick the tires? Sniff around the practice fields where Peyton is working out, get someone to take a hard look at his medical reports? You already have what some consider a franchise quarterback in place with Tony Romo, but would it hurt to do some homework on Manning? Hmmm.

This is not a Tony Romo bash, not at all. Cowboys 101 has been a supporter of Romo's, and he is coming off perhaps his finest season. The Cowboys have needs, specifically in the secondary and along the offensive line, and quarterback is not one of them. Yet facts are facts. Sixteen years, one playoff victory. Zero Super Bowl appearances. December meltdowns year after year, and this season's disappointing 8-8 finish. Cowboy fans are fed up, and watching another New York Giants ticker tape parade twisted the knife one more time. If bringing in Peyton Manning would guarantee you at least a trip to the NFC title game, would you put aside your loyalty to Romo and make the deal? 

It's certainly not that simple. Again, there are no guarantees, not in this game. Romo is loved and defended by Cowboy fans, but they are starving for a championship, and Romo has yet to deliver whether it's his fault or not. The Cowboys are set up to win now, or at least real soon. The window is closing on them rapidly. It is closing on Manning as well. Get the picture?

So far there has only been internet and blogosphere rumblings about Manning to Dallas, and it appears that it will not happen. But don't totally discount Jerry in this one. When Deion Sanders was the biggest name out there, Jones would not allow anything to get in his way of bringing him to Big D. Same with Terrell Owens. Totally different circumstances, of course, but think about this for one more second. As much as we all genuinely like Tony Romo, who do you honestly feel gives you a better chance of playing meaningful January football next season?

Think about it. For a second.

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