It never made any sense for Peyton Manning to come back and play this season.
Whether it was in red-zone situations or some other type of semi-controlled circumstances, it was never worth the risk to expose Manning’s surgically repair neck to the violence of an NFL football game.
Now, though, all the questions about his possible return have been answered.
He’s not coming back to play this season, according to Colts vice chairman Bill Polian.
A few hours after Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer accurately reported that Manning had thrown to receivers and running backs in post-practice drills this week while wearing pads, Polian chose to clear the air – or at least come clean on the process that led to the decision to partially shut Manning down.
“On Thursday, we met with the doctors and the rehabilitation folks, and the strength and conditioning folks and our training staff, and in that meeting we outlined where Peyton was and where he might be expected to go in the future,’’ Polian said, making a rare appearance at the post-game press conference. “With respect to that meeting, it was determined by the doctors that there was no chance he would play this year. His rehabilitation has not come far enough to make it prudent for him to step on the field in game action.
“He may practice in some very script and circumscribed circumstances if he wishes. That’s entirely up to him. And he will be thinking that through. It probably, I would suspect given the short week, it probably isn’t an issue this coming week. But he will not play, either in the upcoming game Thursday night or in the last game at Jacksonville. That decision was made Thursday by the medical people."
Polian felt compelled to address the issues after the Colts’ first victory of the season, a 27-13 win over the Tennessee Titans, because of growing speculation that Manning might return to the field.
He didn’t specifically take issue with the Glazer report. He took issue with the intimation that the Colts circumvented league rules, that they did not put Manning on the practice report. (They didn’t have to; this occurred in a post-practice setting). He was also very upset, and called the league at halftime to protest, that in an NFL.com story regarding Glazer’s report, the story began:
“Peyton Manning took another step toward a possible return to the playing field this week, donning pads for the first time this season after an Indianapolis Colts workout.’’
(The Colts hate speculation, but feed the speculation beast by failing to be forthcoming on small pieces of news like, um, “Peyton Manning is done for the season.”)
Ultimately, this is the smart call to shut him down. It is also the call Bill and Chris Polian wanted; they have been at odds with Manning about how much throwing the quarterback does in his rehab.
Another brick in the wall in the growing divide between Manning and management.
“Wednesday after we finished our full team practice, Peyton went through a prescribed rehabilitation session which consisted of about 30 throws and seven or eight handoffs,’’ Polian said in a statement of sorts. He didn’t take questions.
“Involved in that session were Joseph Addai, Jeff Saturday snapping the ball, Anthony Gonzalez and a practice-squad receiver. Peyton wore pads and a helmet, which he is allowed to do by rule and by CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). There is a tape of that workout, which I attended and which coach (Jim) Caldwell attended. His throws were scripted at his request, meaning that he made specific throws with respect to the kinds of plays that we would run in a ballgame ...
“I want to emphasize here that we broke no rule. We had no obligation to report that workout. It was a post-practice rehabilitation workout, which is perfectly and completely legal. We have the tape of it, as I mentioned, and if anyone at the league office has any questions regarding it – and no one has asked – we would happy to supply them the tape.’’
He continued.
“That decision was made last Thursday by the medical people,’’ Polian said. “That is consistent with what (owner) Jim Irsay and I have said all year. So there is absolutely no change in our position. We have said we have kept him active in order for him to get back into practice if that was possible. That was the reason for keeping him active.’’
Manning was not available for comment.
There will be questions why the Colts kept him on the active roster, but be honest: Would his open roster spot have made a lick of difference? Keeping him on the roster gave him the option of practicing with the team; it was a calculated and sound decision.
The problem now is, how do the Colts know what they have when March rolls around and it’s time to pay up or let Manning walk? League rules will not allow Manning and the team to have some kinds of informal post-season workouts that will show whether he still has the laser, rocket arm.
We will not see Manning in a Colts uniform this season.
Maybe, ever again.
Whether it was in red-zone situations or some other type of semi-controlled circumstances, it was never worth the risk to expose Manning’s surgically repair neck to the violence of an NFL football game.
Now, though, all the questions about his possible return have been answered.
He’s not coming back to play this season, according to Colts vice chairman Bill Polian.
A few hours after Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer accurately reported that Manning had thrown to receivers and running backs in post-practice drills this week while wearing pads, Polian chose to clear the air – or at least come clean on the process that led to the decision to partially shut Manning down.
“On Thursday, we met with the doctors and the rehabilitation folks, and the strength and conditioning folks and our training staff, and in that meeting we outlined where Peyton was and where he might be expected to go in the future,’’ Polian said, making a rare appearance at the post-game press conference. “With respect to that meeting, it was determined by the doctors that there was no chance he would play this year. His rehabilitation has not come far enough to make it prudent for him to step on the field in game action.
“He may practice in some very script and circumscribed circumstances if he wishes. That’s entirely up to him. And he will be thinking that through. It probably, I would suspect given the short week, it probably isn’t an issue this coming week. But he will not play, either in the upcoming game Thursday night or in the last game at Jacksonville. That decision was made Thursday by the medical people."
Polian felt compelled to address the issues after the Colts’ first victory of the season, a 27-13 win over the Tennessee Titans, because of growing speculation that Manning might return to the field.
He didn’t specifically take issue with the Glazer report. He took issue with the intimation that the Colts circumvented league rules, that they did not put Manning on the practice report. (They didn’t have to; this occurred in a post-practice setting). He was also very upset, and called the league at halftime to protest, that in an NFL.com story regarding Glazer’s report, the story began:
“Peyton Manning took another step toward a possible return to the playing field this week, donning pads for the first time this season after an Indianapolis Colts workout.’’
(The Colts hate speculation, but feed the speculation beast by failing to be forthcoming on small pieces of news like, um, “Peyton Manning is done for the season.”)
Ultimately, this is the smart call to shut him down. It is also the call Bill and Chris Polian wanted; they have been at odds with Manning about how much throwing the quarterback does in his rehab.
Another brick in the wall in the growing divide between Manning and management.
“Wednesday after we finished our full team practice, Peyton went through a prescribed rehabilitation session which consisted of about 30 throws and seven or eight handoffs,’’ Polian said in a statement of sorts. He didn’t take questions.
“Involved in that session were Joseph Addai, Jeff Saturday snapping the ball, Anthony Gonzalez and a practice-squad receiver. Peyton wore pads and a helmet, which he is allowed to do by rule and by CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). There is a tape of that workout, which I attended and which coach (Jim) Caldwell attended. His throws were scripted at his request, meaning that he made specific throws with respect to the kinds of plays that we would run in a ballgame ...
“I want to emphasize here that we broke no rule. We had no obligation to report that workout. It was a post-practice rehabilitation workout, which is perfectly and completely legal. We have the tape of it, as I mentioned, and if anyone at the league office has any questions regarding it – and no one has asked – we would happy to supply them the tape.’’
He continued.
“That decision was made last Thursday by the medical people,’’ Polian said. “That is consistent with what (owner) Jim Irsay and I have said all year. So there is absolutely no change in our position. We have said we have kept him active in order for him to get back into practice if that was possible. That was the reason for keeping him active.’’
Manning was not available for comment.
There will be questions why the Colts kept him on the active roster, but be honest: Would his open roster spot have made a lick of difference? Keeping him on the roster gave him the option of practicing with the team; it was a calculated and sound decision.
The problem now is, how do the Colts know what they have when March rolls around and it’s time to pay up or let Manning walk? League rules will not allow Manning and the team to have some kinds of informal post-season workouts that will show whether he still has the laser, rocket arm.
We will not see Manning in a Colts uniform this season.
Maybe, ever again.
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