A World in Which the Eagles Could Have Peyton Manning in 2016
By Tim Kelly
Here’s a piping hot Philadelphia Eagles‘ take, fresh out of the oven.
To say that the Eagles’ franchise is in a holding pattern would be an understatement.
After firing Chip Kelly last Tuesday, owner Jeffrey Lurie is in the midst of leading the team’s brass in a search for their next head-coach. Whoever that head-coach ends up being will have to decide if the organization should sign Sam Bradford, an impending free-agent, to a long-term contract extension or go in another direction at the quarterback position.
If the next coach is Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator Adam Gase, the team’s future could get very interesting at quarterback if for whatever reason Bradford wouldn’t return.
Many have speculated over the last few days that the Eagles could attempt to lure Brock Osweiler to Philadelphia if Gase, his former offensive coordinator, was the team’s head-coach. Then again, it’s unclear what Gase thinks of Osweiler and still seems more than likely that he will be the Denver Broncos’ quarterback next year.
But what about Peyton Manning?
Regardless of whether Manning or Osweiler starts for the Broncos in the playoffs, the team seems less than likely to win more than one playoff game. Barring a miracle run to the Superbowl, the Broncos seem likely to part ways with the 39 year-old after the season.
Earlier this season, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that Manning intended to play in 2016, even if that meant joining a third team.
When Manning was a free-agent after the 2011 season, Chris Russell of ESPN 980 in Washington (via Pro Football Talk) reported that despite the belief that the Redskins were going to attempt to lure Manning to Philadelphia, he didn’t want to play in the NFC East.
"“A couple of different sources inside the organization have told me that Manning’s camp made it pretty clear to Redskins officials he doesn’t want to come here,” said Russell. “… There’s lots of reasons for that. His brother Eli, the colder weather, the whole situation down in Miami and so on and so forth. But unless that changes — and I’m taking my sources at their word — I don’t think Manning’s coming here to D.C.”"
What would be different in 2016? Well for one, the Eagles aren’t the Redskins. Secondly, Manning may not have the same array of teams interested in having him start at quarterback in 2016, so his options to start would be limited. And third, he’s gone out of his way in the past to speak highly of Gase, who we are presuming for the benefit of this exercise will be the team’s head-coach in 2016.
Via New York Times February 2014
"(Peyton) Manning has called Gase “the smartest guy I know.” Denver Coach John Fox said Gase was “a master of innovation.” The team’s president, John Elway, went the furthest: He used the word genius.“Adam is a lot like me in that he’s always thinking of how we can do something better or different — or both,” Manning said. “And he has an almost photographic memory. He can recall a defensive scheme we saw from eight games back and remember our exact formation and the play called.”"
"“I don’t think you need me to sit up here and campaign for him, I guess,” Manning said. “Last year I talked to a couple teams on the behalf of him that reached out to me. That may happen again, so I’m certainly glad to share my thoughts, I mean it’s pretty well documented my thoughts on him because I don’t think he needs me to stand up here and campaign for him. I’m excited he has the opportunity he’s going to have this week. He deserves it, I think teams that he talks to will be impressed.”"
Manning could — and probably should — retire, but if he’s going to play in 2016, it’s not hard to imagine him having interest in playing for Gase.
As for Gase, it’s unclear if he’d have interest in Manning at this point of his career. The problem is, if the team doesn’t retain Bradford, options would be extremely thin for who to start at quarterback in 2016. Gase could draft a quarterback, have him follow the Osweiler model of sitting behind a veteran quarterback, and what better veteran quarterback would there be to learn from than Manning?
In the interim, Gase could hope to recapture a bit of magic with Manning, in what looks as though it will be a winnable division. If Manning were to prove that he’s completely finished to the point where the Eagles had to start someone else, Mark Sanchez is under contract for 2016, so the Eagles wouldn’t be stuck forcing their future quarterback into action before he’s ready.
Next: Eagles 'Impressed' With Adam Gase, Schedule Second Interview
It’s unclear exactly how much signing Manning would cost, and all of this is hypothetical because Manning is still under contract with the Broncos for 2016 and Gase is still currently the Bears’ offensive coordinator. But Manning ending up in Philadelphia to finish his career may not be as far-fetched as it sounds on the surface.