Sanchize Player, Talkin' About Tebow?

How perfect is the practice/exciting corollary?

Anyways I know I'm a few days late here but based on the "Deal or No Deal" aspect of this Tim Tebow to the Meadowlands saga I wanted to make sure everything was set in stone before I wrote anything. And boy, am I excited now that I can write about it. 

I mean really, it's exciting anytime you get the chance to hold a press conference to introduce a backup quarterback. I was excited when the Patriots held theirs to introduce Rohan Davey back in 2002, and it was even more exciting when they introduced Matt Cassel the same way in 2005. And who could forget Vinny Testaverde causing excitement the following year in 2006? Really, really, exciting. 

And therein lies the difference between the Foxboro way of doing things and the Jets way of doing things. Hell I don't think any franchise across the four major sports would ever take the time to hold a press conference to introduce a backup at any position. I mean did the Red Sox hold a press conference when they signed Julian Tavarez to set up for Jonathan Papelbon? I don't recall the Bruins holding a presser when Alex Auld came on to back up Tim Thomas. It just further confirms the running joke that is the New York Jets franchise.

Perhaps the best part of this whole thing? The Jets have maintained all along that Sanchez is their starting quarterback. They've also been on record as saying they want a backup who can at least push Sanchez, take him out of his comfort zone. With all apologies to Mark Brunell....wait a second is it possible that Tebow could push Sanchez less than the former Jacksonville Jaguars great?

At the end of the day, though, it all makes perfect sense. Rex Ryan is obsessed with the spotlight. He's obsessed with stealing headlines from the Giants. He's obsessed with beating the Patriots, and the combination of all three creates such the circus he desires. Isn't adding Tebow to the mix just another ring? Not a Super Bowl ring, of course, but a circus ring. We saw what happened in Denver last year when Kyle Orton struggled. In Denver. Not New York. All I'm saying is that if Mark Sanchez and the Jets get off to a 1-3 start, which is entirely possible when you have no running game and an aging defense on top of an already questionable quarterback....Rex Ryan just might've done it again.

Does this look like the face of the biggest free agent in NFL history?

Alright, that one might not. But this one does.

Just in case you've been bogged down with midterm week, following Super Tuesday political battles, or caught up in Konymania, you may not have heard that the Indianapolis Colts parted ways with arguably the Greatest QB of All-Time today, No. 18, Peyton Manning. And wouldn't you know it, I haven't paying attention to any of those distractions. Okay maybe mid-term week a little bit. A little.

How many other QBs have ever hit the free agent market with this kind of pedigree? You know, like third all-time in passing yards (54,828). Or third all-time in touchdown passes (399). Or a four-time MVP winner. Sure technically Brett Favre was a free agent after un-retiring from the Jets in the summer of 2009, but that situation was much different. There was one place, and one place only, No. 4 was going to go: Minnesota. This time around? You might say there's a little more suspense at work.

Now don't go calling this "The Decision, Part II," either. Because this is also night and day from LeBron's conundrum in 2010. In fact, Peyton Manning couldn't be further from Brett Favre, either, when it comes to hogging the spotlight. But I digress. Back then, LeBron's original team (Cleveland) still wanted to keep him. Manning's team (Indianapolis) just cut him loose. While just about any team in the NBA wanted LeBron, only a few could realistically afford him and make it work. Furthermore, LeBron was clearly still in his prime when he took his talents to South Beach in July 2010. And that's something that makes this Peyton Manning situation all the more fascinating: we don't even know if this guy can still play.

He's had (at least) three neck surgeries between March 2010 and September 2011. He hasn't played a snap since the Colts lost to the Jets in the 2010 AFC Wild-Card playoffs. He's turning 36 in a couple of weeks. And yet...there's virtually no shortage of teams that can and will try to get Peyton Manning on their roster.

When I say "virtually" no team, that is not to say all 31 NFL teams outside of Indiana are going to be knocking down the Manning's door for Peyton's services. For example, the team that employs the other Manning of the house (the Giants) can be crossed off the list. Same goes for the Patriots, Packers, and Saints. Just in terms of being realistic, Peyton Manning isn't about to go up to Orchard Park, N.Y. and play for the Bills. He's not moving to any team in Ohio, be it the Browns or the Bengals. And there's a few teams with promising young quarterbacks (the Panthers and the Lions, in particular) who won't bother. That's 10 teams (including the Colts) who are automatically out. Other than that? I see no reason to totally disqualify any team.

Of course, the levels of interest and reality definitely vary. So let's get down to business and take guess at where Peyton's new place will be with some oddsmakers:

"It is 2012, said the Mayans" Division:
Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams

I mean sure, all teams could upgrade at the quarterback position. Sure, none of the teams have any sort of talent base on offense to draw upon, at least in the passing game (sorry, MoJo). Sure, all teams could use an increase in ticket sales like almost none other in the sport. But c'mon. There's a better chance I go to grad school at Harvard.

Odds: 1,000,000 to 1

"If Al Davis were still alive" Division:
Oakland Raiders

Actually, the Raiders just gave up two first round picks to get Carson Palmer. Can't let those go to waste, right? 

Odds: 50,000 to 1 

"We already tried this with Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb" Division

Hey, at least the Vikings agreed to a new stadium deal to stay in Minnesota long term. It's just too bad Christian Ponder is going to be the quarterback that leads them in there.

Odds: 35,000 to 1 

"Just doesn't make sense for any of us" Division:
Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Eagles just committed $100 million to Mike Vick. The Steelers window with Ben Roethlisberger is by no means closed. Sure, neither of those guys have the abilities of Peyton Manning. At least the Peyton Manning we're used to. But it's not worth the gamble giving up on those guys for an unsure commodity who's about to turn 36.

Odds: 5,000 to 1

"Thanks, but no thanks" Division:
Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans


All teams with good-but-not-great quarterbacks. All teams that were in the hunt last year, but ultimately fell short. Several of those teams have elite defenses to go along with the infrastructure on offense. In the case of the Chargers and Falcons, there are elite receiving corps in place already. And let's not discount Reggie Wayne could follow Peyton wherever he goes. But ultimately, the risk doesn't quite outweigh the reward.

Odds: 1,000 to 1

"Homecoming by Kanye West" Division:
Tennessee Titans


Okay so Peyton isn't from Tennessee, but he went to college there at the University of. And supposedly, there's been a clamoring amongst the fans to "bring Peyton home" even though, again, he's not from Tennessee originally. But since he does at least have some connection to the state, it's more likely here than any team behind them.

Odds: 500 to 1

"Only by the grace of Tebow" Division:
Denver Broncos

Schefter tweeted it. I'm just saying. 

Odds: 250 to 1

"The Dark Horse" Division:
Dallas Cowboys


I have absolutely no reason to think the Cowboys will be in on the Peyton Manning Sweepstakes. I have absolutely no information that would indicate they have any interest. But they are owned by Jerry Jones. This is a team that probably belongs in the "Thanks, but no thanks" Division. But there's been just enough talk out of Dallas this off-season that the 'Boys might be ready to move on from Tony Romo that it wouldn't be TOTALLY out of left field. Suggestions they would try and trade up to get RGIII. But with this team realistically close to being a Super Bowl contender, with all the talent they have in place in offense already....wouldn't Peyton give them the better shot right now? And there's a decent enough trade market enough there for Romo I'd imagine that Dallas could potentially add another piece of the puzzle.

Bottom line: Jerry Jones isn't afraid to make bold moves. This definitely qualifies as a bold move.

Odds: 100 to 1.

Enough fooling around with division names. These are the serious "Super Seven" contenders for Peyton Manning:

San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs: 50 to 1

Interesting in that we see both of Joe Montana's former teams here. Probably the most famous case of a QB that started his career in one city and unceremoniously finished it in another (remember, Favre played one season in Atlanta before Green Bay). The 49ers are likely to re-sign Alex Smith rather than re-work their entire offensive game plan, crazy as that sounds. But what if some other QB-desperate team decides Manning is too much of a gamble and throws a ton of money at Smith? It's a possibility at least, right?

As for the Chiefs, this is a team that won its division in 2010 and only fell off the face of the Earth last season due to a ravage of injuries to key players (Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry, Tony Moaeki, Matt Cassel). With Todd Haley gone, the Chiefs are by no means married to Cassel. Nor should they be. If Charles returns healthy, the Chiefs could have a very dynamic offense in place with Manning, Charles, and Dwayne Bowe as the Manning, Edge James, Marvin Harrison of its time. But with the Chiefs not quite ready to be a bona-fide Super Bowl contender, and the fears that 2010 was indeed a mirage despite the injuries last year, I just don't see it.

Seattle Seahawks: 25 to 1

Clearly, they could upgrade from Tarvaris Jackson. Who wasn't terrible last season, by the way (79.2 QB rating? That's like a C+!) Marshawn Lynch just re-upped for the long haul, so they've got that going for them, which is nice. But uh....not many horses in the receiving stable. And a very young defense. Just doesn't seem like a team Manning could go to and win right away. But Pete Carroll has been known to bend a few rules to get some good players, ya dig?

Arizona Cardinals: 10 to 1

Peyton Manning to Larry Fitzgerald is downright frightening. And this team did win seven of its final nine games last year. There's still enough talent left on the defensive side of the ball, probably more so than any defense Peyton ever had while in Indianapolis. Which isn't saying much, but still. If the Cards want him though, they'll have to act quickly: they owe Kevin Kolb a $7 million roster bonus on March 17. For a team that clearly needs a big move to put them over the top and get back to the Super Bowl, it makes a lot of sense. And Peyton's former QB coach has become recently employed in the desert. But the question is: would Peyton want to play here?

Washington Redskins: 5 to 1

What would an NFL off-season be without Dan Snyder splurging on an aging veteran? Year in, year out, that guy brings it (via his checkbook) like perhaps no other owner in the league. Of course, it's gotten little to no results (the Redskins have a 91-117 record in 13 years since Snyder bought the team, and have gone through seven different coaches). Nevertheless, the Redskins are a historic franchise that no doubt could use a shot in the arm. Badly. The defense is solid in the nation's capital; but there's very little skill among the skill position players, which, you know, is what Peyton needs to be successful. Even if Reggie Wayne tagged along, the 'Skins would still need to add at least one more important piece offensively, either in free agency or via the draft.


Miami Dolphins: 3 to 1


Matt Moore. Tyler Thigpen. Chad Henne. Chad Pennington. John Beck. Trent Green. Cleo Lemon. Joey Harrington. Daunte Culpepper (without Randy Moss). Gus Frerotte. A.J. Feely. Brian Griese. Ray Lucas. Sage Rosenfels. Jay Fiedler. Damon Huard.


Those are the names of quarterbacks to start a game at quarterback for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired. Save for one pretty good season from Chad Pennington in 2008 (although in reality, that was more of a credit to the Wildcat), look away. It's hideous. Straight up, point blank hideous. So if you're the Dolphins, why not go out and to whatever it takes to finally replace Marino with....the best pure passer since Marino! So what if it only took 12 years and 16 starting quarterbacks to find his heir apparent? You've got Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush in place as offensive weapons. You've got a team that played infinitely more inspiring football in the second half of the season than in the first half. But once again, the question begs: just how much closer does Peyton Manning get these guys to a championship? Not quite as close as the clubhouse favorites, who share a moniker with the new NHL team in Winnipeg:

New York Jets: 2 to 1

This is my personal pick for where Peyton winds up. "Two Manning's, One City." All the bravado you could possibly imagine. He'd step right in and pretty much become the best quarterback in Jets history, which is barely an exaggeration (you Jets fans know it's probably true). Out of all the teams listed, there's more infrastructure in place than in any other locale. More of a "win-now" vibe than any other place. Rex Ryan is running out of guarantees. If the Jets don't at least make the playoffs this year, he's in trouble. And there's no question Peyton Manning gives them a better shot of getting there than Mark Sanchez. It doesn't matter than Sanchez has had only three years on the job so far. He's pretty clearly regressed in each season, and let's be real: was he ever that good in college either? It's a scary proposition for Pats fans, but a delightful one for the NFL: two Brady vs. Manning games each year? Yes, please! And as a Pats fan, I say, bring it on.

Where and when will Peyton Manning land? I have no freakin' clue. Nobody does. And that's what makes this chase all the more thrilling. It could be a generation from now when we see a player with Peyton Manning's pedigree hit the free agent market in the NFL. Just remember this much: if it is the Jets, or the dark horse Cowboys: you're welcome.