Peyton Manning won't move on from the NFL until the entire NFL moves on from Peyton Manning.
That's the assertion from the Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla.
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"So maybe the real question as Manning struggles with the idea of retirement is: How much does the NFL still love him as a quarterback?" Kiszla wrote.
"If the Broncos think Brock Osweiler, who has started seven NFL games, gives them a better chance to get back to the Super Bowl than Manning, what message does that send to the rest of the league?
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"Go down the list of teams that could be in the market for a quarterback when free agency opens next week: Houston, Los Angeles, Cleveland, the New York Jets. Is there any team out there willing to bet big money Manning can lead it to a championship at age 40?
"So for a player who studies and analyzes the game from every angle, it might be easier for Manning to say goodbye if the league told him it was time to call it a career."
Of the four teams mentioned above, only one makes any kind of sense to consider Manning and for Manning to consider it: the Rams.
The Rams close to being a playoff contender have a strong defense and the strongest running game among those teams. They don't have standout wide receiver whose game could be affected by Manning's diminished skills (see Demaryius Thomas, Denver). But they could control the clock and allow their defense to approach the domination that the Broncos' D exhibited because of less time on the field.
The Texans are a playoff team, but they lack a featured back like Los Angeles' Todd Gurley. Plus, DeAndre Hopkins, who averages nearly 15 yards per catch for his career, might not be as much as a weapon if Manning can only get him the ball on 5- to 10-yard routes. J.J. Watt would have to lead the Houston defense to approach the Broncos' greatness, which is possible, but the Texans might not be able to control the clock as well as the Rams without a strong running game.
The Jets, for all intents and purposes, are a playoff team, but they seem rallied around QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (per wide receiver Brandon Marshall's scoffing at reports Colin Kaepernick wanted to go to New York). Eric Decker might benefit from Manning's presence but it doesn't appear Marshall would.
The Browns are not yet a playoff team, and new coach Hue Jackson likely would not agree to giving the offensive leadership reins to a quarterback he knows he'll have to replace a year from now. That's not a recipe for building a franchise.
But even in L.A., Manning runs the risk of being replaced by Case Keenum if he struggles or gets hurt, and Keenum doesn't seem as capable as Brock Osweiler of keeping his team in a playoff hunt to allow Manning to rest up for a playoff run.
Manning's best bet still is to ride off into the sunset as a champion.
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