Titans fans have already started a pitch for Peyton Manning, now comes a report that the Redskins are also interested in the quarterback who remains a member of the Colts despite the open discussion of his future with other teams.
Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports that “a person with knowledge of the situation” told him that the Redskins would be interested in Manning if he’s healthy and available for next season. Jones doesn’t reveal his source and we assume that it is someone involved with the organization, but, honestly, it could really be just about anyone who saw the Redskins quarterbacks play a game last season.
Jones spoke to a league official that acknowledged how many variables there are with the Manning situation.
“No. 1, is he going to be released? No. 2, is he going to be healthy? No. 3, at the end of the day, is he willing to come back and play in the NFL. We don’t know those questions. I think everybody would want Peyton Manning, if he was healthy. You’d be crazy not to want Peyton Manning if he was healthy. Nobody knows now if he’s going to be cleared to play. And if he is cleared to play, wouldn’t the Colts either want him, or [pick up his option] and then try to trade him?”
Just about everything you need to know about the Manning situation is covered in that quote. No one knows anything about Manning’s status right now which means any discussion about his plans for 2012 is just throwing stuff against the wall. The Redskins make plenty of sense as a team interested in Manning’s services, as do a handful of other teams, but they can’t really put all or any of their eggs in that basket without a clearer picture of what the future holds for Manning.