At a time when more and more league insiders are wondering whether the Peyton chase is all about chasing paper, there’s a new dynamic to consider.
Peyton may have his eye on a retirement gig in an NFL front office.
On Wednesday, Mike Lombardi of NFL Network pointed out that, if that’s what Peyton wants, the Titans have an edge over the Broncos, because the Broncos already have a former quarterback running the football operation.
If the chatter that Peyton actually wants a commitment that he’ll go from Superman to Clark Kent once he’s done playing is true, it complicates matters, even for the Titans. While Tennessee doesn’t have a Hall of Fame quarterback at the top of the front office, the organizational chart already is pretty full. Earlier this year, Mike Reinfeldt became team president, and Ruston Webster filled in as G.M.
And so, at a minimum, it becomes awkward for any team to offer future front-office titles and responsibilities to a potential player, especially since the player will be negotiating with people who currently hold those titles and/or responsibilities.
Moreover, it doesn’t make much sense to use a franchise’s interest in a player as leverage to generate interest in him as an executive. If Peyton has the chops to make football decisions, there will be a market for his services once he retires. Intertwining what a team can do for him later with what a team can do for him now could result in a decision that balances present and future.
Wouldn’t it be better to simply focus on the present?