Yes, the Redskins want to upgrade their quarterback play. Yes, Peyton Manning could be available. Yes, it’s a marriage that could happen — as many rumors are suggesting. And nothing Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan told ESPN 980‘s Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro Friday will cause those rumors to end.
Of course, the big question with Manning, who missed last season because of neck surgery, will be his health.
“If the doctors say he’s healthy, and he says he’s healthy, then that’s enough for me,” Shanahan said. “Everybody knows Peyton Manning is, if not the best quarterback to ever play the game, he’s tied for it. He’s as good as it gets.”
And the Redskins know that franchise quarterbacks are difficult to find. They missed on trying to trade for Jay Cutler. They missed on trying to trade up for Sam Bradford. They traded for Donovan McNabb and watched that fail miserably. They looked hard at quarterbacks in the draft last year and will do so again this year.
They understand what they need. But Shanahan warned: “People make a lot of mistakes going and trying to trade their draft away or pay a lot of money to people who aren’t [worth it]. You have to make sure you get the best guy possible.”
Consider, too, that the Redskins have won 11 games combined in the first two years of Mike Shanahan’s regime. He turns 60 in August — how long do you think he wants to be patient with a young QB? He would be patient with a high pick — like Bradford two years ago. But last year showed they won’t force a pick on a quarterback they’re not in love with. Which is why they might pursue Manning, a four-time MVP, if the Colts fail to pay him a $28-million bonus on March 8.
But the risk is that doctors might not know for a couple months if he’ll even be healthy. He’ll also turn 36 next month, but that won’t scare the Shanahans. Mike Shanahan took over as Denver’s head coach when John Elway was 35. And they traded for McNabb when he was 33.
“The question on Peyton is his health,” Kyle Shanahan said. “You have a guy like that who is so driven, so passionate about football and truly enjoys it and the way he plays. I know he’s up there in age, but if he’s healthy age is not an issue. That guy takes care of his body… his arms not leaving. He can take the hits. You just hope his necks all right and then be Peyton Manning.”
There’s also the issue of Manning having spent all of his career in one offense — and the Redskins running a different one. But Manning is adept at play-action (though mostly from the pocket; the Redskins like to roll out and bootleg). And there’s little doubt that if a guy like Manning — a detailed QB — came here, he’d have to be confident that the offense would be tweaked to suit his strengths.
Would he view the Redskins as his best option? That remains to be seen. If it comes down to Arizona, Miami and Washington — as has been rumored — then two teams have coaches who have been in the Super Bowl. But only one has won it: Shanahan. Would Manning want to go to Miami, which has a rookie head coach? Other teams could enter the picture, of course.
Many questions remain before any move is made.
Meanwhile, Kyle Shanahan reiterated that he liked part of what Rex Grossman did this past season, knowing that play at this spot must be improved — starting with the turnovers. They can opt to fortify the roster around Grossman, starting with a playmaking wide receiver. Or they can look at players such as Manning or Matt Flynn (have heard from two league sources who said at least some in the organization are not high on him, though one emphasized he wasn’t sure of Mike Shanahan’s opinion. His is the one that matters ) in free agency. Or they could try and draft Robert Griffin III.
“We have to get it right,” Shanahan said. “If we do go pay a guy, if we draft a guy, we can’t miss on him. We have to make sure it’s the right decision. Don’t get so enamored with, ‘Hey, we need a quarterback, everyone thinks we do, let’s go get him.’ ”
