The Washington Redskins are reportedly weighing whether Peyton Manning should be their next in a long line of quarterbacks.
Kyle Orton and Drew Brees also have been mentioned. Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill are possibilities in the draft. And probably some kid who’s still in Pop Warner but reads defenses at an 11th-grade level is in play, too.
With five weeks until NFL free agency and 10 weeks until the draft, the Redskins are considering any name possible. Agents are floating every rumor possible. You can believe nothing and expect anything.
But is Manning really headed to Washington? Is he the second coming of Donovan McNabb, washed-up with his second team? Did a yearlong neck rehab leave his throwing arm limp?
It will cost millions of dollars to discover. That’s owner Dan Snyder’s financial problem. But if the Redskins bring in Manning and he truly hasn’t recovered, then they are another year or two further away from being competitive — and it could mean another coaching change.
This is a defining choice for coach Mike Shanahan — for now and his legacy. If he were to help Manning thrive late in his career the same way as John Elway, who teamed with Shanahan to win consecutive Super Bowls, then Shanahan will keep his job and make a run at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But if Manning has nothing left as McNabb did in 2010, then Snyder will be looking for a new coach and quarterback next year.
Manning will have choices if he’s released by Indianapolis. Miami already covets him to the brink of tampering charges. Arizona is a possible contender. Maybe the New York Jets. A surprise team or two could emerge. Washington’s not alone in wanting Manning.
Orton also has emerged as a possible free agent signing, though who knows why. Rex Grossman and Orton are roughly the same. Orton lost his job to Tim Tebow last season, when he threw nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Redskins might as well keep Grossman.
Indeed, Grossman is a fallback option, though an unpopular one with fans. Re-signing Grossman would mean more of the same after 6-10 and 5-11 seasons under Shanahan. FedEx Field would be filled with visiting fans and cheap ticket shoppers on StubHub. Still, the Redskins would be better with Grossman, who knows the system, than Orton.
Brees is a laughable option. Make it a one-tenth of 1 percent chance because anything can happen, but no way New Orleans lets its passer go. Even if Brees left, he surely wouldn’t join a bad team.
The Redskins seem to have surrendered thoughts of moving up from sixth in the draft to get Griffin, who probably will go second to whomever St. Louis trades the pick. Dealing away three first-rounders to get Griffin seems like too much of a risk for a rookie passer. Washington has too many other needs.
Indeed, the Redskins have plenty of choices for quarterback. Too bad all come with a warning or cost too much. That’s bad medicine for sure.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
