Why Peyton Manning Likely Can't Be Traded
The Peyton Manning speculation still has not died down and I occasionally get questions about him so I just wanted to write why I no longer
think a trade is an option for the Jets or any team in the NFL for that matter.
For Manning to be traded he has to change the date of the option decision in his contract from March 8th to some time after the
start of the 2012 league year. People have said that Manning has been open to such a move for some time and Pro Football Talk as recently as January 7th
reported the same story. However Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post tweeted that the NFLPA has informed him that the Colts and Manning can not move the date of the bonus due to complex contract language.
What Brandt is saying is different than almost every other report, but I believe he is correct and it has to do with language in the CBA.
From Article 13, Section 8(a)(ii) as it pertains to renegotiated deals:
No contract renegotiations may be done for a current season after the last regular season game of that season
Now Im not breaking any new ground here as most have speculated that a renegotiation is fine in this case because there are no material changes to the contract and all they are doing is moving a decision date and thus not renegotiating for the current season, which is still 2011.
But the issue here is that by moving the decision date the Indianapolis Colts are making a material change to the salary cap charge for Manning for the 2011 league year. From Section 8(d):
Any salary deferral agreed to by club and player which does not affect the player’s Salary for purpose of the Salary Cap and Rookie Compensation Pool shall not be considered a renegotiation
So clearly that tells us if there is a change to the cap figures in a deal is that a deferral of salary, and I would imagine deferring the promise of guaranteed salary in 2011 to 2012 would be a deferral of salary, is a renegotiation.
By making the decision date on Manning’s option occur before the 2012 league year the Colts were allowed to prorate the option bonus as if it was paid in 2011. People have assumed it was simply a great job by Manning’s people to get the option decision in 2011, but more likely it was just done by the Colts for salary cap purposes.
Manning’s 2011 cap charge should include a prorated $5,600,000 for the $28,000,000 bonus even though the payment of it does not occur until the 2012 season. Once the Colts push back the date Manning’s 2011 cap charge drops by $5.6 million, thus becoming a violation of Section 8(a)(ii), meaning the move would be rejected by the league offices. The window for the Colts to change the terms of that bonus likely closed on the last Saturday of the regular season.
So I’d put a hold on all stories about trading for Manning. Maybe he will be released and the Jets can make a move in free agency, but it seems highly unlikely that the league will allow the Colts to trade him.
Jason, if this occurs, do you think the Jets should pursue him? (In a way this is a useless question, since we should wait and see if it even happens).
If they pursue him, what do they do with Sanchez? Cut him?
Could a new OC, and a new QB coach get Sanchez back to "middle of the pack" rather than "awful"?
I find it interesting that Belichek is taking Josh McDaniels back as OC. He was not effective as an OC in St. Louis. I was wondering if teh Jets would have pursued him.
I hope the Jets can get a decent OC, one who can work with Sanchez, but I don't know who.
I look at the Broncos and John Fox, they implemented an offense that fits with Tebos skills, rather than force him to fit into their sysytem.
Not that I'm a Tebow fan nor expect them to win, but I'd be happy if they beat the Patriots.
a) Draft Luck and let him sit under Manning next year, then try to trade Manning
b) Trade the #1 pick for a kings ransom and go for another Super Bowl run for the next 3 years. I think the Colts could get either Jake Long or Joe Thomas and the Browns or Dolphins 1st round pick for Luck.
Aside from that, I don't think there's any chance Peyton Manning would want anything to do with the Jets. Cold/windy weather, poor pass protection, major chemistry issues and general lack of talent of skill position players on offense. Sharing the big apple spotlight with little bro probably isn't very attractive either.
The only way I see Manning going to NY, is if the Jets offered him to be the starting QB, offensive coordinator (to call his own plays) and GM (to have final say on offensive personel decisions). Which actually may not be as far-fetched as it sounds...
Jay- I think one of the big selling points of NY is the media spotlight, but since Manning transcends the sport you cant sell him on that. Its why LeBron didnt care about playing in MSG. Carmelo does because he is a star, but not at that level. Manning is LeBron. I would think the only reason he would want to play with the Jets is to have the chance to stick it to Brady twice a year. Dont know what he would think about Miami. Right now its a bad football town. If he thought his presence would revive it he might go for it. But as a free agent I think he is less likely to opt for the Jets.
After all the recent news I'm going with that Peyton won't be traded but released yes I definitely can see that happening, so knowing this is a real possibility (and I know this is beating a dead horse, but I can't resist asking lol). Do you think we can realistically sign Peyton if they cut Sanchez and renegotiate some other deals from the salary cap standpoint or sign more mid tier safeties as you suggested? My other part of this question is knowing that he would want to go an AFC team not NFC because he would have to see his brother in the playoffs and his brother didn't want to get drafted by the Chargers for the very same reason then so they won't have to go through that issue why would it change now, and what is so bad about this idea especially since Tom Moore can be convinced to come back to be the passing coordinator and let Peyton/Moore control the passing attack while the OC controls the running game. I think that can work the only problem I see and I don't see it being too much of one Manning is 36 (and three neck surgeries), would he consider throwing less give way to more of balanced pass/run attack?