Colts have already started scouting Andrew Luck

[Canadian Bills Fan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/09/12/colts.andrew.luck.ap/index.html?sct=nfl_t2_a10

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Bill Polian is already looking for the next Peyton Manning.

 

The Colts vice chairman told radio listeners Monday night that while the team expects Manning to return from neck surgery this season or next and to play at least several more years in Indianapolis, he is already contemplating who could be the heir to Manning.

 

"Peyton's at the age now where he recognizes and we recognize that his career is in the homestretch," Polian said during his weekly radio show.

 

"While we fully expect he'll be back and we fully expect he'll be with us next year, it is time that we give the quarterback position some serious consideration. We do that every year. The question is what pick do you use on a quarterback and how do you structure the contract and that sort of thing."

 

Manning is expected to miss at least two months and possibly the entire season after having surgery Thursday to fuse two bones together in his neck. It's the third surgery he's had on his neck in the past 19 months, but the only injury that has kept the four-time league MVP from starting an NFL game.

 

The latest surgery came 3 months after a less invasive procedure was supposed to fix a nerve problem that affected Manning's arm. Team officials thought Manning would return in six to eight weeks, a timetable that would have put him back on the practice field at the start of training camp.

 

But the recovery took far longer than expected, and Manning opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. He was activated Aug. 29. Then, after less than a week of practice, doctors pulled him off the field because of pain in his back.

 

That prompted the third surgery, which the Colts are hoping will clear up the problem. Projections for Manning's return range from two to six months, though Polian said Monday that Manning won't practice again until the doctors clear him, a team-wide policy.

 

Before the latest surgery, Manning had told reporters he wanted some input in that decision.

 

"There is a recovery period and when that takes place, hopefully, it will go according to plan and it will be complete," Polian said. "We are still left with the question about when the nerve in the arm, which controls the triceps muscle, will regenerate."

 

"The fact is he will not be allowed back onto the field until the doctors say he's 100 percent. His long-term health is our No. 1 priority," Polian said. "We constantly told him from the time that he came back that 'If you're not 100 percent, you will not be allowed to go out there.'"

 

Polian's comments came one day after Manning's streak of 227 consecutive starts, including the playoffs, ended in Houston.

 

Kerry Collins replaced Manning and lost two fumbles deep in Colts' territory in the game's first 15 minutes. Houston turned both miscues into quick touchdowns and wound up routing the Colts 34-7. Collins finished 16 of 31 for 197 yards with one touchdown and a rating of 82.3, a better rating than Matt Schaub's 78.5.

 

But the dismal performance has stirred up a new debate over the Colts' depth and whether the team needs to bring in another quarterback.

 

Polian did not talk about the two names generating the most discussion in Indy - former Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard or former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer -- and did not say whether they would use a high draft pick on a quarterback in 2012.

 

Clearly, they are looking, though.

 

Last year, the Colts brought in two quarterbacks for pre-draft workouts, Andrew Dalton and Colin Kaepernick. Both were taken in the second round.

 

A team spokesman confirmed that Polian was in North Carolina over the weekend to watch Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. The game also served as a family reunion for the Polians, whose son, Brian, is an assistant at Stanford. Polian has a home in North Carolina, where he plans to retire.

 

There are more reasons to start planning for a long-term future without Manning than the neck injury.

 

Manning, now age 35 and in his 14th NFL season, signed a five-year, $90 million contract just before training camp opened July 30.

 

The Colts believe in working out early transition plans. In 2008, they picked Jim Caldwell as the successor to Tony Dungy, who left after that season. Bill Polian has already turned over most of the day-to-day personnel decisions to another of his sons, Chris, now the team's general manager.

 

So finding a successor for Manning - who nobody is pushing out yet - would fit the Colts model.

 

"You look at every position, and Peyton and I did talk when we did his last contract that the time is approaching to look at new quarterbacks and we have to evaluate whether they could be starting quarterbacks for the Indianapolis Colts," Polian said.

 

"We took a look at a couple of quarterbacks last year, they didn't fall to us. But had they, we may have taken them. We're going to scout them (quarterbacks) as if we will take them, but that's a long process between now and then (the draft)."

 

 

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/09/12/colts.andrew.luck.ap/index.html#ixzz1XqGja9Lm

[miserable_fan]

This team is 100% dependent on Manning. It's pretty pathetic

[RJ (not THAT RJ)]

It is worth noting that teams who hope to stay on top by replacing one HOF QB with another instantly find themselves floundering from savior to savior. (See Bills, Buffalo, 1997-2010).

[bills44]

It is worth noting that teams who hope to stay on top by replacing one HOF QB with another instantly find themselves floundering from savior to savior. (See Bills, Buffalo, 1997-2010).

 

worked out OK for the Packers and the Pats*

[RJ (not THAT RJ)]

worked out OK for the Packers and the Pats*

 

 

The Packers are a good counter-example. The Pats* found their HOF QB without looking for him, though.

Edited September 13, 2011 by RJ (not THAT RJ)

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

This team is 100% dependent on Manning. It's pretty pathetic

 

They are dependent on him, but after the last decade or so...we should be so pathetic.

[KOKBILLS]

They are dependent on him, but after the last decade or so...we should be so pathetic.

 

Exactly...

 

And why in the world would it surprise ANY Football Fan that The Colts would be Scouting Luck? They have already been Scouting him for two years...So has every other NFL Team...And would The Colts be wrong to take him if they are at #1 Overall next Draft? Why exactly is this News would be My primary question...

[aristocrat]

weren't we scouting him last year? I'm sure every team has a scout on Luck this year...the story should be that without manning that team is pretty bad. If Polian could have done a better job putting together a better defense Manning could have 3-4 titles but thats all hindsight.

[ALLEN1QB]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/09/12/colts.andrew.luck.ap/index.html?sct=nfl_t2_a10

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Bill Polian is already looking for the next Peyton Manning.

 

The Colts vice chairman told radio listeners Monday night that while the team expects Manning to return from neck surgery this season or next and to play at least several more years in Indianapolis, he is already contemplating who could be the heir to Manning.

 

"Peyton's at the age now where he recognizes and we recognize that his career is in the homestretch," Polian said during his weekly radio show.

 

"While we fully expect he'll be back and we fully expect he'll be with us next year, it is time that we give the quarterback position some serious consideration. We do that every year. The question is what pick do you use on a quarterback and how do you structure the contract and that sort of thing."

 

Manning is expected to miss at least two months and possibly the entire season after having surgery Thursday to fuse two bones together in his neck. It's the third surgery he's had on his neck in the past 19 months, but the only injury that has kept the four-time league MVP from starting an NFL game.

 

The latest surgery came 3 months after a less invasive procedure was supposed to fix a nerve problem that affected Manning's arm. Team officials thought Manning would return in six to eight weeks, a timetable that would have put him back on the practice field at the start of training camp.

 

But the recovery took far longer than expected, and Manning opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. He was activated Aug. 29. Then, after less than a week of practice, doctors pulled him off the field because of pain in his back.

 

That prompted the third surgery, which the Colts are hoping will clear up the problem. Projections for Manning's return range from two to six months, though Polian said Monday that Manning won't practice again until the doctors clear him, a team-wide policy.

 

Before the latest surgery, Manning had told reporters he wanted some input in that decision.

 

"There is a recovery period and when that takes place, hopefully, it will go according to plan and it will be complete," Polian said. "We are still left with the question about when the nerve in the arm, which controls the triceps muscle, will regenerate."

 

"The fact is he will not be allowed back onto the field until the doctors say he's 100 percent. His long-term health is our No. 1 priority," Polian said. "We constantly told him from the time that he came back that 'If you're not 100 percent, you will not be allowed to go out there.'"

 

Polian's comments came one day after Manning's streak of 227 consecutive starts, including the playoffs, ended in Houston.

 

Kerry Collins replaced Manning and lost two fumbles deep in Colts' territory in the game's first 15 minutes. Houston turned both miscues into quick touchdowns and wound up routing the Colts 34-7. Collins finished 16 of 31 for 197 yards with one touchdown and a rating of 82.3, a better rating than Matt Schaub's 78.5.

 

But the dismal performance has stirred up a new debate over the Colts' depth and whether the team needs to bring in another quarterback.

 

Polian did not talk about the two names generating the most discussion in Indy - former Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard or former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer -- and did not say whether they would use a high draft pick on a quarterback in 2012.

 

Clearly, they are looking, though.

 

Last year, the Colts brought in two quarterbacks for pre-draft workouts, Andrew Dalton and Colin Kaepernick. Both were taken in the second round.

 

A team spokesman confirmed that Polian was in North Carolina over the weekend to watch Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. The game also served as a family reunion for the Polians, whose son, Brian, is an assistant at Stanford. Polian has a home in North Carolina, where he plans to retire.

 

There are more reasons to start planning for a long-term future without Manning than the neck injury.

 

Manning, now age 35 and in his 14th NFL season, signed a five-year, $90 million contract just before training camp opened July 30.

 

The Colts believe in working out early transition plans. In 2008, they picked Jim Caldwell as the successor to Tony Dungy, who left after that season. Bill Polian has already turned over most of the day-to-day personnel decisions to another of his sons, Chris, now the team's general manager.

 

So finding a successor for Manning - who nobody is pushing out yet - would fit the Colts model.

 

"You look at every position, and Peyton and I did talk when we did his last contract that the time is approaching to look at new quarterbacks and we have to evaluate whether they could be starting quarterbacks for the Indianapolis Colts," Polian said.

 

"We took a look at a couple of quarterbacks last year, they didn't fall to us. But had they, we may have taken them. We're going to scout them (quarterbacks) as if we will take them, but that's a long process between now and then (the draft)."

 

 

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/09/12/colts.andrew.luck.ap/index.html#ixzz1XqGja9Lm

 

Holy Crap do you have a job? Where do you find the time to type so much

[apuszczalowski]

Holy Crap do you have a job? Where do you find the time to type so much

Cut and paste?

 

weren't we scouting him last year? I'm sure every team has a scout on Luck this year...the story should be that without manning that team is pretty bad. If Polian could have done a better job putting together a better defense Manning could have 3-4 titles but thats all hindsight.

how dare you have a negative comment about the holy Saint Polian! He can do no wrong and comments like that should be more then enough to have you banned from this board and given the electric chair!

[BuffaloBill]

The Packers are a good counter-example. The Pats* found their HOF QB without looking for him, though.

 

 

What consistently successful franchise in today's NFL is not beholden to it's QB?

[RJ (not THAT RJ)]

What consistently successful franchise in today's NFL is not beholden to it's QB?

 

 

Not a one, and that was not my point. My point was just that it is not easy for good teams to find replacements for star QBs.

[Canadian Bills Fan]

Cut and paste?

 

 

lol thank you

[truth on hold]

Note to colts players from polian: we've given up on the season because we want luck. Anyone costing us the ability to draft him by winning games should plan on finding a new team, or new occupation entirely if your gm has his way

Edited September 13, 2011 by Joe_the_6_pack

[reddogblitz]

The colts and 31 other teams are.

 

For all the love and adoration for Bill Polian around here, he really screwed the pooch on this season. If you have a good team and don't have a decent backup who can come in if your starter goes out, you're just not thinking. You'd think he'd know this with this experience with St. Frank.

Edited September 13, 2011 by reddogblitz

[truth on hold]

Manning was unique, tied up a lot of cap coin and never missed games. I dont blame Polian for not working on his replacement. They know the time is now though. If they were serious about trying to make something out of this season theyd try to sign Garrard, he knows the division and Colts personnel. He can scramble and try to offset some of the coordination w/ Manning gone. My guess is they just leave Collins to die on the vine to improve their draft position. Polian is a crafty schemer, he knows Colts at best w/o Manning but someone better than Collins are a 5 to 6 win team at best. Which puts them drafting somewhere around 4 thru 7. He got Manning with the #1 overall pick, had he drafted 2nd he might have been forced to take Leaf. This is a guy whose experience tells him getting "his" QB means picking #1.

Edited September 13, 2011 by Joe_the_6_pack

[LabattBlue]

We will see how the season plays out, but I continue to be amazed at the people who think the Colts are now one of the worst teams in the NFL. How many thought the same thing when Brady went down a few years ago, and Cassel stepped in? The Colts are not going to the playoffs, but I would be shocked if they didn't win at least 6 games.

[RJ (not THAT RJ)]

We will see how the season plays out, but I continue to be amazed at the people who think the Colts are now one of the worst teams in the NFL. How many thought the same thing when Brady went down a few years ago, and Cassel stepped in? The Colts are not going to the playoffs, but I would be shocked if they didn't win at least 6 games.

 

 

Around here, I would explain the assumption as a part of the general Polian Derangement Syndrome: He is so marvelous and wonderful, he can even make his team awful better than anyone else when necessary.

[Orton's Arm]

Manning was unique, tied up a lot of cap coin and never missed games. I dont blame Polian for not working on his replacement. They know the time is now though. If they were serious about trying to make something out of this season theyd try to sign Garrard, he knows the division and Colts personnel. He can scramble and try to offset some of the coordination w/ Manning gone. My guess is they just leave Collins to die on the vine to improve their draft position. Polian is a crafty schemer, he knows Colts at best w/o Manning but someone better than Collins are a 5 to 6 win team at best. Which puts them drafting somewhere around 4 thru 7. He got Manning with the #1 overall pick, had he drafted 2nd he might have been forced to take Leaf. This is a guy whose experience tells him getting "his" QB means picking #1.

This sounds true.

 

Polian knows that the Colts aren't going to win a Super Bowl this year with Garrard under center. On the other hand, finding an improvement over Collins would hurt the Colts' draft position just when they're planning on drafting Manning's replacement. Polian might indeed be planning on tanking the season with Collins and using the resulting early pick on Luck or some other highly ranked QB.

 

Polian knows a lot about player evaluation. If he thinks he needs good draft position to find Peyton's replacement, he's probably right.

[RJ (not THAT RJ)]

Golly, I write a post, and the next one proves my point so neatly. It's a good day.