Peyton or First Pick?

Peyton or First Pick?

By Paige Costantino

So as we know little brother Eli was named Superbowl MVP this 2011-2012 season and led the Giants to their second Superbowl victory against Tom Brady and the Patriots. But what about big brother Peyton? The Indianapolis Colts struggled this season without their star quarterback Peyton Manning. Just 6 years ago the Colts won a Superbowl Championship under the wing of Peyton Manning. In 2010, Manning led the Colts to a 10-7 run, making an appearance in the playoffs. After the 2009-2010 season Peyton underwent neck surgery that pronounced him inactive for the entire 2010-2011 season. The 2010-2011 season was a very upsetting one for the Colts franchise The Colts were just 2-14 with wins over the Titans and the Texans (ESPN). This left the franchise in turmoil, firing former head coach Jim Caldwell and many other members of the Colts staff. But now what happens with Peyton?
Manning's doctors have cleared him to play but the question is can he preform at the level he played at two seasons ago? Manning has been working diligently to be at the same level he was, although he does not feel 100%. There is a possibility that the Colts could trade Manning considering on March 8th he is due a $28 million option bonus that activates the final four years of his five year contract. Peyton has stated that he prefers not to be traded because his career began with the Colts and he wants it to end with the Colts. Recently, an article has been published that Irsay, owner of the Colts, has told Peyton that it is his decision whether he wants to stay with the Colts or not. However, they must renegotiate the contract that he has for the $28 million option bonus because Manning's future is uncertain.
However, the Colt's have another option to save their 2012-2013 season, a first round draft pick. With Manning. at the age of 35, with an uncertain future, maybe the Colt's best option is to draft a quarterback that will be with the franchise for many years in the future. This year in college football we have seen some quarterbacks do amazing things. Quarterbacks such as Robert Griffin III aka RGIII from Baylor and Andrew Luck from Standford are two potential quarterbacks that could do great things in the upcoming years for the franchise. This is not to say that if they become the starting quarterback they are going to win the Superbowl their first season but these quarterbacks are definitely reliable for the upcoming season.
 RGIII was the recipant of the Hesiman Trophy, one of the biggest honors in college football. He lead the Baylor Bears to a 10-3 record and defeated Washington (7-6) in the Valero Alamo Bowl 67-56. His college career started in 2008 with 160 completions and 15 touchdowns and is now endings with 291 completions and 37 touchdowns (ESPN). Not impressed? Along with being the winning of the 2012 Heisman Trophy award, RGIII was also an All-American, Davey O'Brien Awards winner, Manning Award winner, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist, Waler Camp Award Finalist, Wuerfeel Trophy Finalist, Maxwell Award Semifinalist and part of the 2011 All State AFCA Good Works Team (Baylor Bears Athletic Site).
So what's the dirt on Andrew Luck? Luck is a senior at Standford leading the Cardinals to an 11-2 record however, fell to Oklahoma State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 38-41. Luck started his season with the Cardinals in 2009 with 162 completions and 13 touchdowns while in his senior season he completed 288 passes and went for 37 touchdowns (ESPN). Despite the loss, Luck is projected to be the first round draft. pick.
A prediction of the draft was recently published by ESPN Insider Mel Kiper Jr. predicting that the first round draft pick which belongs to the Colt's will allow them to acquire Luck, while Robert Griffin III will be the fourth pick which belongs to the Cleveland Browns (ESPN Insider on NFL Draft). This is only a prediction and since the Colts do have the first pick, they can pick either of these quarterbacks or any other quarterback they feel will mold with their team and style of play well. Both of these quarterbacks have tremendous talents and are very versatile. With the draft a little more than two months away, and Peyton's option bonus less than a month away, the Colts need to make a major decision. What will it be?