Dollars Cents and Common Sense

If the Kansas City Chiefs are going to make a serious run at Quarterback Peyton Manning, they better be quick about it. If not, the train might leave the station like a speeding bullet.

For the record, I can’t think of a single reason that Peyton Manning doesn’t make sense for the Kansas City Chiefs. Forget the fact he wants upwards of $16 million per year for the next three seasons all guaranteed. Forget the fact that the Chiefs offensive line must be rebuilt over night to protect Manning. And forget the fact, that Manning is 36 years old and has endured four neck surgeries.

What Peyton Manning will do for the Chiefs is sell Season Tickets – lots of them. As in a whole bunch!

With ticket sales approaching what they were in the mid-80’s, signing Manning could push the Chiefs shortcomings of fans in the stands to the brink of busting Arrowhead at the seems.

On Wednesday, the Indianapolis Colts are going to announce that they are releasing their franchise quarterback for reasons they say don’t surround dollars. The fact that Manning is owed $28 Million on Thursday they claim doesn’t play a part in their decision.

That’s probably not accurate but who really cares. I don’t nor does any other Kansas City fan.

All anyone wants to see is Manning in a Chiefs uniform. Even if the Chiefs don’t have all the pieces that Manning would need to bring an AFC West championship back to Kansas City, they can buy them in free agency

Because a 36-year old Peyton Manning with four neck surgeries and a slight loss of zip in his gun slinging right arm is far better that than what the Chiefs had when former General Manager Carl Peterson summoned Joe Montana to save the franchise back in the 90’s.

And as you recall, that worked out pretty well for Kansas City. They went to an AFC Championship game and in fact, Montana was the last Chiefs quarterback to win a playoff game. You think Manning can repeat that trick?

Well if Kansas City Chiefs General Manager, Scott Pioli, believes that he has the backing of ownership, then he should break the bank to insure that Manning doesn’t land in Miami, New York, Arizona or Seattle.

For weeks now the speculation has increased about Manning being a candidate in Kansas City. If reports are true of their interest, the Chiefs will be active whenever Manning hits the open road once of course the Colts and the NFL approve the paperwork for his release. At that point, Manning is free to sign with any NFL team.

So will the Chiefs really make this bold move? Well that’s the big question. First there is no doubt in our view that the two sides have interest in one another. Secondly, the Pros out way the Cons by a wide margin as the reasons to sign him versus those that might sway that the positives to negatives.

But that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

The Chiefs aren’t known for being NFL riverboat gamblers. But by pushing hard to sign Manning, they can change their perception as a team that isn’t willing to do what it takes to win Super Bowls.

Though Manning is long in the tooth; you must have a franchise quarterback on your roster to win Super Bowls. Manning already has one under his belt. And though money not Lombardi trophies might be the deciding factor as to which NFL city he calls home in 2012, he’s a winner.

But no matter what happens with Manning and the Chiefs and the validity of the flirtation real or otherwise, for now Kansas City football is back on the NFL map.

Let’s just hope that this flirtation of Manning lives beyond the month of March.

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WARPAINT ILLUSTRATED MESSAGE BOARDS:
Will signing Peyton Manning fill Arrowhead again?

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