Trav's Thoughts

This is the career.

• 208 games in 13 seasons 
• 208 games straight without missing a start is the longest such streak to open a career
• Took 12,712 of possible 13,136 career snaps
• 94.9 career passer rating
• Has 4 games with perfect passer rating
• 65% career completion percentage
• 54,828 yards
• Only NFL QB with 40,000+ passing yards (42,322) and 300+ passing touchdowns (314) in a decade (2000-09)
• 3,579 completions and 115 starting wins also rank as most in single decade (2000-09)
• 399 touchdowns passing, 17 rushing
• 198 interceptions
• Only player with 200 more passing touchdowns than interceptions
• Rookie of the Year, 1997
• 1 Super Bowl championship
• 1 Super Bow MVP
• 11 Pro Bowl appearances
• 4-time NFL MVP
• One of only 3 players to win back to back MVP awards, and did it twice
• 3rd all time in career completions, career passing yards, career touchdown passes
• Holds NFL record of 11 double digit victory seasons
• Only QB in NFL history to throw for 3,000+ yards in first 13 seasons of career
• Has record 13 consecutive seasons of 25 or more TD passes
• Has NFL record 11 seasons throwing for 4,000 or more yards

There's more, but I think I'll stop there. 

Will Peyton Manning stop there?  I'm sure we won't know for some time.  A few months at least, until after the draft perhaps.  Or maybe longer.

But with the announcement that the Colts have released Manning, Peyton's future is now in doubt.  Has he recovered, or will he recover, from the 4 neck surgeries?  Can he/will he hook up with another team and return to the form outlined above?  At 35, with fused vertebrae in his neck, what team would take a chance that there's anything left in the tank?

He hasn't taken an NFL snap in over a year.  Can he still take a hit?  Can he still get the ball down field?  Can a new team adjust to the way he orchestrates a game?

Peyton Manning has been in the league 14 years and carved a legendary career in 13 seasons as starting QB for the Colts.  It will seem odd to see him in any other colors than blue and white.

I endured that change at the end of the careers of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.  It was never quite right to see Joe in a Chiefs uniform.  And it was never quite right to see Jerry in a Raiders or Seahawks uniform.

It won't be quite right to see Peyton in anything but blue and white.  But if he can still play, he'll do it in another uniform.

Injury may force Manning into retirement.  Or he may be recovered and play again for some other team.  One way or the other, it's a new day in Indianapolis.

Best wishes, Peyton.