Will Peyton Manning Choose New York Jets or Dallas Cowboys?

It’s first down and ten, Jets have the ball on their own 20 yard line, Peyton Manning back to pass ….  This could become a reality in the NFL next year.

Most NFL analysts predict that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will not pay Manning a $28 million bonus, thus making him a free agent. And rumor has it that Peyton is already working out away from the Colts complex, this after his doctor cleared him to resume playing.

So, if Peyton is not going to resign with the Colts, what NFL teams would fit? Well, you can probably discount those NFL teams with very good starting QBs.  So lets exclude the Super Bowl Champ New York Giants (Eli Manning), New England Patriots (Tom Brady), Green Bay Packers (Aaron Rodgers), New Orleans Saints (Drew Brees), San Diego Chargers (Phillip Rivers), Pittsburgh Steelers (Ben Roesthlisberger), Atlanta Falcons (Matt Ryan) and possibly even the Philadelphia Eagles (Michael Vick) and Baltimore Ravens (Joe Flacco).

Then there are the teams that have young quarterbacks that they want to build around. The San Francisco 49ers (Alex Smith), Cincinnati Bengals (Andy Dalton) and Carolina Panthers (Cam Newton) fit that category.

But it’s not just what other teams want.  Peyton, a certain future hall-of-famer and 4 time NFL MVP will have his choice as to which team he wants to play for.  What would entice him to play for a team? I see three criteria that a potential suitor must meet: 1) a team with a great offensive line, 2) a team with a chance to win the Super Bowl and 3) a team in a big market.  Based on my analysis, the following teams don’t meet the criteria:
Buffalo Bills (6-10), Cincinnati Bengals (9-7), Cleveland Browns (4-12), Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11), Kansas City Chiefs (7-9), Washington Redskins (5-11), Tennessee Titans (9-7), Denver Broncos (8-8), Detroit Lions (10-6), Minnesota Vikings (3-13), Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 4-12), Arizona Cardinals (8-8), Seattle Seahawks (7-9) and St. Lousi Rams (2-14).

That leaves the Dolphins, Texans, Cowboys and the Jets.

It’s unlikely that Peyton would sign with a team that has a rookie coach, and the Miami Dolphins just hired former Green Bay Packer Offensive Coordinater Joe Philbin as their head coach. But if Peyton were to play for a rookie coach, Philbin wouldn’t be a bad choice.

The Houston Texans (10-6) were the AFC South champions with unknown QB T.J. Yates, I’m sure the Texans would be interested, but I doubt Peyton would.

Next, is the Dallas Cowboys (8-6), an enticing choice.  I’m sure Jerry Jones would sign him in a heartbeat, the Cowboys will never win the Super Bowl with Tony Romo; and the team underperformed in 2011.  The Cowboys meet all of Peyton’s criteria, they have a very good offensive line, have the resources to challenge the Giants in the NFC East and they are a big market team.  It doesn’t hurt that they are one of the most successful franchaises in the world.  Does Peyton want to stay in the south?

That leaves the Jets.

The Jets made it to the AFC Championship game in 2008 and 2009.  They have good offensive players but lack a great offensive line. If he’s smart, Peyton would overlook this fact considering the marketing opportunities that will be presented to him.  The New York market is second- to-none.  It doesn’t hurt that his brother Eli plays across town and the Giants and Jets share the same stadium, convenient for his extended family.

Even if Peyton wanted to play for the Jets, would the Jets be interested?  Simple answer, Yes.  Although the Jets are paying big bucks to QB Mark Sanchez, Sanchez lost the confidence of many of his teammates this year and that reflected in his play.  Secondly, the NFL is a business and adding a marquis player like Peyton will ihelp their marketing and increase memorabilia sales.  But arguably the biggest reason the Jets would sign Peyton Manning is it would immediately steal the media limelight from the New York Giants.  The Jets seriously need something to bridge the popularity gap with their cross town rivals.  Right now they are “second fiddle” in New York.

So will Peyton Manning choose the Dallas Cowboys or New York Jets?  There are just too many reasons for Peyton to join his brother in New York.