Colts Prepared to Roll Without Manning..........
Irsay: Colts will look at veteran QBs in case Manning not healed
- NFL.com Wire Reports
- Published: Aug. 20, 2011 at 02:15 p.m.
- Updated: Aug. 20, 2011 at 02:52 p.m.
- Liked: 0 | Comments: 17
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It's becoming a possibility that Peyton Manning's mark of consecutive games started among active players could come to an end when the regular seasons gets underway.
Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay acknowledged as much in a Twitter postSaturday in which he said the team had to be prepared to start the season without its star quarterback.
"We r evaluating the QB sitch, #18 healing but we got 2 b prepared 4 early season possibility without him, defense has 2 pick it up, big time!"
Countdown to kickoff: 19
http://static.nfl.com/static/content.../MAN515097.jpgNineteen also represents the number of playoff games started by both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. That’s easily tied for tops among active quarterbacks.
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Manning has been sidelined for all of training camp as he recovers from neck surgery in May. It was the second time since March 2010 that Manning underwent neck surgery.
Manning has started all 227 regular season and playoff games during his 14-year career, most among active players, and the Colts repeatedly have said they expect him to be ready to start in the season-opener against the Houston Texans. He is currently on the physically unable to perform list, preventing him from practicing until he is activated.
Including Manning, the Colts presently have four quarterbacks on their roster -- veterans Dan Orlovsky and Curtis Painter as well as rookie Mike Hartline.
The Colts were one of 14 teams present at Terrelle Pryor's pro day Saturday, but Irsay tweeted that the Colts do not plan to make a play for the former Ohio State quarterback, instead soliciting ideas from his followers on a veteran signal caller.
"Not taking Pryor...what VET QB would u vote 4 to sign that's out there? If sum1 has 2 hold the fort early season, who u going with?"
Manning expressed frustration during the NFL lockout in July that the stalled labor negotiations were impeding his ability to rehab with the team's trainers.
"That's one thing these owners didn't take into account. You've got a guy rehabbing, and you can't use your training room and can't use your trainer," Manning said. "When you find a good trainer and a good rehab guy that you like, it's a pretty special bond. These guys kind of know your body. So the fact that I haven't had access to my guys and I've been somewhat on my own, I've been extra cautious and extra slow and making sure we don't have any setbacks."
Since then, Manning signed a five-year, $90 million deal that, according to Irsay, will pay his quarterback $69 million during the first three years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.