Peyton Manning to the Los Angeles Rams in 2016?

Heading into the Super Bowl, many are saying that if Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning, wins, he will decide to go out on top and just retire. But what if Manning loses or decided that he still has enough in him to be a game manager for a team ready to take the next step and win.

It could be argued that the Los Angeles Rams would be in that group of teams as they have playmakers like Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin to go with what is a pretty good defense that can hold their own. Not to mention for a team moving to a new market, having a guy like Manning would help boost ticket sales in the first year.

Will Brinson of CBS Sports joined the Toucher and Rich show hosted by Rich Shertenlieb and Fred “Toucher” Toettcher on Comcast Sportsnet New England when the Peyton Manning to the Rams conversation came up.

Rich: We were talking to Boomer Esiason yesterday and there was an interesting thing he brought up. He seems to be convinced that this is Peyton Manning’s last game, whether Peyton wins or loses the Super Bowl. And his whole idea is that no one’s going to want to pay the kind of money that Peyton’s going to want for a guy this old and to that I say you’ve got a superstar in Peyton Manning. He obviously is not anywhere near what he used to be. Wouldnt the LA Rams, just to make some sort of splash in their first year, just to get people talking about them, possibly throw some money his way just maybe for a couple years give him good money, maybe just to get that name out there and to get into the market with some sort of, you know, splash.

Brinson: Ya, thats a good link, and I mean, isn’t Cleveland while not as sexy as Los Angeles, isn’t Cleveland at least a decent bargaining chip for Tom Condon(Manning’s agent) to jack that price up. I mean look, the Browns have, if Josh McCown can go to the free agent market and get $5-million a year then Peyton Manning can  get, you know, $15-million from some team that has no hope at quarterback and be a game manager. Certainly for a Rams team that is kind of built like this, I mean I love this idea, it’s kind of built like the Broncos in terms of having a very good defense, an excellent pass rush, better running game with Todd Gurley there. Ya, I think its a fit. I think Peyton Manning, I mean nobody can get in this guys head, I think he walks away if he wins. Just because…

Rich: You want to go out on top, right. 

Brinson: You dont get many chances to do that.

Rich: I mean, that I understand, but let’s say they dont win, which many people are predicting. I gotta think too, like, remind me, what was the contract situation of Favre’s last one. Wasn’t it like two mega-years. He signed like $20 million for like two years wasn’t it with the Vikings and then that was it? Like he got a lot of money, but it wasn’t a long-term contract.

Brinson: Ya, Ya, exactly. I mean Peyton Manning could go and say, “Ok LA, how about you give me 2-years, $10 million a year contract. If we make the playoffs, I get a $5-million bonus. If we make the Super Bowl, I get another $5-million bonus.” Because at that point, its worth it for whatever. I mean this is Stan Kroenke. Like he’s taking off his shoes because he’s got a million dollars stuck in there and it’s annoying. Like he’s got that kind of money.

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This isn’t the first time that this has been brought up as it’s something that even Trey Wingo brought up on NFL Live on Tuesday. While it is intriguing, I agree with Brinson and Esisason in this situation. Whether Manning wins or loses, he’s most likely going to retire.

He told Bill Belichick, a man that he has high respect of, that this could be his last rodeo. He wouldnt say that if he weren’t at least thinking about retiring.

Manning doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that would do it just for the money. He has nothing left to prove as he’s already one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. While I would love Manning in a Rams uniform and for him to come to Los Angeles as he’s better than what they have now even at 39, I just dont find it to be a likely situation.

You can watch the video of the interview below: