Report: NFL Executives Still Believe Peyton Manning Will Play For Rams in 2016

One of the biggest decisions looming this offseason is whether or not Denver Broncos quarterback will play next season or if he will retire. It is almost a forgone conclusion that he will not be back in Denver, especially given that the team franchised Von Miller on Monday. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t be back with another organization.

According to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report who has his inside sources in the NFL, many people in front offices around the league believe Manning will be the quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams next season.

Amazing how many front office people I speak to believe Peyton Manning will be QB for the Rams next season.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 1, 2016

ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter said Tuesday on Mike and Mike that Manning still wants to play.

"“He’d like to keep playing. In a perfect world, he’d like to keep playing. The question is, who is going to give him an opportunity? It’s tough to identify that team right now that’s going to sign him to the deal that makes it worthwhile for him. Does he want to move to a different city? I think everybody understands and expects that he’s not going to be back in Denver.”"

While it may see like a reach that Manning would come back let along play for the Rams, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The fact of the matter is, Manning has yet to officially retire and with someone who loves the preparation aspect as much as he does, retiring isn’t going to be easy for him to do.

The Rams are a team that with a solid quarterback, they could be a playoff team, maybe even a contender. With a good defense and a running game lead by second year player Todd Gurley, Los Angeles is an attractive destination.

Head coach Jeff Fisher has also done well with veteran quarterbacks in the past as he made it to the playoffs in Tennessee with an aging Kerry Collins under center.

There has been plenty of smoke around Manning joining the Rams in L.A., and where there’s smoke, usually there’s fire. It may seem unlikely that Manning comes and plays for the Rams, but this is certainly something to keep an eye on this offseason.

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