Give me Manning and Reggie Wayne, and it's game over.
Maybe 3 or 4 years ago it would have been.
The paths are diverging, IMO. We're taking over the AFC South at a time when Manning is departing (for good) and Wayne is aging and looking at a new head coach, rookie QB in Andrew Luck, and possible losses on the defense that make the Colts as vulnerable in 2012 as they were in 2011.
I think it's nice to envision it, but I don't think it equates to reality. For me, it's nice to know that the Colts have had a bucket of water thrown on them and they've melted like the wicked witch of the east did in the Wizard of Oz. And all of Oz celebrated. Yay!
The key phrase has been "there's a lot of moving parts here..." The moving parts include:
1. Kubiak's history of being VERY loyal to his players, especially the QB. Schaub missed out on the Super Bowl in 2011, and he's in his final contract year in 2012. Doesn't look like a "Kubiak move" to shaft him in favor of #18.
2. We didn't go after Brett Favre a few seasons back. We won't go after his reincarnated self (Manning) either.
3. Manning is not in a neck brace, he's been cleared, etc., but can he make all the throws and do so for a long period of time, accurately, etc.?
4. #18 says he wants to build an incentive-based deal, but seriously....what does that look like? What are the numbers? What triggers the bonus money, and will any of that include roster bonuses for 2013, etc., placing Houston in a bind if he limps through 2012 and we really don't want him in 2013.
5. We built this team to take down the Colts. Mission accomplished, whether by our own doing or the Colts' own doing is irrelevant. Mission accomplished. So why do we let the guy skip over to Houston and let him get to eat his cake, too? I still remember the Colts laying down for the Titans several seasons ago and it let the Titans into the playoffs. That struck a nerve with me then, and it does NOW when I think about Daddy Darth Vader trying to come here and play nice with us all of a sudden. Hit the road, a-hole. Thanks for the memories.
6. I can only imagine an animated Manning on the Texans sideline, trying to chew the asses of guys like Myers, Winston, Brown, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, Arian Foster, etc. I bet that would go over like a lead balloon. He'd lose the team in the first three games of the 2012 season...unless he led the team to huge blowout wins those first few games. The potential for disaster outweighs the reward, IMO.
It's been fun to think MAYBE #18 wants us. It was nice when Bill Cowher wanted us, too. I actually enjoyed the 2011 season because we did it without Cowher, whom I was in favor of bringing in by the way, and we can do 2012 without P. Manning, as well.
I will say this: IF the Texans made this happen, it would definitely make for an entertaining off-season, camp, preseason, and first few games of reg season.
