San Francisco 49ers: Pros, Cons of Adding Peyton Manning

As the Indianapolis Colts prepare to announce their departure with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, the speculation as to where he'll end up has gained even more momentum than ever before.

It is now a distinct possibility that Peyton Manning could, hypothetically, become a San Francisco 49er.

The arguments will flood in for the pros and cons and odds, and that is all well and good and healthy.

And maybe "pro" and "con" aren't the right words to describe the possible glories and pitfalls off adding him.

In short, I'm sure I'm not the only one who will come up with a list like this, so my apologies if it winds up being redundant.

 

PRO: He's Peyton Manning.

CON: There's no real indication or actual evidence that he is 100 percent healthy, and although I'm sure he'd have to pass a physical in order to sign with a team, would the pursuit of Manning stall the 49ers' efforts in resigning Alex Smith.  Also, the 49ers gave up more than 40 sacks last year.  How much of that was Smith and how much of that was lousy line play?  Either way, that's a number Manning will certainly take a look at.

PRO: He's Peyton Manning.

CON:  Manning was essentially the offensive coordinator at Indianapolis to the extent that he actually ran the offensive meetings.  How would this dynamic fit in with head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman?  My gut tells me Manning would most likely be sitting with a playbook like the rest of the players.  Granted, he'd have input, but how much?  Is this a deterrent for Manning?

PRO:  He's Peyton Manning—OK, joke's run thin.  Manning would elevate the level of talent on the offense.  He's a superstar who will bring the most out of the players around him.  This is not a secret.  Just look at the Colts when he didn't play.

CON:  How many years does Manning have left?  Is this really a worry?  How much would he cost?  Would he seize the salary cap?  How long would he sign for?

PRO:  This defense is championship-ready.  The 49ers have made it clear it is their ultimate intention to keep the defense intact.  The most notable proof of this is the recent re-signing of Ahmad Brooks.  With Justin Smith still anchoring the front three, this defense has a solid three-year window of dominance with the current players.  That's a more than solid window for Manning.

CON:  Are the 49ers built to complement a player like Manning?  It might be a dumb point, but maybe one that should be discussed.  Would a transcendent quarterback upset the current balance of the team?  The mojo?  The locker room?

 

The possibility of Manning coming to the San Francisco 49ers is exciting no matter how one cuts it.

He's the type of player a team finds a way to work with.

Obviously, the decision will ultimately be Manning's to make.

It'll be interesting to see if and how the 49ers pursue him.

Bottom line: This story just spiced up the offseason tenfold.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1094205-san-francisco-49ers-pros-and-cons-of-adding-peyton-manning

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