# What does Peyton Manning's future hold? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 2, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554 "2012-02-02T17:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554/21 "2012-02-04T16:32:24Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > What I would have liked to have seen, as hypothetical Colts GM, is to tear up Manning’s old deal, explain that he needs to showcase his talents in a familiar system, They fired their longtime offensive coordinator a year ago, and the head coach last month. There is no familiar system in Indy. And I think he’s long past the need to “showcase his talents.” This is one of the ten best QBs of all time. If/when he gets his velocity back (or close to it), he will have several options. I can’t imagine him wanting to go to the Jets and playing under Rex Ryan and with Santonio Holmes. Miami would be a excellent fit, and that’s where I’d expect. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554/22 "2012-02-04T16:41:09Z")
I pray that Peyton can’t play again. I don’t want to see him crippled or in severe pain the rest of his life. You don’t screw around with neurological injuries. He’s had a great career. Made no telling how many tens of millions. Get out now while you can still walk. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554/23 "2012-02-05T04:56:35Z")
What I have heard is that there are basically two different injuries, the spinal fusion, and the nerve problem. From all accounts the spinal fusion is 100% healed. Former players on ESPN have said that they have known middle linebackers that have played for years after the spinal fusion surgery. The nerve problem is what is taking a little longer to heal. The nerve problem is in his peripheral nervous system, controlling his tricep, because it is in his peripheral nervous system, rather than his central nervous system, the injury can heal, the doctors just don’t have an accurate timeline for it. I guess what I’m saying is that these injuries don’t put him in any more of a position for crippling neurological injuries than any other player. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554/24 "2012-02-05T05:30:05Z")
I’m neither a neurologist nor a pro football player, but that sounds right to me. > [@sitchensis](#): > > The nerve problem is what is taking a little longer to heal. The nerve problem is in his peripheral nervous system, controlling his tricep, because it is in his peripheral nervous system, rather than his central nervous system, the injury can heal, the doctors just don’t have an accurate timeline for it. Right. On ESPN yesterday I saw some speculation that his doctors think it might take until a year out from the surgery before the nerves are fully healed. That’d be some time in May, which is well before the start of the season. But it did make for some weird reporting because they were quoting the doctors as saying the spinal fusion was fine, and Manning could play as long as the nerves regenerated - which is a big deal on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554/25 "2012-02-05T05:34:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > _Again_, Cooper Manning wasn’t almost paralyzed, and he wasn’t injured. He quit playing football because he had a defect called spinal stenosis, which was causing numbness in his hand and elbow. I don’t know if he was at any risk for paralysis, but the spinal surgery ended his career. Peyton Manning doesn’t have that condition as far as I know. He got hurt while playing. Their problems aren’t related and have almost nothing in common. My mistake. Mea culpa. Thank you for correcting me in such a civil manner. :smack: This place really is one of the nicest boards out there (except the Pit, of course 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554/26 "2012-02-05T05:42:44Z")
In the ‘just for what it is worth’ department: I broke my back a few years ago. They fused two of my vertebrae. According to he doctors, if I ever have the exact same injury, I won’t have anywhere near the probability of damage because (get this) I have a titanium alloy sheathing the fusion. Not quite as cool as adamantium, but not bad. I did a little research after reading Marley’s post and he is, of course, quite right. Manning’s probability of spine/neck damage is pretty much the same as anyone else’s. So, given that, I change my vote to ‘come back as the QB for the Colts’. Oh, and did I mention, “Go Giants!” ? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554/27 "2012-02-05T15:11:13Z")
In a surprise move Peyton will be the QB of San Francisco next year and they will be awesome with that defense and an elite QB. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-peyton-mannings-future-hold/611554.md?page=1)