One sign of a well-run franchise is they know when it’s time to find, and groom, an eventual successor at the sport’s most important position — quarterback.
For Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian, the time appears to be now.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Polian said this week that he “couldn’t dismiss” the idea of selecting a quarterback during the April 28-30 draft, and referred to the position as an “issue” for the Colts.
“Quarterback’s an issue, probably not a front-burner issue, but an issue nonetheless because while Peyton’s not at the end of his career, it’s approaching faster than it has in the past,” Polian said. “I wouldn’t rule that out in the right situation.”
Although Polian admits the team is unlikely to use its first round pick (No. 22 overall) on a signal-caller, nothing should be ruled out.
“I don’t know that you’re going to find his eventual replacement drafting 22nd,” Polian said. “And whether or not you would use that choice on a quarterback in an unsettled labor situation, where you don’t know what kind of contract that’s going to be signed, is another issue.
“That said, I don’t think you can dismiss it.”
Finding a replacement — especially for a future Hall of Famer like Peyton Manning — is not an exact science, but “you begin to think about it”, as Polian put it. “You know it’s sometime soon.”
The replacement could be Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick or TCU’s Andy Dalton, two prospects the Colts privately worked out this week. Both are slated to be drafted as early as the second round, where the Colts hold the No. 53 pick.
Manning, who just turned 35, should produce at a high level for the next couple of seasons, but his clock is definitely ticking. Slapped with the exclusive rights franchise tag in February, Peyton is expected to eventually sign a mega deal that would ensure he closes out his illustrious career in Indianapolis.
It’d be smart on Polian’s part to start developing a quarterback this season. While Curtis Painter has served as Manning’s backup since 2009, we can’t envision him taking over when Manning finally hangs ‘em up.
