Peyton Manning‘s decision to sign with the Broncos eight years ago changed the franchise’s trajectory, but the future Hall of Famer did not get the chance to strongly consider a team that would likely have been on his list. While it is not certain the Redskins would have beaten out the Broncos, the presence of Mike and Kyle Shanahan would have given Washington a key selling point. The then-free agent passer met with the Shanahans while in Denver to watch film, and Manning indicated he was “very impressed” with Kyle — then Washington’s OC. Mike Shanahan, then in his third year as Washington’s HC, confirmed the franchise was interested in Manning when the Colts released him on March 7, 2012. But in between Manning’s Colts exit and his Broncos commitment, the Redskins sent the Rams a monster haul for the No. 2 overall pick.
“I had known Mike for a long time, played for him in a Pro Bowl, and we’ve stayed in touch, and so I felt comfortable talking to them,” Manning said in an expansive piece on his 2012 free agency by The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, Lindsay Jones and others (subscription required). “But they had made a trade for the second pick of the draft, which they ended up taking Robert Griffin III. So as soon as they made that trade, even Mike kind of knew that eliminated them. It just wasn’t going to make sense.”
The Redskins-Rams trade became official March 13 — three days after the Manning-Shanahans film session took place, per The Athletic — but the teams agreed to the deal March 9. Years later, John Elway informed his former head coach he believed the Redskins may have held more appeal than the Broncos ultimately presented in the Manning sweepstakes.
“I think Peyton was disappointed,” Mike Shanahan said. “Kyle and I were kind of surprised that he still wanted to meet with us. I can remember talking with Elway one time not too long ago, a few years ago. He said, ‘Mike, do you realize that Peyton, I think, was going to go to your place? I think he really wanted to go to your place more than our place.’”
Shifting back to the current NFL landscape, here is the latest from the NFC East:
- A report last week indicated the Cowboys reside on Jamal Adams‘ list of preferred trade destinations, and the Jets safety confirmed he will try to make a Dallas venture happen. In a short response to a fan, an in-transit Adams said he will try to maneuver his way to the Cowboys, via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Jets have yet to indicate they will honor Adams’ trade request. Adams wants a monster extension, but were the fourth-year defender to be dealt to Dallas, he may not be as demanding for an new deal this year.
- Although the Eagles re-signed Rodney McLeod and agreed to terms with Jalen Mills with the intention of moving him to safety, Geoff Mosher of InsidetheBirds.com views an Adams-to-Philadelphia path as an ideal match. The Eagles made a big splash at corner, giving Darius Slay a lucrative extension that essentially doubles as a two-year pact. But they remain $24MM-plus under the cap, providing intriguing flexibility on this front. However, the Jets having Adams under contract through 2021 gives them leverage in against the disgruntled defender.
- With Dak Prescott signing his franchise tender, the Cowboys are now the only team with three players — Prescott, Amari Cooper and DeMarcus Lawrence — earning $20MM per year, per ESPN Stats & Info’s Evan Kaplan (on Twitter). Cooper’s deal averages $20MM per year, but the Cowboys can get out of it — if need be — fairly easily by 2022. Prescott is tied to a $31.4MM payment, and the Cowboys have barely three weeks to extend him.
I think Dan Synder is proof that it doesn’t take brains to become rich. But, as a Skins fan, I’m glad Peyton went where he could continue winning. That wouldn’t have happened in DC.
Just a rich daddy.
Overpaying for a slightly better than average QB in Dak, so there is no room for the likes of Adams.
4900 yds passing and second to mahomes in 40+ td passes but ok
Check QB ratings since he entered the league
Adams is still on his rookie deal so there would be room.
All of Dak’s stats came in garbage time after the score was already settled. When the Cowboys needed him to perform, he couldn’t.
Even if you take out the garbage time stats he was great
I don’t think dak is a top 3 qb in the league but I think he gets a lot of undeserved hat just because he’s the cowboys QB
It happened with Romo too
Dak is Romo 2.0. He’s an above average QB, but not elite. Romo was consistently a borderline top 10 QB. Unless you have an elite defense, that just won’t cut it if the goal is to win a Super Bowl. And at 31.4 million, it’ll be hard to afford an elite defense.
Romo was a better qb than dak. Romo never had half the talent Dak has had. Dak is a fine game manager,and a good teammate. He’s likable but he’s nothing extraordinary.
I like Dak too… not 31-40M though.
Dak at 20-25M okay. Can live with that. Same thing when QBs were getting 20M, you’d be comfortable with 14-15M for Dak, but not 20M over 5 years.
Until the cowboys get a top 10 defense they will never make it to the promise land.
They should be better at all three levels of defense next year, with McCoy, a healthy Vanderesch, and Clinton-Dix. Add in improved pass-rushing from Lawrence, and the Madden level offense, and they should cruise through the NFC East. Would you put money on anyone else in the NFC beating them? Maybe San Fran, if Jimmy G. elevates his level of play, and their defense doesn’t regress? Who else even looks like they’re in the same tier? Cowboys are going to be must-watch tv all season. Chiefs-Cowboys Super Bowl would be fun
Don’t the Colts also have three 20 MM players : Brissett, Rivers, and Buckner?
It’s $20 million/season, not total value
Why would Snyder send everything and the kitchen sink to the Rams for RGIII when he had the opportunity to land Peyton? With Manning, he could’ve retained all that draft capital and improved the team around him. Even if Manning didn’t fully recover from neck surgery, they still drafted Cousins in the third round as insurance. No wonder this team can’t sustain success