Suck For Luck

This NFL season has been a very odd one, from the start of the season being in jeopardy to some very surprising teams (Bills, Bengals, Lions). This postseason could get even crazier. I'm not solely talking about the playoffs being potentially shaken up this year, but more so the arguably most anticipated draft pick in years, Andrew Luck.

Everybody in sports is wrapping Luck up as the number one overall pick this spring. The only problem is, the team that is steadily on pace to secure that number one pick, already has a franchise quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts are 0-8 at the halfway point of the season due to franchise man Peyton Manning out for the year due to neck surgery this past offseason. Indianapolis is a decent quarterback away from being 5-3, as five of their losses this year have been by ten points or less, with Kerry Collins and Curtis Painter taking the snaps.

Now if the Colts win the Suck for Luck campaign and lock up the number one pick, what do they do? Do they draft Luck and have him marinate in the wake of Manning for three to five years? Do they do the unthinkable and draft somebody else? Do they trade the number one pick for more picks later in the draft? Or do they trade/release Manning, counting on Luck for the future?

I believe they should draft Luck, although it may seem like a wasted pick, UNTIL 2014, when Manning will be 38, beaten from years of sacks and added seasons from postseason games. Manning doesn't necessarily need to mentor Luck, but just have Luck watch Manning, take some snaps in practice. Aaron Rodgers did that in Green Bay under Brett Favre, he didn't turn out so bad now did he? No, he's in the ranks of the best in the game.

Whatever the Colts do, they cannot afford to write the ship on Manning, if he is cleared to play, because they're big-eyed for Luck. Luck has not thrown a pass in the NFL. Manning has won 4 MVPs and has 11 Pro Bowl appearances. You don't write that off for an unsure thing.

Suck for Luck, but be smart about it.