There have been few people more supportive of bringing Peyton Manning to the Chiefs than myself. I was on board as soon as the Colt's finished in last place and earned (?) the number one pick (Andrew Luck) in the upcoming draft. It became clear that Manning would no longer fit into the Colt's future plans, and fans began lobbying for the four-time MVP to join their team.
The media, always a reliable source (sarcasm), begin making their lists of the best fits for Manning. Kansas City, oddly, got little to no respect as a potential landing spot. Yet, to Chiefs fans, the match seemed perfect. We have the offensive weapons, we have the defense, we have the cap room; all it seemed we didn't have was any national press coverage (which, ironically, could be one of the reasons Peyton chooses KC).
But as much as I would love Manning to choose the Chiefs, it's easy to get caught up in the hype and forget that the chances of the Chiefs landing Manning is still a long-shot.
The future Hall of Famer put that in perspective for the Chiefs when he visited AFC West rival Denver Broncos last night. I think the odds of Manning actually going to the Broncos is slim, and that KC offers a better chance for success than Denver, and I'm not alone. Bill Williamson of ESPN debated Denver vs. KC and just by looking at the comparisons, KC seems the better fit. Also, Joel Thorman from Arrowhead Pride broke down why the Chiefs are a better fit for Manning.
And while these reasons seem obvious to Chiefs fans, it's not just a two-horse race. While the Jets and Redskins checked themselves out of the Manning sweep stakes last night (Redskins essentially traded 3 first round picks for Robert Griffin III and the Jets inexplicably extended Mark Sanchez's contract), there are still other obvious contenders: Dolphins, Cardinals and Seahawks.
If you don't think that those other three teams offer serious competition, think again. The Cardinals and Dolphins both have visits scheduled with Manning. The Chiefs, however, have no scheduled visit announced.
This means nothing, and yet it means something. To Chiefs fans, those who believed, or at least wanted to believe, the rumors circulating through the football world that the Chiefs were the only team to offer Manning's agent (former Chiefs offensive lineman Tom Condon) a completed contract on Thursday, then this means a damper was put on your weekend.
Personally, I think the Chiefs have as good a chance as any team to land Manning. I also think that Manning coming to the Chiefs is too good to be true.
Good things just don't happen to Chiefs fans. Between the no playoff wins in almost two decades, to the no back-to-back division titles in forever, to the lack of big free agent acquisitions, to the inability to ever draft a franchise QB; the football gods do not shine their light often on Kansas City (sports gods in general I suppose).
Is there downside to signing Manning? Absolutely. There is no guarantee that Manning will be healthy by the time the season starts. Without that guarantee, it would be understandable if teams, including the Chiefs, weren't willing to go all-in on signing the free agent.
And let's not beat around the bush; Manning would be a temporary solution. Essentially, a band-aid of the biggest proportions. And bringing in a band-aid solution at the QB position seems like something Pioli would not do. Afterall, in an interview with a KC news station in January, Pioli said: "I didn't come here to win one championship. I didn't come here to get the quick fix, be done and move onto the next job. This is where our family is. This is where I want to spend the rest of my career."
But a quick fix is exactly what Manning would offer. And the Chiefs seem OK with that.
"He's one of the greatest players in the history of the league," Hunt told NBC Sports Network Friday. "He's also an incredible person. We feel really good about the team we have in Kansas City going into the 2012 season, but we'll look for any opportunity to improve and, of course, that includes Peyton Manning.
"I would think that he will be looking for the situation that fits him best. I don't know how important money will be to him, but I'm sure it will be part of the equation. But he's going to be looking for an environment that he's comfortable in."
While I've already gotten my hopes up (thanks to comments such as Hunt's), I do so with caution. That is what I recommend for all other Chiefs fans out there. Approach the quest for this coveted free agent with pessimism. And if the Chiefs don't get Peyton, then you can come up with excuses and reasons why the Chiefs and Manning weren't a good fit.
When it seems too good to be true, it usually is. On the other hand, there's a first time for everything. Which will it be?
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