The Peyton Manning sweepstakes officially began Wednesday when the Indianapolis Colts made the least surprising move in team history, releasing their franchise quarterback before he was due a $28 million roster bonus.

 

By the end of the day, Manning had flown from Indianapolis to South Florida (where he has a home) and held a spur-of-the-moment press conference for reporters who were tailing him on his way home from Opa-Locka Airport.

 

Not to be outdone, former teammate (and UM alum) Reggie Wayne went on Michael Irvin's WQAM show to lobby for the Dolphins to sign both he and Manning. "You don't think [Peyton Manning] wants to prove people wrong?" he said. "This dude is going to be ready. Trust me, he's going to be more than ready."

 

Dolphins observers have noted that new head coach Joe Philbin would like the team to pick up free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, Philbin's former backup in Green Bay. 

 

Flynn might become a very good quarterback, but he's no Peyton Manning. Signing Manning comes with a lot of risk (neck surgery is nothing to disregard, after all), but if the Dolphins can determine that Manning has fully healed from last year's spinal fusion surgery, the team would be insane to let some other team swoop in and sign him.

 

Not that anyone needs to tell this to the folks at Dolphins headquarters. Team owner Stephen Ross would love for Manning to give the Dolphins instant credibility and the star power the Dolphins have been lacking (and that the crosstown Heat and Marlins have in spades).

 

Miami's poor record in 2011 masked the fact that the team is not very far off from contending for an AFC East title. 5 of the team's 10 losses were by 7 points or fewer, and Miami was actually among the top rushing teams in the NFL last year. 

 

Add an All-Pro passer like Manning to Miami's above-average skill players like Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush, and all of a sudden the Dolphins are a dangerous team. It doesn't hurt that Manning's blind side would be protected by All-Pro LT Jake Long.

 

Again, Matt Flynn could be good (though it is impossible to extrapolate any possible performance from a guy who has made all of two career starts), but we already know Manning is great.