Wrote this a while ago in another thread, prior to Manning being released. Hopefully, it still applies:
I really hope our front office is disguising their true desires, and using Manning to drive down the Flynn price. That would be ideal to me, and makes sense. Assume for a second that Philbin says to Ireland that he totally believes that Flynn is the next great elite qb and he is willing to bet his job on that. He knows the offense,smooth transition, etc. Now, they can't even mention Flynn without tampering, plus they'd not want to tip their hand. So they leak info that Ross is all giggly excited about getting Manning, totally ignore Flynn, go through the motions once Manning's released, then pounce on Flynn as soon as free agency begins. Not even throw an offer at Manning.I really hope that is what's happening.
Because the alternative is that we are once again the transparent, desperate guy at the dance, saying Golly, sure would like to ask out the homecoming queen, only to have the popular guys laugh at our lame attempts, then proceed to make out with her in front of us... I hope we're not that guy....again.