LA Rams "Internal Discussions" on Peyton Manning Would Make Sense for Ticket Sales

Peyton Manning has come up in conversation amongst LA Rams brass, reports Adam Schefter. Though Manning is signed for another year in Denver, Schefter writes that “most around the league do not expect him to return to Denver next season, if he returns at all.”

Whether Manning would be an upgrade over Case Keenum next season is, astonishingly, relatively debatable at this point. Though he has avoided turning the ball over thus far in the postseason, Manning, who has been hobbled by injuries for several seasons now, threw 17 interceptions and just nine touchdowns in the regular season, and had 6.8 yards per attempt. Keenum had slightly less y/a — 6.6 — but threw four touchdowns and just one INT in five starts. Yes, the Broncos are in the Super Bowl, but they’ve been CARRIED by Wade Phillips’ ferocious defense.

Where the Rams could really use Manning, though, is to sell tickets. He’s the most popular player in the NFL. There wasn’t really anybody in Los Angeles clamoring for a football team, but, if he chose to return, Manning would draw butts in the seats. It’s not as though the Rams, with Keenum, Nick Foles, or drafted or free agent quarterback X are favorites to light the world on fire next season, and they can point to Manning’s Super Bowl appearance and leadership intangibles to give themselves PR cover.

A bunch of things would need to fall in line for Manning-to-the-Rams to happen, but my knee-jerk reaction is it makes sense.