I'm going to tell you a quick story about a friend of mine. And not a "friend" as in I'm really talking about myself. Like when you ask your doctor for Viagra "for my friend." No, I had an actual flesh-and-blood friend. Now this friend had an obsession with BMW's. Not because of a fetish for German engineering, though. No, he coveted a BMW simply because he thought it would get him, well, laid. Not an altogether ridiculous thought. I mean, I certainly have seen my fair share of 10's pass the Italian test from the passenger seat of a new 5 series. So anyway, once we got out of high school, my friend did, in fact, purchase his first Beemer. The problem? It was 15 years old, had 170 thousand miles, and more than a few cigarette burns tarnishing the faded leather interior. And he over payed for it, to boot. Bottom line? It was not exactly the leg-opener he had hoped for.

Here's where this is going: I kinda feel the same way about acquiring Peyton Manning at this point in his career. I feel that we have been so obsessed with having a franchise QB on the roster that we are about to overpay for what once was the finest automobile in the world, and possibly history, in order to paint a picture of a championship caliber team. The way my friend tried to paint a picture of status and wealth. However, like my friend, it would all be hollow. And in the likely possibility that it would not turn out as we would all hope, it would further grind us into the muck of mediocrity for at least another five years.

Now for the record, I am a huge Peyton Manning fan (Who isn't?). He has played the game for the last 14 years with not only an almost unprecedented excellence on the field, but also a class and maturity off the field that has become stunningly rare in today's game. But selfishly, I want a QB that is "ours". And even in a best case scenario, Peyton could never be ours. He will forever be a Colt, regardless of how the next few months play out. It's like when a buddy is dating the hottest girl in school. Sure, you can admire her from afar, and even after they break up you may be able to knock it down on the rebound, but the sloppy seconds angle would tarnish the experience, wouldn't it?

Conversely, I do not feel the same way about Matt Flynn, for obvious reasons. His legacy, for better or worse,is yet to be written, unlike Mannings. The same way Favre is remembered as a Packer, and never a Falcon.

I respect those that want Manning. I can certainly see the draw. I just think it's well past time we bought ourselves a luxury car, and one that is fresh off the assembly line.

Unrelated Post Script:

I have been posting things here pretty regularly for about two years now, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. So I have decided to start my own blog. It will be non-Dolphin related, so it certainly not compete with this site (Not that it ever really could.) It will be similar to my writing style here: Editorial in content, covering whatever is on my mind at the time. Current events, politics, entertainment, music, parenting, marriage, you name it. I'm hoping to post a couple of times a week. It is a little edgier than what I do here. A bit more profane, comedically immature and politically incorrect. Just so you are warned. I would love for you guys to check it out. I opened my own sight at www.arrogant-sob.com. You can also "like" the blog on Facebook at Arrogant SOB, and follow it on Twitter. My handle is OnearrogantSOB. (Also, feel free to friend me on Facebook, if you'd like. My first name is Mark, I think you know my last name, or should be able to figure it out.) WOuld love to see some of you guys check it out. Thanks. Shameless self-promoting jackass, signing off....