(SP) – Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone made it clear today that he is not happy with either Blake Bortles or Chad Henne as his starting quarterback, instead naming retired quarterback Peyton Manning to the job.
“Hey, it’s worth a shot,” said Marrone. “Maybe he hears that we named him starting QB and he shows up tomorrow at practice. It’s never going to happen if I don’t at least try, right?”
Manning, now 41, hasn’t played since the 2015 season and had his worst year as a pro despite winning the Super Bowl that year. But Marrone believes an a rusty, older and even worse Manning would give his team a vast improvement at the position.
“Peyton Manning at 30-percent is a hundred times better than Blake Bortles at 110-percent,” said Marrone. “That’s just a fact. And, hell, even if Manning doesn’t show up, I might start him at QB. Even if we snapped the ball into empty space on every play and the ball just lays on the field, loose, seven yards behind scrimmage for either to scoop up, it’s still better than letting Bortles or Henne touch it.”
Manning reportedly is considering the offer to come out of retirement.
“I heard the news while I was eating Papa John’s pizza and drinking Bud Light while watching DirecTV,” said Manning. “I’ll need to check my Nationwide policy, but as long as everything is okay, I think I’ll put on my Nikes and drive down there in my Buick.”
