Archie Manning wary of Colts QB plans

Peyton Manning tutoring Andrew Luck next season in Indianapolis? While it sounds like a dream partnership, Peyton's father Archie doesn't think it's such a good idea.

"I don't think it'd necessarily be great for either one," Archie Manning told FOX Sports Radio on Tuesday, according to ProFootballTalk. "I think Andrew's the type of mature player ... he can walk right in. I mean, these other three or four guys that are playing this year, [if] they can walk in and contribute, Andrew can, too."

The winless Colts are on the fast track for the No. 1 pick, largely presumed to be Stanford's Luck. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian has said he would be open to taking a quarterback in the first round in April's draft and has said he's spoken with Peyton Manning about eventually drafting the future Hall of Famer's successor.

Luck, a Heisman Trophy finalist, has attended the Manning Passing Academy as both a pupil and a counselor, and Luck's father, Oliver, and Manning's father, Archie, were teammates with the Houston Oilers in the 1980s.

But Archie Manning cautioned Tuesday that what seems like a match made in heaven wouldn't likely work for either player.

"I used to play with his dad [Oliver]. ... I'm in New York, I heard from him last night," Archie Manning told Fox Sports Radio, according to ProFootballTalk. "Peyton's also tried to help Andrew and kind of be a friend. I doubt if either one wants to play on the same team."

Peyton Manning is recovering from neck surgery on Sept. 8, his third in 19 months. He has not practiced since having a single-level spinal fusion that doctors hope will not only alleviate pressure on a damaged nerve that had caused weakness in Manning's throwing arm, but allow the 35-year-old quarterback to return to his perennial Pro Bowl status.

Indianapolis (0-11) has kept Manning on the active roster all season with the hope that he may start throwing at practice before the Jan. 1 season finale at Jacksonville.

"Throwing will be part of the next progression," Manning said Friday before heading back to the team's weight room. "I will be doing some throwing and I have been doing some throwing. But now we're going to ramp it up a little more."

“

I doubt if either one wants to play on the same team.

” -- Archie Manning
on son Peyton and Andrew Luck potentially playing together

For his part, Peyton Manning insists he can't answer questions about Luck and April's draft. He has called the speculation about Luck disrespectful to his teammates, who are still trying to win games.

"He (Bill Polian) and I have not had a conversation about the 2012 draft," Manning said Friday, referring to the Colts' vice chairman. "Bill keeps the players informed on a lot of things, but I've never been informed about who we're going to draft and I think that would be inappropriate."

Polian said Friday talk about Luck is premature, and that the topic of Luck has not come up in conversations with Manning.

"We haven't talked specifics," Polian said Friday. "We don't know where we're headed specifically. There's a long way to go until April."

Still, Manning's slow recovery has touched off talk of the Colts' future and even his possible retirement. Polian said the plan for now is for Manning to be with the team in the future.

"We've had discussions about it," Polian said Friday. "He knows what our plans are going forward. He understands what the situation is. We've got a lot of work to do to rebuild our team, and all of that is part and parcel of a larger plan. He's well aware of where we're going. I'm sure he's anxious to be part of it."

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.