Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The ideal situation for Peyton Manning is in Seattle. The Seahawks would provide him with a promising young team and a sheltered kind of environment that he is used to.

In return for offering these things, Seattle would get the best QB the franchise has ever had and become an instant contender.

Now, all of this hinges on two things. The first is that Manning is released by the Colts, and the second is that he is healthy and ready to return to the field in close proximity to the QB he was when he last played in the NFL.

If those two things happen, there appears to be a strong likelihood that Seattle is exactly where he will end up.

The Rumors

Dan Pompei of the National Football Post discusses the growing buzz that Manning will land in Seattle.

Video Play Button Videos you might like

Based on the buzz around the league, the Seahawks could be the early frontrunner for Peyton Manning, assuming he is released. Pete Carroll needs a quarterback and is believed to have a strong interest in at least exploring Manning. The Seahawks could offer Manning an attractive scenario. They have a young team with some fine skill players to put around him. They play in one of the league’s loudest stadiums. Manning wouldn’t be subject to the same kind of scrutiny in Seattle that he would in a lot of other markets. The Seahawks also could have a better feel for Manning’s medical situation than some teams. One of their team physicians, Stan Herring, who also is one of the country’s preeminent specialists for spine injuries. Herring is a member of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee.

This rumor is as rooted in logic as it is in information that the Seahawks have shown interest. And for both of those reasons, this is a believable scenario.

Why Seattle is the Best Fit

The Seahawks are young team with potential. All they lack is a strong and consistent leader at the QB position and Manning is definitely capable of bringing that.

The Seahawks have a young and developing offensive line. They would be able to provide Manning with more protection than he has been used to and a better running back than he has had since he teamed up with Edgerrin James.

They also have a developing defense. They would not need Manning to come in and throw 40 times to win a game. He would simply need to make good reads and make big plays when they needed them.

Beyond these on-field factors, they would provide Manning with the sort of off-the-field conditions he is used to. Manning is not used to playing in a media intensive environment.

Manning is a private person who only releases controlled messages to the public. Seattle would provide him with this.

Manning would be a hero the instant he signed the contract. This is a market that is far more used to seeing stars bolting for bigger markets, not coming from other teams.

The public is not going to demand to know every detail of Manning's existence or pester him if he has a bad start. These fans will have his back and the media will cater to that love affair.