Um, one thing I can tell y'all (and PM in particular, if he were to ask) for SURE, having broken a vertebrate in MY neck some years ago, is that even with a "complete recovery", there is no escaping the deep ache that moves in , throbbing up into head, down arm and even sometimes the lower back-and-hip with pressure changes that come with changes in weather fronts--and they've got HEIGHTENED "pressure changes" up there at altitude, not-to-mention strong fronts moving in regularly all year, especially in the Fall and Winter...They are talking about his "fusion having taken", being "stable", but that has nothing to do with the kind of effects I'm talking about. It can trigger that weakness he's still just "rehabbing" out of too, with shots and the heavy pain-pills only giving temporary, surface relief that masks what your body is telling you and leaves the athlete open to re-injury--and this time permanent damage.
As for it being "the best business decision", I'm not so sure, given your OTHER arguments, E-, which I find very convincing: Manning will likely be on-the-run from Game 1 on, unless they are able to purchase and bring in, say, the New York Giants' O-line TOO by opening day...with the one they've got, that collection of no-help receivers and no real running game to speak of (especially now that Tebow won't be back there!), your prediction that he (PM) doesn't make it through the 2012 season is no worse than even-money, from my POV.