Big question hovers over Season 2 of Netflix's 'Quarterback'

A significant problem hovers over the proposed second season of Netflix's "Quarterback" docuseries produced by NFL Films and Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions company: It seems nobody wants to do it. 

During a recent conversation with Julian Sancton of The Hollywood Reporter, Manning acknowledged that the deadline for getting active quarterbacks to sign off on the project ahead of the regular-season opener was "approaching very soon." The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs begin their title defense with a home game against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. 

"To use a cheesy analogy, we’re definitely in the two-minute drill here," Manning explained. "I'd love for someone to call us back and say, 'I want to do it.' I had three starting quarterbacks tell me no yesterday, so I’m swallowing my pride."

Sancton did not reveal the identities of those signal-callers. 

Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, Minnesota Vikings starter Kirk Cousins and current Philadelphia Eagles backup Marcus Mariota spent time last season in front of Netflix cameras and eventually starred in the debut season of the "Quarterback" program. Mahomes guided the Chiefs to a Super Bowl LVII win over the Eagles this past February. 

"I think maybe some guys are thinking that it is going to be a distraction, even though I told a couple of them, 'I guarantee you’ll win the Super Bowl like Mahomes if you do it,'" Manning said. 

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, New York Giants starter Daniel Jones, Mac Jones of the New England Patriots, Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears and new Washington Commanders starter Sam Howell are among players who previously suggested they won't participate in filming for "Quarterback" this fall. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals was linked with doing "Quarterback" but indicated this summer that taking part in the project would offer "a window into a personal life I’m not quite ready to share yet." 

Manning admitted he likely would've turned Netflix down regarding a similar series during his Hall of Fame career. 

"But," he added, "if a quarterback that I respected told me, 'Hey, trust me, we’re going to do right by you, you are not going to regret it, we’re going to cut out anything you don’t want in there, you won’t even know we’re there,' then I probably would have said, 'Yeah, I might as well do it.'"

Time will tell if any current quarterbacks bought what Manning was trying to sell via those comments.