Stampede Blue

I agree

But please don’t go to the Jets. Green isn’t my color. LOL

coltsfanbeforemanning - February 16, 2012 reply

unable to finish the article

I got caught up watching the “jiggle”.

She’s hawt like Mexico fo sho!

Can't believe she's my age. She looks way older than 19.

runningblack - February 16, 2012 reply

that sounds like a slight?

she’s amazing. everything that I want in a woman.

I’ll worry about what she looks like when she is 30, when she is actually 30.

coltsfanbeforemanning - February 16, 2012 reply

It's not a slight.

It’s like, she’s a woman, not a girl. You see her and you’re not like, oh that’s some punk 19 year old. That’s a woman. 19 year old girls don’t look like that.

runningblack - February 17, 2012 reply

My friends were all Colts fans before Polian, Manning, and even Jim Irsay

What I find fascinating is how worked up some folks are about the various statements and resulting “stories”. I ignore what I find offensive, irrelevant or boring. Brad, you just posted yet again about what is really nothing new since December.

It sort of reminds me of the girl who claims she can’t stand some guy and wants nothing to do with him as she spends the nest year telling you about it every other day. Ignore it! There is nothing to discuss until a move is made. Oops, I just post something about this story.Damn! LOL

indylator - February 16, 2012 reply

I've always said that ever since Jim Irsay discovered Twitter,

he’s been an embarrassment to himself and the franchise. It’s official now.

Yes sireee!

He’s losing fans because he’s taking the low road as opposed to the high road.

I was actually starting to think that

maybe I misjudged a few things about him a while back. At one point he started to prove to me that he actually had some stones by firing the Polians. I viewed the tweeting as just an eccentric sideshow. But, the more this plays out, Irsay is just making a complete fool of himself in my judgement. He’s acting like a teenager. And, I don’t think he even knows how to stop himself. It’s like he just can’t resist staying out of the limelight. And, he is the ultimate hypocrite. Calling Manning a politician, when he’s the biggest politician out there…..and he’s not even a good one at that. He was given everything in life. He never had earn a living or make something of himself,….so he apparently never fully developed mentally….and we’re witnessing that now…more than ever.

It's like he's addicted to Twitter

He needs help from a shrink.

True. At least he can afford one.

he HAS ran a very successful pro football franchise, that IS something

maybe it was handed to him but he has done a better job with this franchise than his father did.

man, i can't wait til football starts and all this crap fades into the background

Irsay doesn’t owe Peyton a damn thing. the Colts have done well by Peyton Manning and Peyton Manning has done very well by the Colts. Irsay gave Peyton more freedom than any other QB in history. i will agree he needs to just get this over with but if he decides to drag this out til March 8th, then so be it. it’s his money, his franchise, his legacy so let it play out the way he wants. fans will get over it when we start winning games again (when ever that may be). i don’t care if fans of peyton say they won’t root for the Colts if they release him. those fans are just really emotional right now and they are scared of change. i bet they change their minds when Luck starts putting together some W’s and this team is plastered all over espn.

Zing!

Exactly my feelings about Irsay

thats dumb

your takes are rather bad.

Your takes are extremely bad.

I just want to enjoy some Colts football without the drama.

I want him here, but I will support big P-Money wherever he goes. The game is far less without him and people are naturally going to be very passionate about the guy. I don’t think that qualifies someone as a fickle fan. However, it will most definitely impact the franchise from a business standpoint.

We’re talking about Peyton Manning, here. Not Drew Bledsoe. Browns fans are still pissed that Bernie Kosar was pushed out of Cleveland by Belichick.

At the end of the day, it’s go Colts (per usual), but I expected more when it came to the handling of such a delicate situation. I appreciate Irsay’s interaction and fan loyalty. I really do. And I’ve said multiple times that he’s one of the best owners in the league. But through this debacle, he’s done a fine job of embarrassing himself. A fine job.

Stew Blake - February 16, 2012 reply

Furthermore, he needs to take a step back from the P.R. side of things, IMO.

Does anyone miss the Bill Polian approach?

Stew Blake - February 16, 2012 reply

Sad state of affairs when I actually can say yes I sort of do.

That being said Polian is still a douche but he had the right idea of leaving the media out which never bothered me.

Him treating fans like lepers after that Decision to throw away the perfect season was a large part of why I despised him(that and his inability to build a balanced team)

is it strange at all to you

that BBS posts that Manning is out and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot and basically piles of dumb crap when you had your own write up with basically the exact opposite tone and information that Manning can and will be here if he wants and that you yourself want Manning here?
are you included in the “poor dumb wretches” because you believe its stil at least possible that he can be back whether its probable or not

I wholeheartedly agree with this article

If we have people who will leave to follow Peyton, will it make a difference whether they do it this season or in 4? Every successful team has fair weather fans. I will always appreciate him because he also created a new generation of Colts fans that WILL stay and root for the horseshoe.

Indcolt18 - February 16, 2012 via mobile reply

Good rant, on the whole

I’m still sort of perplexed at Manning’s behavior, and frankly, a bit perplexed at the people bitching about Jim Irsay.

About Irsay, notice how none of those articles really say what makes him a “spoiled brat”, or makes him “love the limelight”. While I wish in general he’d talk less, I do think he has a right to say something about the team he owns and the big decisions. And here’s the thing:

He paid Peyton an absolutely ridiculous amount of money last year, knowing there were big problems and he obviously knew and kept quiet about the “secret surgery” well up to this point. And I don’t think anyone can reasonably expect, no matter what the other ties, for the Colts to drop another $28M on Peyton now.

So what can they do? Well, they can cut him (because they apparently can’t “renegotiate” prior) and offer to bring him back at a lower rate. Given how the last year has gone, that seems quite reasonable to me.

Beyond that, it’s pretty crazy, I think, to imply they should have kept around the Polian nepotism show or the worthless head coach that so obviously needed to be fired, even if it made Peyton feel sad and lonely to do so.

So I don’t think, on the whole, Jim Irsay has done one thing wrong. He’s looking out for his team, which he should, and he’s been downright accommodating to Peyton.

On the other hand, I don’t see any way, really, to judge Peyton’s behavior in a very positive light. I think it’s understandable that he wishes things were different, that everything hadn’t unraveled quite as quickly as it did, and he was facing better odds in his comeback. But, let’s be real for a second:

1. I don’t care how comfortable you were with them, the coaches of this team needed replacement. It worries me that he, Manning, might have become so set in things that he feels like he can’t deal with anyone but a lickspittle coaching staff dealing with him. While he’s an absolutely amazing player, football is an incredibly complex game, and your coaches HAVE to be top notch, and have to be strong and independent. Likewise, your strongest, best assets have to be able to deal with other folks having a say. So from that perspective, Peyton’s seeming displeasure at the demise of the old regime seem worrying.

2. It very much worries me that Peyton seems to have done so much pre-emptive talking up his health. It seemed to me that he was trying to create either some groundswell for the Colts not to release him (when in reality it’s the only reasonable thing to do… even if they want him back, they shouldn’t want him back at $28M), or to somehow convince some other team, fans in general that there’s some kind of big conspiracy here, and he’s really A-OK. That’s a crappy thing to do for several reasons, but most obviously because the Colts just signed him to the biggest contract in history while he was hurt. I know loyalty doesn’t count for everything, but that’s the sort of stuff that turns “amicable divorce” into “contested divorce” and I don’t see any real upside to it for Peyton. He’s not going to guilt the Colts into giving him $28M, and he’s not going to trick some other team into paying a huge price for him sight-unseen. It’s just poisoning the well for the sake of it, it seems to me, and that’s just wrong.

It’s obvious, and understandable that this isn’t how Peyton wanted to wind up his career, either with a retirement or with playing his last few years somewhere else. But being pissed off doesn’t require you to be counterproductive or malicious.

Sports2 - February 16, 2012 reply

You seriously don’t think Jim has done anything wrong?

I get not wanting Manning to talk but really when everyone says he’s going to retire I do think he has the right to dispute it if it isn’t true its his career after all.

However Jimbo over here keeps tweeting about keeping things in house and talking about wanting Manning back but you know at a cheaper rate etc.

Fine if that’s what you want here’s a thought say it to his face and don’t tell the media anything. So yes Jimbo dropped the ball on that one.

You don’t see Kraft, Rooney or Mara acting this way… they come across as professionals. Jimbo comes across as a tool.

My point is this if Manning is damaged beyond repair then cut him already why delay the inevitable?

I mean if he’s done it will come out eventually right?

If Manning is damaged beyond repair then cut him already why delay the inevitable?

Because just cutting him would actually be the asshole thing to do. It’s pretty clear that Peyton Manning doesn’t yet believe that he’s damaged beyond repair.

The sensible thing for the Colts to do was to help him as much as possible to rehab and then make a determination when they have the most info available. If nothing else, keeping him is important because I think that since he’s technically still on the team, he can maintain some continuity with seeing the same doctors, training, etc.

The sensible thing for Manning to do is, beyond, saying he’s not retiring, which I agree he has every right to do, shut up and work his ass off and see if he can actually play again. To me, he’s gone beyond saying “I want to keep playing” to badmouthing the team and probably overselling his health in ways that aren’t very good for anyone, even himself.

To put it another way, it wouldn’t change anything if he were cut today, but delaying it gives both sides a chance to cool down and be sensible about this, whereas once he’s cut and everyone leaves pissed off, it’s that much harder to mend fences later (even if the later is post career).

Sports2 - February 16, 2012 reply

Except there’s no continuity because they fired said trainer that he worked with before.

Yes cutting him would be an a-hole thing to do considering they are doing it regardless because apparently he’s “damaged beyond repair” its a business he of all people know that. So why delay the inevitable you think its somehow less cruel to wait till the last minute as opposed to getting it done ASAP? I mean either way he’s not seeing the $$$ so why keep up the charade? You’re assuming Manning doesn’t want to be cut why do people assume he really wants to be here sure he’ll say the PC thing its what he does but he knows if he can play and wants to win a ring now he won’t do it with a team on the rebuild.

Don’t you know how absurd you sound? As if waiting till the last second makes this somehow better if he can’t play well it will be exposed sooner or later so here’s a thought make it sooner.

If Manning was in such denial don’t you think his family would’ve sat him down or a doctor would’ve told him “Well Peyton you can’t play again” no doctor would’ve cleared him if he was unable to play ever again(which is what we’re supposed to believe)

I don't know what Manning's family or doctors would say to him

As best I can tell, there’s a chance he could play again, and it won’t really physically hurt him to try. That being said, it doesn’t seem like he’s going to get the result he wants.

If I’m the Colts, I wouldn’t cut him because I’d hold out some hope of getting him to come back on an incentive based deal. Even if everyone is pissed now, I’d give things a chance to cool off.

If I’m Manning, I wouldn’t want to leave in the first place, but I think a variety of “wounded pride” issues are getting in the way of that.

But let’s be realistic about this. Despite all of the empty and meaningless phrases like “a new era/chapter/page” or “moving on”, there’s a lot to be gained by both sides settling down and making things work for another year. If everyone would just buy in and do it.

1. For the Colts, keeping him for another year isn’t in any way going to destroy Andrew Luck. Even in the best case scenario of a healthy Peyton and a successful team, the Colts have always been judicious about taking out Peyton and playing Curtis Painter and Jim Sorgi. Based on the fact that Andrew Luck is clearly the future, I think it’s very likely they can find significant time for him even if Manning is healthy and taking the majority of the snaps. I think a young QB needs playing time, but there’s some middle ground, and a smart team with smart QBs ought to be able to find it. So that’s a non-issue to me. And possibly, it might benefit Luck.

Second, it obviously benefits the team to maintain good relations with it’s best player of all time. In what I think is the more likely event, if Peyton stays hurt or can’t play at the level he’s used to, he can call it quits and still remain in the fold. Good all around.

2. I actually think it’s a better situation for Peyton Manning as well. This year he’s going to have to take an incentive-laden deal no matter where he goes. If he does basically a one-year deal here, and proves healthy, he can sign a really kick ass deal with the team of his choosing next year. This year, he won’t have that many options, so why not stick it out where he’s somewhat familiar with things. He’ll have Ariens and Christensen around, so regardless of other changes, he can still be pretty comfortable in his offense. And if things don’t work out, it’s probably a more comfortable way to go out than playing out the string somewhere else.

I mean, looking around, does it really sound appealing to play for the Redskins or Dolphins? I can’t name a receiver on either team. And that’s after I lived a long time in DC. What I do know is that both the coach and owner are extremely impatient twits with little sense of loyalty and strong desire to control every aspect of things. Perhaps the Broncos or Cardinals sound better, but it still seems like an iffy proposition to make so many things (talent, philosophy of play, control, money, mutual desire) match up.

Look, I recognize it’s very unlikely that both sides patch things up at this point. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not the best possible outcome for everyone if they were to calm down and really think it out.

Sports2 - February 17, 2012 reply

Yes keep Manning for another year for what?

Unless its for a SB run there’s no incentive for Manning to stay just one year when he’d probably like to stay for maybe 3-4 if the Colts can’t make that commitment to him then let him go and start over with Luck(who has the option of either demanding a trade like Elway or go back to school).
All this does is delay the inevitable.

I can accept Manning not being a Colt anymore and won’t hold it against him(as long as he doesn’t host a decision special like LeBron) if he plays elsewhere.

CF4L - February 17, 2012 reply

wrong

irsay is acting just fine. manning is being the douche in this. him and his agent

No, you're wrong.....as usual.

Wow...

I generally agree with your takes. But they both seem to be a fault. Irsay has more to lose in a PR battle and should cut him but stay out of the tabloids

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

Agreed Omaha!!

Dito29 - February 17, 2012 reply

Very nicely stated, Brad . . .I agree 100%

It’s past time to put an end to this crap, and Irsay needs to take the bull by the horns and get it done without any further petty foolishness.
I have been a Colts fan since the early 60’s, and Peyton does represent the classiest and best apsects of the Indianapolis era . His day should be over now, if for no other reason than I am sick of his/Irsay’s public pissing contest.
Cut Peyton . . .draft Luck . . .build a roster of championship caliber . . .move on to the next era of Colts football. Please.

oldecoltsfan - February 16, 2012 reply

in 3, 2, 1

Cue the “I am a real Colts fan. I have been rooting for the Colts since dinosaurs roamed the earth. I have a 19 foot penis and can bench press 50,000 lbs” posts.

steveoly32 - February 16, 2012 reply

U mad bro?

Keep trolling, trolling, trolling….just teasing.

Besides, I have been a Colts fan for a while and my penis is white so it’s not quite 19 feet long, even on a good day.

Guy LeDouche - February 16, 2012 reply

My penis is 20 feet long. Your argument is invalid.

Luck - February 16, 2012 reply

Don't know about the 19 foot johnson . . .

. . .but in my day we did walk 4 miles uphill each way to school in rain, sleet and snow. Against the wind. Both ways. With no shoes. :-)

oldecoltsfan - February 16, 2012 reply

Dumb writing.

I love how every article on this topic is now about putting together the pieces found in other articles. We’ve reached the point when sports writers are inserting themselves into the story because they can’t report on anything real. It’s a feeding frenzy without anything to feed on. Stupid. I feel stupid for even contributing a post but since I wasted energy clicking the link I feel the need to type my two cents. I hope many will join me in now boycotting this blog and every other type of news media outlet that says anything about this over-hyped story, until something actually happens.

Blueblocker - February 16, 2012 reply

Yeah I’m sure Peyton’s wringing his hands worrying about whether 20,000 Peyton fans who might be on the fence will buy jerseys for his new team. It’s such a tangible bargaining chip he can bring to the negotiating table.

nailrat - February 16, 2012 reply

It HAS gotten out of hand, and I'M upset!

I guess I’m one of the “poor, dumb wretches” then. I definitely agree that the horseshoe comes first, but if Peyton is healthy, he HAS to play for us. To suggest anything else is treason! Not to Manning but to the Colts. How quickly we forget that a healthy Manning is maybe the best quarterback in the league. Why would we get rid of that?! Too many of you experts/bloggers/media members have your “inside” info (i.e. OPINIONS!) as to what is going on with our q.b. and the team, but none of you know what is really going on unless you hold a front office position on West 56th or your ARE Jim Irsay or you ARE Peyton Manning. Obviously, my whole argument is predicated upon Manning being healthy. But if we can, say, get 3 more years out of PM then that’s IMO a perfect scenario. Then we get to see “Plan A” unfold. Obviously many of you have forgotten but Plan A was to have PM groom his successor and then retire a Colt, remember?!! That is very plausable if he is healthy, which he still may be! They are other quarterbacks coming out this year or next besides Luck that have the potential, under Peyton’s tutelage, to be as great as Luck MIGHT be. (RG3, Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weedon, next year: Matt Barkley ,Landry Jones, Tyler Wilson and a handful of others.) We obviously have a lot of holes to fill on the roster, and trading the rights to Luck for picks would go along way to accomplishing that. And to those of you who think PM is done with us cause all of his coaches are gone……really?! He’s dealt with new coaches his whole life – high school, college, several times as a pro. He’ll be fine. Plus, with a new defensive minded regime in Indy, he wont be relied upon to do as much when he’s on the field. If Peyton Manning is healthy, he is my starting quarterback hands down period! I’m all for a new era starting for the Colts but it can be done in good time. They’re may not be any need to “rush” it in as obviously Brad and his cronies want to do. Relax and have some patience ,dude. We may still be able to honor respectfully who got us here and usher in a new era seamlessly.

dylanlb6 - February 16, 2012 reply

Please!!!!!!!!

Brandon Weedon is 100 years old. Tannehill, you are comparing Tannehill to Luck? Tyler Wilson, give me a fricken break. Landry Jones has bust written all over his ass. Matt Barkley is another Leinhart.

Only RG3 has a chance to be as good as Luck, but I doubt it.

If the Colts don’t draft Luck, then they are doomed for mediocrity for the foreseeable future.

Of course, this is just my opinion. But for the love of God, the Colts cannot pass on drafting Andrew Luck.

Spike7 - February 18, 2012 reply

I don't think it's about Colts fans or Manning fans

I’m a Colts fan and will always be, but I will obviously watch manning play next year wherever he goes because of the fun of it.

Totally agree with Brad. Irsay should make the move as soon as possible and we all know that Luck is the future. We have to move on

SpanishColtsFan - February 16, 2012 via mobile reply

Hi all

Gonna make this statement just once, and if I see more mindless, idiotic comments pertaining to it, I’m just going to assume those people posting them are trolls and accounts will get banned.

If you seriously think that I am taking my opinion and stating it as fact, you’re a moron. No, I’m being serious. Other SB Nation editors are reading those comments, laughing at the writers, and wondering if their families are inbred.

If you cannot understand that this is an opinion blog, and that what we deal in is OPINIONS, then your best option is to leave, find another place to troll, and live out rest of your life in happiness and ignorant bliss.

I’m sure there is a nicer, more Midwestern way of telling you to knock off the stupidity, but I’m in a New York mood today, and I’ll pay you the compliment of being blunt: If you think I’m presenting my opinion as fact, you are a fucking dumbass, and your comments will be treated as a troll. Stew, Matt, Eric, David, and myself are quite simply tired of reading your shit if that’s how you truly feel. Do us a favor and leave. We won’t insult you be pandering to you. We’ll just tell you the truth (you’re a dumbass) and ask you to take your dumbass ideas somewhere else.

For the 95% of you who read and comment and can actually see the difference between opinion and fact, thank you. Seriously, thank you. We love you. Truly, we do. We write this blog for you, and we weed out the bottom-feeders so that this blog does not get taken over by people who, when they were in grade school, likely ate paste straight out of the container.

Thank you for your attention and your continued support of Stampede Blue.

Brad Wells - February 16, 2012 reply

Eating Paste

I yearn for those easy days again.

ColtsFanatic07 - February 16, 2012 via mobile reply

I'm sure many of those comments

result from frustration toward the entire news media for shoving this shit down people’s throats. This happens to be one of the few places where people can state OPINIONS about reporting opinions as fact.

Blueblocker - February 16, 2012 reply

Nice.

I see you deleted my post. I wasn’t overly negative or obscene and I wasn’t trolling. I just disagreed with the overall tone of your post. I realize you’re king of this molehill, but I won’t apologize for having a different opinion than yours.

NFLFan83 - February 16, 2012 reply

don't know anything about you Brad but i dig your style. keep your opinions coming!

yeah that was a good post.

full of value. obviously it has no place here.

missed responding to zzsdkzz there

opps

i guess it didn't matter

since all things must be deleted.

we discuss only a few angles and perspectives. any other perspectives can GTFO

I think I’m the only person who is more on Irsay’s side than Peytons. Don’t get me wrong, I love Peyton, but it seems to me that during SB week Peytons camp was making one claim after another, and Irsay had to publicly respond. Now Irsay is being called the unprofessional jerk, but it seems to me he’s only been responding to what the Peyton camp has been throwing out into the public. Had Irsay never responded, who know what level of criticism he would have received.
Maybe I’m completely wrong. I wish Peyton could stay, but being as how theres still ZERO evidence that he can back up his claims of playing at an elite level, I don’t know how anybody could blame Irsay for deciding to move on.
Peyton got paid 26 million bucks to ride the bench last season. Loyalty goes both ways. If he wants to stay a Colt, he should be willing to redo his deal.

Booyah!Blue - February 16, 2012 reply

Restructured Deal

Pretty sure if Peyton actually did that, Irsay would shit his paints because he would still have to cut him.

ColtsFanatic07 - February 16, 2012 via mobile reply

Manning was responding to these retirement reports people keep saying he’ll retire even though he never said he was. I mean I think he has the right to speak out on it but I wish neither of them spoke to the media at all.

At least we haven’t heard from Manning since then can’t really say the same for Jimbo

Peyton has been extremely loyal to the Colts

by giving the Colts the out clause in his contract. In exchange, he asked the Colts to make a decision by March 8 to either pick up the remaining of his contract or not. This has been agreed.

Irsay has the right not to pick up the remaining of the contract, but trying to paint Manning as the bad guy pretty much seals the fact that Irsay isn’t loyal to Manning. He wants to fight to make sure fans don’t follow Manning. Guess what? Many are pissed because of that.

You’re right on the comment that loyalty must go both ways. It was Irsay’s turn to demonstrate his. He failed. BIG TIME.

lol b-man

manning isnt loyal to the colts

lol omaha

yes he is and always has been stop pretending like you know everything and putting lol in front of every post you make automatically negates the facts presented against your biased opinion. its nothing but trolling only reason it gets kept on the page is because you agree with BBS

ok settles

how is manning loyal to the colts? because he signed contracts that made him the highest paid player at all times?

loyalty in football doesnt exist for the most part. players want paid and owners want production. manning is no different from any other player in that he wants to be highly paid. he isnt going to be giving the colts a hometown discount unless he cant play. and then he is just screwing irsay out of money

wow do you ever have a clue what youre talking about

talking about his contracts is stupid and a desperate that in no way proves he isnt loyal not only because he earns the money he makes but also because Irsay made him the highest paid player, he didnt ask for it or demand it. Stop your bullshitting about Manning screwing Irsay out of money because he didnt, Irsay is the one making the deal remember?

He is the highest paid player because of his talent and loyalty to the team
like how he ran practices during the lockout to help everyone be ready to start the season up until he was no longer physically able to.

How bout the fact that hes stuck with the Colts all these years you dont think another team wouldnt have paid him just as much?

Lets not forget that he played without complaint and with great skill and dedication while injured

Then theres him defending the Colts coaches and people he believes in

Or the extensive amount of work he put in to get back on the field as soon as possible for the team not for himself not to get paid since he already got the money

Oh and how about the sideline coach Manning helping the team, the players, the QBs he did that for the team no one forced him to or asked him to and everyone was still afraid of him getting clipped on the sideline but he stood there and did whatever he could to help

There im tired of you complaining about the money that Irsays fault hes a grown man he made the decision to sign him

C.Settles - February 17, 2012 reply

nice rant

now explain how any of that means he is loyal to the colts?

half of that shit you said was just him earning his money. the colts paid him to do a job and he did it and then some

doesnt make him loyal to the colts. makes him a good employee

your'e not the only one, i'm on team Irsay too

STOP TOALKING ABOUT PEYTON

Please Irsay stop talking about Peyton. He is the only one who knows about his health and if he can play again.
Irsay is a jurk. I am a Colts fan but I wish Peyton goes to another team and beat them like Montana did to de 49rs

Irsay is like his father an …..

Violeta C - February 16, 2012 reply

Same old thing from Brad.

why not just sit back and wait for an actual annoucement. Because right now your right up there with Lombardi and Schefter, making statements that are not fact. Or rather use the “my sources” excuse. This Manning thing is ugly we already know that, you want him cut we know that too. And i know 2 cents worth omahacolt is going to be the bandwagon bafoon that he is.

kbreboot - February 16, 2012 reply

Well said

shoospa - February 16, 2012 reply

Luck

Do you think Luck will have a warm and nice feeling coming to play for Irsay after seeing what Irsay did to the greatest QB on the planet and the person responsible for Colts greatness for more than a decade?

I seriously doubt that, especially since Luck is a very bright young man.

You know, he can royally screw Irsay by holding out and demanding a trade like what Eli did to the Chargers. That’ll give Irsay what he deserves… a royal pain in the butt where his brain is located.

You're Totally Insane. Completely

What on earth makes you think that Andrew Luck cares two cents about Peyton Manning? If Luck is anything other than a worthless future NFL bust, he wants to come into the NFL and outplay and hammer Manning just like every other QB in the NFL. You honestly presume that just because you worship Manning that Luck and everybody else does? That is unbelievable.

Here is the deal: Luck would LOVE to come to Indianapolis. Why? Because if Irsay gave Manning contracts of $48, $120 and $90 million, then Luck knows that Irsay will pay him handsomely too. Also, as Irsay went out and got good coaches in Jim Mora and Tony Dungy who got Manning and the Colts to the playoffs year in and year out and 2 Super Bowls, winning 1, Luck will know that Irsay won’t hire people like Dave Shula, Dom Capers and Josh McDaniels. Because Irsay fired Jim Mora for failing to get to the next level, and then immediately fired Jim Caldwell for letting things fall apart on his watch (and also the Polians) Luck knows that Irsay won’t let a Jeff Fisher or Jack Del Rio hang around for years and years and years without doing anything.

Luck will see the Colts as perhaps the best possible situation for a young QB … so long as Peyton Manning isn’t on the team (because Luck knows that so long as Manning is healthy and under contract, he will never get on the field). But think that Luck would rather force a trade to Cleveland or Washington – no win situations – right? Yeah. That is better. Ruin his career by going to a horrible situation. THAT is how he should show respect for and solidarity with Manning, right?

Unreal …

I don't think you understand my post

I said Luck may not want to play for Irsay because Irsay is a bad boss, not because Luck is loyal to Manning.

If Irsay can do stuff like this to Manning who has brought him much successes and wealth for more than a decade, what prevents him from doing the same thing to Luck when he’s injured?

Was Irsay A Bad Boss When He Let Edgerrin James Go?

Marvin Harrison? Tarik Glenn? Ken Dilger? Brandon Stokley? Rob Morris? Cato June? Nick Harper? Bob Sanders? Dominic Rhodes? And didn’t those guys and the dozens of others that Irsay has had to let go during the Manning era bring him success and wealth for more than a decade? If not, why not?

And look, if Luck is giving too much thought to being injured, he shouldn’t play football anyway. He should go use that Stanford architecture degree of his and make $150,00 a year for the next 40 years while sitting in a safe, air-conditioned office with no 275 lb. pass rushers coming after him at full speed. If anything, Irsay’s jettisoning Manning because it is in the long term interests of the team instead of giving in to sentimentality and fan pressure shows that he is a businessman willing to make the tough decisions that are required to win – decisions that Green Bay had to make with Brett Favre, San Francisco had to make with Joe Montana, New England had to make with Drew Bledsoe etc. – and it means that so long as he is playing at a high level, Irsay is precisely the type that will generally surround him with a competitive team.

At the end of the day, quarterbacks are just another player like everybody else. That is what people have to realize. Manning is a QB, but he is just another player. This is a business, and his value is based on his ability to help a team win today and tomorrow, not the great things that he did for the organization in the past. Look, Irsay traded Marshall Faulk away just when the team was getting good. He cut Edgerrin James the year before the team ever got to a Super Bowl when James had 2-3 good years left. And he let Dominic Rhodes go in free agency after Rhodes was the team’s best offensive player in the Super Bowl. You folks that are so upset at how Irsay treats Manning sure don’t care about how cutthroat he has been with his RBs!

You still don't understand the problem

Cutting Manning is not the issue. It’s in the contract out clause that Manning himself offered. No one has any problem with that.

Painting him as the one to blame if they parted ways is the issue. Irsay wants the fans to blame Peyton and think of him as a greedy person and a disloyal one if he’s not willing to take a big pay cut.

If you still don’t understand that and keep talking about other players… well… that’s just too bad.

Both Manning And Irsay Are Playing PR Games Here

Manning wants to stay in Indianapolis and get as much of that $90 million contract as he can. If he can’t stay in Indianapolis, Manning wants to make as much from his next team as possible. The way for Manning to accomplish this is to publicly make it appear as if the Colts are unfairly shoving him out the door in favor of the hot new rookie prospect. That creates public pressure on Irsay to let Manning stay on the roster so he can get his $90 million. Or it maximizes Manning’s next contract someplace else.

Manning began playing this game when he publicly griped to the media over the Polians and Caldwell being fired after a 2-14 season, and that followed a 10-6 season where they only made the playoffs because they played in the 2nd worst division in football (behind only the NFC West), and even then they needed injuries/collapses in Houston, Tennessee and Jacksonville. Manning responded to firing a coaching staff and front office that was doing a bad job and resulted in a mediocre season, a horrible season and a terrible roster by complaining that he wasn’t consulted, wasn’t informed, wasn’t part of the decision-making process, didn’t want to see those guys go, and as a result felt like he was being pushed out the door! Manning fired the first salvo, and Irsay has been playing defense ever since.

Manning is playing the PR game too. He is going to his own doctors but staying as far away as he can from the team doctors. He is leaking information to his media channels, and having his family members speak out for him. (Remember Archie Manning’s statement that he didn’t think that Manning and Luck could coexist, allegedly because “it wasn’t in Luck’s best interests”? Yeah, as if he is Luck’s cousin or agent or something.) And that interview that Manning gave during Super Bowl week, which should have been Polian’s week as he was the host owner? Yeah, that was classy. Everybody spent the entire week talking about Manning, and it overshadowed the game. But Eli Manning didn’t care about being upstaged by his brother, because Eli is part of “team Manning.” It is basically football royalty – the Mannings – the media (who loves Manning and has made a ton of money off him and want to continue to do so for as long as they can) versus Irsay, an owner that no one really respects or likes. Hmmmm …

Manning is playing hardball, cutthroat tactics, and it is amazing that you guys want Irsay to just take it and not fight back.

Manning has been loyal to the Colts

And he told the media that he and everyone there was worried they wouldn’t have a job the next day because of all the firing.

He’s not playing hardball. He’s just asking the Colts to stick to the signed contract. Pony up the money or release him. Just don’t paint him as the one to blame if the divorce happens.

You’re such a bitter guy. I’m almost positive that you’re actually Irsay himself. But wait… Irsay would’ve responded through Twitter instead since he’s a Twitter addict. LOL

"Painting him as the one to blame if they parted ways is the issue. "

So you are saying he is Painter? I see what you did there!

Now I understand why people hate Irsay so much now!

Honestly, everybody was rejoicing Irsay’s name when he got rid of Polian and Caldwell, and now they are defecating on his name because they don’t think he has handled not having gotten rid of Manning so far well. Get over it. We will see what happens.

Sir Sci - February 17, 2012 reply

what exactly

has irsay done to manning other than make him a millionaire

hmmm lets see

how bout allow Polian to draft the guys who got him in the hospital in the first place
Oh and the whole shit talking thing and firing everyone who was actually helping Manning rehab

come on man

you been drinking? i usually agree with your posts but come on

he was hurt behind a really good oline. and you cant expect irsay to keep employees just because manning wants them. thats just stupid.

a relly good oline? really?

the good oline that let him get knocked around out there like he was Sanchez yeah right
And you cant expect a guy to have a steady rehab if you keep firing everyone involved thats just stupid if youre going to fire these people maybe dont have them involved you know have a little sense and put people who arent getting fired in charge

C.Settles - February 17, 2012 reply

what?

glenn, lilja, saturday, scott, diem – that wasnt a really good line?

you are just belligerent right now

'got good coaches in Jim Mora and Tony Dungy who got Manning and the Colts

to the playoffs year in and year out’. I have a bit of news for ya. Manning was the one who made it happen….not the pathetic coaching.

So Who Got The Bucs And Saints To The Playoffs?

Was Manning playing for the Bucs when Dungy turned them from being the worst franchise in sports into a team that was a play (really a bad call!) away from the 1999 Super Bowl? Was Manning playing for the Saints when Mora turned them from a wretched expansion team to one who went to several playoff games?

And the coaching was pathetic. Yeah, sure. As if anyone could have done better with those terrible OLs, DTs and LBs that Polian put on the field with his “speed” strategy. You guys are just bashing the coaching because it is your only response to Manning not winning as many Super Bowls as some other QBs. Look, Dungy and company were no Chuck Noll or Bill Walsh, but they weren’t the guys who have been running the Cardinals, Browns, Lions, Jaguars, Titans, Texans, Bills etc. either.

Manning was the one who made it happen … yeah right. Manning only won 1 SEC title in college … the year that Danny Wuerrfel wasn’t playing anymore. And that same Tennessee team won the national title the year Manning left. Sorry. Manning is a Hall of Fame player, but he isn’t the franchise.

Manning is the franchise

If you think otherwise you’re delusional. Just look back at the last season without Manning and the rest of their roster mostly intact.

nope

the colts are the franchise. and irsay is the owner.

manning was a player for this team. he wont be much longer. and if his leaving makes guys like you stop following the colts, then i wish he would have left a couple years ago

stonewall12345678 - February 16, 2012 reply

Now see you just contradicted yourself

You can’t say that “he was a player” and then go on to say “he won’t be much longer.” Silly little omaha, it’s never too late too learn proper grammar.

If they would have stayed

in Baltimore. Colt fans would not have to put up with idiots like you. You would be watching re-runs of Hoosiers and wondering how to fit a football in a basketball hoop.

shoospa - February 16, 2012 reply

i've drained the football through the basketball hoop no less than 3 times

from various distances. the shortest being a 3 pointer and the longest being from the free throw line at the other end of the court.

muncie_in_this - February 17, 2012 via Android app reply

Was...

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

Yes, he IS the franchise.

and to follow up....

what has Dungy done? ….bring in a smaller, faster player philosophy? How’d that one work out for you? If it weren’t for Peyton’s super-human effort against the Pats in the AFC title game,….Dungy would have zero championships. And, Dungy pushed Caldwell on us. How nice of him. Manning still carried the team though, despite that abomination of a coach. And, when Manning got hurt, 26-63 coach Caldwell was only able to win two games. Yeah,…..great coaching. The Colts have been so fortunate to have great coaching. lol

He did throw a pick 6 to go down 21-3

It was a great effort but let’s not say the SB was all PM. The D played stellar vs B’More and Chicago :-)

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

No, it wasn't all PM, Ridah. I agree, but he was a huge factor.

The D played well in those games, yes. But, the super bowl run was the only time that happened. The rest of the year and (other years), Dungy’s smaller, faster D didn’t work out well. And, his ‘resting’ philosphies never resulted in anything but a failure in the playoffs.

Of course!

He was the cornerstone!

Thank you for providing perspective. Many are flippant about clipping him and expect other fans to be equally indifferent. Others think he has superhuman healing powers and will throw 45TDs at age 43 and win 4-5 more rings elsewhere…

He isnt god but def more than an employee and I agree Irsay handled it wrong even though he isn’t solely at fault…he should know not to PR battle vs Peyton that’s a guaranteed loss…

Irsay coulda just said we will continue to re evaluate progress until 3/8 and a decision is forthcoming

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

Agreed.

Your last sentence is gold. Too bad Irsay didn’t have you advising him. As I’ve said, I just don’t think he can resist being in the spotlight.

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 reply

Yeah...

The downside of whacking Polian…

…I still think there is MORE upside in whacking Polian!

Definitely agree there.

Ayrshire - February 18, 2012 reply

What?

Irsay didn’t do anything to Peyton. He paid Manning a boatload of money. Irsay can’t pay Manning another boatload of money at this juncture. Irsay even paid Manning last year knowing that he was injured. It’s time for Manning fans to face the fact, Irsay has been more than generous to Peyton.

What I don’t understand is how true Colt fans want Irsay to just keep Manning because of his past accomplishments. We can’t mortgage the future because of what Peyton Manning accomplished in the past. I say this being one of the biggest Peyton fans on the planet.

Smart decision for Irsay is to cut ties with Peyton and draft Andrew Luck.

Sentimental decision for Irsay is to keep Peyton and trade the number 1 pick.

Spike7 - February 18, 2012 reply

There Are Two Frustrating Things For Me

1. The double standard between QBs and other players. QBs are treated as being special, other guys are just pieces of meat that have to shut up and play, get used until they are used up while paying them as little as possible, and are thrown away. Why do we care what Peyton Manning thinks of the coaching and front office changes? Or any more than what Wayne or Mathis thinks? The idea that Dwight Freeney should have been consulted before the team hired a guy from a 3-4 defensive background as a head coach, most people would view as ridiculous. Yet Freeney will be a first ballot Hall of Famer just like Manning, and no the Colts don’t win a Super Bowl without Freeney either. I am not saying that Freeney is as important as Manning, but the difference isn’t so great that one guy gets treated like he is invisible and the other guy gets treated like it is his franchise.

2. And that brings me to the other point. This is Jim Irsay’s team. Not Peyton Manning’s. As great as Peyton Manning was, had Irsay not hired good front office people, good coaches, and acquired good talent, Manning wouldn’t have done squat. Manning needed a line to block for him, RBs to hand off to, guys to throw to, a defense, and guys to coach. Jim Mora was as responsible for turning around Indy’s culture of losing as anyone, and then Dungy came and took it to the next level. Yes, I get it: Indianapolis didn’t have as much talent or was as well coached as some of the other Super Bowl teams in this era. Big deal. They aren’t the Bengals, Browns, Jaguars, Cardinals, Raiders, Redskins etc. either. Folks who pretend as if Manning would have taken those teams – or the Lions when Matt Millen was GM or the Texans when David Carr was getting sacked 60 times a season – to a Super Bowl really are fans of Manning, not the Colts or even of the NFL.

Let me repeat: this is Irsay’s franchise. He can hire and fire Manning or whoever else he wants. He has no responsibility whatsoever to Manning. There, I said it. Irsay has paid Manning over $150 million dollars. Irsay built Manning a winning team and helped make him a Super Bowl champion. Irsay is not indebted to Manning. And no, Irsay and Manning are not “a team.” Irsay is Manning’s employer (for now) and is entitled to act like it. Manning (and this also applies to Archie, Eli and Cooper, who Manning has been using as mouthpieces just like Irsay has been Kravitz … the difference is that when Team Manning departs Irsay will still be here) is obligated to act like an employee, and not somebody who is trying to control the franchise and hold the city hostage.

Bottom line: if Irsay wants to release Manning and go with Luck, it is his team, his money and his business. And if it works and the result is a Super Bowl contending team with a Pro Bowl QB … what is the problem? If you are a Colts fan, it doesn’t matter WHO the QB is that hoists the Lombardi Trophy (within reason of course). It is only the Manning fans who want the Colts to play Manning and only Manning, and believe that the Colts should allow Manning to play for as long as he wants to play, and pay him as much money as he wants for doing it. And Irsay SHOULDN’T kowtow to those people. Why? Because those people give MANNING ALONE all the credit for the team’s success, and will BLAME EVERYBODY BUT MANNING for the team’s failure. And why else? Because when Manning stops playing – which he will do – those people will either start rooting for the next “face of the NFL” (Aaron Rodgers, Tim Tebow or whoever) or stop following football altogether.

I hope Irsay acts even more “classlessly”, and does it more often. Why? To remind everybody that it is HIS team, and that Manning at the end of the day IS JUST ANOTHER PLAYER. When Manning is gone, whether it is now or 4 years from now, Irsay is still going to have to field a winning team. That is what he should remind everybody as often as he can.

This is Irsay's franchise alright

And he can do anything he wants… the same with the fans… we can judge him whatever we want and many of us think Irsay is a POS for taking the low road with Manning by trying to paint him as the bad guy as opposed to just cut him straight.

You support Irsay? It’s your right to do so.

However, many of the football fans (and reporters) shred him to pieces. Accept that fact.

It Was Manning Who Took The Low Road First

It was Manning – through his father – who stated that Manning did not want to play with/mentor Andrew Luck.
It was Manning who complained about being “pushed aside” and “left out” when Irsay cleaned house of the people responsible for the 2-14 disaster last season.
It is Manning who has been getting his own doctors to “clear” him publicly in the media without allowing the Colts doctors anywhere near him (and this was after complaining about not having access to the Colts’ facility during the lockout ALL LAST YEAR).
It is Manning who is having these secret workouts – not public ones so the fans and media can gauge his progress – and then having his PR flacks talk about how great he is.
And while Manning has claimed that he will take an incentive-laden deal, he has not submitted a proposal for one. While Manning’s agent has claimed that he will accept pushing the March 8 date back, he has not proposed a new date.
And it was Manning who used Super Bowl week to apply maximum pressure to Irsay when the global media spotlight was on him.

Here is the deal: you support Manning, so you think that anything that he does is fine. You only support Irsay so long as he takes care of Manning and keeps him in Indianapolis. Here’s the deal: this day is going to come for you and the other fans of the Mannings (not the Colts but the Mannings) in Indianapolis at some point. Maybe it will be in 4 years when Manning’s contract runs out. Maybe it will be in 2 years when Manning decides that the team isn’t going anywhere and he wants out. Maybe it will be in 1 year when Manning decides that physically he just can’t cut it anymore. It will happen.

The difference between people like you and people like me is that we realize that it is better for the Colts if that day happens NOW when the best QB in the draft is Andrew Luck and you have the #1 overall pick instead of later when you are looking at QB prospects like Brady Quinn, David Carr, Joey Harrington etc.

Manning never took the low road

He only told everyone that he was worried to be jobless because of all the firing. You think that’s a low road?

All his statements have been about himself. His worries, the state of his health, etc. He NEVER said Colts or Irsay were bad. The same cannot be said about Irsay.

Irsay never took a personal shot at him

I do agree they should just cut him and move on. There are millions of dollars on the table so I don’t begrudge Irsay. He should have handled it better though.

Irsay is kinda a tool but I wouldn’t call him a POS…he is a pretty good owner for many reasons

Regardless of what you think Indy is a great franchise and QB would want to play here.
There is a winning culture, a great fan base. Great facilities, Domed stadium, Owner willing to spend and a much easier media than a NY MIA PHI NE…Kravitz is a jerk but many larger cities have 5 Kravitz’s

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

Go auburn..I'm with you

armycolts25 - February 16, 2012 reply

yeah good coaches

thanks Jim for the other Jim!

You are wrong.

In many respects. People talking about how much money Manning has made from Irsay, well triple that and it still probably isn’t how much money he has made Irsay. Jim now owns a billion dollar franchise thanks to Peyton.

Second, I love DFree, but a lot of his success and pure stats has been helped by PM. No chance he is close to 100 sacks without season after season of 10+ games where we saw 15-20+ point leads. The guy is great at what he does, but is a one trick pony, pass rushing.

Finally, quarterbacks are on another playing field because they touch the ball every play, and as a whole, influence the game much more than any other player on the field.

With thay said, cutting Manning is the smart BUSINESS decision. I completely agree with that, but it is still a sad day wen an era ends.

Now go feed your grade school logic to someone else.

ColtsFanatic07 - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

Can you stop

writing the same one sided articles already. PLEASE!

shoospa - February 16, 2012 reply

It's never gonna stop

There are other sites that are actually objective and provide worthwhile info if you are into that.

This site caters to the others and does a good job of it.

AceOfSpades - February 16, 2012 reply

its one sided

with threats of banning for mentioning the other sides

muncie_in_this - February 17, 2012 via Android app reply

Opinion vs Ranting -

I recognize that Brad likes to blast opinion on this site, and it’s all very much okay because he does run the blog and can do what he wants. People get frustrated when the opinion is so slanted and one sided that it must evoke posts from people who have an alternate opinion.

If Brad wrote an article screaming that Peyton is a Marxist and should be executed, should he not expect some people to post “what the -??” And then does that mean he should call those people dumb*sses, not worthy of this site, “not getting it”. I think people get the opinion articles, Brad. And we all lived thru the one-sided, repetitive, ad nauseum Polian bashing that continues to this day. That should mean that opposing opinions to yours should be blasted as idiotic or retarded or not worthy or whatever nasty nonsense you want to call people.

But in the end, I agree with you. If you don’t like these articles, don’t read them. But if you choose to read the article and feel strongly that the article does not reflect your opinion, you should be able to post an alternative viewpoint without being ridiculed. But neither Brad nor opposing view points should just blast the sh*t out of each other. That’s dumb and lessens the entire conversation.

buymymonkey - February 16, 2012 reply

the is no conversation thats the problem

theres Brad screaming his opinion as fact that he says hes not doing even though he says in several articles it is fact that his opinion is true so he completely contradicts himself
then theres everyone who agrees and anyone else is an inbred retard not worth the space and gets moderated

Stew says he wants Manning here and hes a writer so is does he hate everyone who doesnt agree with BBS like BBS said or is he one of those retarded people BBS talked about in his ranting article of nothing new

If he wants to ban me or anyone else thats fine then do it

I’d rather be banned for sticking with what i believe iin and being able to have my own opinion than be bullied with his childish name calling into being quiet or taking his side in fear of banishment.
boo fucking woo if i get banned from a blog because brad polian over here wants absolute control

TheNaturalMevs - February 16, 2012 reply

Well either way

Peyton’s days away from being out of here. You should apply for membership over at the Jets Stream or Skins SB Nation blog so you can be ready for Pey Pey’s arrival.

Hail LUCK! The New face of Colts football.

youre an idiot

and i hate the jets and the skins im a Colts fan and Peyton is a Colts player for however long that may be idk but as long as hes on the Colts i support him and why shouldnt i?
If he moves on good for him i bet he will go to a team way better than the jets they are more dysfunctional than the Colts right now.
Just because i dont agree with BBS doesnt make me any less of a Colts fan unlike he and you may believe.
People like you are ridiculous i say one thing you dont agree with and all the sudden i should go sign up for other teams shows how great a fan you are

C.Settles - February 17, 2012 reply

This article

doesn’t speak for me. Don’t cut Manning. Fix the contract because it was stupid to begin with, and sign him up again.

I’m not worried a bit about the neck. You think Manning wants to suck? You think he’s deliberately trying to whitewash a physical problem so that another team will take him, pay him, and IR him?

Horse Hockey, to quote Col Potter. He knows he’s going to play. If he gets cut I do hope he goes to the Texans and wins a few Superbowls before retiring. They are the perfect fit for him and he deserves better from Irsay. It might be a business, but it’s a business based on Fans—you know, FANATICS!!! Irsay rode Manning from a raggedy-assed pathetic franchise that should have been sent to NFL Europe to play in Estonia, to a new stadium and a mess of banners and trophies. If Manning says he can play, what reason is there not to believe him. You know he’s going to play top-notch if he does play because his game is based on preparation and then picking the other D apart, not freak athletic skills and gunslinging.

That’s my opinion.

wcwills - February 16, 2012 reply

Well said

Manningonlyfan - February 16, 2012 reply

Brad Wells also needs to be Cut

:--) - February 16, 2012 reply

So much anger :-(

Football is a team sport…

No Mannig didn’t do it ALL by himself for 14 years regardless of what you think. Marvin Harrison is a HOF he made Manning better early in his career not the other way around.

Please you tube Harrison and see how open he was. Edge Freeney Math Sanders(when healthy were also excellent players…

As offensive at it is to see some punk WR river dance or sign a ball after getting a TD when his team blocked or threw the ball it is as bad to imply Manning played 1 on 11. We all wish they had drafted better but they didn’t…They won as a team and lost as a team…

Since its a team sport as this group only won one title I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think they can compete and win as many titles with Luck if he is good

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

Bottom line question

How certain is it that Manning will Be elsewhere in 2012? Why do I get the weird feeling that Irsay has re-considered of late and is going to bring him back for 1 year? Is he staying or going, state your position.

TheNaturalMevs - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

Probably because Manning will want to stay beyond 1 year I mean really if that’s all Irsay wants from him he might as well go elsewhere.

CF4L - February 17, 2012 reply

Lol

“I haven’t written much on the subject”

James Broschat - February 17, 2012 reply

F&ck'm. They weren't real fans anyway.

My sentiments exactly!!!

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 reply

They're negotiating a new deal

I believe these competing leaks are about leverage in negotiations for a new contract. The $28 million is not going to happen unless the Colts are pretty sure Peyton can come back pretty close to 100%. That is very unlikely to happen. But there is no reason why they can’t decline the option and then sign him to a new contract that acknowledges the realities of the situation. Question is how serious Peyton is about coming back, and then there is the question of the size and structure of the new contract.

I really doubt that other teams are going to offer much more than the Colts. They don’t want to risk spending millions and blowing their salary cap on a QB who won’t be able to play. Irsay actually has a good deal more leeway because the fans here would understand if he blows some more money on Peyton only to find out in the fall that he’s going to have to retire anyway. Just imagine the outrage in another city if the Dolphins/Seahawks/Cardinals/etc. sign him to a big new contract only to see him retire before he plays a down. Or try to play only to discover that he no longer has a “laser/rocket” arm?

And even if Peyton can come back and play this year, he probably will not be able to play at his usual level. He’ll at least be rusty after a year off, and may well have at least a slightly weaker arm. He’ll also have missed much of the off-season work with his receivers that has contributed so much to his success. At another team he’ll also have to work with an entirely new receiving corp and coaching staff – here at least some of the receivers will be returning, and his OC and position coaches are guys he’s worked with before (albeit in reversed roles). So his next realistic Super Bowl run is really 2013, and it is very difficult to project which teams will be contenders then. May as well stay where he’s at.

ex-Viking fan - February 17, 2012 reply

Around these parts...

People think he will come back and play even better than before…SMH!

I hope he stays at a cap friendly deal…but wish I could sell some “waterfront property” to those that think he will come back an throw 45TDs next season

(206)NightRidah - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

They aren't negotiating

According to PFT.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/17/source-peyton-irsay-arent-negotiating/

TheNaturalMevs - February 17, 2012 reply

If we have learned anything from this is that we shouldn’t rely on “sources”

The only thing that will matter is come March 8th whether Manning is here or not everything else really doesn’t matter up until then.

CF4L - February 17, 2012 reply

Sounds like everyone is made at Peyton for just doing his job

Peyton should move on. And as a Colt fan I am prepared to stick with my Colts for the next three to ten years of rebuilding. Hey I put up with Irsays father! It matters not much to me – they won’t be on TV. But I am ashamed that all the press seems to imply that Peyton is doing wrong. He is just doing his job and even though he gets paid allot more than me he is still an employee on worker’s comp who works for a big corporation run by a man whose primary interest is in making "his" money.

What worries me about our Colts is that though Peyton does not say much at all (does he have to?) Jim Irsay has become a tweety mixture of Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones. That’s dangerous. We have to remember that when he was involved in the day-to-day operations of the team (mid 80s to mid 90s) the Colts were mediocre at best.

It is the classic divorce in which one spouse – the responsible one – will get on, whereas the irresponsible one will keep talking trash and get the house, cars, and kids.

But let Peyton move on. In 2012 he will have the chance to cement his legacy by helping some other mediocre team reach the playoffs.

Chuck136 - February 17, 2012 reply

Peyton doesn't say much at all?

He had a two hour interview special on ESPN during Super Bowl week.

James Broschat - February 17, 2012 reply

It wasn’t two hours moron it had two parts which lasted about what 20 minutes.

Regardless we haven’t heard from him since then can’t say the same for Jimbo.

Who fails to realize the less he talks the better

CF4L - February 18, 2012 reply

Peyton has never been one to talk to the media much.

While Jim has. This is the most Peyton’s talked to the media in years. Irsay’s just doing what he generally does. But for some reason people are getting pissy because because they want Manning back no matter what.

James Broschat - February 19, 2012 reply

Peyton please retire

You are not wanted here anymore. I want to order my Luck jersey but I can’t until Manning is gone

TheNaturalMevs - February 17, 2012 via mobile reply

You must have missed the Luck custom made jerseys made around here since October

CF4L - February 18, 2012 reply

Dear Mr. Irsay

ticket sales are just fine so please cut Manning now!!!! Along with him, let Brackett, Diem, Wayne, Addai and a few others go!!!!! This is a wonderful year for free agency. Colts need to be active players. I hope Mr. Arians can convince Wallace to come over, Colts should jump at giving up a 3rd round pick for him. I hope Pagano can get Ladarius Webb with the horseshoe on his helmet.

Dito29 - February 17, 2012 reply

Your dreaming. Baltimore wont let Webb walk

I havent been on this blog all week

After reading this article I remember why.

Seriously, like we care what Brads elitist NY “writer friends” think about our “hick” opinions…I laugh at them for laughing at us…cuz anyone who takes what Brad says at verbatim is a darn fool

Also brad if you were as smart as you say

You woudl realize ther wont be an “official” decision till March 3rd at the earliest.

Why? becasue the final day to renew season tickets for 2012 is March 2nd.

Irsay knows if he cuts Peyton b4 then tickets sales will plummet. Non one wants to see a re-hash of last year at $100 bucks a pop, with Luck and no #18, we will be 4-12, 5-11 next year at best