Peyton Manning: A weird and ugly ending is at hand in Indy
Peyton Manning, shown here not playing. (AP photo)
The Super Bowl dwarfs all else in North American sports, but the Super Bowl will be only the second-biggest story in this year’s host city. Of greater interest in Indianapolis is what’s happening with Peyton Manning, the only NFL player who’s a team unto himself.
Everybody knew Peyton Manning was a great player, but just how great was revealed only when, for the first time since he was drafted out of Tennessee in 1998, he wasn’t able to play. For 13 seasons and through 227 consecutive starts, Manning made the Colts a viable concern. Then he had offseason neck surgery and was so slow to heal that he missed not just a start but a season.
With Manning, the Colts had made the playoffs 11 times in 12 seasons. Without him, they did well to win two games. They were the NFL equivalent of the Cleveland Cavaliers after LeBron James took his talents elsewhere, and here we thought that in football no one man could mean half that much. For more than a decade Manning conveyed the aura of overall excellence on the team that wears the horseshoe, and in one winter his absence gave lie to all that.
And now the Colts, having fired their vice chairman, their general manager and their head coach, stand ready to dump Manning, too. By being so awful, they gained the right to pick first in the NFL draft. The draft’s prize is Andrew Luck, considered the most NFL-ready quarterback since … er, Peyton Manning.
(There was some thought that the Colts would take Luck and make him Manning’s understudy for a year or so, but that’s no longer the way the NFL works. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco played right away. Mark Sanchez and Cam Newton played right away. Andrew Luck needs to play right away.)
There’s also a monetary concern. The Colts, who paid Manning $26 million for a season he missed, are obliged to pay a $28 million bonus if he’s on the roster as of March 8. This payout figured to be money well spent so long as Manning was healthy and taking the Colts to the playoff, but the moment he couldn’t go — the first such moment in his professional life — he became a drain on the franchise he’d spent 13 years propping up.
Last week the actor Rob Lowe tweeted that “his source” told him that Manning was going to “retire today.” Lowe is known to be buddies with Jim Irsay, the Colts’ owner who fancies himself a cool guy and who buys vintage guitars used by famous rockers and who once paid $2.4 million for Jack Kerouac’s original manuscript of “On The Road.” Everyone assumed Lowe’s “source” was indeed Irsay, which Lowe has denied.
Then Manning spoke with Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star, expressing his desire to remain a Colt, but lamenting the mood in team headquarters, saying: “It’s not a real good environment down there right now.”
Then Irsay, who apparently inherited the tin-eared gene from his dad, Robert Irsay, the man who Mayflower’ed the Colts out of Baltimore in the dead of a winter night, responded by calling Manning “a politician” and criticized him for going outside “the family.” So now we know:
The Manning era in Indy isn’t just at an end — it’s at a bad end.
For the record, Irsay and Manning related a joint statement Friday saying: “We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us.” Also for the record, nobody has yet found a good way to handle quarterback successions. The tumult from letting Joe Montana leave so Steve Young could take his place divided the 49ers and their fans, and there was great hand-wringing in Green Bay when Brett Favre unretired after a teary benediction. (The Packers chose to stick with heir-apparent Aaron Rodgers; Favre wound up with the Jets.)
If he can play — and there’s no assurance he can — Manning could well win a Super Bowl elsewhere soon. (He turns 36 in March.) In the short term, he’d surely be better off elsewhere. Nobody wants to see a great quarterback toiling for a no-chance team. (Remember Johnny Unitas as a San Diego Charger? No? There’s a reason.) At the same time, it’s unfair to blame the Colts for wanting to begin their reboot with a younger man: That’s the way of all sports.
Still, this final episode of Peyton’s Place has at its heart a cruel twist. The guy who never missed a start and who made the Colts look far better than they really were finally missed a start and unmasked the horseshoe organization as a one-man gang. Now the one man will be given by the boot. Maybe Jim Irsay can get his soon-to-be-former-employee a rate from Mayflower.
By Mark Bradley
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156 comments Add your comment
chris
January 27th, 2012
12:00 pm
Hate to see it but in a way its best for both..I do hope he ends up with a winner and wins another Super Bowl somewhere…itd be nice to see him a Falcons uniform at some point as a back up and tutor to Ryan before he retirese..just saying
trademark
January 27th, 2012
12:02 pm
…or he COULD end up in Jacksonville….Gabbert was rushed into duty too early and under a questionable OC (urg.). He could stand a year or two of tutelage under Manning. Plus, Mularkey can make himself a genius again with a QB like that calling all the plays and him taking the credit for the designs….
bowman
January 27th, 2012
12:02 pm
Adding Peyton Manning to their rosters suddenly makes either Arizona or Seattle a contender for a spot in the Super Bowl.
May Jim Irsay rot in hell, alongside his father.
Relax, folks
January 27th, 2012
12:03 pm
If Peyton does not get a clean bill of health its all a moot point but if he does he’s not gonna want to uproot so he will become an unrestricted free agent and sign with his Colts for the hometown discount you heard it here first
doc
January 27th, 2012
12:04 pm
to mention johnny u in the same breath as peyton is so appropriate. no other quarterback since has had his eminence impregnated on him as peyton does of unitas beyond wearing the horse shoe. i dont really want to see pictures of peyton beaten up as was unitas in a charger uniform. nor do i want it to be like y a tittle bleeding on the ground, he of similar ilk to johnny u as he passed into the realm of a nobody over the hill. peyton had better choose wisely a team with a fearsome front for him as he needs a solid posse at this stage of his career and he had a mighty one if he continues on. i dont think it was all in his release that will only get slower.
i have also lost respect for the colt brand, once again, as irsay spins it that manning should keep it to himself and in house as he brags about what he is doing in his franchise to his own cronies. it isnt about health, family but about money and it should be but dont spin it otherwise irsay and it well should be as it is a business. i only wish we could ship him on mayflower.
GTJohn
January 27th, 2012
12:12 pm
Matt Ryan could use some coaching and now the best is available.
If Arthur really wants a Super Bowl ring, he now has the chance to start coaching up his talent.
Relax, folks
January 27th, 2012
12:17 pm
Peyton is a little nervous because he has vivid memories of how the beloved Marvin, Edge and Howard Mudd got ushered out
Baltimorecolts
January 27th, 2012
12:19 pm
Irsay traded Unitas and now Manning. The “family” eats itself.
Indydawg
January 27th, 2012
12:26 pm
As someone who lives in Indy, this story has been brewing for the past year. Peyton is not healthy, he knew it when he had the surgery late. The fanbase here is fractured. Peyton is not signing a hometown discount. The best thing to do for all parties involved is to let Peyton go to another team and continue the process of trying to rebuild. On a side note, the similarities between the Braves (who I rooted for growing up) and the Colts are remarkable.
extremus
January 27th, 2012
12:30 pm
The irony, from what I hear, is that a lot of Manning’s extended neck issues stemmed from the effects of the lockout and the fact he wasn’t allowed to see team doctors during that period. I mean, sure, the guy probably could have easily paid out-of-pocket for such examinations/treatments, but in any case he wasn’t ready when the season started. It could be argued that Indianapolis was the hardest-hit team from the NFL lockout just by what happened in Peyton Manning’s case.
In any case, I hope he recovers and does well somewhere (just not against the Falcons).
Jim R.
January 27th, 2012
12:31 pm
Joe Namath in a Rams Uniform, Franco Harris in a Seattle Seahawks Uniform, and Emmitt Smith in a Arizona Cardinals Uniform did not seem right.
Booger
January 27th, 2012
12:32 pm
Lousy Irsay’s. Like father like son, creeps. I still remember the spineless middle of the night move out of Baltimore so they wouldn’t have to face the fans or the local media.
GTT
January 27th, 2012
12:33 pm
Steve Bartkowski in a Rams uniform. Thanks, a lot Dan Henning.
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
January 27th, 2012
12:34 pm
“Obviously you haven’t looked in the mirror lately…………..now that’s ugly”
Try again, little fella.
Shug
January 27th, 2012
12:44 pm
The Colts need to get rid of Manning now. Otherwise they’ll be heading into Favre/Paterno territory.
Josh
January 27th, 2012
1:08 pm
Both the Colts and Manning are in difficult spots and I can’t blame either one for their perspective. If this season exposed anything about the team, the Colts HAVE to be planning for the future (Luck). Peyton still wants to play and, if healthy, CAN play. Can’t blame either for their position. “Hello, Rock. I’m the Hard Place, nice to meet you.”
atlvol55
January 27th, 2012
1:08 pm
I had a chance to meet Peyton a couple of times when I was at TN. He was a little older, but a really nice guy.
This is a tough situation for both. I understand the Colts positition. I personally hope Peyton does get cut and can carefully choose which team he wants to go to.
I know several of my friends are exhausted from hearing me talk the last few years about how the Colts really didn’t have very much talent.
In Peyton’s earlier years with Harrison and a younger Wayne and Addai, they did have good talent. However, as someone who became a Colts fan because of Peyton, I would get so disgusted at watching the Colts draft. Its almost as if they have something against the SEC (Manning excluded of course), but they passed up on so many quality guys and really have had a lot of draft busts. The Colts do evey TRY to get anyone in free agency.
I think Manning could be much better off with a team that actually cares about defense other than pass rushing DE’s. I watch all of the Colts playoff games and one theme always happens. Other teams run down their throat and the Colts can’t get anyone off the field. While the Colts have some nice guys, they have made many bad player choices which have left them with very little talent.
AM
January 27th, 2012
1:17 pm
Peyton Manning will make a great football coach…that would have been the smart play for Indy…retain Manning as quarterbacks coach.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 27th, 2012
1:23 pm
At least Indy knows when to cut ties and he is not a bust.
HA HA HA
Peyton Manning And The Worst Goodbye Party Ever – SB Nation | Sports Headline News
January 27th, 2012
1:25 pm
[...] way out. If this is how it ends for Manning, Jim Irsay, and the Colts, the lesson is hard to ignore.Peyton Manning: A weird and ugly ending is at hand in IndyAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)LOPRESTI: Super Bowl legacy not limited to winnersStaunton News [...]
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 27th, 2012
1:27 pm
All the coaching in the world wont convert a bust to a legit playoff winner
R
January 27th, 2012
1:32 pm
Mountain Dog – You dumb b#%t@!d, it’s “shoo- in” !
Skeezix
January 27th, 2012
1:33 pm
I too was very glad to hear what Phil Knight said at the memorial service for Mr. Paterno.
Such sad behavior by Penn. State Administrators/Trustees (cowardly) and so many in today’s tabloid media.
Hope Peyton leads his next team to the Super Bowl next season and the Colts suck very, very badly.
Skeezix
January 27th, 2012
1:35 pm
Hey! Where’s my post? I’m stuck in the ajc’s black hole again….
A
January 27th, 2012
1:40 pm
I met peyton in 97 in buckhead after he won the sec champ. nice guy
AM
January 27th, 2012
1:44 pm
Irsay wanted to keep things “in the family” but blabbed to Sodapop Curtis. Just another old man who wants to appear hip and cool…act your age you old fart!!
Let me be the first to predict that PM will win more games than AL in 2012.
Irsay
January 27th, 2012
1:47 pm
Don’t believe what the press says, Peyton and I are the of friends. It really isn’t about the money. I really wouldn’t discard someone who had been so important to my team over the last 13+ years. My Dad really didn’t abandon the people of Baltimore and sneak out under the dark of night like the media says.
Trust me.
Told You So
January 27th, 2012
2:06 pm
Maybe Dummytroff can trade Matt Ryan and all of our draft picks through 2015 to Indianapolis for Peyton. After all, we are only one player away…..
Juliet
January 27th, 2012
2:09 pm
Love the photo and caption.
gdawginkalamazoo
January 27th, 2012
2:47 pm
HOF career, Super Bowl ring, passing records, the respect of the team and fans that chose you to make a difference in Indianapolis. Walk a away while you can still walk. Don’t risk that life altering injury that will affect your family life. Don’t Favre this one up Peyton. Walk away. You have done enough, you have more than enough. At this point in your career you can’t gain any more respect than you have now, you can only lose it. For one of the few good guys in the NFL that will be hard to watch.
William Smith
January 27th, 2012
2:54 pm
Peyton Manning was the best and worst thing that ever happened to the Colts. He was good enough to win games the Colts should have lost,and at the same time kept them high enough to prevent them from drafting the talent to improve the team. How many games do you think the Colts would have won this year with a healthy Manning? I bet they would have made the playoffs. Time for the Colts to move on. Peyton needs to be on a team with a young quarterback that needs mentoring but has the team around him to get better quickly. The only problem is by the time you pay Manning you will not have the money to keep that team together.
North Avenue Ned
January 27th, 2012
3:02 pm
Most of you people don’t have the brains found in a mule’s a$$hole.
Richard
January 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
If there’s one team that should shell out the cash for Manning, it’s San Francisco. Definitely worth risking him not being healthy and they won’t land a franchise QB with their low pick.
Joseph
January 27th, 2012
3:20 pm
In response to the comment about Payton and the browns…the only way the browns will ever make the playoffs is to move to another division………even the mighty Payton could get this team 2 wins over both Pitt and. Baltimore.
sam
January 27th, 2012
3:33 pm
I don’t see a competitor like Manning going down without a fight, and I’m thinking the Titans would be the perfect place for him next year. He’d be going back to the state where he is a legend, and he could enjoy kicking the butts of the “rebuilding” Colts twice a year! Take that Mr. Keep it In the Family!!
Indy Idiots?
January 27th, 2012
3:49 pm
If Peyton can play the Colts are the stupidest team in the history of the NFL. My question…….CAN PEYTON PLAY?! I cannot believe the Colts would NOT keep Peyton if he can play.
Beast from the East
January 27th, 2012
3:56 pm
Reality finally set in this year in Indy. They SUCK! Two wins without Peyton at the helm???? I think Bama could have won more than 2 games in the NFL last year. Peyton, either go somewhere else with a quality roster or call it quits. You’ll get killed playing for the worst team in the NFL.
Hillbilly D
January 27th, 2012
4:12 pm
Every once in a while, we get a reminder that sports are big business and it’s mainly about money. This is one of those times.
SPS
January 27th, 2012
4:15 pm
I always thought he was in the top 4 of all time best QBs. After this year, I think he was #1. Should have won the MVP award this year, without even playing. A perennial Superbowl contender was unmasked to be a cellar dweller without him. The Pats won 9 games the year Brady was hurt.
Hillbilly D
January 27th, 2012
4:17 pm
Should have won the MVP award this year, without even playing.
He definitely had the biggest impact on his team and isn’t that what the MVP is all about?
Fan Interference: Goats, Colts, A Fallen Lion, And A Very Rich Prince – WISC Madison | NFLGame.Net
January 27th, 2012
4:44 pm
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Mark
January 27th, 2012
4:46 pm
That’s why you get your college degree; so that when you are faced with this situation that Manning faces, you can take your degree, education, and money and move on with your life. I really don’t like watching these guys (in all sports) at the end of their careers acting like Manning appears to be acting. It’s a business and this one is a no-brainer. Remove the emotion from the issue and let Manning go. They can’t possibly spend 28MM on a guy who may never play again. Neck surgury is very serious and Manning should do the right thing and retire and spare the Colts the continued drama. If this were an ankle or knee injury I might feel different.
bigdon
January 27th, 2012
4:55 pm
Call it jealousy, call it petty, call it snarky, call it every emotion with bad connocations, but I, for one,
feel absolutely nothing for this situation. PM is rich beyond imagination. Mr. Irsay is richer. Both
were raised on a silver spoon — did I mention I was raised on Chinette — both won the lucky sperm club award. As far as I can tell PM has led the most charmed of charmed lives. Based solely on what I’ve read and “heard” and observed there’s been little strife in his life. A TRUE golden boy. I guess I’m a jerk for being not sad about his situation, but nevertheless I won’t be losing any sleep. Hell, I’ve got Falcons tickets to pay for.
Hillbilly D
January 27th, 2012
4:59 pm
As much money as Peyton has made, does it really matter if he has a degree or not?
Ken Stallings
January 27th, 2012
5:00 pm
I can’t see the reason for concern. The Irsay’s are a very loyal and faithful ownership family — just ask the people of Baltimore!
nuffsaid
January 27th, 2012
5:05 pm
Peyton Manning had his day in the sun..Too many of these guys..past their prime..keep hanging around, hoping for that last big hoorah! Me, I’m ready to see him retire! Time for the young bucks coming up!
FalconJim
January 27th, 2012
5:08 pm
I hope Peyton retires. I mean, what if he went to play for another team, took a hit, and was paralyzed for the rest of his life? Now, THAT would be a sad ending, MB!!! At this point, he has to think about himself and his family…..I mean, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t need the money….
Ken Stallings
January 27th, 2012
5:11 pm
For the record, if Manning is released (and I think he will be) there will be a line of teams begging him to join them! And the team that does get him, will immediately become a playoff team. If he hooks up with a talented team with a quality defense (like the Bears of Ravens) then they become instant contenders for the Super Bowl next year.
If I were Flacco I would be wondering about my season next year!
aol.com
January 27th, 2012
6:22 pm
Let him go play in Denver where their QB couldn’t complete 46% of his passes.
Paul in NH
January 27th, 2012
6:26 pm
Mark – nice column. I liked the piece about Irsay
“Then Irsay, who apparently inherited the tin-eared gene from his dad, Robert Irsay, the man who Mayflower’ed the Colts out of Baltimore in the dead of a winter night”
What is it with the Irsay’s and can’t miss #1 QB’s from Stanford? The last one turned out well but not for the Colts. With all of the hype around Luck he will have quite a burden on his shoulders in Indy.