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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
156 comments Add your comment
Observer
January 27th, 2012
6:47 pm
Well, one more thing:
It took Peyton Manning to get Bradley to finally write a really good article.
ed
January 27th, 2012
8:19 pm
Peyton was in the forefront of a move to dump Tennessee Vols coach Phillip Fulmer. Now it’s his turn to get dumped. Perhaps he could sign on as a quarterback coach at his alma mater where talent is a rare commodity these days.
ga gator
January 27th, 2012
8:56 pm
Kind of hard to feel sorry for a dude who made 26 mil while recuperating.
Irsay
January 27th, 2012
9:29 pm
I met with Peyton and we kissed and made up. You can believe that. Money has nothing to do with what is going on. I wouldn’t turn my back on a guy while he is recovering from a serious injury and who has been the main reason for our success over the last 13 years. Also, my Daddy didn’t abandon the people of Baltimore. He never skipped out of town in the middle of the night.
Honest. Trust me.
Drexel Gal
January 27th, 2012
9:29 pm
The Yankees let Babe Ruth go because they had Joe DiMaggio waiting (albeit TWO years later). So, this can happen to anyone, no matter how much of a “franchise” he is.
Irsay
January 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
You guys don’t believe that I would toss Peyton aside just because he has nerve damage and we are going to draft a highly touted rookie quarterback; do you?
Dr. Warren
January 27th, 2012
9:49 pm
When the Colts sneaked out of Baltimore in the middle of the night, I wonder if Irsay Jr. was hyped up on Dexedrine the way Kerouac was when he wrote On the Road.
Reid Adair
January 28th, 2012
1:24 am
Jim Irsay has said multiple times that it will not be about the money, it will be about Peyton Manning’s health. So if Manning is healthy enough to play, and he isn’t a member of the Colts for 2012, either Irsay is a liar – or Manning would have made the decision.
J W
January 28th, 2012
7:38 am
Shades of Namath and Unitas. Best case scenario: Manning heads to Miami for 2 productive, and lucrative, years. Indy drafts Luck and he refuses to report; so they trade for Griffiths and flounder for years. Luck makes his way to Buffalo or Tennessee or Kansas City.
Photosmike
January 28th, 2012
8:13 am
The problem for Irsay is that Manning overshadows him. Almost any coverage of the Colts gives all the credit to Manning. Even the new stadium. Like father, like son. Irsay cleaned house so that he could take all the credit for the Colts success.
Chamwa
January 28th, 2012
9:20 am
Falcons should trade Matt Ryan and trade for Manning
Trade 4 Tim Teebow
January 28th, 2012
9:40 am
No 1 care about Payton Maning, We care about gettin Tim Teabow hear 4 the Flacons.
Mr Blanks pleez trade 4 Tim Teabow!
tom
January 28th, 2012
9:54 am
Iverson better than LeBron??? What are you smoking???
Homepage | MrSEC
January 28th, 2012
10:38 am
[...] Mark Bradley: “The Manning era in Indy isn’t just at an end — it’s at a bad end.” Peyton Manning and the Houston [...]
Doctor Dawg
January 28th, 2012
11:15 am
I still say the Falcons should try to get Manning as a QB coach. Just think of what all he could teach Matt Ryan. Ryan is a quick study and according to the experts, one of the smarter QB’s in the NFL. So with a teacher with the experience of Manning I think we would see a much improved Matt Ryan. Also, I think Ryan does need to hit the gym this offseason and build up some more arm strength. I’d like to see some more “zip” on his passes.
Doctor Dawg
January 28th, 2012
11:16 am
Agree or disagree? Why or whynot?
Peyton is OVERRATED
January 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
I have, am, and always will be sick of all the praise of Peyton Manning. In college, he wasn’t the best QB in his own conference. Peyton, Fulmer, and everyone at UT did all they could to win a National Title with Peyton there through his senior year. All the sports writers and voters went overboard for them to win the title, but he simply wasn’t good enough to do so. What happened at UT while Peyton was a rookie in the NFL, TEE MARTIN and UT won the National Championship!
Peyton ALWAYS had a great line to protect him AND superior receivers to throw to, much like Tom Brady has now (Brady has MULTIPLE rings, so don’t even think about the comparison there). The Colts did the 1 thing that won the lone ring for the golden boy, and that is let Peyton be the OC on the field. I will give Peyton credit that he is the best offensive coach on the Colts team since he has been there and the smart coaches have let Peyton run with it. BTW, Brady is 4X the QB Manning is.
This past year was not an example of no Peyton Manning on the team, but the sign of a terribly run organization. Peyton doesn’t play any offense or special teams. There is no 1 player in the NFL that should effect a team like that. Anyone who believes that if Manning would have played on that team they would have been in the playoffs is not smart in the realm of NFL knowledge.
Sorry to all the Peyton lovers out there, fans and media alike, but the best Manning at the QB position is Eli, NOT Peyton!
Peyton is OVERRATED
January 28th, 2012
12:50 pm
I have, am, and always will be sick of all the praise of Peyton Manning. In college, he wasn’t the best QB in his own conference. Peyton, Fulmer, and everyone at UT did all they could to win a National Title with Peyton there through his senior year. All the sports writers and voters went overboard for them to win the title, but he simply wasn’t good enough to do so. What happened at UT while Peyton was a rookie in the NFL, TEE MARTIN and UT won the National Championship!
Peyton ALWAYS had a great line to protect him AND superior receivers to throw to, much like Tom Brady has now (Brady has MULTIPLE rings, so don’t even think about the comparison there). The Colts did the 1 thing that won the lone ring for the golden boy, and that is let Peyton be the OC on the field. I will give Peyton credit that he is the best offensive coach on the Colts team since he has been there and the smart coaches have let Peyton run with it. BTW, Brady is 4X the QB Manning is.
This past year was not an example of no Peyton Manning on the team, but the sign of a terribly run organization. Peyton doesn’t play any DEFENSE or special teams. There is no 1 player in the NFL that should effect a team like that. Anyone who believes that if Manning would have played on that team they would have been in the playoffs is not smart in the realm of NFL knowledge.
Sorry to all the Peyton lovers out there, fans and media alike, but the best Manning at the QB position is Eli, NOT Peyton!
SEC Headlines 1/28/2012 | My Blog
January 28th, 2012
1:31 pm
[...] Mark Bradley: “The Manning epoch in Indy isn’t only during an finish — it’s during a bad end.” Peyton Manning and the Houston [...]
pb
January 28th, 2012
1:52 pm
Trade 4 Tim Teebow @ 9:40 am:
You have got to be joking, or maybe a troll trying to stir it up on a quiet Saturday afternoon?
pb
January 28th, 2012
1:55 pm
No one really wants Tim Tebow as an Atlanta Falcon… contrary to what poster @ 9:40 am says. Just crazy talk.
sainthiram
January 28th, 2012
2:44 pm
so you’re saying indy will drop down and now be on par with the failclowns ?
ColumbDawg
January 28th, 2012
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
ColumbDawg
January 28th, 2012
3:42 pm
Although it would never happen, I’d love to see what the Ravens could do with a player like Peyton running the offense.
wally
January 28th, 2012
8:10 pm
I trust that what ever decision Peyton makes will be the right one. The NFL owes so much to the Manning family for what it has brought to the league. First it was Archie, then Peyton and noe Eli.. They are a great football family and it hate to think what the league would be without them. Great Going Guys.
KBB
January 28th, 2012
8:33 pm
I’d rather have a broken necked Peyton Manning than our very own Matty Ice Harrington
Playoffs!!!
January 28th, 2012
9:13 pm
I can see the end of this saga: The Colts release Peyton; he goes to a new team–plays a couple of years and leads said team to the playoffs. But that is as far as they get. No more Super Bowls.
That’s what happened to Joe Montana in K.C.: and Favre in Green Bay.
Bravesfan54
January 28th, 2012
9:27 pm
Mark – and what I am about to say, I say respectfully and as a fan of yours – but, really: “…the man who Mayflower’d the Colts out of Baltimore”? I will give you this, about a 99 and a-half percent of “fans” would jeer Mr. Irsay, along with you.
Obviously, it is an image that one can’t avoid resorting to, and I understand this. This image of moving vans in the dead of night, betraying, as it were, the heritage of Johnny Unitas, et al…is as hard-wired in the pantheon of sports’ images as Ruth’s alleged ‘called home run’ and the anonymous newsboy’s ’say it ain’t so’. But you are a PhD in sport’s: c’mon! I expect more. That such myths are a part of sports lore, are often either untrue or unfair.
I expect you to know how the Braves left Milwaukee. (Did you know that attendance was never a problem – Braves in Milwaukee were the first team to draw 2M – didja know that? or that they never had any drop in attendance? Didja buy the the myth that the prohibition of folks bringing their own Blatz beer into county stadium was the cause celebre justifying their abandonment of a city that loved the team and shoved their German bodies thru the turnstyles? Mark – should know this before you “Irsay/Mayflower” the Colts! Did you ever ask why the Braves left Milwaukee? I believe I know the answer, and it is not re-assuring of anything. The Braves left Milwaukee because their owners looked at ‘macro’ economics and saw the so-called ‘rust belt’ on the horizon. Doesn’t make it right for any instant that I will credit. But, hey, you are the Sports Guy for AJC – YOU TELL ME WHY!
My hope is that the intelligent reader – having been awakened perhaps by my comments – will take the time to look into the history of the Colts leaving Baltimore.
It is a fact that the Milwaukee Braves were the subject of Wisconsin Circuit Court injunctions, and while they did not enlist Mayflower Van Lines to escape to Atlanta, they were forced to play the 1965 season as a “lame duck” team. Milwaukee did not “deserve” to lose the Braves, and Baltimore chose not to have its taxpayers build a new stadium (Cleveland built a new one for the Indians, but not for the Browns, who got pissed off and left!. As the song goes: “a long, long time ago”- the Athletics left Philadelphia for Kansas City and then for Oakland, and, who knows, San Jose is their next destination. But is this because Philadelphia could not support 2 teams? Maybe, maybe not, but I do know this: the Athletics put up a 50 foot high screen in right field to keep the rooftop fans from seeing “rooftop” baseball – many saw them as “walling” themselves off from their community.
Don’t get me started on this. I hate public funding of sports stadia, I really do. But Mark, please don’t perpetuate the myth of the Mayflower Van despoiling the good folk of Baltimore of their Colts without reviewing the sordid history of all sports relocations. Among the most egregious was the move of the Braves from Milwaukee.
Amen!
Let me be clear: I have never supported, and never will, the public funding of anything approaching a major civic funding of a sports facility, but the other side of that coin is that teams should be free – because it is going to happen! – to consider offers from other communities. Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Raleigh NC, Orlando, Jacksonville, and numerous other communities have lured teams – with voter support – to move to their environs. The City of Baltimore rejected every move to improve an antiquated stadium (until, of course, as always happens, the team moves). This was their right. The voters rejected funding initiatives soundly. Their mayor was famously quoted noting this. That was the right of the citizenry, and the team resorted to the Mayflower option only to avoid what (could otherwise be termed!) a “communist takeover” of the team by means of the “writ of eminent domain” passed by one House of the Maryland legislature. In other words, my dear columist, Mark, the other shoe was about to drop.
The Braves in 1953 were enjoyned, not by the legislature, but by the local Circuit Court, and, I believe, by the next intermediate level court, from leaving Milwaukee. But clearly, the physical “seizure” of the team by eminent domain justified the Colts leaving as they did.
I wish that their was a term to describe “threats to communities – re stadium”, (stadiacide? comes to mind). I believe that it should be a crime to buy a franchise and “extort” the community into building a nicer facility. I live about 40 miles from downtown Orlando. In 1989 the Orlando Orena opened as the home of new “Orlando Majic”. The facility was nice, and stood in the center of the city much like the Parthenon of Athens, but not nearly so high upon the heights. But it lacked “club-level” (read: corporate box) seating. That team, bolstered quickly by the arrival of “Shaq- the Savior” (history: see “The Robe”, sorry!)quickly started poor-mouthing their “taxpayer built” home. (Here the reader should review “Memorial Stadium” in Baltimore – built in 1922 during the depression).)
Jockich Ahn Smelley, II
January 28th, 2012
9:27 pm
Why is there always an excuse to rationalize the ineffectiveness of Matty Ice?!! Hey, he’s the champion of the Regular Season, but he can’t advance the team any further……But he has as many excuses as Brock O’Bama (our Italian Catholic Prez from Chicago)……
Terrible Truth
January 28th, 2012
10:25 pm
I remember Johnny Unitas as a San Diego Charger. It WAS sad. Take the high road, Peyton, hang up your low tops.
Bravesfan54
January 28th, 2012
10:46 pm
AJC Sports: If you can’t publish my comments which have no bad languare, are not in the slightest sexual, religious, or political in nature, do not advocate anarchy, pederastry, communism, athiesm, or anti-Americanism, are you not basically offering me a job because I can think, have obviously read extensively, and know how to comment without insulting the blogmaster or the reader? Why else would you not publish my comments?
Bravesfan54
January 28th, 2012
10:48 pm
Ok, I am not a good editor: languare should have been “language”!
Gen Neyland
January 28th, 2012
11:22 pm
Peyton is in the twilight of an exceptional career. As change is inevitable at Indy, Manning need not take a beating at the Colts expense looking to their future…Peyton isn’t the kind to stick around to take the beating, not for 28 million or a dollar. I don’t think Manning plays for the dollar, I think he plays for pride…If he decides to play on, I hope he lands somewhere that needs his talent and has an offensive line to boot.
Peyton to ATL!
January 29th, 2012
4:25 am
atl should dump ryan for a couple of #1 picks and get peyton, aSAP! He’s a lot better than ryan and will take ATL into the playoffs and maybe win a game.
Danny Boyle offers glimpse of Olympic opener | Belfast Downtown
January 29th, 2012
9:26 am
[...] Peyton Manning: A weird and ugly ending is at hand in Indy [...]
MrHughes
January 29th, 2012
2:34 pm
There is a part of me that thinks the Colts should give Peyton one more year. $28 million to recover from surgery is a lot, but that time table and circumstance were created by the owners lockout. Also, LucasOil Stadium, and by extension this years Superbowl being played there, would not exist without Peyton. The Colts are getting $120 million over the next 20 years for the naming rights to LucasOil Stadium. That money does not come without Peyton Manning there either. The operation of the stadium resulted in a $20 million deficit for the state in 2009. The state agreed the cover the loss likely thinking they would have a winner [with Peyton as the quarterback there] longterm. That stadium will hemorage money next year if the Colts don’t win. Fans will only show for a few games to see Luck. They are used to a winner! That does not happen with the current shake up in Indy. They should have given the regime one final year with Luck as the understudy. Part of the reason for the shortfall is the very favorable terms the Colts enjoy in regards to the stadium revenue. [Cautionary tale for Falcons fans who want to go from Georgia Dome to an open air stadium versus waiting to build Georgia Dome 2.0 with a retractable roof after waiting 5-10 more years after Dome 1.0 is paid off.]
I think the only similarity between the Braves and Colts is the one world championship over many successful seasons. I feel like the Braves did right by Glavine and Smoltz. The Braves got their stadium due to the Olympic games. Centennial Olympic Stadium (Turner Field) was built much more responsibly and has made money.
Whoever said Iverson was better than LBJ was right on! I’d take Wade over LBJ. Iverson would have taken a team that could described as hot garbage to a 6th game in the NBA Finals were it not for Robert Horry being Robert Horry. Oh yea, and the Lakers had been unbeaten in the playoffs (11-0) prior to getting shocked at home in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals at Staples. LBJ dances around and disappears in the 4th quarter. ie: I witnessed ostrich syndrome against the Mavs during the Mavs in the Finals last summer. Easy choice!!
Paddy
January 29th, 2012
4:08 pm
Jesus Christ……….the only thing Allen Iverson was better at than LaBron James is “time served” and always being on time with his probation officer.
gcs
January 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
Brett Favre, Joe Paterno and coming soon… Peyton Manning?
Whatever happened to the days of guys bowing out gracefully?
.
dan
January 29th, 2012
6:08 pm
It sounds like the marriage is over. The Colts are clearly in rebuild mode, and Peyton is just waiting for the axe to fall. I don’t think he’ll stay even if he can play next season. I think Peyton sees the writing on the fall and is like ” you know what man, you’re clearing house and getting rid of all these other guys, and you’re going to get rid of me, so let’s get on with it!”
I think the bigger question for Irsay is why burn down the entire house when you just need to remodel some rooms? The Colts are 2 years removed from being in a Super Bowl and 6 years removed from winning one. It’s not like they were total crap. When the 49ers and Packers got rid of Montana and Favre, they didn’t get rid of front office guys as well. There were contingency plans in place to weed out veterans and replace them with new blood, and they suck to the formula that brought them success. But I’m not seeing that with the Colts. They have a new coach who is unproven,and we don’t know if this Andrew Luck will pan out or not. Maybe it will work out for them, but it sure does seem like they’re throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Chuck
January 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
You morons comparing that rag-arm, jello-brained Matt Ryan to ANY top-tier qb have lost it! You can bark out stats as long as you like, but Matt Ryan isn’t leading ANYONE to a championship.
AlpharettaGuy
January 30th, 2012
7:07 am
So many of these guys wind up barely able to walk from age 50 on…my advice to Peyton & to any pro football whose body has taken punishment for several years, RETIRE & play golf & take it easy. I grew up in NOLA watching Archie play so I’ve always liked all the Mannings. I remember Archie as a Viking–not pretty. (Of course w/ no O-line it wasn’t pretty in NOLA for all those years.) It would be such a bummer to see Petyon get back out there, take a big hit & pay for it for the rest of his life. Be a coach & tee it up in the off season, Peyton. FORE!
Rich Lapin
January 30th, 2012
8:29 am
I’m a frequent reader and first time writer. I read your column about Peyton Manning and thought that you made a solid business case of why Peyton Manning would likely be released prior to March 8. While there is room for personal distaste toward the tradition of Irsay ownership, Manning’s contributions are unquestionable but his recovery from a very serious injury is highly questionable. The cold reality is that it’s a business decision not a congeniality contest. As a result, I find your final sentence “Maybe Irsay can get his soon-to-be former employee a rate from Mayflower” to be gratuitously cynical. In my opinion a better ending would be “Even top achievers don’t get to choose the circumstances under which their careers end.” In the final analysis, a business decision dictated what had to be done and that’s the real story here.
AceDawg
January 30th, 2012
8:58 am
I hope Manning plays again, and if he does, I’m sure it’ll be for a team that is playoff worthy even without him. Jets? 49ers? Broncos?
St Simons - the real life Andy Dufresne
January 30th, 2012
9:06 am
absolutely no way he could be medically cleared with the fusion surgery
with the metal plate. Heck, I had that surgery without the plate. I can’t
play tag football in the backyard
Indyjacket
January 30th, 2012
9:40 am
Should Peyton retire he will remain in the organization in some capacity, and be well compensated.
Call it like it is
January 30th, 2012
10:23 am
He was great to watch at Tenn, and great to watch with the Colts. He has nothing left to prove. I rather see him retire and move on then get hit again in the neck and do damage that cant be fixed. Would love to see him go back to Tenn and coach. That will never happen but one can hope.
harold
January 30th, 2012
10:24 am
PEYTON MANNING WILL SOON BE THE HEAD COACH AT TENNESSEE AND HE WILL RESTORE THE GLORY TO THE VOL NATION.
BG
January 30th, 2012
11:33 am
Manning and all his money will be fine.
LawDawg
January 30th, 2012
11:58 am
“Mark Sanchez and Cam Newton played right away. Andrew Luck needs to play right away.”
This is not an argument. Why does Andrew Luck need to play early? Just because other QBs recently have? Sanchez stinks, though his team is good. The Panthers had no shot even with Joe Montana at QB.
Here I’ll make a better argument:
“Drew Brees sat. Aaron Rodgers sat. Tom Brady sat until Drew Bledsoe got hurt. Andrew Luck needs to sit and learn.”
Regardless, I hope Luck is a Ryan Leaf/Akili Smith-level flop just so we can stop thinking that anyone can predict with certainty that this guy will be a Hall of Famer based on being mediocre in the PAC (like, say, Sanchez, Leinart, Palmer, Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, etc.)
LawDawg
January 30th, 2012
11:59 am
That said, why would Manning even want to stay? If he goes to the Ravens or a similar team (with Reggie Wayne in tow), he will be in a much better position to win a ring.