Earlier in the week Peyton Manning did an interview with Bob Kravitz of the Indy Star that gained a lot of attention because Manning indicated that the Indianapolis Colts facility is "not a real good environment" right now and he's "not in a very good place for healing". The reaction by most folks is that Manning is bracing for the possibility that he may not be playing for the Colts next year.
All the signs seem to be pointing that way including the latest one from Colts owner Jim Irsay, who talked to the local media on Thursday and indicated he wasn't happy with Manning's comments to the Indy Star. Via the AP:
Shortly after introducing new coach Chuck Pagano on Thursday, Irsay said Manning should have kept his thoughts "in the family." When asked whether a decision on Manning was next, Irsay went into a long answer, calling Manning a "politician" and suggested he was "campaigning" publicly.
Let's be careful not to blow up just a couple of comments but this is so out of character for both Manning and Irsay. Rarely do we see any friction coming between those two.
We should also note that in Manning's comments this week he said it was his understanding that Irsay, and not new GM Ryan Grigson, would be making the final decision on his future. Asked whether there had been a decision on Manning's future,Irsay said:
"We'll work it through and we'll work it through hand in hand, and we'll talk and we'll continue to talk as we get into February and get closer to the league year. That's kind of where it stands right now."
Reading the tea leaves, it seems more and more possible that the Colts could very well move on from Peyton Manning, which is almost unbelievable to think about.
For a breakdown of all of Manning's comments, as well as Irsay's response, visit SB Nation's Colts blog, Stampede Blue.
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The Irsays have consistently been one of the NFL's cess pools
every since they pulled the team out of Baltimore in the middle of the night. They were lucky to get Manning in the first place. It was Tony Dungy and Manning who brought character and honor to the Colts organization, and they are the reason that team has been as good as it has been. But it’s pretty clear from Irsay’s double-speak and his actions in the past that the organization has already lost it’s way since Dungy left, and if Peyton is smart… he will get the hell out of town before the Irsays sell out to another city and move out under cover of darkness again – all in the vain hope their real lack of character at the very top will not be exposed. Manning can still win elsewhere, but if he stays in Indy, he finished bad and maybe even crippled by an organization no longer able to evaluation and draft or recruit the talent necessary to protect him.
by CurtMerzFan on Jan 26, 2012 10:37 PM EST reply actions
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