The situation in Indianapolis took a turn for the worse, or weird, on Thursday as Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke about Peyton Manning and what may come next. Irsay openly criticized how Manning has handled the situation, saying the long-time quarterback should've kept his comments in-house and not disrespected the Horseshoe.
Here is a portion of Manning's comments, given exclusively to Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star.
"At this point, Mr. Irsay and I owe it to each other and to the fans of the organization to handle this appropriately and professionally, and I think we will. I've already reached out to Mr. Irsay. I wasn't trying to paint the Colts in a bad light, but it's tough when so many people you've known for so long are suddenly leaving. I feel very close to a lot of these guys and we've done great things together. It's hard to watch an old friend clean out his office. That's all I was trying to say.
But the money quote comes from Kravitz himself, in the opening line of the column. Kravitz says simply, "Peyton Manning is done in Indianapolis." The opinion is his own, but not surprising at all considering the circumstances. For many, it's a harsh reality to face.
For a breakdown of all of Manning's comments, as well as Irsay's response, visit SB Nation's Colts blog, Stampede Blue.
2 comments
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Mar 7
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Sorry Peyton
Peyton Manning isn’t going anywhere! He has an additional 28million dollars just waiting on his signature. As far as him talking to the press & not keeping his comments “in house”, I agree with Irsay. Peyton is a professional & shouldn’t have went outside his club to discuss buisness.
by darylscarlet39 on Jan 26, 2012 11:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Irsay blindsided Manning with all of these recent changes at the top...
after years of talking to Peyton in advance of making big changes and keeping him in the loop – Irsay hit him with all cannon in a full broadside at close range.
Peyton has every right to feel disrespected, disillusioned and betrayed by Irsay. If you don’t think this is kind of behavior is part and parcel of the Irsay business model, I refer you to the fans of the BALTIMORE Colts who know well the duplicity of these owners. You want to discuss folks who have disrespected the horseshoe – ask those fans in Baltimore who has besmirched that logo more… Peyton or Irsay. There is no debate on this.
Peyton has been the classiest act of them all in victory, defeat and through injury. If he’s feeling abandoned by mgmt and upset by the loss of the men he’s been going into battle with for the last 10 years – Irsay should understand and at least make the effort to not make things worse for Peyton by his own insensitivity.
Irsay has always has done this with Manning in the past, so for Peyton to view these recent changes in team mgmt and in the way Irsay has stopped talking to him before things happen as a barometer of his future in Indy – you have to at least see how Peyton got there.
For Irsay to turn it around and accuse Peyton of taking things out of the ‘family’ is bogus at the heart of it. Irsay is the one who did this by his own failure to treat Manning like the ‘family’ he says he wants Peyton to respect.
The simple truth is Peyton is done in Indy. And all of this nefarious underhandedness on Irsay’s part is just a preamble to the dump Irsay is about to take on Manning and Colts fans when he cuts Manning. No way he can pay him the 28 million in March and get proper value for him in a trade.
I just hope Peyton is healthy and is able to find a situation elsewhere that provides him with the opportunity to stick it to Irsay on the field of play.
by CurtMerzFan on Jan 27, 2012 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
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