Peyton Manning, Colts Owner Break Down in Press Conference Announcing Split
- Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:00pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Peyton Manning fights back tears during a news conference announcing his release from the Colts after 14 years. (AP)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning’s record-breaking run as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts ended Wednesday, when owner Jim Irsay announced the team would release its best player.
“We all know that nothing lasts forever,” Manning said. “Times change, circumstances change, and that’s the reality of playing in the NFL.”
Manning and Irsay each paused frequently, fighting tears and their voices shaking, when they appeared together at a news conference at the Colts’ team complex. It was an unusual and awkward scene, two men whose NFL lives have been so closely intertwined, standing side-by-side in jackets and ties as they told the world they were splitting up.
“This has not been easy for Jim,” Manning said, “and this has certainly not been easy for me.”
The 35-year-old Manning will become a free agent, and is expected to generate interest from a half-dozen or so NFL clubs, provided he’s healthy. Manning is coming off a series of operations to his neck and missed all of last season when his team’s record, not coincidentally, plummeted to 2-14.
Indianapolis needed to cut him this week to avoid paying him a $28 million bonus, although both Irsay and Manning insisted the decision was not really about money. The Colts are widely expected to begin moving on by taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft.
Irsay repeatedly used the word “rebuilding” and acknowledged: “We’re definitely a few years away.”
Manning won’t retire and hopes to be playing in the NFL at the start of next season.
Still, he said Wednesday: “I’ll always be a Colt. I always will be. That’ll never change.”
He forever will be thought of around these parts as No. 18, the quarterback who led the Colts to an NFL championship.
He’ll be remembered, too, for his record four MVP awards, his 50,000 yards passing and his 200 consecutive starts. Most of all, Manning will be the guy in the horseshoe helmet who turned around a franchise and transformed a basketball-loving city into a football hotbed that hosted the Super Bowl a month ago.
Arizona, Miami, Tennessee, Washington and the New York Jets all have been rumored as possible destinations; Manning’s former offensive coordinator in Indianapolis, Tom Moore, worked for the Jets as a consultant last season.
“There will be no other Peyton Manning,” Irsay said, adding that he hoped Wednesday’s joint appearance would serve to “honor incredible memories and incredible things that he’s done for the franchise, for the city, for the state.”
This marks the end of a remarkably successful marriage between a player and team.
Manning started every meaningful game for 13 seasons in Indianapolis – 227 in a row, including the playoffs – and took the Colts from perennial also-ran to one of the NFL’s model franchises and the 2007 Super Bowl title.
In the two decades predating his arrival, the Colts won 116 games, one division title and made the playoffs three times. With Manning taking snaps, the Colts have won 150 games, eight division titles, two AFC championships and the franchise’s first league championship since moving from Baltimore in 1984.
Indianapolis broke the NFL record for most regular-season wins in a decade (115), and tied Dallas’ mark for most consecutive playoff appearances (nine).
Manning is one of four players with more than 50,000 yards passing, one of three with more than 350 TD tosses, and one of two quarterbacks with more than 200 starts in a row. He broke all of the franchise’s major career passing records, previously held by Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas.
In 2009, Manning led the Colts to the cusp of NFL history with a 14-0 start, fueling talk of an unbeaten season.
But it has been mostly bad news ever since.
The Colts pulled their starters against the Jets and lost the final two games that season. Indy then wound up losing to New Orleans in the Super Bowl. During the offseason, Manning had the first of his neck operations.
Then, after making an early playoff exit in the 2010 season, Manning underwent another neck surgery to repair a damaged nerve that was causing weakness in his throwing arm.
When the nerve did not heal as quickly as expected, Manning had two vertebrae fused in September, an operation that forced him to miss a game for the first time in his NFL career. There are still questions about the strength of Manning’s arm.
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formidable_foe
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:01pmIt‘s a shame Manning can’t finish his career with the Colts. Loyalty is a thing of the past in the NFL these days. Money is the end all, be all. In any event, I would love to see Peyton join my Minnesota Vikings. They need serious help.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:54amAs a Hoosier, all I can say is, “Thank You” Payton for all of your hard work over the years, and for all of the great things you did for the people and children of Indianapolis. You will always be welcome in Indiana..
But I do agree with this split. With Manning being “out of the game” with his injuries, it was not right for the colts to pay him a $26 million bonus, when there is a good chance he won’t play again, and especially since his arm has been reduced to that of a high school reserve string QB..
Its a shame, I liked Payton alot, but realistically football is NOT a lifetime career, and his body is telling him its time to move on… I would love to see Payton as a coach (for Indy escpecially) because He would make one of the best…
Good luck with whatever the rest of your life brings you Mr. Manning, Indy won’t forget your hard work or dedication…
Report Post »sjohn70037
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:31amProgressives whine about the too highly paid, capitalist CEOs and yet nothing is mentioned about the Hollywood heathens or professional sport’s felons that earn loads more.
Report Post »Lost Rebel
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:59pmThe Colts will never be the same without Peyton at the helm. Lucky will be the team who gets him.
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:26pmSay what you want!……………..
P Manning is a class act!
There are so few in the world of pro sports!
Report Post »Gary Fishaholic
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 2:18pmAgreed he is definitively a class act!
Report Post »12gn12
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 6:46pmHey LeBron, see this is the way you handle it, then perhaps we would want you back. Good luck Peyton, and to the Colts from a Browns fan.
Report Post »black9897
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 7:01pmThis ****** me off. Screwing over Manning, just like Emmitt Smith got screwed over. Hopefully they’ll at least let him retire with them one day. Cutting the greatest QB ever. Dumb.
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:28pmLeBron epitomizes why no one watches pro basketball!……
Report Post »Bunch of God given talent will so little brains to understand what they have been given!
Harry19
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 6:07pmCrying because you lost 28 million,tough ****,you were over paid. Try living on 20000 a year. Your over the hill anyway . a broke down nag. Retire and enjoy life on your millions you have salted away.
Report Post »Better Dead Than Red
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 7:39pmThe sort of thing sore, bitter losers would say!!
We love you and will miss you, Peyton!!
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:28pmCom’on Harry19.
Seriously?
Manning‘s a class act and was paid what the Colt’s thought was appropriate. When it was time to make the call, (and part of the decision was obviously about the $20 mill he would have received) the Colts and Manning handled it with class!.
You are sounding like an OWS type that thinks they deserve everything but do nothing or maybe you just don’t like winners?
Report Post »Arminianism
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 6:05pmAs a colts season ticket holder, I have a lot of BroLove for Manning. Its a emotional day but I look forward to the Colts future with Luck and wish Manning nothing but the best.
Report Post »kenr1963
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 5:22pmCome on back to Tennessee,they are still crazy for you there.
Report Post »ahull15
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 4:51pmCome on down to Dallas, Peyton! We’d love to have you!
Report Post »Vacman
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 3:53pmPeyton you are what class is.
Report Post »WhatTheHuh
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:55pmHe should retire. He’s a great quarterback, but 36/37 seems to be the age quarterbacks hit the wall (very few exceptions). Add to that his numerous neck surgeries, and it’s just not worth it to play maybe two more seasons and risking his health. Still, I understand that as a competitor, he has something to prove. Regardless of his love for Indy, I’m sure he wants them to regret the decision. To that end he will probably go to an AFC team.
Report Post »Onodacops
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:53pmIn the event that he is signed by a team that plays the Colts. I guarantee that he will gets a standing O every time when introduced at a Colts home game.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:23pmIf he can play, he should go to Denver. Nothing against Tebow, but with a healthy Manning, the Broncos become instant Super Bowl contenders.
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