The Peyton Manning era is about to come to an end in Indianapolis. The Colts are preparing to release Peyton Manning on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, and confirmed by USA Today, who spoke with Manning’s brother Cooper.
“Peyton and I talked today and had a good chat,” said Cooper, the eldest Manning brother. “He’s going through kind of an emotional time right now. Until it was over, he was a Colt through and through.”
Manning has been medically cleared to play again, and wants to continue playing, so he will no doubt find a home. Manning won four NFL MVP titles during his 14 years in Indy, and delivered one Super Bowl title, following the 2006 NFL season. He never missed a start from the first game of his rookie season in 1998 to the end of the 2010 season, but missed all of the 2011 season following multiple neck surgeries.
In Manning’s absence, the Colts slipped from a perennial 10-win, playoff team to a 2-14 season and the number one draft pick, which they will ironically most likely use to select Manning’s replacement – Andrew Luck of Stanford, called by many scouts the best prepared quarterback to come out of college since Manning.
Bill Polian, the recently fired former general manager of the Colts, who brought Manning into the organization, said, “Time will take away some of the hurt that comes with leaving the organization.”
“He will look back on it from a little bit of distance I hope secure in the knowledge that he made an incredible contribution to that franchise.”
Manning has been working on his rehab, and recently began throwing the ball again. A video emerged earlier this week of what is believed to be Peyton Manning throwing deep balls at practice.
“After 14 years, I recognize that throwing motion even from a distance,” Polian said of the practice video. “He looked darn close to the orginal Peyton Manning.”
If Manning is still healthy and has a few years left in him, he can be a huge difference maker wherever he lands. Manning has thrown for 54,828 yards, third in NFL history behind Brett Favre and Dan Marino. He is also third in NFL history with 399 TD passes, and has the sixth highest career passing efficiency with 94.9.
“I don’t think Peyton’s done any personal diligence on what the next step is,” Cooper Manning said. “Now he’ll have to re-evaluate and see what this next chapter reads like.”
