Pondering Peyton

Friends,

As baseball season is about to begin, today was a monumental football news day. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, has chosen to part ways with future hall-of-fame quarterback, Peyton Manning. Irsay and Manning hosted a melancholy news conference in order to announce Manning's release. One could also detect the sincere distress that this whole situation has caused Irsay...and it could have been so much worse. Peyton was simply a class act....I mean, I believe Manning saved his owner's bacon--a heavy public relations hit--by taking about the highest road I have ever seen. The only other thing lessening the blow has been Manning's health. In fact, Manning's neck injury is the main reason for the whole situation. If he had played last year, the Colts would not have been the worst team in the NFL...and none of this is even taking place. It was entirely circumstancial.


There were many hoping that Manning would still be able to stay with the Colts. Yet, with some question marks concerning the neck, and a number one draft pick coming up, there were too many warning signs to suggest otherwise. So now, the Colts get their new "franchise" quarterback in Andrew Luck. I believe he will be a good quarterback....but to rival Manning's accomplishments will be very difficult. Yet, if he wins a Super Bowl or two, he will be mentioned with Johnny U and Peyton as among the Colt all-time greats -- we'll see. As for Manning, it is now an open lottery. He can choose wherever he wants to go, because he is an unrestricted free agent. This mean Manning gets a very large pay day soon, and some team is going to get a potential Super Bowl quarterback...that is, if his health holds true. It is all a very intriguing story, which will be fascinating to watch unfold. Needless to say, it will make for a great post-season. He says he will make his decision as to which team he wants to play for soon. This, in turn, will affect other free agent dominoes and the NFL draft itself. I hope that he can stay healthy and play for a few more seaons at a high level...we would expect nothing less, and neither would Peyton.

Blessings, Don