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Christensen: The Hard Goodbye

By Todd Christensen, The Mtn. Insider
February 16, 2012

This past Super Bowl was one of the best in the storied history of the game, and possibly the best depending upon whom you might talk with.  That’s why it was odd how that in the week leading up to the game, it was in large part overshadowed by the playing future of Peyton Manning.  Sure, his little brother was in the game and the big stage was in Indianapolis, but it’s rare when one person can take center stage over the biggest annual sporting event on the planet, even one who’s a four-time MVP.

But then again, the conundrum that is Jim Irsay's, the Indianapolis Colts owner, is something that NFL fans are interested in.  Peyton Manning has been the foundation of this franchise for the past 14 years.  It’s difficult to imagine any other professional athlete being more important to his community than Manning is to Indianapolis.  2011, however, was a banner year for neither Manning nor the Colts as four neck procedures took #18 to the sidelines for the entire season and the result was one of the biggest collapses in the history of the league when the Colts played so badly that they garnered the No. 1 pick of the upcoming NFL Draft in April.
 
Now, the decision has to be made regarding Manning’s future in Indianapolis.  He has been cleared by doctors to play, but with something as fragile as a neck and with a 35 year-old signal-caller, it’s risky business to pay his $28 million bonus owed him in March, especially with a franchise quarterback in waiting with Andrew Luck coming out of college.  

Over the last two months, Irsay has fired his general manager as well as his head coach.  It appears that for all intents and purposes he’s cleaning house.  Recently, he made reference to the idea that a reworked contract that would take into account the potential risk hazard meant that the ball was in Peyton’s court if he wants to continue.  You don’t have to be Woodward or Bernstein to conclude that Irsay is spinning this so that he’s not unpopular with the many who adore Manning, and make no mistake, that is an enormous population.
 
Said Winston Churchill: "Sometimes our best is not good enough. Sometimes you have to do what is required."  Jim Irsay needs to make the tough decision and jettison the iconic signal caller.  It’s interesting to note that arguably the greatest running back (Emmitt Smith), wide receiver (Jerry Rice) and quarterback (Joe Montana) of all-time ended their respective careers with different teams.  

As they say so frequently in the Mafioso cinema, "It’s not personal, it’s business.”  Timing is everything, and now it’s time for these respective parties to go their separate ways. 
See all of Todd Christensen's blog entries HERE.