Archie Manning To ESPN’s Chris Mortensen: “Peyton Manning Is Not Retiring!”

Published: 18^th Jan 12 5:05 pm

by Robert D. Cobb
Cleveland Browns Featured Columnist, Follow me on Twitter, @RobertCobb_76

RANT It!

Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – It appears that the power of social media has managed to strike in the NFL once again, and due to an unlikely source, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is at the heart of it.

According to Rob Lowe on Twitter, the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player and Super Bowl champion is set to announce his retirement Wednesday evening.

Archie Manning, the father of both Peyton and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, would deny Lowe’s rumor on Twitter via ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

This may be mere speculation at this point as Manning’s long-time agent, Tom Condon would also deny Lowe’s rumor saying that this is the first that he has heard about it.

Manning, who would suffer a season-ending neck injury in pre-season, would miss the Colt’s entire 2011-12 regular season.

Indianapolis would finish with a NFL-worst 2-14 record, fire long time vice-chairman, Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian and sack head coach Jim Caldwell in a major house-cleaning many assume will pave the way for the Colts to select the projected top overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

The Colts must decide whether or not to pay Manning’s roster bonus of $28.6 million, which is due in March 8.

With Manning’s status in Indianapolis in limbo, perhaps Lowe’s rumor is not a feeble attempt at attention, but rooted in fact as the Colts may have already decided to go in a different direction entirely.

Stay Tuned.

Follow me on Twitter, @Dawgfather_76