Regardless of the Coach, the Colts Owe Manning the Right to Retire in Indianapolis
Loyalty
Loyalty is something, as an adult we teach our children. We teach them to remember who their friends are and we preach for them to stand up for what they believe. Isn’t it sad how we forget that lesson and most of the time need a reminder of just that.
Peyton Manning was a rookie in the 1998 season and played every game until the beginning of the 2011 season. During that time Manning played through injuries going above and beyond what was asked of him. He was the hardest working Colt in the organization. Manning kept his team in the Super Bowl hunt even with some of the worst defenses ever in Colts history. When it is all said and done Peyton will be a first ballet hall of famer, and he will go down as arguably the best quarterback to ever play this game.
Where is the Love
With a new general manager, an owner who vows to a significant change, and a coaching change just yesterday Manning has found himself in an uncomfortable situation. Regardless of Manning’s neck injury, the organization owes Manning the next few years. After everything he has given this organization, they need to give him another three years and retire as a Colt. If it wasn’t for Manning they would not have had any of the success that they accomplished with him as quarterback.
It doesn’t matter if they select Andrew Luck with the number one pick, Manning is your quarterback. He needs to be, he deserves to be. The Colts need to take a lesson from San Francisco in the nineties and most recently the Green Bay Packers. Both teams had hall of Fame quarterbacks and each team let them go before they were ready, which made for an unfortunate situation, a situation that never should have happened. As an Owner you can not turn your back on a man that has worked to build your franchise up. I know that the NFL is a “what have you done lately” league and with Manning having to sit this year, he hasn’t done anything. However, that is just splitting hairs. Manning embodies what a franchise quarterback is and the organization needs to do him right.
Peyton deserves to finish his career the right way, when he is ready, in Indianapolis as a Colt.
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Chris, I dont understand your comparison to the Niners and Packers. Both teams did let go franchise QBs for younger alternatives, but both also won superbowls with those alternatives. What was the “unfortunate situation” you believe happened in those cases? It seems like the teams did the correct thing, based on the outcomes. Im confused.
My comparison to those situations is that they did not allow their legend quarterback to retire a member of that team. Yes, it worked out in that situation but not in every situation. My point is that they owe Manning the chance to retire there.
Do you agree with the idea that Manning should have the opportunity to retire as a Colt?
Keep the comments coming!
I would say that I am conflicted at best. Too many times players have left my sports teams as free agents, leaving my teams in the lurch, explaining it as business. So I guess it depends on what each persons standard is. Im a Manning fan, a Colts fan, and emotionally yes he SHOULD be able to retire as a Colt. Id love that. But its not like he sends me a portion of his paychecks, so Im not sure if I OWE him my loyalty. The Colts have a responsibility to their customers to win. If letting him go or trading him is the best way to improve the team then emotion needs to be put aside. Peyton will be fine either way. Montana is enshrined in Canton as a Niner. Favre will likely be a Packer bust as well. Its not personal, its business. I wish it wasnt that way, but it is.
I agree with you, I miss the days when players retire where they were drafted from. I know it’s a business and times have changed. It will be a horrible day in sports if the Colts release Manning. Peyton is one of the best quarterbacks I have seen. He deserves the choice to stay or go.