Colts owner unhappy Manning went public
January 27, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—The NFL’s most watched offseason drama has turnedstunningly ugly.
Two days after Peyton Manning complained about the dour atmosphere aroundthe Colts’ complex, team owner Jim Irsay called his four-time league MVP a“politician” and said he didn’t appreciate Manning’s public campaign.
The comments upstaged the introduction of Irsay’s new coach, Chuck Pagano,and came six weeks before Irsay must decide whether to pay the still-recoveringManning a $28 million bonus. Manning missed the entire 2011 season after havinghis third neck surgery in September.
“I don’t think it’s in the best interest to paint the horseshoe in anegative light, I really don’t,” Irsay told reporters following Pagano’sintroduction. “The horseshoe always comes first, and I think one thing he’salways known, because he’s been around it so long, is that, you know, you keepit in the family. If you’ve got a problem you talk to each other, it’s not aboutcampaigning or anything like that.”
Apparently, Manning got the message.
Peyton Manning watches preseason action.(AP)
Just a few hours after Irsay responded to questions from reporters, Manningtried to dial things back by telling The Indianapolis Star that he didn’t intendto create a public spat. Instead, Manning said he was speaking from the heartafter watching so many of his friends lose their jobs.
“At this point, Mr. Irsay and I owe it to each other and to the fans of theorganization to handle this appropriately and professionally, and I think wewill. I’ve already reached out to Mr. Irsay,” Manning said. “I wasn’t tryingto paint the Colts in a bad light, but it’s tough when so many people you’veknown for so long are suddenly leaving. I feel very close to a lot of these guysand we’ve done great things together. It’s hard to watch an old friend clean outhis office. That’s all I was trying to say.
“I just want to keep rehabbing and working hard, and when the time is rightfor Mr. Irsay and I to sit down, I look forward to a healthy conversation aboutmy future. I’ve worked too hard and have such great respect and have so manygreat relationships inside the building and out, and it’s incredibly importantthat those remain.”
Clearly, Irsay wants the same kind of relationship.
But over the past month, the Colts have been as dysfunctional as a Hollywoodmarriage.
Irsay, the team owner, has fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general managerChris Polian, coach Jim Caldwell and most of his staff over the last threeweeks. Social media has suddenly become the platform of choice to update fans onpending decisions, to shoot down rumors or fan the speculation.
Last week, actor Rob Lowe caused a media frenzy by tweeting that Manning wasabout to retire. The story got so much attention even Pagano, who was busypreparing for the Ravens’ AFC title game against New England, noticed.
“You know, I’ve got a text or a call out to Rob Lowe and I haven’t heardback yet, so I’m going to have get back to you on that one,” Pagano said whenasked if he expected to be coaching Manning next season.
The newest twist could be the most damaging.
On Tuesday, Manning told The Star that his only really conversation with thefirst-time general manager Ryan Grigson had come in passing and the flurry ofmoves had those around the team complex walking on “eggshells.”
Many believe Manning’s comments indicated how unhappy he was inIndianapolis, prompting speculation he was looking for a way out.
Irsay didn’t like it that Manning went public with his frustrations.
“I have so much affection and appreciation for Peyton. I mean we’re family.We always will be and we are,” Irsay said. “He’s a politician. I mean look at,when it comes to being competitive, let’s just say on a scale of 1 to 10, 10being the highest, we’re both 11s, OK? So there’s been plenty of egg shellsscattered around this building by him with his competitive desire to win.”
The drama may only be beginning.
With Irsay’s men in place in the front office and on the coaching staff,Pagano can focus his attention on selecting a staff. Grigson said Pagano willmake those choices.
Irsay’s decisions will become much more difficult.
Indy’s horrendous 2-14 season has given it the No. 1 overall pick, whichIrsay has said they will use for their quarterback of the future—presumablyStanford’s Andrew Luck.
If so, Irsay must decide how much money he wants to invest in one position.Manning signed a five-year, $90 million contract in July and is due the bonus inMarch. Soon to be 36, the perennial Pro Bowler is also coming off his third necksurgery in less than two years.
Irsay reiterated Thursday that his choice will come down to Manning’shealth, not money.
“I think fans already understand that,” Irsay said when asked whetherManning may have played his final game in Colts’ blue. “This isn’t an ankle, itisn’t a shoulder. Often times the NFL is criticized for putting someone outthere at risk, and I’m not going to doing that. I think he and I just need tosee where his health is because this isn’t about money or anything else. It’sabout his life and his long-term health.”
Those answers still may not be determined by the March 8 deadline.
That’s only the start of the Colts’ questions.
Grigson and Irsay must figure out how to free up salary cap space and whatto do with a group of high-priced veterans such as Gary Brackett and MelvinBullitt, and whether they want to bring back some of their key free agents suchas Robert Mathis, Jeff Saturday and Reggie Wayne.
Not surprisingly, Pagano wants as many of those guys back as he can get,including Manning.
“I just came from a great organization and just spent some time with one ofthe greatest leaders (Ray Lewis) to ever play this game,” Pagano said. “Andthere’s one of those leaders right here (Manning) and those are the types ofindividuals and people that you have to surround yourself with.”
But it’s Irsay who must make that decision, and it’s obvious that the twohaven’t been talking much lately—something Irsay acknowledged will changebetween now and March 8.
“It’s a very simple issue, it’s a health issue,” the owner said.
“It’s one of those things where just when you think it’s going in the rightdirection, things change,” he said, explaining later there was no indicationManning had had a setback over the last month. “It’s been very hard on everyonearound here, and it’s been very hard on Peyton, too.”
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