INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jim Irsay is trying to put a happy face on an ugly public spectacle.
After Peyton Manning stole the big stage from his little brother, Eli, all week, the Indianapolis Colts owner tried to resolve the second public spat in two weeks with his star quarterback. The latest controversy is over Manning's health and whether he's actually been cleared to start taking hits again.
"Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts," Irsay said in a statement that included a color photo from his private party Thursday night.
The photo shows NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell between the smiling Manning and a thrilled-looking Irsay, flanked on the ends by actress Meg Ryan and singer John Mellencamp.
But it was a much happier scene than the public image that has evolved over the past two weeks.
The party was taking place at about the same time Manning's surgeon confirmed that Manning had been cleared to play. A few hours later, Irsay responded tersely on Twitter.
"Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for the Indianapolis Colts," he wrote.
The ruckus didn't stop Manning from making a scheduled visit to a local grade school along with Brandon Marshall and Roddy White on Friday, but Manning did not allow print media into the event and was not available for questions.
Meanwhile, Manning's agent, Tom Condon, told NFL Network that the four-time league MVP would play in 2012, a point Manning made perfectly clear when he told reporters Tuesday that he did not plan to retire despite missing the entire 2011 season after having his third neck surgery in 19 months.
It didn't change the likelihood of a nasty divorce between the Colts and the longtime face of their franchise.
The biggest question is Manning's health. He was cleared to practice in December and has been throwing for at least two months, but the Colts want to know whether Manning can regain the arm strength that made him a perennial Pro Bowler.
Manning's doctor and agent insist he's healthy.
"He is sound. He can take a hit. He can certainly play in a football game," Condon said. "How effective will he be? Probably not as effective as he would be in two to three months."
The Colts still aren't sure and will have to decide whether to pay a $28 million roster bonus by March 8 or risk losing him as a free agent.
Manning has said he does not expect to retire, and not everyone is convinced his career is over.
A group of Tennessee Titans placed an electronic billboard message on northbound I-65 on Friday: "Peyton you're going the wrong way." The highway runs between Indy and Nashville, Tenn.
Even some Colts fans want Manning to stay.
"It would be incredibly sad to see him go and I'd hate to be Irsay. I want him to stay," said Keith Harden, a 51-year-old Indy native who was wearing a Reggie Wayne jersey. "No, I don't think it's hurt his (Manning's) image. I think he's fighting to stay, and I like that."
But things could get much worse before Irsay makes his decison.
"Jimmy and Peyton have had a strong relationship for a really long time," Condon said. "They've been great friends besides the business relationship. But this is a tough time, there is potential that you could be separated from a team he's been a part of for a long time."
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Comments » 5
OrangePride writes:
The figure of 28 million is a big one. BUT..we all saw just how good Indy is WITHOUT Peyton: And it wasn't pretty. Right now, it is Peyton in the driver's seat and not Irsay. There are any number of teams that would pick him up in a heartbeat, and Irsay would not want to have his Colts face that team with a freshman QB and Peyton on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. From a business standpoint, this might seem a no-brainer. Besides, he's more than got the money and Peyton can be a huge asset to that franchise....and how much money has Peyton put in Irsay's pocket already? So go ahead and cut him...we'd love to see him in a different shade of blue this fall.
arkyvol writes:
one of the saddest things about athletics, hell about american life is that nobody expects anybody to tell the truth anymore.
BigOrangeSmoker writes:
all i want is the best for Payton and when he retires then he could come to knoxville and be our O/C for the boys in Orange and White.Pee Pee on colts owner
FanNotSheep writes:
In a perfect world the teams would be owned by people who care more about the game than their own self-interest, but the world we live in is far from perfect.
I can understand they are in a tough spot with Manning's future up in the air and this chance to get Luck. But Indy is probably going to go with the young guy and ship the old guy to the glue factory, sort of like a lot of businesses do these days. Never mind that Peyton has been a model citizen, done tons of public service, stood for countless hours signing autographs for fans. His loyalty was obvious when he took less money than he had coming to try to win more championships -- and this is the way loyalty is repaid in our society.
But Indy has tough times ahead. Luck is not going to come in and perform like Manning has -- he doesn't have the pieces around him and he doesn't have the experience. So look forward to lots more losing seasons Irsay, and maybe you will get to screw up more top draft picks in the coming years. I predict you'll win about the same number of games the next few years without Manning as you won without him this year.
KevDVol writes:
The Colts became an invisible shell of a franchise after Johnny U. They got a preview of their return to irrelevance last year without Peyton.
Luck or RG III must prove to be a MVP calibur player or another Irsay will have ruined something special in the NFL...again.
Peyton should go to Jacksonville, Tennessee or Houston just to beat the Colts twice a year and win that sorry AFC south title every year until he retires.
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