Why the Indianapolis Colts Can't Be Blinded by Loyalty to Peyton Manning

Now that the Polians are out in Indianapolis, the Colts as a franchise need to make some serious decisions. One thing they can't do is be blinded by loyalty to four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning.

As I've stated many times, I think the smart move for the Colts would be to keep Manning and start a bidding war for the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and the chance to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. That said, I don't have any inside information on the specifics of Manning's recovery from neck surgery.

Whoever takes over for the Polians has to examine the situation from an outsider's perspective and do what is best for the franchise, not its relationship with its signature player. Manning has meant more to the Colts than probably any player in the NFL has meant to their respective team. However, if he can't recover and be that same player, maybe selecting Luck is the way to go.

I don't buy the talk that the Colts would keep Manning and draft Luck, that would simply mean they were spending far too much money on one position. With all the holes Indianapolis has on its roster currently, the team can't afford to do that.

The Colts need to be smart with this pick and with the Manning situation. Whatever they decide to do will likely impact the franchise for the next decade.

Either way, the new regime has to look at this logically and select the best possible option for the long-term health of the team.