Peyton Manning Injury: What Is Lost in the Shuffle

The Peyton Manning injury single-handedly cost the Indianapolis Colts the 2011 season. Many will argue that even with Manning, the Colts would have been an 8-8 team at best because the defense was awful and the offensive line was a glorified Red Rover team.

Well here's a news flash for all of those people, that terrible defense and questionable offensive line has been that way for almost all of Manning's career. It never stopped him from leading his team to the playoffs for nine straight years, an NFL record seven consecutive seasons with at least 12 wins and a Super Bowl. 

As a passionate Colts' fan and overzealous Manning supporter (to put it lightly), I have grown accustomed to my version of Superman leading Indy to the playoffs year in and year out. He has always been there and because of that, it was easy to look past this injury and speculate when he will return to the field.

After the first surgery, I told everyone he will be ready for the start of the season. After the second surgery, I confidently speculated that he would strap on his blue tights and with the "S" on his chest return to lead the Colts over the New England Patriots in a Week 13 matchup that would have rivaled Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.

Well, just like that super-fight, it never happened and for the first time in my life, I spent an entire year without No. 18 being part of my Sunday ritual.

During the whole ordeal, never once did I even consider the fact that Peyton (we are on first name basis) would not return to the field at some point. As the season wore on and the talk of holding the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft came into focus, the thought of Manning changing teams obviously crossed my mind. But not once, did the thought of him never playing again hit me.

Well, after hearing Jim Irsay and Peyton's father, Archie Manning slap aside questions of Andrew Luck, the 2012 NFL draft, etc. and reiterated that Manning's health is the top priority, I'm officially worried.

While everyone in the sports world is busy speculating what the Colts should do with the first overall pick and who should be their starter in 2012, very few are considering the possibility that we have seen that last of the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. Yeah, I said it!

As I did all year long, I'm fighting the thought of having seen the last of the Colts' leader. I blindly believe that he will overcome anything that stands in his way and return to lead my Colts to glory.

With that said, if I have seen the last of my favourite player, and the Peyton Manning injury is career-ending, I will be forever grateful that I was able to witness the entire career of one of the greatest players that has ever donned an NFL jersey.

Thanks, Peyton.

Sincerely,

The best friend you never new you had.