Why Jim Irsay Is Unpopular, but Right, to Favor Andrew Luck over Peyton Manning

Indianapolis Colts fans, I get it. You don't want to see Peyton Manning go. After all he's done in his decade-plus with the team, you shouldn't. 

Now your eccentric owner, Jim Irsay, is calling him a "politician" after Manning was rightfully a bit taken back by the wholesale changes and isn't exactly leading you to believe No. 18 will be wearing a blue horseshoe on his helmet next season. 

Irsay seems to be leaning toward Andrew Luck, who is easily the cheaper option with more upside and future promise. 

For as sad of an ending it may be for Manning after his legendary career in Indianapolis, Irsay is making the right decision favoring Luck. 

No, he shouldn't wage a media feud with the quarterback that essentially put his team back on the NFL map. If Irsay wants to be the face of the franchise he's got another thing coming. 

However, with a new general manager and entirely new coaching staff, Luck is the logical choice in the Colts' franchise reconstruction. 

Paying Manning the $28 million he's due at the start of the new league year would be foolish, especially with his neck injury, age and chance to give Luck the reigns of the offense from day one. 

It's really doesn't get any simpler. 

Sure, a healthy Manning gives the the Colts a much better chance to compete in 2011, but is he still worth all the money when the best overall quarterback prospect since Peyton came out of Tennessee is waiting in the wings. 

You hear it all the time. 

New coaches want "their" guy. 

Yes, Manning's greatness makes him quite the tempting "holdover." But not at $28 million. Not at 35 years old. Not after neck surgery. 

We've recently seen rookie signal-callers succeed early in their careers, and none of them were as polished as Stanford's Luck. 

You might be unpopular, Jim Irsay, but at this point, you're making the right decision going to Andrew Luck.

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