Peyton Manning: Colts QB and Owner Jim Irsay Bury the Hatchet in Joint Statement

After a back-and-forth between Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and owner Jim Irsay, both released a statement on Friday assuring everyone that there is no friction between the two.

Read the statement, via Pro Football Weekly:

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"We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us.

"Since 1998, we have enjoyed a great relationship, based upon mutual respect and trust. We have always been able to talk and address matters we’ve faced over the years, not just as owner and player, but as friends. We had a long talk today and we want to assure Colts fans everywhere that we are both committed to maintaining our close relationship and to working together through any challenges the future may bring."

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The statement came after some choice words from Manning. Manning, an 11-time Pro Bowler who led the Colts to a Super Bowl in 2007, may be headed out of town now that the Colts hold the No. 1 overall pick and are likely to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

Said Manning earlier this week, via the Indianapolis Star:

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"I'm not in a very good place for healing, let's say that. It's not a real good environment down there right now, to say the least. Everybody's walking around on eggshells. I don't recognize our building right now. There's such complete and total change."

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Irsay quickly countered, calling Manning a "politician," via the Star:

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“I don’t think it’s in a good interest to paint the horseshoe in a negative light, I really don’t. He’s such a big part of that and everything else, but the horseshoe always comes first.

“I think one thing that he’s always known, because he’s been around it so long, is you keep it in the family. If you’ve got a problem, you talk to each other. It’s not about campaigning or anything like that.”

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I can understand where both men are coming from. Manning, who missed the season after two neck surgeries in the offseason, has seen virtually the entire coaching staff replaced, the same coaching staff he's grown comfortable with for so many years. He also must think the writing's on the wall as the trade talk surrounding the 35-year-old continues to grow.

As for Irsay, his mouth (or more appropriately, his Twitter account) has made him a fairly controversial figure in Indy, but he also was just protecting his organization, an organization he's been a part of since graduating from SMU in 1982. This is the same organization he took over for his father, Robert Irsay.

It's difficult to avoid turmoil when a future Hall of Famer may leave town, but, for now, Irsay and Manning appear to be making peace.