Peyton Manning Rumors: Failure to Meet with Jim Irsay Suggests QB Will Leave

It's come to the point in the Peyton Manning situation with the Indianapolis Colts that we're now talking about things that aren't happening, which is bordering on the absurd.

If this was Twitter, I would hashtag the above sentence with #FirstWorldProblems.

Anyway, what didn't happen was a meeting between Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay this week, which presumably was going to revolve around Manning's future (or lack thereof) with the team.

From Mike Chappell of IndyStar.com:

"

Prior to Super Bowl XLVI, Irsay indicated he and Manning hoped to meet sometime this week. The Colts must decide whether to pay Manning a $28 million option bonus by March 8 or allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.

Manning, who wants things settled sooner rather than later, spent part of this week working out at Duke University.

"

Read into this what you like, but it's hard to ignore the symbolic distance there seems to be between Manning and the Colts at this point. The longer this has lasted, the more it has seemed as though the two sides will be parting ways.

Obviously I don't know the inside scoop here, and there could be completely legitimate reasons the two didn't meet after it had been widely reported that they were planning to meet this week. But it seems to be just another indication that Manning isn't going to be a Colt next season.

If both sides were fully committed to making this work, wouldn't they try to nip this situation in the bud as quickly as possible? Wouldn't Manning consider restructuring his contract? Couldn't they just settle on a decision so we can all stop talking about this already?

Okay, so maybe that last question was a little selfish. But as time goes on, it becomes more obvious that Manning will be playing elsewhere next season, and frankly, that is the best situation for all parties involved.

A simple meeting between Manning and Irsay would likely make that point evident. Let's have the meeting, gentlemen.

Please.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'm #Linning.