Jim Irsay Would Be Wise to Admit He Just Wants Peyton Manning to Go Away

Jim Irsay needs to man-up and admit he’s ready to leave the Peyton Manning era behind. It would be so much easier to respect him if he did, especially since it’s painfully obvious that is the case. Most recently, Irsay was quoted by John Clayton of ESPN.com saying this about Manning’s future with the Colts:

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We want him back if he wants to come back. We can work out the contract if he wants to work it out. It's going to be Peyton's call.

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This is an obvious tactic to shift the focus off of the fact that his team has the No. 1 pick in the draft, Andrew Luck is available, and he wants to hand the keys over to him. 

He knows that if Peyton Manning is still a Colt, he must start, and that will prolong the growth period of Luck. Not to mention, it also adds a tremendous amount of pressure to him as well.

It’s tough enough to follow a legend, but it’s made even tougher when you have to fight him for playing time. The Colts don’t want to put Luck through what Aaron Rodgers had to endure succeeding Brett Favre.

Rodgers played a total of seven games his first three years while he waited on Favre to go away. Now, the Packers have only gotten four years out of Rodgers, but he’ll turn 29 during the upcoming season. That really equates to production lost.

Imagine what could have happened if Rodgers had played even two of those three years he sat.

Irsay’s reasons make sense, but the tip-toeing and posturing really isn’t necessary. Peyton’s not an idiot, he knows Irsay doesn’t want him back.

And so do the fans. Most will realize it’s a necessary transition and get behind Luck when he’s under center.

Irsay exhibits more verbal posturing with this quote from the same Clayton article:

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“It's a two-pronged thing," Irsay said. "The first is if and when the nerve regenerates and whether it allows him to play at a high level. But I always want Peyton to understand the risk-rewards about playing. We want to make sure he understands the long-term aspects of his health in trying to play."

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Now, you want to slyly remind the public just how bad Manning’s neck injury is, and the risk he’s taking by playing again. It makes it appear as though Irsay is really just thinking about what’s best for Manning.

Manning’s injury is serious, and there are risks, but I don’t think Irsay has to remind Manning of them.

He’s not a doctor, and it’s not his neck. Manning has never come off as a player that wasn’t in tune with his body. He always seems well-informed about the progress and condition of the injury.

This comment was for the fans and the media. He’s prepping us for a decision he’s probably already made, but he would love to have Manning take this decision out of his hands by simply going away on his own.

It’s the equivalent of offering a free agent a contract you know is far beneath what he’s looking for, just to be able to say “we offered him a deal.” 

It’s to save face.

There is no reason for this strategy, it’s a business. Jim Irsay is in the business of building a winning and profitable football team. He obviously believes Manning is not the best guy for his team in the long run.

There is no crime in admitting that.