Peyton Manning: Star QB Won't Be Viewed as Villain If He Decides to Leave Colts

There's some sentiment that Peyton Manning will be viewed as the bad guy if he decides to leave Indianapolis, especially after Colts owner Jim Irsay offered him a restructured contract on Valentine's Day.

But that would never happen.

Let's be honest: Nobody's going to blame Manning if he leaves. Ownership is showing doubt in him, and the team went 2-14 last season in his absence.

The reality is, Manning and the Colts would be better off without each other at this point. The Colts don't have enough talent around Manning to contend for a title, and they're in rebuilding mode.

There's also the fact that Manning has won a championship for Indy and has 11 Pro Bowl selections and four MVPs to his name. That kind of production, not to mention being a future Hall of Famer, tends to garner you some respect. You honestly think Colts fans are going to look at him as if he's LeBron James when he leaves? He has stayed with the Colts for 13 seasons, for crying out loud.

If anything, Irsay will be looked at as the bad guy if Manning leaves. This back-and-forth with Manning has been well-documented.

Manning has a few options to play with if he declines Irsay's offer. Many believe he'd be a good fit with the Miami Dolphins, a team that won six of its last nine games last season on the back of a solid defense. The Dolphins also have a top-10 pick in the draft, so they can go about replacing Marc Colombo at right tackle.

If Manning leaves for a new chapter, it will be a sad day for Indianapolis. But fans will always remember what he meant for Indy. Manning will be remembered as the greatest quarterback in franchise history, and a man who did it with class along the way.

Manning has built up such a reputation in Indianapolis that he could denounce the city and the Colts, and people would tell him they understand.

He's virtually untouchable.