Peyton Manning: Silence Between Colts and Star QB Is No Sign of Resolution

All the news coming out of Indianapolis so far this week has everything to do with the 2012 NFL scouting combine and nothing to do with Peyton Manning.

This doesn't mean that Colts owner Jim Irsay and Manning are working on a resolution to their current contract dispute, though.

The last development in the squabble was Irsay saying that the ball was in "Peyton's court."

No numbers are being discussed by the two sides, despite reports citing a potential incentive-laden contract.

We haven't heard anything since expect a bit more chatter as to which team(s) would fit Peyton best if he were to leave Indy.

More than anything, the silence shows that two sides have stopped playing childish games with the media. But again, that doesn't mean resolution.

Peyton's release is still the most likely outcome. This current Colts team epitomizes the term "rebuilding era."

Irsay has fired every decision maker with a history in Indianapolis other than Peyton and replaced them with relatively unknown names.

The notion of Peyton sticking around to work with a first-time head coach and first-time GM is not only crazy, but it's pointless.

There are only so many years Peyton had left prior to the multiple neck surgeries, and even though his loyalty and heart are in Indianapolis, he won't win another Super Bowl there.

In a whirlwind offseason where both Irsay and Manning have thrown media jabs at one another, this new silence does not mean anything.

Once the combine rolls out of Indianapolis and March 8th gets closer, this situation will escalate and return to the forefront of the media.

This silence will only hold for so long.