Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts Parting Ways Is the Right Thing to Do

It is the end of a remarkable era in Indianapolis.

After an illustrious 14-year career with the Colts, Peyton Manning, who transformed the organization, taking the team to two Super Bowls and winning one during his tenure there, will be playing elsewhere in 2012. It is certainly a sad day not only for Indianapolis, but for the entire NFL. However, there was no other way this could have been handled.

Let's face the facts; the Colts are now in rebuilding mode. Had Manning re-signed, he would have had little to no help next season, and more than likely, Indianapolis would not have even made the playoffs. Just look at what the Colts did this past year. Yes, not having Peyton under center was obviously devastating, but even taking that into consideration, they finished 2-14 and ended up with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

I don't care how important Manning is to the team. To go 2-14, you have to be pretty bad, and that is what Indianapolis is right now. So, why subject the four-time MVP to a lost season? Cutting him loose is not only beneficial to Jim Irsay and the rest of the Colts' franchise because it allows them to move forward, but also to Manning, who can now look for a team that might have the tools to get him that elusive second championship ring.

There are many potential destinations for the soon-to-be 36-year-old Manning, and of those possible landing spots, perhaps none of them is more appealing than the New York Jets, a ballclub that certainly gives Peyton more of a chance to win than say the Miami Dolphins or Washington Redskins, two other teams who will likely pursue the future Hall-of-Famer.

The Jets were a huge disappointment this past season, but if they add a healthy (hopefully) Manning into the fold, everything changes, and unlike in Indianapolis where Peyton would be fighting with the Jacksonville Jaguars to stay out of the cellar of the AFC South, he'd be fighting for another Super Bowl.

As for the Colts, they get to begin a new chapter, one that will likely be headlined by Andrew Luck, perhaps the most touted college quarterback since Manning himself. They still have a lot of other issues to remedy, but if Luck is as advertised, they are going to be off to a heck of a start.

Will Luck ever even approach the kind of impact that Peyton had on the city? Who knows, but he doesn't have to, as that is asking a whole lot, and that is something that could end up developing into a problem, as there will be an ample amount of pressure on the Stanford product to fill Manning's shoes. Hopefully, Colts fans are patient with him and are willing to sit through the growing pains that every young quarterback experiences.

Honestly, Manning's departure has been as amicable as anyone could have possibly expected. Judging by the press conference where a clearly emotional Manning and Irsay took the stand, there is absolutely no ill will on either side, and there shouldn't be, as, again, this was the right decision for all parties involved.

No one wanted it to end this way. In a perfect world, Peyton would have never worn another jersey other than the one he has donned for the past 14 years, but the world isn't perfect, and Manning, Irsay, and the city of Indianapolis all know that. It is certainly going to be a very difficult transition, but it is one that was indubitably necessary. The Colts may now have their next face of the franchise in Luck, and Manning may have the opportunity to play for another Super Bowl title.

Good luck, fellas.