Peyton Manning: Colts QB Wisely Ruled out for Week 1 vs. Texans

Brett Favre, your consecutive starts streak is officially safe. But more importantly, so is the Indianapolis Colts' future.

Colts vice chairman Bill Polian announced on SportsCenter today that quarterback Peyton Manning will be out for their Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans.

Manning, who is still recovering from surgery this offseason, has not recovered fast enough and is not in a position to help this team win. The damage to the nerve in his neck has caused him trouble all summer and his throwing arm is not nearly where it needs to be. 

If he were to suit up on Sunday he would only be risking more serious and permanent injury to himself and his team. 

The Colts took precautionary measures by signing Kerry Collins, and now they have no choice but to go forward with the 38-year-old veteran in Week 1.

Manning's illustrious streak comes to an end at 227 games, 208 of which were in the regular season. 14 years in the NFL and this will be the first time Peyton Manning starts the game on the sidelines.

In fact, it is the first time he will ever be on the sideline to start a game at any level.

The Colts and Manning had no choice, even with the top contender to their crown in the division lining up across the line of scrimmage this Sunday. Further injury to Manning would doom this organization for this season and possibly future seasons. 

Manning and the Colts agreed to a new five-year contract at the end of the lockout. If he were to play to the end of that contract he would be 40-years old.

Holding Manning out until he is completely healthy at least assures the quarterback the chance of playing out the contract. There is no telling what could happen to him behind an inexperienced offensive line featuring two rookies; he had enough trouble getting the ball out last season as is.

The move, although expected after Manning was told to stop practicing earlier in the week, is still shocking in most respects.

There isn't a player more valuable to his team's success in the NFL than Peyton Manning.

But in the end this is the right decision. With the season officially starting the pressure will be off of Manning to rush back and keep his starts streak alive. It was a record he was never personally chasing and he's always put his team first to begin with. 

The Colts can now focus on the task at hand, and Manning can focus on getting healthy as soon as possible.