Peyton Manning: QB's Positive Attitude Will Rub off on Beleaguered Teammates

Upon learning that his streak of starting 227 consecutive games would end due to his neck injury, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was admittedly in terrible spirits, but according to ESPN.com, Manning has come to grips with his injury and is now focused on getting healthy enough to play.

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"I walked around for a while angry, in a bad mood. ... 'Woe is me,' " Manning told the newspaper Friday. "I've gotten over that. It doesn't do any good."

"I do hope to get healthy, and when I'm healthy and cleared to play, I want to be out there," Manning said. "But I'm off the clock as far as that goes. I'm just trying to follow the doctors' orders and get healthy."

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This change in attitude should not only be good for Manning, but it should be beneficial to his teammates as well. The Colts have been a shell of their usual selves to this point in the season, struggling to an 0-2 start. Quarterback Kerry Collins, coerced out of retirement to fill in for Manning, hasn't gotten acclimated to the offense as quickly as many had hoped, but he hasn't gotten much help either.

The Indy defense has been very poor and Collins's skill players haven't exactly stepped up either. I think that has to do with the team being lost without Manning's leadership. If it wasn't already clear, it has become quite apparent that Manning is the heart, soul and brain of the Colts, and without him they are completely lost.

Manning's "woe is me" attitude probably didn't help matters either. If the team saw Manning deflated and defeated, then they probably felt the exact same way. It is understandable that the team as a whole would lose some confidence without Manning, but they failed to remember that there are still 52 other guys who can make plays.

Since the team obviously looks up to Manning (and understandably so) seeing him with a new, positive attitude should be great for team morale. The Colts have a big hole to dig out of at 0-2, but if Manning shows outwardly that he believes in them, then it could go a very long way.

Veteran leaders like Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Dwight Freeney need to point out to the team's younger players that Manning believes in them, and that even though he can't be on the field right now, they have to play well in order for his return to mean anything.

Even without Manning, I don't think the Colts are as bad as they have shown themselves to be to this point. All it may take is Collins to gain some comfort and a little encouragement from Manning. His mere presence around the team this week should return a sense of normalcy and allow the Colts to play more like everyone is used to seeing.