Peyton Manning: Retirement in the Cards for Wounded Colts Star?

With Peyton Manning out for the foreseeable future with a wounded neck and the Indianapolis Colts trudging their way through a winless season, there's been plenty of talk about the Colts preparing for life after Manning.

That time may come sooner than you think.

FOX's Chris Myers got a chance to spoke with Manning recently, and he thinks the end may be in sight. 

Via FOX Sports Radio host Ben Maller:

I only have one thing to say about this: Woah.

Seriously, woah.

While the writing has been on the wall that Manning may have officially entered the twilight of his career, it never crossed my mind that he would actually walk away.

Which I guess is why I should point out that the 50-percent chance of Manning retiring is Myers' estimation, not Manning's. You obviously have to take his belief for what it's worth.

That being said, we have to ask ourselves whether or not it would be all that shocking if Manning were to decide to retire. His neck is pretty messed up, and he doesn't need to be told that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will be there for the Colts and that they want him. They're pretty much a lock to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, and it's going to be very hard for them to pass on Luck.

So in addition to being wounded, there's a question of whether or not Manning is even wanted in Indianapolis.

If Manning does decide to call it a career, he will be able to rest comfortably knowing that he had a nice run in the NFL. All he did was make 11 Pro Bowls, win four MVP awards, set numerous passing records and win one Super Bowl. He's one of the great quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and if we're being honest, he doesn't have much left to prove at this point.

So all things considered, Myers' 50-percent estimate makes sense.

But hey, I'll believe it when it happens.