I say the Colts should let Manning go

[CYST2000]

I know that I will catch major flack from the "Peyton is God" fans out there, but if you are a true Colts fan (many are just riding the gravy train of supporting a winner), then you probably understand that a team is still a team and not just one player.

I can remember sitting in the nose bleeds of the Hoosier Dome and watching Eugene Daniel run a pick back for six, Eric Dickerson saying "I'm a winner on a losers team", or the "GOOOOOOSE" chants roar out from the crowd after Tony Siragusa got to the QB. Now I know those teams weren't the best teams, but some of us Colts fans have this...................How should I say? "Realistic perspective of how a team actually wins"!

So now I get to the point of this rant. Irsay wants to make Peyton Manning the highest paid player in NFL (25 million per season). If you pay an aging QB (35 yrs old), who has been having health issues (neck surgeries x2), and has choked more times then Bob Knight at a freshman practice, then you are a lost cause. Peyton is not bigger than the franchise, but I guess the Owner seems to think so. It saddens me to see my beloved Colts sink to these depths. We could be building for the future. We could be making more free agent acquisitions, but instead we have relied too heavily on one player.

Peyton Manning is and will be one of the greatest QBs ever, but as a Colts fan I am far too invested to my team then any one player, and if the organization would get it's head out from behind one player, then we might be a team to be reckoned with for years to come, but if we cave in on such high demands then we will be left with another one man team.

Sorry Manning fans, but it had to be said.

[CYST2000]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

As you can see my anger came out in the threads title.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

So would you like them to trade Reggie Wayne too and just say **** it?

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

Personally, I'd rather them invest all that money into building a competent and at least decent Defense than have to give him $25 Mil and not have any cap space to improve the rest of the team, especially when you're going to have to starting building for the post-Peyton era eventually.

I mean yea, it's a very, very good possibility that you might suck for a couple of years, but can you honestly get any better than what you are right now, which is really a team good enough to get the Wild Card but not do nothing much else?

[bkrich83]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

And who are you going to get to replace him?

[CYST2000]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

So would you like them to trade Reggie Wayne too and just say **** it?

I say they at least try going in another direction. Look, at some point you have to accept that the good times are gone and move on before it's too late. SF did it in the early 90's, and the Packers did it three years ago. So why can't the Colts?

[buckeye02]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

Im not a Colts fan or a Peyton Manning fan, but you're about to catch some flack from me.

You do realize that Without Peyton the Colts are outside looking in on the playoffs. You're, i dont want to say complaining because that doesnt seem like the right word. Think of the people who wish they could post something like this. Think of the Cleveland Browns fans of the world. If they had Peyton Manning do you think they would want to trade or release him? I think you and other Colts fans that feel this way have been spoiled over the years. When Peyton leaves/retires from the Colts, then you will be missing him. Don't know what you got til its gone.

[petersondagreat]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

with the style of defense they play they just need to pay Mathis and Freeney

[ubernoob]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

I say they at least try going in another direction. Look, at some point you have to accept that the good times are gone and move on before it's too late. SF did it in the early 90's, and the Packers did it three years ago. So why can't the Colts?

The packers did it while having a replacement... The Colts don't have that luxury right now. Maybe if they had a QB of the future in the wings. Look how SF is doing right now

[buckeye02]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

I say they at least try going in another direction. Look, at some point you have to accept that the good times are gone and move on before it's too late. SF did it in the early 90's, and the Packers did it three years ago. So why can't the Colts?

Good times are gone? Last i checked the Colts are still making the playoffs every year and are front runners to win the division.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

Peyton Manning is not going anywhere except to Canton.

[CYST2000]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

And who are you going to get to replace him?

Who cares? At least you are starting from scratch, and are able to evolve. some teams can evolve from their star players (Steelers, Packers, Eagles, and Patriots), but you have to know when enough is enough.

[buckeye02]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

Why do you need to start from scratch? Im not getting your logic on this whole topic. So you dont believe arguably the best player in the game needs to get paid like it?

[CYST2000]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

Peyton Manning is not going anywhere except to Canton.

And I hope he is considered the greatest of all time, but he is not the same player. I watch every game and I see the downward slide to his game. I like Manning, but I like my Colts more and I am willing to watch a crap team for the next 2-3 years, but if he gets this contract and continues to slide, then the Colts will be very sorry.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: I say the Coltts let Manning go!!!

I mean yeah, they would still be a "playoff team" but would anybody honestly look at them as anything more than that like we did in the mid 00s?

To me even with Peyton, they're like the 5th or maybe even 6th best team in the AFC(Pats, Steelers, Chargers, Ravens, Jets(??) ) and if they're not playing the Ravens, we've seen how they've fared against those other teams.