Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay confirms release of QB Peyton Manning -NFL News
It is official now that Peyton Manning is no more a Colts, as confirmed by the franchise’s owner, Jim Irsay, during an emotional news conference at the team’s headquarters in Indianapolis on Wednesday March 07, 2012, with the player himself besides him as
much in a state of despair and sorrow as the employer.
This ends the uncertainty around the chances of Manning’s recovery from a neck injury and ability to play for Indianapolis Colts.
Both stakeholders made the announcement of the player’s emotional departure, and were seen in tears as they looked back at the Manning legacy that is spread over 14 years, since his arrival in the team in 1998.
Having enjoyed good 13 years of the game with Colts, Manning’s last year was full of controversies, uncertainty and confusion, starting from September 2011, when the player had a neck surgery, until March 07, his last day with the team.
Irsay told the crowded media conference that Colts have decided against the payment of $28 million bonus to the player, allowing him to hit the free agency after the trade deadline of March 13, 2012.
The owner, while confirming the news, which made headlines of almost all media outlets a day earlier, said he would welcome back the player anytime in future, and the decision to let him ago this time was due to the problem of the team’s salary expense,
which was above the cap level.
He said:
"As a franchise, where we are right now with the salary cap, we're a few years away. I want to see him come back and play great. There's no question about it. It's just, here, (it's) just like in 2001 when he was completely healthy and we didn't have everyone
to surround him. I just want to see him succeed at the end of his career."
Peyton Manning, who was present next to Irsay at the conference, was seen as much saddened as the owner, and said he always wanted to play for Colts, but acknowledged that nothing lasts forever.
The player said:
“For 14 wonderful years, the only pro football I've known is Colts football. My team won a lot of games here, I played with so many great players here. Times change, circumstances change and that's the reality of playing in the NFL."
He offered his gratitude to the team’s officials and managers, who have worked with him during his entire career and fans who still back him for returning to Colts.
Team fans, former officials and teammates in their respective remarks soon after the release have praised the player for his contribution in Colts built-up to be a competitive side on the league, where he was able to break all the previous records.
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