Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay says to be on good terms with QB Peyton Manning as both talk – NFL News
Indianapolis Colts’ owner, Jim Irsay, is back on good terms with the quarterback, Peyton Manning, and emphasized that he has always enjoyed good relationship with the player.
A day after he confirmed to have been engaged in talks with the player on their future courses, Irsay played down journalists’ questions that his ties with the player in the wake of controversy around his future were on the edge.
He joked around to avoid the same question at more than occasions, saying that he and Manning had a "lifelong relationship," and that their ties have not affected due to the recent impasse in communication between the two parties.
Irsay said:
"We have that type of relationship. We're both very competitive, but I have a lot of close friends and they've said a lot worse things to me, and I've said a lot worse things to them than him, and I have."
While citing the comments of him labelling the player a politician, Jim Irsay said that his remark was in line with his assertion that player should have discussed all the pertaining matters within the house.
"If I call him a politician, he asks for one stroke back on the golf course," Irsay said. "And I said, no, he's giving me one more because I thought he was acting like a jerk before.”
Ruling out the possibility of an outcome of their meeting at the moment, he said both the parties have continued talking to each other and hoped in the wake of continuation of the talks they expect reaching an amicable solution.
He added:
"Peyton and I have talked and said that certainly by that date or sooner, we'd like to just come to something that makes sense for both of us." Irsay said.
After months of confusion, uncertainty and speculations, Irsay has recently confirmed to have talked to the player this month over his pending recovery and return to Colts, which could be possible under revised contract terms.
Peyton Manning is due a bonus of $28 million from Colts by March 08, 2012 that will activate his deal with the team for another four years, and in case of non-payment it will let him become free agency.
One of the issues on Irsay’s mind is negotiations with the player around the possibility of restructuring of his deal, includes seeking of an extension to the bonus payment deadline.
What would be the outcome is not clear yet, either Irsay or Manning has not thrown a light on the extension being on the agenda of their meetings that have already taken place among them.
Reports in some sections of media have pointed out at the unlikelihood of Irsay being willing to pay $28 million to Peyton as long as the uncertainty about his recovery from his neck surgery is not cleared.
Tags: