Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning says stunned by Bill Polian firing – NFL News
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said on Monday he was stunned hearing the departure of their vice chairman Bill Polian.
Polian was fired by the Colts owner Jim Irsay on Monday and Manning is probably the first member of the side to have expressed shock over the announcement.
"I was stunned, I was surprised, I was saddened and just disappointed that it all happened this way," Manning said. "I was actually meeting with Bill in the training room and we were talking about my rehab schedule, what I could and couldn't do in the facility
under the new (collective bargaining agreement) and my checkpoints when he was summoned to see Irsay. He actually chuckled and said, 'We'll see.' "
The News may have surprised many as it did Manning but the change was seen in coming as the postseason shake-up by the side that had managed to put up only two wins on the National Football League (NFL) points table in the season 2011.
Polian became first causality of the postseason reshuffling, a surprise for especially those who expected that it was the Colts coach Jim Caldwell to be in the line first.
However, Bill Polian had been seen more active on the teams affairs in his radio shows especially on the issue of Peyton Manning injury and controversy surrounding his return to the side this or next season.
Despite that there was no word from Polian himself that could hint at or confirm the reasons behind his sacking but it is seen likely that it were Manning related comments that cost his job.
There was neither confirmation nor denial of all comments that Polian had made in his radio shows about Peyton Manning by the team management. This reflects on the possibility that the vice chairman did not have any backing to his Manning stance.
His claim that the Colts were in position to keep Peyton Manning if returns next season and the prospective draft pick Andrew Luck side by side on the pay roster were seen not fitting in the overall situation.
Further, they had led to different speculations from various quarters with no official word to their credibility from either the team owner or any other member.
Meanwhile, following the announcement of his firing Polian went out to offer his thanks to team coaching staff, players and others for showing up their support to him during his stay at the Colts. He did not comment further on any issue.
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