QB Peyton Manning defends himself against Indianapolis Colts owner criticism of his remarks – NFL News
Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback, Peyton Manning, has strongly come into defence of his remarks of calling the environment bad at Colts’ headquarters, which irked team’s owner, Jim Irsay.
He was responding to Irsay’s referring of him as a politician at a news conference he held to unveil his new head coach, Chuck Pagano, and advising the player to prefer discussing all pertaining issues within the house.
Peyton said that he had not intended his remarks to turn out be a public feud, as he believed in the in-house solution of all issues, including the case of his recovery from his neck injury and returning to Colts next season.
"At this point, Mr. Irsay and I owe it to each other and to the fans of the organization to handle this appropriately and professionally, and I think we will. I've already reached out to Mr. Irsay," Manning said.
"I wasn't trying to paint the Colts in a bad light, but it's tough when so many people you've known for so long are suddenly leaving. I feel very close to a lot of these guys and we've done great things together. It's hard to watch an old friend clean out
his office. That's all I was trying to say.”
A couple of days earlier, Manning told a newspaper in the Indianapolis, that he was disappointed and saddened over the departure of so many officials from Colts.
He, apparently, was referring to the firing of Colts vice chairman, Bill Polian, his son, Chris Polian, who was a general manager at the side, head coach, Jim Caldwell, and more than half a dozen assistant coaching officials.
Soon after ending of the 2011 National Football League (NFL) regular season at the dismal note of 2-14, Colts owner, Irsay, introduced rash overhauling of his side and parted ways with all those officials, who had been with Manning during all past years,
in one go.
Manning, who has the issue of his recovery and return on top of his mind, could not believe going of all those officials and commented that their removal do not bode well into his hopes for a comeback. He called the overall environment at Colts being not
very comfortable.
It was for the first time that the player had spoken about the setback he believed to have suffered due to firing of his former managers and coaches.
Irsay while referring to Peyton’s remarks at the media call said Manning was playing a politician. He asked the player to discuss all his issues within the house.
Manning within hours of Irsay’s criticism defended himself saying he did not want to indulge into some sort of controversy and his earlier comments were without a similar intention.
The respective stances from the two parties have thrown a light on the strife in the relationship between them.
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