The Big Rumor: If The Colts Take Luck, Then Manning Could Be...

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by saden1

Manning needs to STFU and ask for his release. Go out in control and hopefully finish on top.

I don't agree with you at all on this point.

First of all, there is a $28M bonus at stake for Peyton Manning. Now, I don't think that Irsay will pay that bonus because the Colts are obviously going to rebuild with either Luck or RGIII, but there may be a slim chance that PM will get the $28M.

Secondly, Irsay doesn't want PM to comment because he (Irsay) wants to control the message to the Colts fans about why he is about to let PM walk. He wants to come across as a concerned friend who doesn't want Peyton to suffer a disabling injury, so he'll save Peyton from himself by advising Peyton to retire and then not pay PM the $28M bonus. What a crock! Here's an idea: if Irsay is so concerned about PM, then he can offer PM $10M to retire now as a Colt.

Peyton, no doubt, doesn't want any potential future employer to get the idea that he won't be able to recover fully from his injury. If enough GM's got that idea in their heads, it would be detrimental to PM's negotiating position as a FA.