“We had a long talk today and we want to assure Colts fans everywhere that we are both committed to maintaining our close relationship and to working together through any challenges the future may bring.”
That would be welcome news to Colts fans, who first watched Manning publicly complain about the down-in-the-mouth atmosphere at team headquarters and then two days later saw Irsay call out his franchise quarterback at a news conference intended to focus on the new head coach.
But earlier this week, there seemed to be clear friction in Indy, with the still-recovering Manning at the center of it all. As Cindy Boren reported:
If Peyton Manning is finished in football, it’s news to him.
In an interview with Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star, the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback did acknowledge that upheaval within the franchise is disconcerting and that his own future, with the Colts and in football, is uncertain. The vibe right now in Indy? Very weird.
“Everybody [is] walking around on eggshells. I don't recognize our building right now. There's such complete and total change,” Manning said.
The Colts are in a state of flux, with the firing of Bill Polian and Chris Polian in the front office and Jim Caldwell as coach. Ryan Grigson is the new general manager and owner Jim Irsay has promised that a coach will be named soon.
“One of the things about football is, it’s a relationship business. Sometimes guys get fired, it goes across the ticker, ‘Jim Caldwell got fired’ and that’s that. But when it’s every day in a relationship business ... with Bill [Polian], with Marvin [Harrison], Edge [James], guys who retire, get cut, traded or fired, it’s just really hard. I don’t think I have an emotion for it.
“The new [management] team doesn’t have a relationship with these guys like I do, and I know a lot of players feel that way about them [the departing coaches], too,” Manning said. “I mean, it’s 20 degrees, it’s snowing, the building is absolutely empty except when you see coaches cleaning out their offices. I guess it’s the reality of the football world, just not something I’ve had to deal with very often. But I’m in there every day, so I have to sit there and see it. Everybody’s being evaluated and I’m no different. It’s not the best environment.
“I just want to pay tribute to all those guys. It’s unfortunate because so many of them have been such a big part of so many big wins here, and this is so ... sudden. Their keys didn’t work the next day. There’s no other way to do it? I don’t know. That’s hard to see, all these people leaving.
“And I may be behind them. Who knows?’’
More from Washington Post Sports:
Peyton Manning opens up on future, upheaval
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The Polians are out
Jim Caldwell is out
Peyton on Eli Manning in Super Bowl XLVI: ‘I couldn’t be more proud’
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