It is official - Peyton Manning and the Colts have signed the divorce papers. Jim Irsay and the Colts announced today that Peyton Manning would no longer be an Indianapolis Colt. Peyton Manning, with tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat, talked about his experiences playing in Indianapolis and how much he loves the city, the fans and the team.
All things must end and with every ending a new beginning is born. I personally would like to thank Peyton Manning for not only his unbelievable football play and leadership on the field but his leadership off the field. Indianapolis can thank Manning for being a key building block of Indianapolis and its relevance in the professional sports world. We have seen many greats go through Indianapolis including Wayne Gretzky, Jackie Robinson, Reggie Miller and now Peyton Manning. Manning arguably did the most for this city and it is hard to dispute. He literally brought a Super Bowl Trophy home to Indianapolis and helped build a Children's Hospital. His presence helped Indianapolis get a new stadium, host a Super Bowl and be the talk of sports media for an entire decade.
It is with sadness in my heart to say good-bye Peyton but it is with hope that I welcome Andrew Luck.
Please comment and leave your favorite Manning memory. My best memory of the past 14 years is when Manning led the Colts to an AFC Championship in 2006 over the New England Patriots. The Super Bowl win was fun but beating the Patriots at home was the most rewarding victory I can remember.
As someone who was part of the large team who literally helped move the Colts here in Mayflower moving vans, I am thankful to have had Manning as part of the Colts history. He helped make the team and brought much to not only the franchise, but also the city. It is sad to see him move on. He appears to be a man of integrity and class. That being said, I wish for him the best and I think his moving on will allow him to succeed in greater ways than he could have remaining with the Colts. Another moving van is coming; one that will bring Luck and many other new players who will build another great team and carry the Colts to success for another 14 years or more. Maybe we will get to the Super Bowl sooner than we did the first time. It will be exciting to watch another team "grow up" and become a dynamic force in the NFL!
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