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Indianapolis Colts’ surprise sacking of top…

patPeterzyzaz — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:02:03 +0000

By Hal Habib

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 11:34 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012

Posted: 6:03 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012

Plenty in the NFL were surprised to hear that Bill Polian was a casualty of the Indianapolis Colts’ disastrous season, but Marv Levy’s reaction went beyond that.

“Surprised isn’t the word,” he said Tuesday. “Stunned. Stunned, definitely.”

Before Polian enjoyed Super Bowl success as the architect of the Colts, he and Levy reached similar heights as general manager and coach, respectively, of the Buffalo Bills. And it was Levy who gave Polian his break into the league by hiring the magazine ad salesman to scout for Levy’s Kansas City Chiefs three decades ago.

“I don’t think he’s the best general manager in football, I think he’s the best general manager ever in football,” Levy said.

But Monday, Colts owner Jim Irsay began cleaning house after a 2-14 season by firing Polian, the club’s vice chairman, and son Chris Polian, the general manager, which likewise left quarterback Peyton Manning “stunned.”

It raises questions, including how the Colts deal with their situation at quarterback. They can draft Stanford’s Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick but also have a March 8 deadline to pay a $28 million bonus to Manning, who missed the season because of neck surgery and is uncertain to play again. They could avoid paying the huge bonus by cutting him.

Monday, Manning told The Indianapolis Star he was confident he could “coexist” with Luck. What this means for Dolphins fans dreaming of Manning won’t be clear for months, but Star columnist Bob Kravitz predicted that Luck will be the Colts’ quarterback in 2012 and that Manning might be a Washington Redskin or – get ready – a New York Jet.

That’s not the only tidbit coming out of Indy that Dolphins fans won’t want to hear. Irsay plans to let the new general manager decide the fate of coach Jim Caldwell, and if Caldwell is done, a likely candidate would be Jeff Fisher, who interviewed with the Dolphins on Tuesday.

NFL Network reported that Fisher wants a team with a strong quarterback, making the St. Louis Rams and Colts logical destinations.

Kravitz, who had predicted Polian could be gone Monday morning, called Fisher “a perfect fit” for the Colts. The same cannot be said for Tony Dungy, the former Colts coach who told Kravitz he has no interest in filling Bill Polian’s former role.

“Most people seem happy the Polians are out,” Kravitz said of the atmosphere in Indianapolis. “They didn’t make a lot of friends, especially in recent years with the substandard drafts” and by not going all-out for a perfect season late in 2009.

Kravitz called Chris Polian’s lone season as GM “an unmitigated disaster.”

Manning was meeting with Bill Polian on Monday afternoon to outline an off-season rehabilitation plan when Polian was summoned to see Irsay.

“What’s that all about?” Manning asked Polian, according to The Star.

“I have no idea,” Polian replied. “I’ll let you know.”

An emotional reunion between the two soon followed.

“I’m sorry that it went down this way,” said Manning, who was drafted by Polian in 1998. “I always thought Bill and I might retire around the same time. You kind of hoped for that fairytale ending, after winning a Super Bowl.”

Manning added, “I’d be the first to tell you that had Bill not been here when I was coming out for the draft, I’m not sure how I would have felt about coming to Indianapolis.”

By then, Polian had established himself as a builder of Super Bowl teams in Buffalo and Carolina. Levy recalled a day in 1987 when Polian asked if Levy and the Bills would like to have linebacker Cornelius Bennett, the unsigned Colts draftee. Levy, naturally, was interested — until hearing it would cost two No. 1s and a No. 2 pick.

“I said, ‘Oh, Bill, no. Way too much,’ ” Levy said. “He talked to me for six hours. Finally, I said, ‘Bill, you’re so convinced, go ahead.’ And Cornelius was, I thought, the best ‘backer in the league for several years.”

Levy keeps in touch with Polian but hasn’t spoken to him since the firing, so he’s not sure what the next move might be for him.

“Whoever gets him is going to get the best,” Levy said. “He’s probably the person in football I’m closest to, the one I have unmitigated regard for. The successes we enjoyed were so tied to what he was able to contribute and do.”

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Colts’ big offseason questions will linger until…

SamUQ — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:24:42 +0000

The decisions over the next few months will likely shape the future of the Colts’ organization for years, but what happens next is anybody’s guess.

“There is no sugar-coating the fact that there are areas of talent that we need,” Irsay said. “The decisions that are coming up are crucial, and obviously, when you’re looking at a general manager, a head coach, having the No. 1 pick in the draft and knowing that you’re rebuilding in some areas, that is about as massive as it gets.”

As usual, all things in Indy start with Manning.

Irsay must decide whether to pay the four-time league MVP a $28 million bonus in March, allow him to walk away as a free agent or redo the five-year, $90 million contract to make it more salary-cap friendly.

Manning missed the entire season after having his latest neck surgery Sept. 8 — a procedure that has clouded his future in Indianapolis. Without him, the Colts collapsed, missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade and winning the Andrew Luck sweepstakes with a 2-14 mark.

Though Manning has started throwing with teammates and players believe Manning is improving, Irsay must determine whether it’s worth taking a significant cap hit to rebuild around a 35-year-old quarterback who has had neck surgery three times in less than 24 months. If he is healthy, a big if, Irsay has promised to bring back Manning and make another Super Bowl run.

“I think the key thing for me has always been, and particularly since the fusion, is it safe for him to go on the field? Is it something where he is healthy enough to resume his career, to go on the field and play at a high level but also to be in harm’s way in the physical game that we have?” Irsay said. “What he means to the franchise, what he means to the Colts and to the league, (his health) to me always has been the most important decision.”

Irsay said he plans to meet with Manning within the next week, and those answers could dictate which direction the Colts go in 2012.

Manning has good reasons to want Caldwell back. Aside from the franchise quarterback, Caldwell and offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen understand this offense better than anyone, and Caldwell helped Manning achieve his greatest successes. Before Caldwell became quarterbacks coach in 2002, Manning was an elite player with a losing record in the playoffs. With Caldwell, Manning won all four of his MVP awards, two AFC crowns and his only Super Bowl ring.

But there’s no assurance any of the coaches will be back next season. Receiver Pierre Garcon summed up the uncertainty best on Twitter when he posted this: “So what happens now?”

For Caldwell and the coaches, it’s business as usual.

That’s all the news for today.

Indianapolis Colts fire Polians as cleansing…

Astelsope — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:33:36 +0000

Team owner Jim Irsay fired team vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, Chris, the Colts’ general manager on Monday. He said there was a good chance coach Jim Caldwell will be back next season, but his evaluation was not over.

He also must still decide whether a healthy Peyton Manning and a new quarterback can co-exist in the same locker room, and which veteran free agents come back next year, if any.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a year in the NFL where a team went 2-14 and there’s not been changes,” defensive captain Gary Brackett said Monday, less than 24 hours after a season-ending loss at Jacksonville.

Outsiders had expected the first order of business to be the firing of Caldwell, who won 14 straight games and advanced to the Super Bowl in his first season as Colts coach. Caldwell said he simply went about his business Monday, speaking with Irsay following the 19-13 loss at Jacksonville and with both Polians on Monday, part of his usual routine.

“You lose as many games as we lost in a year, there’s a problem, there’s an issue,” Caldwell said. “But when we were 14-2, the way you guys put it, my job was in limbo then, right?”

The elder Polian had constructed Super Bowl teams in Buffalo and Indy, and an NFC title contender at Carolina.

But troubling signs emerged this season as the Colts lost time and time again — 13 straight at one point — with Manning sidelined to recover from Sept. 8 neck surgery. And it was Manning who suggested he and Bill Polian were not on the same page.

Polian said on one of his weekly radio shows that he and the four-time league MVP had discussed the possibility of establishing a transition plan at quarterback and that Manning was OK with it. Manning later said the two had never discussed the 2012 draft plans, which include the No. 1 pick amid speculation that the Colts will take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck to groom as Manning’s successor.

Then, just before Christmas, Polian told local reporters that Manning would fail his exit physical, a move that would actually help the Colts because it would allow him to continue working out at the team complex during the offseason.

“That was kind of news to me,” Manning told reporters Sunday, then said he probably could pass the physical.

Fans have been clamoring for the ouster of Caldwell and both Polians. Irsay, a frequent poster on Twitter, has been listening.

“I want 2 thank all ColtsFans..here,throughout the country n abroad,4ur tremendous,loyal support all year long. Ur feedback is heard n noted,” he tweeted Monday morning.

For their part, players offered support for Caldwell, who just wrapped his third year as head coach in Indy.

“One thing about Jim is that he’s a stand-up guy, and guys respect that,” cornerback Jerraud Powers said. “He’s a great coach, a good guy, and it was unfortunate situation this year. But he never lost the locker room.”

The longer and, perhaps, more critical debate is how to rebuild this team and what to do at quarterback.

Manning never played after undergoing his third neck surgery in 19 months, a fusion of two vertebrae.

He did, however, start throwing to teammates in mid-December and received good reviews from both Bill Polian, who was watching, and running back Joseph Addai, who was catching balls. Doctors familiar with the procedure who did not treat Manning say he should return to a high level of play now that the fusion has healed.

If he is healthy, Irsay has promised to bring back Manning regardless of the $28 million bonus he is owed in March.

But after posting the NFL’s worst record without Manning, the Colts also have won the Luck sweepstakes, potentially putting two franchise quarterbacks on the same roster.

“I think I can co-exist with any player I’ve ever played with,” Manning said Sunday. “I think I’ve always been a good teammate in that way.”

If Manning returns, Irsay might be more likely to bring back former Pro Bowlers Robert Mathis, Jeff Saturday and Reggie Wayne, all of whom are now in their 30s, and keep other key high-priced cogs in the Colts’ success such as Brackett and safety Melvin Bullitt.

“I think when you’re playing, you’re so entrenched with the people you go to work with every day,” Saturday said. “It’s different for us to go out and think like an owner. But whatever decisions, we’ve got to take it as a community and move on.”

He’d clearly had enough of the Polians, though.

Bill Polian drew the wrath of fans in 2009 when he pulled the starters in the third quarter against the New York Jets, costing the Colts a chance at a perfect season after going 14-0. At the time, Polian told listeners that the team’s goal was to win the Super Bowl, not go undefeated. Indy wound up losing the Super Bowl, too.

When Manning went down this season, Polian came under fire for not having a capable backup in place, signing Kerry Collins out of retirement and fueling speculation that the team was interested in Brett Favre. He told radio listeners that he accepted the blame.

What are your opinions.

Indianapolis Colts owner says QB Peyton Manning…

rogerias2d — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Texans running back Arian Foster plays to the crowd after he scored a 9-yard touchdown against the Colts. Indianapolis won, 19-16.

NFL

From Our Press Services

INDIANAPOLIS — It doesn’t look as if Peyton Manning will go anywhere next season — unless he’s not healthy.

On Thursday, Colts owner Jim Irsay told NFL Network he couldn’t foresee a scenario in which Manning would play anywhere but Indianapolis unless he can’t play at all.

Manning his missed the entire season and has not participated in full team practices since having the third and most invasive surgery on his neck Sept. 8.

“I think the situation is if he’s back and he’s healthy, I see him coming back and playing here,” Irsay said in a 10-minute interview before the game with Houston began. “I think the hope is that his health is in the position where he could return again. That remains uncertain and that’s something that’s first and foremost on my mind.”

The signs are encouraging.

On Dec. 1, surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins issued a statement saying the fusion between two vertebrae had healed firmly and that Manning could increase the intensity of his workouts.

Last Wednesday, for the first time since having the surgery, Manning put on pads and a helmet and threw with teammates. He took snaps from center Jeff Saturday and worked with running back Joseph Addai, receiver Anthony Gonzalez and an unnamed receiver from the practice squad.

Colts vice chairman Bill Polian and coach Jim Caldwell both watched the session. Polian and Addai have given Manning good reviews.

Manning was inactive Thursday night and has already been ruled out of next week’s season-finale at Jacksonville. Caldwell also said this week that Manning would continue to do individual work but would not participate in team work the rest of the season.

The only four-time MVP in league history also is due a $28 million bonus in early March — a prospect that had some thinking Thursday night could be the final time Manning would be on the home team’s sideline at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Irsay also said the Colts would take a quarterback, Manning’s successor, if the right one is available in April’s draft. The Colts (1-13) are the front-runners for the No. 1 overall pick, a slot that most analysts believe will be filled by Stanford’s Andrew Luck. Another possible candidate, Southern California’s Matt Barkley said Thursday that he would return to school for his senior season.

Thursday’s game

Colts 19, Texans 16 at Indianapolis: Reggie Wayne caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Dan Orlovsky with 19 seconds left and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Houston Texans.

The Colts (2-13) have now won two straight, both against division foes, behind Orlovsky, the former Texans quarterback who lost his first nine NFL starts.

AFC South champion Houston hardly looked playoff-ready. It settled for two red-zone field goals, didn’t convert a third down until getting a lucky bounce late in the fourth quarter, its running game was stymied late and the defense helped the Colts with three penalties on the decisive drive.

Other DEVELOPMENTS

Ex-players blame league for brain injuries: Jamal Lewis, Dorsey Levens and two other former NFL players have sued the league over brain injuries that they say left them struggling with medical problems years after their playing days ended.

Lewis and Levens, along with Fulton Kuykendall and Ryan Stewart, filed the lawsuit against the National Football League and NFL Properties LLC this week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta.

Miami’s Fasano questionable: Miami Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles says tight end Anthony Fasano is questionable for Saturday’s game at New England because of a low-grade concussion.

Fasano didn’t practice Thursday. He has missed only three games in the past four seasons.

Samuel misses 2nd practice for Eagles: Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel has missed a second consecutive practice Thursday with a hamstring injury.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

Addai says early results show Manning’s throws…

Tandtplmt — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:58 +0000

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai says the speed on Peyton Manning’s short throws last week was game-ready.

Addai was one of three players catching passes from Manning after last Wednesday’s team workout. Receiver Anthony Gonzalez, centre Jeff Saturday and a receiver from the practice squad also took part.

On Tuesday, team vice-chairman Bill Polian told reporters Manning was throwing “better” and responded “that’s correct” when asked whether Manning had decent speed on throws 20 to 25 yards down the field.

Manning has not played in a game since having neck surgery Sept. 8. He’s already been ruled out of the final two games and is not expected to participate in team practices before the season ends Jan. 1.

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Peyton Manning is Throwing a Football Again: Fan’s…

Moseexpotte — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:17:00 +0000

Peyton Manning can still throw a football! As minor as this seems, this is big news for fans of Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. It’s been over three months since his last surgery and Manning recently got news that he is progressing. Coach Jim Caldwell announced on December 14 that Manning has begun throwing the ball again. He has yet to participate in practice but throwing the ball is a step forward.

The most important news will be whether Manning’s body responds well to increased activity. If he suffers no setback, Manning would very much be on pace to play at the beginning of the 2012 season. If he is in fact healthy, there is no doubt he should be playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Andrew Luck could also be in Indianapolis, but there is no doubt that Peyton Manning would be the quarterback.

As a fan of the team, it’s nice to hear any positive news on Manning. Indianapolis Colt fans have had very little positive news in 2011 and any progress for Manning is great news. Indianapolis is trying not to go winless after an 0-13 start to the season in 2011. Fans have had to suffer through seeing Manning watching the team from the sidelines this season.

For fans who questioned all year why Manning was still on the active roster, they may soon have an answer. If Manning is healthy enough and gets cleared to practice, he should. It will help a lot more to have him line up on the field and throw to the ball to Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Austin Collie than equipment managers and trainers. This is the reason Indianapolis has held out a roster spot for Manning in 2011. Owner Jim Irsay recently said that Manning is unlikely to suit up and play in games in 2011 at this point.

Even if they end the year 0-16, fans should all be encouraged if Manning is in pads and practicing with teammates soon. As a big fan of Manning, it leaves me excited and encouraged for the future.

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.

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Colts’ Irsay doesn’t expect Peyton back

EndonseNeedly — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:11:31 +0000

Updated Dec 8, 2011 7:57 PM ET

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is confirming what most have long suspected: Peyton Manning probably won’t take a snap this season.

Irsay told Indy television station WRTV on Thursday that he ”doesn’t see” even a glimmer of hope of getting No. 18 back on the field this year. Irsay declined an interview request from The Associated Press on Thursday.

It’s no surprise. Manning hasn’t even thrown with teammates since having neck surgery Sept. 8 and with only four games left and the quarterback just now able to ramp up his rehab regimen, it was highly unlikely Manning could play before the season ends Jan. 1 at Jacksonville.

Without Manning, the Colts have sunk to 0-12.

But Manning’s doctors say he is progressing, and Manning has said his neck is stable.

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Even without Manning, winless Colts pose a threat…

pwchannelo1 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:23:07 +0000

BALTIMORE – If Peyton Manning was playing football this season, the Baltimore Ravens would be talking about the importance of ending an eight-game losing streak against the Indianapolis Colts and their esteemed quarterback.

The Colts don’t have Manning, or even a single victory. So the Ravens are approaching Sunday’s game with caution, because they know all about the danger of facing a winless team this late in the season.

In 2007, the Miami Dolphins were 0-13 before Cleo Lemon connected with Greg Camarillo on a 64-yard touchdown pass in overtime for a 22-16 victory. It turned out to be Miami’s only win of the season.

This Baltimore team is far superior to that one, but the memory of that embarrassing defeat still lingers among those Ravens who played that day.

Asked if there was concern about playing the winless Colts, linebacker Terrell Suggs replied, “Yeah, because I lost to an O-fer team. A little slant route got us. This is the NFL, and (the Colts) are professionals. We expect them to line up and come up in here and play. They are just as big a threat to us as if we were playing anybody else.”

That loss to Miami was the lowlight of a season during which the Ravens finished 5-11. Head coach Brian Billick was fired soon after the final game, and owner Steve Bisciotti hired John Harbaugh to bring the team back into prominence.

Harbaugh has done exactly that. Baltimore reached the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, and this year the Ravens (9-3) are poised to capture the AFC North title and perhaps the top seed in the conference.

The absolute last thing the Ravens need is to lose at home against the struggling Colts (0-12).

“We have to win the football game to achieve what we want to do,” Suggs said.

What the Colts want to do is avoid becoming the second team in NFL history to finish 0-16. Playing without Manning, who’s missed the entire season with a neck injury, has been far too big an obstacle to overcome.

“Obviously, you don’t want to ever have a season like this,” Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “Us especially, we are not used to this at all. We are used to making the playoffs nine years straight and all that. Winning records, and all of that. This is definitely a different feeling.”

Making up for the loss of Manning was tough enough, but the Colts also have been without linebacker Gary Brackett (shoulder) since the first week of the season, and safety Melvin Bullitt (shoulder) played in only the first two games.

“We’ve lost a lot of key guys at a lot of key positions,” Freeney said.

If the Colts are to pull off a monumental upset, they must duplicate some of their previous performances against the Ravens. Although Manning was certainly a factor in helping Indy go 8-0 against Baltimore since 2001, the defence was most responsible. The Colts haven’t given up a touchdown to the Ravens in three straight games, the last one a 20-3 win in the 2009 playoffs.

With Freeney on one end and Robert Mathis on the other, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco knows he won’t have the luxury of dropping back into the pocket and casually surveying the field.

“They have a lot of pursuit,” Flacco said. “They react to the ball quickly, and they’ve kept us out of the end zone because of that.” The Colts have also been tough against the run. Baltimore running back Ray Rice got 23 yards rushing in 2008, 71 in a regular-season game in 2009 and 67 in that aforementioned post-season defeat.

“That defence is very fast. We have not fared well against them,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve turned the ball over, we didn’t run the ball on them, we’ve gotten sacked, we’ve had plays for negative yards. It’s been a theme against that defence. So we’ve got our work cut out for us. We understand that.”

The biggest thing the Ravens have going for them is playing at home, where they’re 6-0 this season and have won 16 of 17. Baltimore will probably play a fourth straight game without injured middle linebacker Ray Lewis (right toe), but the league’s third-ranked defence is still plenty good enough to contain Dan Orlovsky, the Colts’ third different starting quarterback this season.

Most of all, the Ravens know they have to win to stay on course for the post-season.

“We know what we’re playing for. We know what they’re playing for,” Suggs said. “They are trying to get their first win; we are trying to pile these wins up and go on a playoff run. That’s what is most important to us. Here they come. Let’s do it.”

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

Colts Owner Says Peyton Manning Unlikely To Return…

drottorbipt — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:32:19 +0000

Read More: Peyton Manning (QB – IND), Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have played their way to an 0-12 record without star QB Peyton Manning and it doesn’t sound like they’ll have him back during the 2011 season. Colts owner Jim Irsay told WRTV in Indianapolis that he can’t “envision Peyton playing this year.”

Surprised? No, I’m not. That’s been pretty much what we’ve thought for some time. Manning’s recovery process has never had a time table but as we sit here entering Week 14 Manning still isn’t practicing and he would presumably have to practice at least a little bit before the Colts sent him back out there.

Plus, with Manning’s injury and the Colts season going nowhere, there’s really no reason to risk Manning’s health, especially when you aren’t sure of what his future is.

The stories involving Manning are less about his injury these days and more about how the Colts will handle the situation when they inevitably earn the No. 1 pick and the right to draft Andrew Luck.

So likely no Manning in 2011 is what we expected, but that doesn’t make their decision on him (and his bonus) next March any easier.

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Strange new world with Colts, Manning (video)

onlinepharmacyblog — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:04:29 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS – We’re stuck in this strange new world wondering how many more times Peyton Manning will stand in front of his locker at the Indianapolis Colts practice complex.

We don’t need to remind Manning how strange it is.

“This is different for me, but it’s nothing different than what other players go through from an injury standpoint,” Manning said Friday at the Colts practice complex. “I’ve been unbelievably blessed for 20 years. I’ve had nothing to complain about for 20 years.”

Manning was reaching back to his days as a high school freshman. Most of us have been along for the ride for the 14 years he’s been the face of the Colts. We’ve had nothing serious to complain about in terms of Manning during those years. He has entertained, thrilled, won big games, lost big games and filmed some funny commercials along the way.

And he was indestructible as the most recognizable brand in the NFL.

Here in this strange new world Manning is vulnerable. On Thursday, he was cleared for more work by his doctor, Dr. Robert Watkins. On Friday, the media throng returned to his locker, prompting loud commentary from rowdy teammates: “Watch out for CNN!” Still, the uncertainty remains.

I winced when the question of whether Manning would retire a Colt was cast into the air, with no chance of reeling it back in. Are we ready to write him off now, to make this part of the final chapter in his Colts history? It could be that chapter. That’s what’s so unnerving.

Manning called the line of questioning inappropriate, although he was polite about it, as well as with other inquiries in an upbeat 12-minute discussion. He sidestepped talk of the 2012 draft and the name (Andrew Luck) everyone was thinking, but no one said. He had no interest in contract talk.

“There will be a time and a place to address (the long-term future),” Manning said. “I think a lot of questions will answer themselves in the next three months.”

So many questions swirl. Is Manning’s career done? Is his career still alive, but his time in Indianapolis done, given the fact the 0-11 Colts will likely have the No.1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft? Does Manning believe he could coexist for a time with the next quarterback, probably Luck?

“What I would like to do, I’d like to suit up Sunday,” Manning said.

That prompts a better question: How sweet would that be, Manning playing at New England?

Sorry. That’s Fantasy Island. Here in the strange new world we have to navigate the terrain of patience.

I can’t imagine how hard this has been on Manning, one of the best players of this or any generation. He has been in control of everything since he settled into Indy. Until this neck surgery knocked him down, he’d never missed a start and only part of one series with injury. That’s easy to forget after months of medical talk.

If he can return to practice this season, he should. If he can return to play, even with the Colts sitting 0-14, he should. And wouldn’t that be ironic if Manning took the field two games away from the ultimate imperfect season?

My guess is he’ll practice at some point, in a limited fashion, but not play this season. We’re five weeks away from the welcome end. He’s just now ready to increase his throwing. Time’s running out.

“Throwing will be part of this next progression,” Manning said. “It’s somewhat critical to my job.”

Yes, that’s sarcasm, one of his many talents. But he said it with a smile.

“I really have been in a three-month holding pattern,” Manning said. “I’ve got some questions I want answered for myself, however long this next phrase lasts.”

Once this season ends, the storyline surrounding the Colts will only grow larger. The debate over whether to choose Manning or Luck or both will heat up into the spring. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian has hinted that he’s already discussed the matter with Manning. Manning said there’s been no recent discussion. Is that the start of friction? Hard to tell.

Manning said he’s no coach. “If I’m doing any coaching this year, I’m 0-11. What does that tell you?”

Manning said he’s no general manager, either.

“I’ve been just the starting quarterback here for 13 years with no hat or role beside that,” Manning said. “Whatever they have do – Jim (Irsay), Bill – that’s what they have to do. I don’t know what else to say besides that.”

Strange new world.

I think I speak for most Colts fans when I say I liked the old, familiar world a whole lot better.