I don’t know where Peyton Manning will land, but I’m sure he’ll cause some anguish for the Indianapolis Colts and their fans in no time at all.

Manning will burn the Colts, whether from Denver or San Francisco in a distant, “Look what he’s doing!” way or from Tennessee with a “Look what he’s doing to us!” twice a year kind of way. My advice for Colts fans is to curse fate or Jim Irsay or both, but remember this will be short-term pain.

Five years from now, Manning will be retired and Andrew Luck will be – if all goes well – hitting his stride. Long term, it’s an understandable, even wise, change for the Colts. But the next four years could be emotionally taxing for fans.

I’ve yet to meet a Colts fan who wishes ill on the final stage of Manning’s career. He was nothing but classy as the Colts’ biggest star since moving to Indianapolis (Johnny Unitas ranks even if you connect the all-time Colts). He was sincere in his emotional goodbye. And, if he has some life yet in his arm, he’ll put up numbers and win a lot more games.

I’d like to see Manning play for the 49ers, just to see how willing 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will be to share some leadership with the guy who replaced him in Indianapolis. Harbaugh’s style is pretty much the opposite of Manning’s. Harbaugh is emotion-driven. Manning is all about emotionless control.

Harbaugh will have to turn the offensive tenor over to Manning and get out of the way. Is he capable of doing that? No question. But that will require a slight, or not so slight, adjustment in style.

Perhaps the bigger question will be how the 49ers’ current players will react. This is a team known for its defense. If Manning come to town, everyone else becomes the “supporting cast.” How will this fly? For good measure, throw Randy Moss into the mix.

With Manning in the NFC, we’d have all sorts of playoff possibilities with Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, plus the upcoming Detroit Lions and refurbished Chicago Bears.

I can’t imagine a more intriguing Super Bowl contender than the 49ers with Manning. Make that Super Bowl favorite.

In terms of control and coaching style, Denver would seem a quicker fit. Coach John Fox is as flexible as any coach in the league. Meanwhile, Manning is a student of the game, not only in terms of studying film and preparation but in the history of pro football. As such, he’s an admirer of Denver legend John Elway, the team’s vice president of football operations.

Manning could enjoy playing on Elway’s old stomping grounds. He’d still be facing AFC opponents, where his vast knowledge of teams is of even more use. The Broncos made the playoffs last season with Tim Tebow at quarterback. I can give plenty of credit to Tebow for helping engineer that run. He’s no Peyton Manning, however.

Then we have the Titans, who would be the most logical choice for Manning. He stays in the AFC, in the division where he’s comfortable. He goes to the state where he spent his college years. He goes to a city with a lower-key profile not unlike Indianapolis.

Manning worked out for the Titans and they declared, like Elway before them, that Manning looked “comfortable” throwing the ball. I don’t know exactly what that means. He didn’t grimace? He didn’t hold his arm after deep throws? He said, “This is comfortable”? Who knows? If I’m a fan of those other teams, I’d prefer to hear he looked “awesome” or “incredible” or even “Peyton Manning-like.” But maybe this is all posturing by everyone.

Some expect Manning to make his decision Monday. You can find a columnist or analyst or “unnamed source” who has Manning picking each of the three alleged finalists.

I’d guess 49ers, Broncos and Titans in that order. Manning would not play against the Colts in the regular season this year unless he picks the Titans.

But that order of possibility is just a guess. Here’s a prediction: Wherever Manning plays, he’ll generate more short-term pain for Colts fans.

Reggie Wayne is one of the best and most consistent receivers in the NFL. During the glory years of the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne became one of the best quarterback-receiver combinations in the league.

Wayne supplanted Marvin Harrison as the top receiver on the team. Harrison’s ability to get open and catch the ball were stellar, but he would almost always run out of bounds or look for a piece of turf to go fetal so he didn’t have to get tackled. As a receiver, he was a specialist who did not like to get hit.

Wayne is a different type of player. He is not afraid of contact and he seems to relish the opportunity of hammering a defensive player when that chance comes his way. He can make the tough catch, run after taking possession of the football and block. He’s not just a receiver, but he is a real football player. Wayne had seven straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards before catching 75 passes for 960 yards with 4 touchdowns last year.

So it was a surprise that this real football player decided sign a new contract with the Indianapolis Colts after he became a free agent. It always seemed like Wayne was interested in becoming a winning player and playing for a winning team.

The Colts are clearly a rebuilding team at this point. Peyton Manning, tight end Dallas Clark, running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett and wide receiver Pierre Garcon are all gone. The Colts have the No. 1 pick and will select Stanford’s Andrew Luck, who has a boatload of talent and will likely become a star quarterback in the years to come. But he has much to learn and it will probably take him a couple of seasons to get up to speed.

Wayne, 33, signed a 3-year, $17.5 million contract with the Colts. Prior to the 2011 season, his career was all about being part of a winning organization. He was pursued by at least three other teams as a free agent, including the New England Patriots. Playing for Bill Belichick and with Tom Brady seems like it would have been the way for Wayne to go if winning another Super Bowl – or at least playing for a winning team – was his primary goal.

Wayne traded a chance to win to play in a comfortable environment. If he sees the Patriots back in the playoffs next season while the Colts languish in the vicinity of 5-11, his competitive nature will cause him to have second thoughts about taking the safe route back home.

Reference:

Indianapolis Star – Reggie Wayne returns to Colts; Pierre Garcon leaves for Redskins

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120314/SPORTS03/203140317/Colts-receivers-Reggie-Wayne-returns-Pierre-Garcon-gone?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p

Reggie Wayne will be a great fit with the new Indianapolis Colts. No training required.

With Pierre Garcon leaving for a multi-year deal with the Washington Redskins, the Colts will rely on Wayne now more than ever, and it’s a good call. To steal a thought from Gisele Bundchen, Andrew Luck can’t throw AND catch the ball.

Wayne, who agreed Tuesday to a three-year deal worth at least $17.5 million to return to the Colts, will be a perfect welcome-to-the-NFL receiver for probable No.1 draft pick Luck.

Wayne, 33, has the experience, the temperament and the talents to help a rookie quarterback learn the ropes. He can talk with Luck about how the best quarterbacks (i.e. Peyton Manning) approach games, dissect film and communicate with receivers. He can bail Luck out of jams with sideline catches and precision routes.

It’s no secret that when Manning came in the league, it was a huge help to have Marvin Harrison on his side. And, even then, Manning threw 28 interceptions.

Without Wayne, Luck’s receivers would have been Austin Collie and Blair White. Both make fine third options.

It was disappointing for Indianapolis to see Garcon turn down the Colts’ offer and sign with the Redskins. It’s a great story in other regards, with Garcon rising from a sixth-round pick out of Mount Union to a six-year, $42.5 million deal.

And it’s also a sign of the Colts’ time that they didn’t bring out the blank check necessary to entice Garcon. While the Colts might not have originally planned it this way, Wayne will be more helpful to grooming Luck in his first season.

The Colts are looking to help their next quarterback in other ways, too. They’re showing interest in Evan Mathis, a solid free agent left guard from the Philadelphia Eagles. They’ll have second-year left tackle Anthony Castonzo back. They want to protect the upcoming investment.

The Colts are also intent on building a defense that will limit the need for competing in shootouts. They are negotiating with Ravens defensive end Cory Redding.

But every quarterback needs a No.1 receiver and the Colts secured one by bringing back Wayne. If the Colts fill offensive and defensive line needs in free agency, perhaps they can afford to use a later pick on another wide receiver. They might also be looking for a tight end, given the release of Dallas Clark and the free agency of Jacob Tamme. They could still re-sign Tamme.

Still, Wayne brings back the offensive side of a confident locker room to balance the defensive side now resting on Robert Mathis’ shoulders.

Wayne sets a tone with professionalism and an optimistic outlook. And don’t forget loyalty. He was the one player who openly had Curtis Painter’s back when the Colts brought in Kerry Collins and showed no confidence in Painter to open last season. He came through for Dan Orlovsky with a game-winning touchdown catch in the Colts final home game last year.

Despite quarterback woes, Wayne caught 75 passes for 960 yards and four touchdowns. Prior to that, he had seven straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and five Pro Bowl awards.

Wayne said all along he would like to finish his career with the Colts. Loyalty has its limits, however, and Wayne had felt little loyalty from the Colts since he packed up his “Super Bowl Under Construction” hard hat and left town.

I realize Colts general manager Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano have no ties to the past (although Pagano and Wayne were at the University of Miami together), but starting their new quarterback with a reliable veteran receiver is key to the future. It will be much easier with Wayne in uniform.

Wayne’s signing wasn’t cheap, but it won’t break the bank. This is about making wise investments for the Colts now as they rebuild, almost from scratch.

The Colts made the right call in bringing back Wayne, the one free agent receiver capable of bridging the Colts’ good old days and the wild, new frontier.

Peyton Manning was cut by the Indianapolis Colts after a 14-year stint with the franchise that included a Super Bowl win and four National Football League MVP awards for the quarterback, the team said on Wednesday.

Manning, 35, missed the entire 2011 NFL season after neck surgery last September and was due a $28 million bonus if the club had decided to keep him.

“We’re here to announce the conclusion of Peyton’s playing career with the Colts,” team owner Jim Irsay said during an emotional news conference at the Colts’ practice facility in Indianapolis.

“We’re here very much as well to honour all the incredible memories and incredible things that he’s done for the franchise.”

Manning, who turned the Colts into a perennial contender and broke all of the franchise’s major career passing records, also struggled to choke back tears.

“I have been a Colt for almost all of my adult life, but I guess in life and in sports we all know that nothing lasts forever,” said Manning.

“I haven’t thought yet about where I’ll play but I have thought a lot about where I’ve been, and I’ve truly been blessed to play here an blessed to be in the NFL.”

Doctors have cleared Manning, who broke all of the team’s major career quarterbacking records and never missed a start before last season, to resume his career.

Manning, who will become perhaps the most sought after free agent ever in the NFL, stressed how much playing for the Colts had meant to him, but said he was eager to get back to playing.

“I’m throwing it pretty well,” he said. “I still have some progress to make, but I’ve been working pretty hard. I’m enjoying being back out there.

”Nobody loves playing quarterback more than I do.“

Irsay said severing ties with Manning was extremely difficult but that circumstances conspired to make a parting of the ways something that made sense to both parties since the Colts were in the early stages of a rebuilding process.

Following the season, the Colts set the stage for launching a new era by firing Vice Chairman Bill Polian, General Manager Chris Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell.

The Colts, who had a league-worst 2-14 record during Manning’s absence, have the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, where Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is widely pegged as the top choice.

Manning led Indianapolis to the playoffs 11 times, won two AFC championships and was named Super Bowl MVP in the Colts’ victory over the Chicago Bears in 2007.

© Copyright (c) Reuters

In this Dec. 2, 2011, file photo, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning talks to reporters in the locker room at the NFL football team’s practice facility in Indianapolis. The Super Bowl is getting upstaged by the greatest spectacle in football. Manning is making headlines without playing a down, dominating conversations without saying a word and superseding the two conference champions from the sideline.

(AP File Photo by Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS — The Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis is expected to end Wednesday, according to a report.

Citing anonymous sources, ESPN reported today that the Colts plan to hold a news conference to announce the long-expected decision. Manning is expected to attend.

Team owner Jim Irsay and Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, did not immediately respond to messages left by The Associated Press.

Manning turns 36 later this month, and missed the entire 2011 season after a third neck surgery. Before that, he’d never missed a game in his 13 NFL seasons.

He is owed a $28 million bonus, and with the Colts holding the top draft pick, they apparently have decided it was too risky and pricey to keep the four-time league MVP.

Manning led the Colts to the 2006 NFL title.

March 6 (Reuters) – The Peyton Manning era with the
Indianapolis Colts appears set to end as the National Football
League (NFL) team is expected to cut the 11-time Pro Bowl
quarterback on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

The end of their 14-year relationship, which produced a
Super Bowl championship, was widely expected since Indianapolis
faced a deadline this week of paying a $28 million bonus to
Manning, who missed the entire 2011 season with a neck injury.

Sources close to the team said the announcement will be made
at a news conference in Indianapolis with both Manning and Colts
owner Jim Irsay in attendance, according to ESPN, which first
reported the news on Tuesday.

The decision to pass on the bonus and not pick up the four
remaining years on Manning’s contract would make the four-time
league most valuable player a free agent.

Manning, who turns 36 later this month, had his third neck
surgery in 19 months, to fuse two vertebrae in September.

Doctors have cleared him to resume his career and Manning
has returned to training as nerves in his neck have regenerated.

Manning has broken all of Indianapolis’ career records for a
quarterback and had never missed a start before last season.

He led Indianapolis to the playoffs 11 times and won two AFC
championships and was named Super Bowl MVP in the Colts’ victory
over the Chicago Bears in 2007.

Indianapolis finished with the league’s worst record last
season and have since endured a tumultuous offseason that has
already claimed the jobs of Vice Chairman Bill Polian, General
Manager Chris Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell.

The Colts, who posted a 2-14 record in Manning’s absence,
have the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, where Stanford
quarterback Andrew Luck is widely pegged as the top choice.

(Reporting By Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)

NEWS

» by Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) March 6, 2012, 18:23pm

One of the most prolific quarterback’s to ever play the game will be released by the only professional team he’s ever played for. Sources close to the Indianapolis Colts told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that the team will release Peyton Manning. The announcement will come at a press conference in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

The four-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s release comes just one day before he was due a $28 million bonus, making him a free agent. Manning missed the entire 2011 NFL season recovering from three neck surgery in 19 months; which resulted in seeing his younger brother Eli lead the New York Giants to the Super Bowl.

Manning holds all quarterback records for the Indianapolis Colts including, and has taken the Colts to the playoffs 11 times, captured seven AFC South titles in eight years, won two AFC championships, one Super Bowl title and a Super Bowl MVP Award. The Indianapolis Colts will more than likely pin their franchise’s hopes on consensus #1 overall prospect, Andrew Luck, out of Stanford; while teams like the Dolphins, Redskins, Jets and more have inquired for the services of the 35-year-old Manning.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – ESPN is reporting Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts are splitting up.

An article on it’s website cites a source close to the team who told Chris Mortensen that the announcement would be made at a news conference Wednesday.

When reached for comment by WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun, the Indianapolis Colts had no comment.

According to the article, Lingering questions about Manning’s health could not be answered before his $28 million option bonus was due on March 8th.

It still remains to be seen whether or not Manning will be able to continue his career with another team. The article cites sources saying Manning intends to play again.

When reached for comment, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy told Anthony Calhoun that he was surprised by the news. 

Manning did not play a single snap in the 2011 season following a series of neck surgeries .

Bill Polian’s decision to draft Manning over Ryan Leaf back on April 18, 1998 changed the landscape of Colts football forever.

The team won just three games in Manning’s first year, but he recorded one of the best seasons statistically by a rookie. It didn’t take long for the young quarterback to turn things around. In his second season, Manning earned his first Pro Bowl trip after leading the Colts to an incredible 13-3 record and clinching the division title.

His career numbers in Indianapolis are staggering. During his 12 years as a Colt, Manning was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times, won AFC Player of the Year six times, and was named league MVP a record-setting four times. Manning holds the franchise record for career wins (150), passing touchdowns (399), pass completions (4,682) and passing yards (54,828). He also holds NFL records for consecutive seasons with 4,000 or more yards passing in a career (11).

Up until the 2006-07 season, Manning’s biggest criticism was his failure to win big games in the playoffs. The Colts flirted with a perfect season in 2005, before settling for a 14-2 record and the number one seed in the AFC playoffs. That run ended in a heartbreaking upset by the Steelers at the RCA Dome and after the loss, Manning seemed acutely aware of his postseason shortcomings.

“All I know to keep working, to come back next year and be a better quarterback, a better leader,” Manning said. “You get tired of saying that after every playoff loss because pretty soon, you start running out of years.”

But in 2006, Manning delivered and the Colts finally put it all together. After upsetting Baltimore on the road in the divisional round of the playoffs, the team rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Manning then turned in an MVP performance in Super Bowl XLI as the Colts beat the Bears to bring home their first world championship since moving to Indianapolis.

No one will ever know for sure, but in what could be a tragic twist of fate, Manning’s neck problems began to develop following the Colts Super Bowl season. During the Redskins game in October of 2006, he was tackled by Washington’s Phillip Daniels. Manning’s head was bent backwards and his helmet came off; it was that moment that many believe marked the beginning of the nerve issues in his neck.

In the summer of 2008, Manning underwent knee surgery and missed all of training camp. But he returned for the start of the season and went on to win his third MVP award. The next year, Manning earned his fourth MVP his second trip to the Super Bowl. But this time there was no storybook ending, as the Saints upset the Colts 31-17.

In 2010, Manning led the Colts to their ninth straight playoff berth. A wildcard game loss to the Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium ended up being his final game in a Colts’ uniform.

Three neck procedures forced Manning to miss the entire 2011 season, snapping his consecutive starts streak at 208.

The Indianapolis Colts are suddenly very thin at wide receiver for 2012. Three of the five receivers on the roster in 2011 are soon scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. This makes it imperative that the team resigns Pierre Garcon. I think this should be one of the top priorities of general manager Ryan Grigson along with signing defensive end Robert Mathis.

Garcon has played four seasons in Indianapolis and has improved every year. Garcon has improved his receptions and yards in each of his four NFL seasons. It’s even more impressive that Garcon was able to improve in 2011 while playing without Peyton Manning. Manning clearly makes the wide receivers around him better and Garcon was able to put up a strong season even with poor quarterback play.

Garcon finished with 70 receptions for 947 yards and six touchdowns. His speed as a downfield threat and ability to run with the ball after the catch make him a big threat to opposing defenses.

One of the biggest reasons this is an important action for Indianapolis is because of their sudden lack of depth at the wide receiver position. Out of the five receivers on the roster in 2011, only two are under contract for the 2012 season. Austin Collie and Blair White will return and Indianapolis needs to add a playmaker or two to that group. Garcon is a prime candidate for a longterm contract because he’s shown flashes of great play and is still just 25 years old.

When new broke recently that Garcon turned down a five year contract offer from the team, fans were shocked. If the team is able to work out a longterm deal with Robert Mathis, Garcon could be placed with the franchise tag. The tag is out of his general price range but Indianapolis should have a lot more salary cap flexibility after the 2012 season.

Indianapolis fans are patiently awaiting for the player movement to begin this offseason. Garcon will be one of the most important puzzle pieces to fall this offseason. I want to see Pierre return and think the team will find a way to resign him and bring him back to Indianapolis longterm. In the meantime, fans will have to continue to wait and see whether Garcon, Mathis, Reggie Wayne and others will return in 2012.

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. He runs a blog about the team at www.coltsfansonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Indianapolis Colts are clearly in rebuilding mode. With that being said, the team still has enough talent across the team to win football games in 2012. They have a lot of key decisions to make on several of their own free agents this offseason. None may be bigger than unrestricted free agent Robert Mathis.

NFL free agency doesn’t begin until early March but teams can now officially use the franchise tag for their premiere players. There’s been speculation about whether Indianapolis will utilize the franchise tag this offseason.

Many are discussing that the team is looking to rid themselves of older players and attempt for an infusion of young players on the roster. Mathis will soon turn 31 years old but I think he still has a lot of quality football remaining. His first few years in the NFL he was primarily used as a situational pass rusher and wasn’t an every down player. Mathis has also never sustained a serious injury in his nine year career. He’s played at least 13 games in each of his nine seasons.

In 2011, Mathis had another Pro Bowl year and finished with 43 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

At six-foot-two inches and 245 pounds, Mathis has the size and skill set to play very well as a rush outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. Looking at the top outside linebackers in the NFL, Mathis is very similar in size to each of them. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison is a similar size at six feet tall and 242 pounds. Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens is six-foot-three inches tall and 260 pounds. Lastly, Green Bay Packers’ linebacker Clay Matthews is six-foot-three inches tall and 255 pounds. If there’s one thing Mathis isn’t lacking, it’s size.

I think with so much change taking place, Mathis is the most vital player to bring back to the team. I even think he should be placed with the franchise tag if the team cannot work out a longterm deal. The franchise tag would pay him a salary around $9.5 million this season and ensure his return to Indianapolis. This could also give the team a full year long evaluation of how Mathis adapts and fits in Chuck Pagano’s system.

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. He runs a blog about the team that can be found at www.coltsfansonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.

Sources:

Colts 2011 team stats

Robert Mathis career stats

Lower numbers could lead to record franchise tag designations

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

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.