In the dictionary the word loyalty is defined as “a strong feeling of support or allegiance.” If you’re a Peyton Manning fan, than I’m sure you will agree with me when I say no man, is more loyal than Manning.
After 14 illustrious seasons with the Colts, Jim Irsay and company decided to release the greatest quarterback of this generation hands down. Manning was sidelined the entire year with a neck injury that required four surgeries throughout the year. Now, I have never been one to believe that any one man could make the team or that there was no “I in team.” Well, there is one in win. And without Manning at the helm at quarterback for the first time since 1997, the Colts “tanked” by only seeing two wins.
Now bear with me and let me throw you a few stats to keep in mind while you dwell on the fact that I just said there is no “I in team.” From 2000-2010 the Colts lost 51 games. Oh yeah, they also won 151, all games when Manning was in command. This past year marked the worst season for the Colts since 1998 in Manning’s rookie season when the Colts went 3-13. Since Manning’s rookie season, he has recorded only one other losing season which was in 2001 where they went 6-10. Now, I don’t think it would be to much of a stretch if I said that most of us here in the state of Tennessee were Colts fans just for the sole fact that Manning has some familiar roots here as he was the quarterback for the Tennessee Vols from 1994-1997. I’m not saying all Manning fans and Colts fans only like him because he went to Tennessee, I’m simply saying that the majority of Manning fans  are also die-hard Vol Nation fans. And also with the Manning’s release, I do believe that the Colts will lose some support from the Volunteer state. Now back to loyalty. So the Colts have this employee that has been a leader for 13 years. He has been the face of the franchise, and pretty well the mold of the quarterback position as we know it for the past decade. Your best worker, the guy who put in the most hours and never complained. Knowing he was your best employee and saying “I don’t need to be  the highest paid person at what I do.” A person who has built your franchise and keep your stadium sold out for years. Brings you an NFL  Lombardi trophy. Then something happens to him that has never happened in his entire career. He gets hurt. Some have long said that the NFL really stands for “Not For Long” because this is a tough business, and, no, the fact that the NFL is a business venture has not escaped me. The average life expectancy for an athlete in the NFL as an active player in about three-and-a-half years. That does not include that the player missed some games for injuries.
So after surpassing the timeline given to athelets in the NFL, Manning finally proves to be human and has to take time off and heal. Like dozens of players this past year, Manning had to miss the entire season.
In Manning’s absence the Colts lost 14 games and would be in number-one slot for this years’s upcoming draft pick in the sweepstakes for what is believed to be the best player and quarterback Andrew Luck out of Stanford who the Colts intend on drafting.
So after everything that Manning has done; the 11-time pro bowler; the four-time NFL most valuable player; the all-time winningest player in Colts history and holds almost every passing record the Colts have which, by the way, Hall-Of-Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas was not too shabby and set the bar pretty high. A man that owns 19 NFL records, a record of 208 wins and 141 losses. 54,828 passing yards, 399 passing touchdowns, a career rating of 94.9 rating. All of the things he has done for the city and the organization and he gets sick and not only do you not want to give him his well-deserved bonus which I can understand from a business standpoint because that's alot of money but you also say “Oh, yeah,  you’re fired” shows that in my opinion that you have zero loyalty. I know Manning is not getting any younger and just may be past his prime but that is still Peyton Manning and what better mentor for Andrew Luck to have than the best quarterback, quite possibly, in history. And then for Manning to  be the most humble, polite and well-spoken to the people that just threw him out on his rear just truly shows you Manning is a class-A kind of guy. Yes, we all know everything is about money these days but sometimes, sometimes you should show loyalty to the best player that you will ever see again. Now, with Manning on the free-agent market I can’t  stop myself but to just hope Manning will return to the AFC South where the Colts reside and see Manning in another color twice a year. Because to go along with Manning’s complete respectability and the respect he has for the Colts, just remember he is also a winner and a competitor. And I would go as far as to say that Manning hates to lose just a little more than he respects his opponent.