Trouble in Paradise: Does Peyton Manning Really Want to Stay in Indianapolis?

The Peyton Manning saga continues. Last August, I sat through a Colts' training camp practice at Anderson University. It was a sweaty day, and Manning wasn't practicing, so I left early, disappointed. Admittedly, I'm a Bears' fan first, despite the fact that I live in Indianapolis, but as a sports fan, even I would have relished such an opportunity to see one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL (a career completion percentage of 65% for almost 55,000 yards, 399 touchdown passes, and 198 interceptions, all with the Colts) from that close. The organization didn't seem to be saying much about Manning, and he'd had a recent surgery, but still, I expected him to be ready and starting for the season opener.

But the Colts' dropped a bomb in September by announcing that Manning would be out for the season after his third neck surgery. They signed Kerry Collins to replace him, and we all know how well (read: terrible) that went. The Colts' slid in impressive fashion from division favorite to a disastrous 2-14 record, using three inept quarterbacks along the way. The slide coincided with the same season for which the Super Bowl was (is) to be located in Indianapolis, with the AFC spot painfully being filled by the hated Patriots.

All the while, speculations about and by Manning continued. Rumors circulated that Manning wanted to play before the season ended, although he never did. With "Suck for Luck" bumper stickers thriving throughout the city, Peyton's father, Archie Manning, went on record to say he didn't think Manning and Luck could exist on the same roster. Shortly after, he retracted his statement.

Meanwhile, the Colts' season ended without earning a playoff invitation for the first time since the 2001 season. Owner Jim Irsay said goodbye to general manager Bill Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell. Actor Rob Lowe caused quite the stir by tweeting that Peyton Manning was going to retire, although his sources now seem to have been misguided.

All this led to the latest part of the drama: Manning's candid comments about the Colts this week, which Irsay apparently didn't appreciate. Peyton did say, "It's well-documented that I want to play in the same place my whole career." But he also said things like "I'm not in a very good place for healing, let's say that. It's not a real good environment down there right now, to say the least. Everybody's walking around on eggshells. I don't recognize our building right now. There's such complete and total change."

My response after reading some of the interview--even before Irsay responded--was that's really weird. Why is he saying this stuff publicly? It almost sounds like he's shopping himself. Making himself available, indirectly, for any teams that might be interested. Readying himself for any change that might be coming. And how healthy is he anyway?

Will the Colts trade Manning? Does he want to be traded? We'll certainly find out soon, but if the organization was smart, they'd think back to a model Green Bay (accidentally?) used not too long ago with Brett Farve and Aaron Rogers. Go ahead draft Luck (or even RG3 from Baylor), but if Manning's healthy, the job is his, at least for another couple years or so. Peyton mentors the youngster, until he retires--with tears in his and all his fans' eyes--and the Colts already have their next franchise leader.

Then, maybe someday Peyton gets named the head coach in the same organization for which he quarterbacked. A pipe dream? Maybe. Oh, if only egos weren't involved...