Going Home Should be Easier

Since the NFL schedule first came out in April this week’s game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts looked to be one of the season’s most interesting matchups.  It features the return of Peyton Manning to the city where he spent the first 14 years of his professional career.  It also features his first head to head competition with Andrew Luck, the man who took his place.

Peyton Manning should receive a warm and friendly welcome back to Indy on Sunday night.  As well he should.  After all he helped return the Colts to respectability in the NFL.  He led them to the playoff in nine straight seasons.  He was a four time league Most Valuable Player.  And he led them to their first Super Bowl Championship in Indianapolis, while also becoming the game’s MVP.   Nothing more need be said.

Except earlier this week, after first announcing plans for a “great tribute” to Peyton, Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay decided to bash his former star.   Irsay alluded to the fact that he preferred to chase team achievements, not individual ones as reason for cutting ties with Peyton.  He said “We’ve changed our model a little bit, because we wanted more of these”.   These alluding to his only Super Bowl ring.  He cited Tom Brady as having three rings, and the Giants and Steelers two each while chastising Peyton for putting up “Star Wars” numbers but winning only one championship.

Irsay may be correct but now is not the time to say it. Taking a pot shot at his former franchise quarterback on the eve of his return home is unnecessary and low class.  But wasn’t it Irsay’s father, Robert, who packed up the trucks in the middle of the night and slinked, slank and slunk out of Baltimore robbing those fans of their beloved Colts. 

Well as the saying goes, like father, like son…