Jim Irsay and Manning announced on Wednesday that the team and the quarterback are parting ways during a news conference.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Manning hit the open market. The 36-year-old gunslinger almost immediately became a free agent, following Indianapolis' decision to pass on his $28 million bonus and not pick up the remaining four years of the quarterback's contract. And while it might be strange to see Manning donning a different jersey next season, the four-time MVP reportedly is expecting to continue his career.
It became increasingly obvious this past season, during which the Colts went 2-14 en route to earning the top overall pick in this offseason's draft, that Manning's future in Indianapolis was very much up in the air. He has been the face of the Indy franchise since being drafted in 1998, but there were a lot of factors involved when it came to making a decision on which direction the franchise should go.
Manning, if healthy, is still one of the game's best quarterbacks. He's in a class with Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, and no one will deny his Hall of Fame credentials.
However, given the health concerns, the money Manning would have been owed and the presence of two excellent quarterback prospects — Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III — in this year's draft, it was obvious that the team could choose to move on.
Now that the two sides have officially split, do you think Jim Irsay made the right move?
Did Jim Irsay Make the Right Decision by Releasing Peyton Manning?
