Colts Owner Jim Irsay Talks Trash About Peyton Manning

In a few days, the Denver Broncos will play the Indianapolis Colts, as quarterback Peyton Manning returns for the first time to face the team that drafted him with the #1 overall pick in 1998 and the team with which he won a Super Bowl. This week the headlines have been more about a war of words off the field than they have been about the actual game itself Sunday night on national television. It has gotten more than one outsider to step up and get involved.

Colts owner Jim Irsay this week, in an interview with USA Today  seemed to disrespect Peyton Manning, dismissing his hall-of-fame stats because the Colts didn't have more Super Bowl rings to show for the years Manning spent there.

Broncos Head Coach John Fox jumped into the mix, calling Irsay's comments a "cheap shot" on Manning, and called the comments "ungrateful and unappreciative."

Colorado Rockies' first baseman Todd Helton, a long-time friend of Manning, called Irsay an 'idiot". Helton is quoted in the Denver Post saying  "I hope he steps on their (Colts) neck and doesn't let up."

I don't believe there is a football fan around who would criticize the Colts for releasing Peyton Manning when they had the chance to draft Andrew Luck. Football is business, and the best business move for the Colts and the long-term outlook of their team was to bid farewell to the future hall-of- famer and begin a new era in Indianapolis. But for the Colts owner to minimize the significance of Manning's  two Super Bowl and 11 playoff appearances in Indianapolis is nothing short of ridiculous - especially considering the tribute to Manning that is apparently going to take place prior to Sunday night's game.

Even hall of fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton had harsh words for Jim Irsay, and his father, Robert, who nearly thirty years ago packed up the Colts' equipment in the middle of the night and moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Tarkenton's words, "Shame on you!"