Colts owner on Peyton Manning: 'I just run out of superlatives to heap on him'
Eighteen seasons ago, Peyton Manning was a rookie quarterback trying to fix a hapless Colts team that went 3-13 the year before.
By
Ryan Wilson
•
1 min read
Eighteen seasons ago, Peyton Manning was a rookie quarterback trying to fix a hapless Colts team that went 3-13 the year before. It didn't happen immediately, but by the time Manning left in 2012, he had amassed a 141-67 record and led Indy to the playoffs in 11 of 12 seasons, including a Super Bowl title following the 2006 season.
The Colts released Manning in 2012, and he signed with the Broncos, where he won another Super Bowl last month. On Sunday, Manning retired, and a short time later, Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke about Manning's impact on the organization and the city.
“He literally transforms your organization,” Irsay said, via Colts.com. “Peyton is just the quintessential individual. On the field, he’s all about winning and winning the right way. And off the field, he cares so much and takes so much time just to help the community and everybody knows what he’s done here in Indianapolis. The Children’s Hospital is just one example of so many things he’s been involved with here. One of the greats of all time. I just run out of superlatives to heap on him because, honestly, he is everything that you look for in a football player and an individual.”
Irsay added: "When a 37-year old owner met a 22-year old player coming out of Tennessee, the dreams we had and the experiences are beyond my imagination."
Meanwhile, former Colts general manager Bill Polian recounts one of his favorite Manning stories, dating back to the days leading up to the 1998 NFL Draft, when either Manning or Ryan Leaf was expected to be the first-overall pick. Manning had a simple message for Polian.
"I’ll leave you with this thought," Polian said Manning told him during a phone conversation (via USAToday.com). "If you take me, I promise you we will win a championship. If you don’t, I promise I’ll come back and kick your ass.’
"He was true to his word."
