It's official. The moment I have been dreading for months has come and gone. And honestly, it could not have gone better for everyone involved. We all knew it was coming, but that certainly didn't make it any easier to watch today as Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts parted ways. Eight months ago, both sides promised us Peyton would retire a Colt - but those nasty "circumstances" they kept referring to during the press conference overwhelmed them, and fans everywhere, until it was painfully evident that this would be the unfortunate result.
I was probably the last person in Indy who was holding onto the .001% chance that they could make this perfect partnership work for Peyton's final 3-4 years. The way Irsay spoke today, though, it sounds like he may have been right there with me. I will be the first to admit that I was less than pleased with Mr. Irsay during Super Bowl week when I felt like he hijacked the Super Bowl coverage while publicly disrespecting his franchise quarterback. Sure, Peyton did his part to fuel the fire, but it felt like Irsay wasn't playing fair.
Watching them both today, though, it is clear that they have a tremendous about of respect for each other, for the game and for this franchise. Peyton deserves the chance to compete for another championship before he retires and Irsay admitted today that Indianapolis is not in a position to give him that in the next few years.
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| Holding Indy's first Super Bowl trophy |
As someone who didn't really follow professional football until college (I was previously a die-hard high school football fan because in southeast Indiana, that's all that really matters!), I know I have been spoiled by Peyton's successes both on and off the field and what it's meant to the city I have called home for nearly a decade. To all the pundits out there, I'm sorry that I can't share the pain of the losing seasons before Peyton but that doesn't make me any less of a fan. It's true, I became a Colts fan because of Peyton Manning (and his Tennessee roots) but I've loved immersing myself in Colts history over the years. It pained me to watch Marcus Pollard go to Detroit in 2005. When Stokley left in 2007, after solidifying his place in Colts history by catching Peyton's then-record-breaking TD, it felt like we were losing a lot more than a third receiver. Edge - are you kidding me? Losing Edgerrin James the year before our Super Bowl run was devastating. When Edge was back in Indy as a Seahawk in 2009 Indy fans gave him a standing ovation before the game and the production guys in charge of the stadium's big screen put together a 2-3 minute highlight reel of James's time in Indy that played at one point during the game. How many players would receive that kind of respect from a former team and its fans? I am so proud to be part of a city that loves it's athletes!
Watching legends leave, the first-ballot hall-of-famer caliber legends we have grown accustomed to, is so much harder. We hated to say goodbye to Tony Dungy in 2009 - but he transitioned seamlessly from coaching-retirement to the broadcasting booth and I love that I can still watch him every Sunday during football season. Watching Reggie Miller walk away from the Pacers in 2004 was even harder because the end of his 18 year career, which should have finished with an NBA title run, was instead tainted by the now-infamous brawl in Detroit. But he walked away from the game, again to the pseudo-retirement of the broadcasting booth.
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| A friend had this sent to me while Ava was being treated at PMCH 4 years ago. |
It's just a game. I get it. But I cried during the entire press conference nonetheless. Peyton is a tremendous role model for kids (and adults) everywhere and I am so grateful that he embraced this city and its fans they way he did. Of course we embraced him - he was the next big thing! But I'm guessing there was nothing in his contract requiring him to spend millions of dollars and even more hours giving back to and caring about the community, this city and the state of Indiana.
I will always be a Colts fan. I will always Believe in Blue...if only because a large majority of my wardrobe has a Horseshoe on it :) But on this day, my five-year-olds said it best while watching the coverage of the press conference:
Carli: "Mom, Peyton Manning is on TV! Hey, why are you crying?"
Me: "Because Peyton's not playing for the Colts anymore. He'll play for another team this year."
Ava: "Because he hurt his neck?"
Me: "Well, kind of."
Carli: "He's still my favorite player, though!"
Ava: "Mine too!"
Mine too, girls. Mine too. Thanks for the memories Peyton...when we celebrate our March 24th birthdays this year, you'll be adapting to a new city and I'll be asking for a new jersey.
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| Since the girls' jerseys are pink, they'll definitely be wearing them again this year! |
