Colts: Peyton Manning talks about Jim Irsay’s decision to let him go in favor of Andrew Luck

After a tumultuous start to the offseason, Indianapolis Colts fans were deservedly living on cloud nine this past weekend when Peyton Manning was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of ballot eligibility.

News of former star wideout Reggie Wayne falling short for the second consecutive year hampered the sheer glee fans were feeling, but it still wasn’t enough to ruin the satisfaction of Manning getting the nod.

That’s simply how much the former five-time MVP meant to the franchise and taking that into account, it couldn’t have been an easy decision for owner Jim Irsay to move off of Manning following neck surgery in favor of Andrew Luck, who was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Ironically enough, Manning provided his thoughts on that situation this week during a segment with former Colts punter Pat McAfee, acknowledging that he totally understood the decision and that there’s no hard feelings between him and Irsay … which was clear since Manning used his private plane to get to the Super Bowl!

We never surmised that Manning had beef with Irsay, but it’s still comforting hearing the man himself confirmed that to be the case. Based on everything doctors and analysts were saying at the time he underwent neck surgery, which sidelined him for the entire 2011 campaign, there were serious concerns about his chances to play in the NFL again.

With that in mind, how could Irsay have possibly justified not letting him go? Though Manning was a Colts legend in every sense of the word, any competent executive would choose to unload him and take advantage of the opportunity to pave the way for a new era under center by drafting a generational talent in Luck with the first pick in the draft.

Not many organizations can say they’ve transitioned from one Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback to another, and that opportunity was served to the Colts on a silver platter in the wake of Manning’s supposed career-threatening neck injury. He obviously went on to enjoy great success in Denver, but that doesn’t mean Indy should regret cutting him when they did during the 2012 offseason.

Manning is as intelligent as they come, and the fact that he doesn’t hold a grudge with the Colts proves that he knows it was strictly a business decision.

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