Colts Will Release Peyton Manning

In news that nobody finds to be shocking, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting that the Indianapolis Colts will release Peyton Manning.

An official announcement of the release will be made sometime tomorrow during a team press conference that both Manning and owner Jim Irsay will be in attendance for.

Manning’s career began 14-years ago when the Colts selected him #1 overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. Manning would play every single game until the start of this past season, when neck surgery cost him the year. Manning threw for 54,828 yards and 399 TDs during his career in Indianapolis. The Colts made the playoffs in 11 of the seasons that Manning was under center, including 9 straight appearances, with a Super Bowl title in 2007.

The Colts have the #1 pick in next month’s draft and expect to select Stanford’s Andrew Luck and begin the rebuilding process. Manning would be owed $28 million this season had the Colts elected to keep him on the roster.

This will obviously lead to the most interesting and paid attention to courtship of a free agent since Reggie White left the Philadelphia Eagles. White was wined and dined before deciding to play for the Green Bay Packers. The great defensive end helped to turn around a struggling franchise along with Brett Favre and win a Super Bowl title in the process. Mannning will have many suitors available to him, and will be offered plenty of money to help do the same.