Indianapolis Colts unveil Peyton Manning statue, but no contract offer

The Indianapolis Colts honored future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning with a statue in front of Lucas Oil Stadium. Unfortunately for the Colts, Manning was not offered a new contract.

Peyton Manning or “The Sheriff” as many have come to call him, was honored on Saturday by the Indianapolis Colts. They presented a statue to the future Hall of Famer, in a ceremony with some of his family and former colleagues in attendance.

It was a classy move for a player who helped navigate Indianapolis into becoming a football powerhouse during his playing days there. With Andrew Luck still sidelined, Colts fans may have been hoping for a contract to bring Manning out of retirement along with the statue.

Manning started and played in every single game for the Colts from 1998-2010. He threw 399 touchdown passes, and 54,828 yards in an Indianapolis Colts uniform.

The former Tennessee Volunteer standout also led the Colts to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, leading them to a Super Bowl XLI victory over the Chicago Bears. We can go on and on about Manning’s  brilliance, as his numerous awards and accolades are well-documented.

Manning most likely would have spent his entire career with the Colts, but a neck injury that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season eventually led to the team releasing him and beginning a build toward their future.

After leaving Indianapolis, Manning went on to play for the Denver Broncos, leading them to a Super Bowl win of their own, shattering many passing records along the way. He threw 140 touchdowns in four seasons with Denver, including an NFL record 55 during the 2013 season.

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The Colts did the right thing by honoring one of the best quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen, and it was a grand gesture that must have been in the works for awhile. Both sides mutually parted ways, and it ended up working out for both of them. Manning ended his career in amazing fashion, and the Colts were able to land their new franchise quarterback, Andrew Luck.