Severing Ties

Written By: John Butler

Knowing when to part ways is one of the more daunting tasks in life. This is especially true when it is with something or someone that you have loved for so long. No one wants to witness the excruciating pain of a car enthusiast when he has to get rid of his first Chevy. The look on a sneaker collector’s face is unbearable when he has to sell his favorite pair of Jordans to pay student loans. These are difficult moves that never once in your life did you think you would have to make. But when the writing is on the wall you would be a fool not to separate sentimental value from reality. Such was the case when the Indianapolis Colts released Peyton Manning after 14 seasons with the team. Heartbreak will be experienced by Colts fans, but the wounds will certainly be healed by the rationale behind the decision.

Some argue that the Colts failed to show Peyton Manning the loyalty he deserves. The feeling that the organization wasn’t willing to patiently await his return from a neck injury is deeply rooted in the hearts of many fans. These individuals believe that the 4-time MVP winner was treated like a late draft pick who didn’t work out after a season. The truth, however, is the complete opposite. The Colts were nothing but patient with Manning. The organization never questioned his inability to play last year. More importantly, fans fail to realize that loyalty in sports is directly tied to performance. And after a 2-14 season last year and the uncertainty of Peyton’s ability to return by opening day, who can argue that the quarterback has not been holding up his end of the agreement?

This move was about the organization’s long term future and nothing else. Sure Peyton Manning has perhaps another three of four elite years left in his career. But the Colts have sacrificed short term success to make room for probable No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck. If fans think it hurts to see Peyton leave, they should envision the anguish that would take place if they were to have no one fill his shoes in a few seasons.

Above everything else sports is about winning and doing whatever it takes to do so. At times that means getting rid of your franchise player when he still has some good years left ahead of him. The 49ers did it with Joe Montana to make room for Steve Young which resulted in a Superbowl. It can also mean sensing when those good years are long gone. The Philadelphia Eagles kicked McNabb to the curb and his career has been on a downward spiral ever since. Philadelphia, however, has managed to put a competitive team on the field with Michael Vick at QB. The Colts had the alternative of going against the “do whatever it takes” grain and keeping Peyton Manning. They could have given him the $28 million he would have been owed as opposed to using that money to make improvements throughout the roster. However with doing all of that, there still would be no guarantee that Peyton would return to action with the same uncanny abilities that made him the legend he is today.

In essence the Colts played it by the rules of winning. They made the tough decision of severing ties. Fans will be aggravated when they see Manning have a highlight filled game in a Denver Broncos uniform, while their QB is throwing interceptions and learning the system. But they will be thankful when that same novice QB is winning playoff games while Peyton’s jersey is retired in the rafters. The moral of the story is it’s better to say farewell prematurely as opposed to asking “why are you still here?”