Deja vu: sportswriter stirs pot re: disconnect between QB & his boss

[jmt57]

Remember this story, from the summer of 2010, in which a writer theorized about a "disconnect" between Tom Brady and Robert Kraft? And how hundreds of other writers either took that opinion for gospel, repeated the story, or expanded on it and embellished it?

Growing disconnect in Brady contract talks - NFL - Yahoo! Sports



Fast forward 18 months and now it appears something similar is going on in Indy:

Indianapolis Sportswriter Bob Kravitz Tries to Stir the Pot Regarding Peyton Manning and Drafting Luck | The Big Lead

Kravitz: Is there a good reason for Manning to stay? | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

 

[Uncle Rico]

Probably won't get nearly as much attention. No one will believe such things could happen in the land of unicorns and rainbows. Look, even the story you link to portrays it as a sportswriter stirring the pot.

 

[BradyFTW!]

In Manning's case, a "growing rift" would actually be justified. Irsay appears to be equal parts insane and an egomaniac.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I think there is a little something more simmering in this case but it has nothing to do with Manning not wanting to come back to Indy. Why would he prefer to start over somewhere else with some clowns who have never won a damn thing?? It took him 9 years to get to a superbowl in a franchise that catered to him from the get go and had lots of early picks early on. He hasn't got 9 years left.

The more significant comment came from Archie today on a radio show when he stated that he couldn't imagine it could work out to have Luck and Peyton on the same team... He said that Luck is ready to play. So... if Peyton is too it would become a steel cage match that might tear the organization apart. Luck isn't declaring he wants to sit on someone's bench for $4-5M per... He wants to commence his NFL career. And Peyton isn't saying he wants to come back to mentor his successor...he wants to resume his HOF career if he can still play. And he'd like to see some upgrades around him as opposed to an expensive (in draft capital) backup if that's the case. I can't imagine they won't also be sharing an agent...

According to Peyton their talks before the contract was finalized centered around his giving them a discount and an out. The discount was to be used to help build a more competitive team around him down the stretch. The out was in the unlikely they all thought at the time case he could never play again. I hear mediots say every day that they assume Manning will give the Colts a break and delay the option to give them time to figure things out. Why on earth would he do that??? Especially given the way they've been talking. I think he's learned a little something about the organization he put on the map, and I doubt he's really pleased with the knowledge. But the devil you know is still the devil you know. Not sure he has any interest in hooking up with some other devil, although if he's forced to he will probably make sure it's the one that gives him his best shot at making those old devils rue the day they effed with Peyton Manning...and Condon structured his deal so he could do just that.

I do think the pandering from the FO and ownership to the media and fanbase is starting to get to him. Like he said on Sunday, they haven't talked about drafting his replacement beyond in general terms 2 years ago. Meanwhile Polian led folks to believe Manning was fine with drafting Luck this season... And then Irsay jumped on twitter to confirm that he could absolutely afford to (after claiming you can't field a championship caliber team with the position taking up more than $20M against the cap...which this season certainly underscored...

 

[Deus Irae]

Well, this should add some fuel to the fire:

Archie Manning doubts that Peyton and Andrew Luck want to be teammates



“We know Andrew well. He comes down to our camp every year. I used to play with his dad [Oliver]. . . . I’m in New York, I heard from him last night. Peyton’s also tried to help Andrew and kind of be a friend. I doubt if either one want to play on the same team.”

Archie Manning doubts that Peyton and Andrew Luck want to be teammates | ProFootballTalk

 

[MoLewisrocks]

In Manning's case, a "growing rift" would actually be justified. Irsay appears to be equal parts insane and an egomaniac.

He may be insane...not an egomaniac though. He's the son of a nasty SOB he spent his whole life apologizing and trying to make amends for and mend fences. I think he's just at the point where he is trying to please all the people all the time and in the end he's just annoying the hell out of everyone.

 

[shmessy]

Bob Kravitz is an asshat who takes ZERO responsibility for his columns.

Want proof? Here is Mr. Kravitz on this very subject 7 months ago (while, simultaneously, proving how wrong he can be about the New England Patriots!):


http://www.indy.com/posts/bob-kravitz-there-s-no-need-to-rush-to-replace-manning

".......Let the New England Patriots worry about finding their quarterback of the future. The Colts are worried about preserving their quarterback of the present.

That’s why, instead of drafting a Ryan Mallett, who may never take a snap as a member of the New England Patriots, the Colts surrounded Manning with two more offensive linemen; a defensive lineman; a bowling-ball third-and-short running back, and another defensive back.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the Colts should begin looking for Manning’s replacement, but I know this much: not now and not for another year or three......"


"......Still, it’s hard to fathom what the Patriots were doing when they selected Mallett in the third round.

Not that Mallett can’t play, or that all the pre-draft rumors about his drinking and/or drug use ranks as anything more than teenaged irresponsibility. The issue is the timing: Why, when you have the 33-year-old Brady newly signed to a four-year deal, do you spend a third-rounder on a guy who probably won’t take a snap as a Patriot?

If you have a Brady or a Manning, you do everything — in the draft and in free agency — with an eye on right now.

These are once-in-the-lifetime-of-a-franchise quarterbacks, and unless Mallett has pass-rushing abilities we’re not aware of, he’s not going to help Brady and Bill Belichick win in the near future.

It’s all about urgency now, about giving Manning every chance to put the finishing touches on that Hall of Fame resume. The Franchise isn’t going anywhere, not for a while.

His successor? Let him attend his high school senior prom first."