Get used to seeing Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in a uniform other than the one worn by the Colts.
Per a source close to Manning, the long-time Indy starter will play in 2012. The source also has predicted that Peyton eventually will be the comeback player of the year next season.
But will he play for the Colts? The source fully expects that the Colts will cut Manning before March 8, at which time he will be owed another $28 million, in addition to the $26 million he received in 2011 without taking a single snap.
Former Colts coach Tony Dungy, who previously couldn’t fathom Manning playing for another team, said during the Super Bowl XLVI pregame show that he spoke with owner Jim Irsay on Thursday night, and that Irsay seemed to be under a lot of stress regarding the question of whether to keep or cut Peyton. Dungy eventually said that the info appearing above “could be right,” and that Peyton will be playing for another team.
We’ll know the answer soon enough. We may know it even sooner, especially if Peyton requests a meeting with Irsay as soon as everyone clears out of Indy -- and if Peyton demands an answer during that meeting.