Peyton Manning has made it to two Super Bowls since the Colts let him go. The Colts are still trying to get to one.
The heir to Manning’s throne in Indianapolis becomes the biggest beneficiary of the ongoing quest to win championships.
Owner Jim Irsay has made some strong promises about the next contract to be signed by quarterback Andrew Luck. Via the team’s official website, Irsay recently said the eventual deal will be “shocking,” promising that Luck will make more than $20 million per year.
It’s shocking that Irsay would call it shocking, since the goal should be to do the best possible deal under the circumstances, not to hand the checkbook to Luck and say, “Shock me.”
It’s also a bit shocking that Irsay is willing to pay Luck before his rookie contract expires. Twice, Peyton Manning had to play every game of every contract with the Colts before getting another one. With Luck injured and ineffective for most of 2015, why not let him play out the fifth and final year of his deal before signing him to a blockbuster contract?
If anything, last year gave the Colts more than a little leverage in long-term talks. Irsay has squandered it in one sound bite.