He turned down MILLIONS of dollars, money the Colts wanted to pay him, so that the Colts could spend it on his teammates instead.
In this day in age, can you imagine anybody turning down a pay-raise, especially in the big money world of pro sports? It's unheard of.
But let's not make a Saint out of this Colt.
What Peyton did was SMART, more than it was a show of generosity.
In the ultimate team sport, Manning knows his chances of winning another Super Bowl go out the window if the Colts can't keep their core together.
(Manning's not exactly hurting for money either. If anybody can afford to give up a little cash, it's the guy making 90 million.)
When the Colts ownership said, ‘We want to pay you’...Peyton said spread the wealth. And they have.
The extra money not being spent on Manning allowed the Colts to re-sign Joseph Addai & Ryan Diem, two of the guys most responsible for protecting Manning when the blitz comes.
And Peyton might need that protection.
Manning's been the surest thing in the NFL for a decade. Believe it or not, he might be the biggest question mark for the Colts right now.
There's no timetable on his return to football activity, as he continues to rehab his neck, from a surgical procedure he had in May.
It seems a premature to question the return of a guy who's made 227 consecutive starts.
But he's not practicing.
The Colts say he's not really close to practicing.
So until we see him taking hits and making throws...you never really know.
And if for some reason he's NOT ready come opening kick-off...
All of a sudden that 90-million dollars doesn't seem like such a bargain, does it?
