Peyton Manning reached out to Jim Irsay after legal issues surfaced
Peyton Manning (left) spent 14 seasons with the Colts before his release in March 2012. (Michael Conroy/AP)
It was just a few short years ago that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to release future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Manning was recovering from neck surgery that had forced him to miss the entire 2011 season, and Irsay made the decision to cut the all-time great loose and select Andrew Luck in order to plan for his team's future.
Despite the decision to part ways, Manning remains loyal to the Colts and appreciates everything that the team has done for him throughout his career, and now he is taking the time to reach out to his former boss while Irsay deals with another difficult situation for entirely different circumstances.
Irsay was arrested last month for charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and felony possession of a controlled substance. He voluntarily checked into rehab a few days later. Manning, who spent 14 seasons in Indianapolis, has reached out to the Colts owner in the midst of his problems but would not say what was discussed.
“That’s a private topic,” Manning told the Associated Press. “It’s very private and very personal.”