GIVE IRSAY A BREAK!

As usual, I am amused by the national sports media reacting to a story.  The story is about what Indianaplis Colts owner Jim Irsay had to say about his team during Peyton Manning’s tenure there.  The story got even bigger play because this is the week that Peyton returns to the Hoosier Dome (or whatever corporate name the place has now) for the first time since Irsay and the Colts parted ways with him.

Here is what Irsay had to say originally:

“(Tom) Brady never had consistent numbers, but he has three of these (championship rings,” Irsay told USA Today. “Pittsburgh had two, the Giants had two, Baltimore had two and we had one. That leaves you frustrated.

“You make the playoffs 11 times, and you’re out in the first round seven out of 11 times. You love to have the Star Wars numbers from Peyton and Marvin (Harrison) and Reggie (Wayne). Mostly, you love this (referring to his Super Bowl ring).”

Now, because of those statements, it seems many in the media are hanging Irsay in effigy, as if he has said something to dis one of the football gods, one of which right now is Peyton Manning.

It is ridiculous to me how big a deal this has become, and the national sports media twists it more than a french braid.  I guess that is what you will get whenever you have four full time sports networks trying to fill time, and milking the same story for all it’s worth.  It’s still amusing to hear the chatter.

“With Jim Irsay saying all those terrible things about Payton Manning, taking all the shots he took, and ripping him his abilities and competitive drive in the playoffs like he did, what effect do you think it will have on this weekend’s game Tom?”

“Well Andrew, I have to think it will add to Manning’s fire.  I think he’s going to come out firing against the Colts, looking to send a message and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Peyton pointing up to the owner’s box after every touchdown throw.”

It’s been one exchange like that after another on ESPN, the NFL Network, Fox Sports 1 and so on.  One of them interviewed Broncos head coach John Fox, who blasted Irsay and joined in the fray.  That made for a NEW news story on all the sports networks.  Jim Irsay also responded to the controversy himself, trying to clarify his point, which he believed was being taken out of context.  Problem is, in clarifying what he was saying, Irsay basically said the exact same thing he had said before, which set tongues wagging all over again.

So, now we know how Irsay really feels, and that he isn’t going to backtrack.  Now let me analyze what Irsay said, and see if it really should bother anyone.

Irsay basically is saying that his Colts, under the guidance of Peyton Mannig put up amazing offensive numbers and the team had a high winning percentage.  That being said, because they won only one Super Bowl, it was disappointing to Irsay.

What’s wrong with that?  

Irsay was not saying anything bad about Peyton Manning personally. Irsay didn’t say anything about Manning being a terrible quarterback or choking in the playoffs or in big games.  He didn’t say that Peyton has a big head that barely fits in his helmet, or that he looks like a goofball in those Papa John’s commercials.

What Irsay simply said was that, for whatever reasons, his Colts underachieved in the playoffs.  He said that for a variety of reasons, including poor defense, injuries and cold weather, his Colts teams lost games and didn’t go as far as he expected them to, which was disappointing to him.  He realized the error of how he put that team together, and was trying to do things differently this time with Andrew Luck.

I see no problem whatsoever with Jim Irsay’s comments.  In fact, I agree with them.  Manning’s Colts were too good a team for too long of a time to only have won one Super Bowl.  I’d be disappointed too, and trying a different approach with a new group of players.  That is not to say that it was all Peyton’s fault.  

That being said, I think Peyton still has something to prove this year with his juggernaut Broncos team.  Irsay’s comments also subtlely put more pressure on Manning.  He better win this year’s Super Bowl, or many people will begin to re-question the context of Irsay’s comments.  They’d have a right to.