Turn of Phrase - So Long, Peyton

Peyton Manning, Colts #18

"As I go, I go with just a few words left to say, a few words I want to address to Colts fans everywhere - thank you from the bottom of my heart...I truly have enjoyed being your quarterback."

- From Peyton Manning's parting remarks to the Indianapolis Colts.

Peyton's conduct during today's farewell press conference is an object lesson in staying classy.

As I watched Manning's emotional address, and I listened to the sincere message of thanks he sent to his former boss, his teammates, the Colts organization, and to millions of fans across the country, I realized that loyalty is not dead in sports. It's just not always a two-way street.

During his comments, Peyton talked about respect, reflection, and gratitude, all of which are among the thoughtful traits he brings to the sport of football. He also reminded us of the value of maintaining perspective, and he specifically mentioned the importance of remembering the victims of recent tornado devastation in Indiana and the midwest.

There may not be crying in baseball, but after seeing Peyton deliver his final words as a Colt today, there's definitely crying in football and not too many dry eyes in the house.

Peyton Manning Press Conference - Funny videos are here

Can the Colts Muster One Win?

Manning with winless backup
QB Curtis Painter

Peyton Manning still wants to play football in 2011 if his health permits. Considering his painstakingly sluggish recovery thus far from recent neck surgeries, this is a mammoth "if" (so huge an "if" that there are no font styles large and bold enough to capture it in writing). Peyton's return may be the only thing that stands between the Indianapolis Colts and a depressing 0-16 season. For the Colts to win one game, it will likely require either the return of Peyton, or the reappearance of the entire Colts' defense, which may also be suffering pains in the neck - caused by the rapid turning of their heads as opponents race past them to the end zone.

With a 0-8 start, the first eight games break down this way.

• Five old-fashioned straightforward beatings (Houston, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Tennessee)
• Two late collapses (blowing a 17 point lead against Kansas City and squandering multiple 4th quarter opportunities in Cincinnati)
• One utter embarrassment (the 62-7 rout in the Superdome, which now stands as the worst defeat for any of "my teams" in any sport in my 40 years of sports fandom).

As for the second half of the season, November games against Carolina and Atlanta are not likely victories for Indy, and the first two weeks of December look bleak, even if Peyton gets in the game, as the Colts travel first to New England and then to Baltimore.

There are still a couple possibilities for victory in the remaining eight games though, especially if Peyton can return to the field in December as he and the rest of us are wishing (hope isn't a strong enough word). The Colts will face Jacksonville twice, and they will have revenge opportunities at Tennessee and Houston, in the last half of the season. Being an eternal optimist, I believe it will be one, and maybe even two, of these divisional games that might just keep the Colts from sharing the dubious distinction of "worst NFL season ever."

On the ridiculously bright side of things, the only other team to go winless in the NFL since the 16-game season was introduced was the 2008 Detroit Lions, and Lions fans don't have too much to bitch about this year. So there's that, and there's always hope for better luck next year, Andrew Luck that is.