Report: Colts to Release Peyton Manning Tomorrow

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the Indianapolis Colts will release Peyton Manning tomorrow, with a joint press conference scheduled between Manning and team owner Jim Irsay:

Sources close to the team told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the announcement will come at a news conference in Indianapolis on Wednesday with both Manning and owner Jim Irsay in attendance.

The decision to pass on the $28 million bonus owed Manning and not to pick up the four remaining years on his contract means Manning will become a free agent, and sources told Mortensen that he intends to continue to play.

In more ways than one, this remarks the end of an era. The years of Manning and Brady quarterback dominance are coming to a close, as young quarterbacks such as Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and Cam Newton are coming into the spotlight. The great Patriots vs. Colts rivalry of the past decade... well it certainly becomes a lot less interesting with Indianapolis in rebuilding mode and the Patriots still a perennial playoff contender.

Of course, no matter what team Peyton lands with, there will always be that Brady vs. Manning rivalry factor, at least when the two face off. Of course, if Peyton were to land with a team in say the Redskisn in the NFC East, there's a very good chance we might have already seen our last ever Brady vs. Manning duel.

This also goes to show how quickly a team's landscape can change in the NFL. Less than a year ago, I don't think anyone would have thought that Peyton Manning had played his last game in a Colts uniform. It just goes to show how fans need to appreciate having Tom Brady around. Because at 34, and soon to turn 35, there's no knowing how much longer he might actually be in a Patriots uniform (although lets cross our fingers and hope he's here for at least another few years).