Peyton Manning has never been one for trash talk. Much like fellow superstar quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Brees, Manning rarely ever responds to criticism or says anything that can be turned into a media headline. It could be that Manning is cranky from having to miss every game this season because of a lingering neck injury, or it could be that Phil Simms’ comments about Peyton not allowing the Colts to draft Andrew Luck really, really pissed him off.
“I don’t talk to Phil,” Manning said according to the Indianapolis Star via Pro Football Talk. “Phil doesn’t talk to me. He did text me after that, saying ‘Hey, sorry to drag your name into this.’ I wrote back, ‘Phil I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ He said, ‘Well on my show, Inside the NFL, I made this statement.’ I said, ‘Phil, I hate to break it to you, but I don’t watch your show, along with a lot of other people that I don’t think watch that show.’ Giving himself a little more credit than probably was merited.”
That’s probably the most controversial thing we have ever heard Manning say. Clearly those comments made by Simms got under his skin, and why shouldn’t they? Phil basically made it sound like Manning is a baby who would stamp his feet if the Colts tried to draft his replacement. To assume that he would not want to be a mentor for a young quarterback with a ton of potential and would take the Brett Favre approach is completely unfair.
For the sake of Colts fans, Manning should let the front office and coaches do what they want in the upcoming draft. We wouldn’t want all those custom jerseys to go to waste now, would we?
