Irsay: It’s up to Peyton

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has indicated that he would like long-time quarterback Peyton Manning to remain with the franchise with the proviso that the future hall of famer restructures his contract.

Irsay told local tabloid, the Indianapolis Star on Tuesday that the decision on whether Manning remains with the club is totally up to the quarterback who was drafted by the Colts with the first overall pick back in 1998.

Despite indicating that he would like to keep Manning the Colts owner said that it came under a condition, that the 35-year-old restructure his current contract which reflects the uncertainly over the health of the quarterback who is recovering from a bout of three neck surgery’s that kept him out of the entire season.

“We can make it work if he wants to be here,” Irsay was quoted by the Indianapolis Star. “We’d be excited to have him back and finish his career with us.”

“I want him to be able to make the choice. We would love to have him back here if he can get healthy and we can look at doing a contract that reflects the uncertainty of the … healing process with the regeneration of the nerve.”

Irsay stated that he expects to meet with Manning within the next seven days and it has been widely reported that the entire situation will be sorted out during that meeting.

Once again Irsay mentioned Manning’s health and the uncertainty over his immediate future but he also mentioned the quarterback’s current contract which is also a financial consideration for the team that finished with the league’s worst record (2-14) last season.

Manning is due a $28 million option bonus by March 8 and according to the tabloid that bonus would immediately activate the final four seasons of the five-year $90 million contract which the four-time league MVP signed last off-season.

The Super Bowl winning quarterback has maintained that his recovery from surgery is on schedule, despite question marks over his strength of his arm.

Manning has spoken publicly of his desire to remain a one-club man his entire life and Irsay, aware that he is in a difficult position made it clear that he is in no way pushing the quarterback out the door and would welcome him back – at the right price though.

“There’s no question it can be worked out if he wants to be here,” exclaimed Irsay. “It can work if he wants to come back and can get back to being the old Peyton.”

Manning missed the entire season with the Colts who in his absence went a league worse 2-14 and hold the number one pick in the 2012 NFL Draft where they are most likely going to select University of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.