Yeah, I don’t think that interview Peyton Manning gave to the local paper last week did anything to turn the tide in his favor. In fact, it looks as if it may have boomer-ranged on him completely. With the naming of Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano as their new head coach, it would appear that the Colts are now done “evaluating” Manning. And he thought that joint was a bad place to heal, before. I don’t think you need to be Robert Langdon to crack this code and realize a legend is about to get whacked.

Owner Jim Irsay has talked about drafting a q.b. the dudes who put this team together, Bill Polian and his kid were run. Then Manning’s coach Jim Caldwell was told to hit the bricks. And so was the strength and conditioning coach Manning does his rehab with. Then Irsay gets loose on Twitter by reminding everyone he paid Manning $26 mill last year to stand off to the side. And now they hire a defensive minded head coach. Does any of this sound or look like they want Manning back? They’ve ripped everything he’s familiar with, from him. This is a total rebuild; are they going to do all that and just stop at the most important spot on the field? When they’re justing waiting for April 26 to get here so they can draft the heir apparent? Doubt that.

Photos: Peyton

The only question now is whether or not Manning is willing to end his career in someone else’s uniform. Because it’s pretty clear it won’t be in Colts gear.