The Indianapolis Colts decision to fire Bill Polian and his son, Chris Polian, left quarterback Peyton Manning "stunned" on Monday. Polian was the GM when Manning was selected by the Colts in 1998 and he has been with him ever since.
Bill Polian’s Firing Leaves Peyton Manning ‘Stunned’
Though there were questions as to whether Manning and Polian got along, Manning says he was “saddened” by the news.
“I was stunned, I was surprised, I was saddened and just disappointed that it all happened this way,” Manning told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen by telephone. “I was actually meeting with Bill in the training room and we were talking about my rehab schedule, what I could and couldn’t do in the facility under the new (collective bargaining agreement) and my checkpoints when he was summoned to see Irsay. He actually chuckled and said, ‘We’ll see.’ ”
It was time for everyone involved, I think. The Colts fan base was restless and ready for change and they currently hold the No. 1 pick so if there was ever a time that signaled a new era, it’s now.
Now the question becomes whether Manning ultimately follows Polian out the door.
Check out SB Nation’s Stampede Blue for more on the Colts and Polian’s departure.
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