Jim Irsay

Years before his Indianapolis Colts established themselves among the elite NFL teams, owner Jim Irsay engaged in his own brand of fantasy football. It was 1997, and Irsay's team was in the midst of its first of consecutive 3-13 seasons. Trying to drum up support for them -- not the easiest thing to do in a basketball state -- he barnstormed around Indiana and spoke to dispirited fans far and near. Irsay talked about his vision for a "golden age" of the franchise, about the possibility of Peyton Manning, then a star quarterback at Tennessee, leading the way. That was a prescient forecast, as the Colts would make Manning the No. 1 overall pick the following spring.

Peyton Manning's release by the Indianapolis Colts was as civil a sports divorce as you'll ever see, announced Wednesday with dignity and more than a few tugs on the heartstrings. Explained in sometimes wavering voices by Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay, this was a difficult but reasoned decision. Not to be confused with "The Decision," the contrived and ego-pumping TV show in which LeBron James told the world he would take his talents to South Beach. The world, by the way, is still waiting for him to take the NBA championship trophy there.

Reporting from Indianapolis — Jim Irsay , owner of the Indianapolis Colts, said he plans to sit down with Peyton Manning after the Super Bowl and discuss his future with the franchise but called the quarterback's situation "a very complicated medical issue. " If they plan to keep Manning, the NFL's only four-time most valuable player, the Colts have to pay him $28 million by March 8. They have the No. 1 pick and are in position to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck . Manning missed the 2011 season recovering from multiple neck surgeries, and reports vary on how far he has come to this point.

Reporting from Indianapolis — Are all NFL teams ready for the national spotlight? They should be, because the league will arrange its 2012 schedule to ensure that every team will play a Thursday game. This is the first time every NFL team will play in a nationally televised game in a given season. In his annual Super Bowl address Friday, Commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL Network's Thursday night schedule will be expanded from eight to 13 games next season (not counting the Thursday night season opener)

From Houston — Dear Los Angeles, an NFL team won't come cheap. That was the message Tuesday of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay when asked to compare the competing stadium proposals for the L.A. area. The downtown stadium proposal calls for AEG's Philip Anschutz to acquire a minority share of a team at a discount. Ed Roski, pushing for a venue in City of Industry, has dropped his bid to trade stadium land for a no-cash piece of a team and now is offering to pay full price for a minority share.

Reporting from Indianapolis — Are all NFL teams ready for the national spotlight? They should be, because the league will arrange its 2012 schedule to ensure that every team will play a Thursday game. This is the first time every NFL team will play in a nationally televised game in a given season. In his annual Super Bowl address Friday, Commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL Network's Thursday night schedule will be expanded from eight to 13 games next season (not counting the Thursday night season opener)

Peyton Manning's release by the Indianapolis Colts was as civil a sports divorce as you'll ever see, announced Wednesday with dignity and more than a few tugs on the heartstrings. Explained in sometimes wavering voices by Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay, this was a difficult but reasoned decision. Not to be confused with "The Decision," the contrived and ego-pumping TV show in which LeBron James told the world he would take his talents to South Beach. The world, by the way, is still waiting for him to take the NBA championship trophy there.

Jim Irsay would rather spend his time making the Indianapolis Colts a winner than become a spectacle. The Colts' owner avoids late-game sideline appearances, gladly delegates football authority to team President Bill Polian and Coach Tony Dungy, and refuses to question any decisions about how to finish the regular season. Thirteen straight wins have reinforced Irsay's belief he has the right men to make the right calls. Even now, Irsay finds it difficult to get enamored with chasing history.

Jim Irsay won't let Peyton Manning walk away from the Colts next season — no matter the cost. Indianapolis' owner reiterated that he intends to make Manning the NFL's highest-paid player even if it takes the prohibitive franchise tag to keep the only four-time MVP in league history in blue and white. "The bottom line is we'll get something done and when it happens just depends," Irsay said during the Colts' first training camp practice. "I said he'd be the highest-paid player and he may already be if we go with the tag. I'd love to see him be here and break all those records as a Colt."

Bought your Peyton Manning jersey yet? Don't bother. Ready to wait in line for tickets to see the L.A. Colts play? Bring a book. The Colts won't be bolting Indianapolis for the West Coast any time soon, despite an ESPN report that owner Jim Irsay and his team could be heading to Los Angeles "faster than people think." Apparently, if Irsay wants to own a football team in this city, he might want to look into arena ball.

Reporting from Indianapolis — Jim Irsay , owner of the Indianapolis Colts, said he plans to sit down with Peyton Manning after the Super Bowl and discuss his future with the franchise but called the quarterback's situation "a very complicated medical issue. " If they plan to keep Manning, the NFL's only four-time most valuable player, the Colts have to pay him $28 million by March 8. They have the No. 1 pick and are in position to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck . Manning missed the 2011 season recovering from multiple neck surgeries, and reports vary on how far he has come to this point.

From Houston — Dear Los Angeles, an NFL team won't come cheap. That was the message Tuesday of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay when asked to compare the competing stadium proposals for the L.A. area. The downtown stadium proposal calls for AEG's Philip Anschutz to acquire a minority share of a team at a discount. Ed Roski, pushing for a venue in City of Industry, has dropped his bid to trade stadium land for a no-cash piece of a team and now is offering to pay full price for a minority share.

Jim Irsay won't let Peyton Manning walk away from the Colts next season — no matter the cost. Indianapolis' owner reiterated that he intends to make Manning the NFL's highest-paid player even if it takes the prohibitive franchise tag to keep the only four-time MVP in league history in blue and white. "The bottom line is we'll get something done and when it happens just depends," Irsay said during the Colts' first training camp practice. "I said he'd be the highest-paid player and he may already be if we go with the tag. I'd love to see him be here and break all those records as a Colt."

Peyton Manning spends too much time indoors. . . . When Manning and the Indianapolis Colts take on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, each team will be playing outdoors for only the seventh time this season. . . . The Colts and Saints play home games in domed stadiums, of course, but both won at Miami during the regular season. . . . Oddsmakers, expecting a shootout between two of the NFL's most prolific offenses, have set the over-under line at 56 points, the highest in Super Bowl history.

Years before his Indianapolis Colts established themselves among the elite NFL teams, owner Jim Irsay engaged in his own brand of fantasy football. It was 1997, and Irsay's team was in the midst of its first of consecutive 3-13 seasons. Trying to drum up support for them -- not the easiest thing to do in a basketball state -- he barnstormed around Indiana and spoke to dispirited fans far and near. Irsay talked about his vision for a "golden age" of the franchise, about the possibility of Peyton Manning, then a star quarterback at Tennessee, leading the way. That was a prescient forecast, as the Colts would make Manning the No. 1 overall pick the following spring.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Lucas Oil Stadium is about to open up a new world for the Colts and the city of Indianapolis. There's the retractable roof, the giant sliding window in the north end zone and an economic package owner Jim Irsay says he believes will keep his team competitive for decades to come. To the Colts, the brick building with blue seats represents more than a new home. It's a lifeline to the future. "This was never about becoming the L.A. Colts, and nothing like that was ever even suggested in negotiations," Irsay told the Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Peyton Manning spends too much time indoors. . . . When Manning and the Indianapolis Colts take on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, each team will be playing outdoors for only the seventh time this season. . . . The Colts and Saints play home games in domed stadiums, of course, but both won at Miami during the regular season. . . . Oddsmakers, expecting a shootout between two of the NFL's most prolific offenses, have set the over-under line at 56 points, the highest in Super Bowl history.

On the street where the Irsays live, people like to say that the family that lifts together sticks together. Jim Irsay, 28, vice president and general manager of the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, is a power weightlifter who has competed as a 280-pound super-heavyweight, though his natural weight is 220. His wife, Meg, is a body builder who, in her first contest, was named Miss Southern Indiana. Jim placed second the first time he lifted competitively.

Not so long ago, Jim Irsay was weighing the possibility of moving the Indianapolis Colts to Los Angeles. Now, he just wants to bring the Super Bowl trophy there. "L.A.'s like a second home to me," said Irsay, 47, who owns the Colts and, among his many Southern California ties, is a member at Riviera Country Club. "I've got an enormous amount of friends out there. ... I'm looking forward to hopefully getting the Lombardi Trophy and bringing it out there to the old Riv, man. Definitely so.

Jim Irsay would rather spend his time making the Indianapolis Colts a winner than become a spectacle. The Colts' owner avoids late-game sideline appearances, gladly delegates football authority to team President Bill Polian and Coach Tony Dungy, and refuses to question any decisions about how to finish the regular season. Thirteen straight wins have reinforced Irsay's belief he has the right men to make the right calls. Even now, Irsay finds it difficult to get enamored with chasing history.