Indianapolis Colts Owner: Transition From Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck Mutually Beneficial

(UPI) -- Jim Irsay’s decision to release Peyton Manning during the winter of 2012 and draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck No. 1 overall wasn’t an easy call, but it seems like it was the correct one.

Manning was recovering from four surgical procedures on his neck and Luck looked like he could come into the NFL and immediately be ready to lead a team. “He said, ‘You’ve got to take Andrew,’” Irsay said of Manning. “‘You have to. You’re crazy if you don’t.’”

The undefeated Denver Broncos and Manning will head to Indianapolis this week to take on the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium during a “Sunday Night Football” showdown.

“I think it’s perfect,” Irsay said. “What’s happened is what Peyton and I hoped would happen. The desire was for him to get well and get to a team that has a chance to win another Super Bowl before his career ended. And our desire was to be able to transition to Andrew. To be so good so soon is stunning.”

The 4-2 Colts will look to right the ship after a tough loss to the San Diego Chargers on “Monday Night Football” while the Broncos will hope to build on the momentum they’ve created after a 6-0 start. Manning is currently the top quarterback in the NFL and has thrown for a league-leading 22 touchdowns and 2,179 yards.

Even though Manning is doing great things in Denver, Irsay says there’s no way the Colts could have passed on the chance to take franchise quarterback Luck.

“Circumstances created this decision,” says Irsay. “You have to understand there’s no way this occurs if (Manning’s) in Indy. It’s just impossible, where our salary cap was. Having him stay at the type of number that he expected and deserved to earn and all those things.”

Had he stayed in Indy, Manning would have been due a $28 million bonus.