We have reached the point in the pre-Super Bowl wind cycle where everyone arrives in the host city and begins to take stock of it. In Indianapolis, that means cringing at a giant set of Roman numerals in Monument Circle and a fresh round of “oh my goshes” about the Peyton Manning standoff.
The “oh my goshes” aren’t about any actual news because even though the latest whisper campaign has Manning headed for neck-induced retirement, as far as we know Manning’s vertebrae are pretty much in the same state as they were yesterday. Colts owner Jim Irsay shed little light on anything as he spoke at a news conference that officially kicked off Peyton Manning Circus Week, but clearly the decision on Manning isn’t getting made before Sunday. Nonetheless, as Michael Silver writes on Yahoo.com, the story will swallow this week anyway. Elizabeth Merrill writes on ESPN.com that Indianapolis fans are only starting to come to grips with things, and they’ve been thinking about it all season.
Full story: Even in a Super Bowl Week, It’s Still Peyton’s Place