Quarterback Peyton Manning has been released by the Indianapolis Colts after a 14-year tenure that included a Super Bowl win and four National Football League MVP awards [GETTY]
Published On 7 Mar 20127 Mar 2012
The thirty-five-year-old missed the entire 2011 NFL season after neck surgery last September and was due a $28 million bonus if the club had decided to keep him. He now becomes one of the most sought-after free agents this year [GETTY]
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Manning was selected first overall at the 1998 NFL Draft by the Colts out of the University of Tennessee [GETTY]
After a 3-13 rookie season Manning posted a 138-54 record over the next 12 seasons with the Colts [GETTY]
Manning is a four-time NFL MVP recipient and was named to 11 Pro Bowls over his career [GETTY]
Manning won the Super Bowl MVP award in 2007 after leading Colts to 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFL title game [GETTY]
He then took Indianapolis to a second Super Bowl in 2010 but lost 31-17 to the New Orleans Saints [GETTY]
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Manning leaves the Colts with an impressive record. He is the all-time leader in touchdown passes (399), and yards passing (54,828) and threw for more than 4,000 yards in a season an NFL record 11 times [GETTY]
"I have been a Colt for almost all of my adult life, but I guess in life and in sports we all know that nothing lasts forever," said an emotional Manning at the press conference announcing his release [GETTY]
