In Indy, Peyton is The Man

INDIANAPOLIS (WOOD) - Spend five minutes in Indianapolis and is abundantly clear who's The Man.

Peyton Manning.

Having missed the entire season with a neck injury, there's concern he may never play another game in a Colts uniform. Colts owner Jim Irsay hasn't directly answered, but he did say "Eventually there'll be a statue" of Manning in town.

"I hope he stays," one Colts fan said. "You know, Lucas Oil (Stadium) is the House that Peyton built, and I'd like him to stay there.

Another told 24 Hour News 8, "I hate to see Peyton Manning go. I'm wearing his jersey and everything, but I am looking toward the future. And I think Andrew Luck would be a good fit for Indianapolis."

It's a big topic on Radio Row in the media area for Super Bowl coverage, as big, perhaps, as the game itself.

The question came up during press conferences all week with Giants quarterback Eli Manning or Irsay.

"We want the focus to be on the game," Irsay said. "He's excited about Eli."

Brother Eli said it's "just a matter of trying to get ready for the Patriots, trying to prepare for their defense. And we'll look back on the fact that we played in a Super Bowl in the town where Peyton played."

Experts who spoke with 24 Hour News 8, including Bob Costas, are uncertain he'll pull on the helmet with the horseshoe logo again.

"I do think that Indy fans, with the change at coach, change in the front office, the uncertainty about Peyton's health, Indy fans will understand if Peyton Manning wound up playing someplace else," Costas said.