The speculation has been ongoing for months, but now we may have some finality — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay today strongly implied, if not altogether stated, that he intends to take Stanford’s Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft later this month.

Met with A Luck#12 n Indy 2day for 3 hrs;it's easy 2c why the #1 pick n this Stanford phenom has been synonymous with each other 4over 2 yrs

—
Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) April 10, 2012

Both the Colts and the Washington Redskins, who traded up to land the No. 2 pick, have been meeting regularly with both Luck and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III in the weeks leading up to the start of the draft on April 26. Luck has been the presumed favorite to go No. 1 all along, but Baylor’s Heisman Trophy-winning 2011 season and his fantastic pro day performance have helped to keep him in the running.

Now, it would appear, Luck has prevailed.

With Luck likely headed to Indy and Griffin going No. 2 as the consolation prize, all eyes are on the Minnesota Vikings at No. 3. It remains to be seen whether the Vikes will keep the pick or make a move as draft day draws closer.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has received a lot of negative press in recent weeks due to his never-ending soap opera with quarterback Peyton Manning, but here’s one bit of positive news — the owner has pledged $50,000 to the relief efforts for tornado victims in southern Indiana, according to the AP.

A severe storm front hit the area on Friday killing dozens — a Reuters report indicates 20 fatalities in Kentucky, 14 in Indiana, three in Ohio, one in Alabama and one in Georgia.

The Colts have also asked others to help in any way they can.

Indianapolis Colts’ owner Jim Irsay said Tuesday that he would be “excited” if quarterback Peyton Manning were to remain with the team, though he does have some lingering concerns.

“I want him to be able to make the choice,” Irsay told the Indianapolis Star.  “We would love to have him back here if he can get healthy and we can look at doing a contract that reflects the uncertainty of the . . . healing process with the regeneration of the nerve.’’

Manning missed all of 2011 with a neck injury.

Irsay also told the paper that he expects to meet with Manning within the next week, and that he is certainly interested in retaining the legendary quarterback that his spent his entire career in Indianapolis.

“We can make it work if he wants to be here,’’ Irsay said, according to the report. “We’d be excited to have him back and finish his career with us.

“There’s no question it can be worked out if he wants to be here. It can work if he wants to come back and can get back to being the old Peyton.’’

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said Wednesday that a decision on Manning’s future with the team will likely not be made until March, according to ESPN.com.

“People assume that the people know what they’re going to do and just aren’t telling us,” Irsay told NFL Network. “Often times, you don’t know, and take as much time to be thoughtful and make the decision at the last possible moment you can. It’s not true that any decision has been made. I wouldn’t say it’s a certainty that it will go one way or another.”

Irsay added that it is possible that the two sides could negotiate a deal to delay the $28 million option bonus that Manning is due March 8.

“Anything is possible if two parties get together and agree,” Irsay said, according to ESPN.

Manning missed all of this season with a neck injury, but said that he had no plans to retire.

“I really feel good. I continue to make progress every day,” Manning said, according to ESPN. “Everything that the doctors have told me has been on point, which is encouraging to me. I just had a great day today with rehab, just got back from the facility, and that’s what we continue to do. Just keep trying to get better. So far I have. That’s the plan from here on out.”

In response to Colts owner Jim Irsay’s comment of the ‘horseshoe’ coming before any one individual including Peyton Manning, former Dallas Cowboy Pro Bowl Receiver and NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin strongly opposed Irsay stating that the horseshoe wouldn’t be what it is without Manning, according to the USA Today.

“The horseshoe is first? The horseshoe is nothing before Peyton got here. You could’ve taken that horseshoe, and you couldn’t have given it away. It wasn’t lucky, it was killing you,” said Irvin. “This horseshoe was garbage without Peyton — it was garbage when [before] he got here and garbage when he left here this season.”

The horseshoe is a reference to the team’s logo. Irsay was trying to imply in his statements that the team comes first, even before a legendary figure like Peyton Manning.

Relocating from Baltimore in 1984, the Colts had been in Indianapolis 14 years prior to drafting Manning in 1998.  In those years without Manning, they reached the playoffs three times and had five winning seasons. With Manning on the field, the Colts reached 11 playoff appearances, two Super Bowl appearances, and one title.

As Colts owner Jim Irsay mulls over his decision of the future of Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, Titans fans are campaigning more than ever to bring the former University of  Tennessee star quarterback back “home” to play for their team, according to NBC Sports.

Titans fans have gone as far as creating a website, ComeHomePeyton.com, which features fan-made video tributes to Manning.  Donations can also be accepted through the site which serve to finance billboards and advertisements throughout the state calling Peyton back home.

Word still awaits from Colts’ owner Jim Irsay; however, news regarding Manning’s future should come relatively soon.  If Peyton is not released or moved before March 8, the Colts would then have to pay the injured quarterback a roster bonus of $28 million.

In 2010, the 35-year old quarterback threw for 4,700 total yards and 33 touchdowns leading his team to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.

Colt’s owner Jim Irsay insists that he still has not made a decision on the future of Peyton Manning, according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King.

“There has been no decision,” Irsay told King.  “This thing is still up in the air.  I guarantee you I have not made the decision.”

Before a $28 million roster bonus is due to Manning on March 8, Irsay must make his decision in the coming weeks whether to keep Manning a Colt.  As Irsay has already made several personnel changes, ridding coaches who spent most of their careers with Manning in Indy, King states, “it’s fair to assume that Manning may have played his last game for the Colts.”

As Irsay contemplates releasing Manning, many teams have shown interest in acquiring the potential free agent.  In 2010, the 35-year old quarterback threw for 4,700 total yards and 33 touchdowns leading his team to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.

Colts owner Jim Irsay and Peyton Manning attempted to clear the air Friday about the rumored rift between them, releasing a statement saying the two were on the same page. But according to a report from NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, that statement hasn’t changed a thing, and Manning and the Colts are done.

“According to sources who were involved in the Colts’ GM search, the organization was planning to move on from Manning weeks ago, well before this public squabble between the quarterback and his owner,” La Canfora said. “So Friday’s joint statement won’t be changing a thing.”

La Canfora says the Colts will “almost certainly” look to move Manning before this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, which is slated to get underway on Feb. 22 in Indianapolis.

The Colts are expected to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in this spring’s draft.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has spoken publicly about his future with the team, and owner Jim Irsay told the Indianapolis Star Thursday that he wasn’t pleased with the player’s remarks.

“I think one thing that he’s always known, because he’s been around it so long, is you keep it in the family,” Irsay said, according to the paper. “If you’ve got a problem, you talk to each other. It’s not about campaigning or anything like that.”

Sill, Irsay also spoke highly of the legendary quarterback who has spent his entire career as a Colt.

“Look, I have so much affection and appreciation for Peyton,” Irsay said. “We’re family, you know, we always will be and we are.”

The Indianopolis Colts are expected to interview New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. and Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, according to the Indy Star.

The head coaching position became vacant after the club fired Jim Caldwell Tuesday following a 2-14 record this season without their star quarterback Peyton Manning.

Carmichael is expected to meet today or Friday in Indianapolis with owner Jim Irsay and general manager Ryan Grigson.  The Colts have also received permission from the Titans to interview defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.

Carmichael has been with the Saints since 2006 and served as offensive coordinator the last three seasons. Last year, Carmichael led the Saints’ offense to be ranked No. 1 in total yards and passing yards and No. 2 in scoring. Gray has 14 years of coaching experience in the NFL.  He was the Los Angeles Rams’ top draft pick in 1985 and spent nine years in the NFL as a cornerback with the Rams, Houston Oilers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  

Stanford stud Andrew Luck has been seen as a no-brainer No. 1 pick all year long, and yesterday, news broke that the Colts had settled upon Luck as their top selection in April’s draft. But today, Indy owner Jim Irsay took to Twitter to say: Not so fast.

There has been no discussion of a deadline push,n just like '98 with Manning/Leaf..u have 2 go thru a long,disciplined process of evaluation

—
Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) January 08, 2012

Irsay denies not only settling on Luck, but also that the team has discussed moving the deadline to pay Peyton Manning an option bonus that will activate the final four years of his contract and keep him from free agency.

The Colts have until March 8 to pay Manning the $28 million option that would keep him in Indy through 2015. But with the possibility of the Luck era getting underway this fall, the Colts have a big decision to make.

Avis Roper, senior director of communications for the Colts, declined to comment in an Indianapolis Star report on the Manning/Luck dilemma, noting that underclassmen can’t officially declare themselves eligible for the draft until Jan. 15.

“I don’t think he’s even declared an agent,” Roper said, “so that’s something we can’t even comment on.”