Coming to defense of his longtime friend and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton called Colts owner Jim Irsay an “idiot” for “classless” comments made about Manning’s inability to win more than one Super Bowl with Indianapolis.
After being fired by Irsay in 2012, Manning returns to play a football game in Indianapolis for the first time since the Colts cut him. “I hope he steps on their neck and doesn’t let up. That’s what I hope for, especially after that idiot, whatever you call him, spouting off his mouth,” Helton said Wednesday during The Press Box, streamed live on The Denver Post’s website and simulcast on Mile High Sports Radio.
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton (Karl Gehring, Denver Post file)
Irsay started a war of words between Indianapolis and Denver by taking a shot at Manning for compiling great regular-season statistics but often falling short in the playoffs during 14 seasons with the Colts. In a recent interview with USA Today, Irsay explained the decision to move on from Manning to young quarterback Andrew Luck by saying: “We’ve changed our model a little bit, because we wanted more than one (Super Bowl ring).”
The words by Irsay infuriated Helton. “Yeah, I have a real problem with that. I think he should shut his mouth personally. It’s getting me a little riled up,” said Helton, who became friends with Manning when both were quarterbacks on the University of Tennessee football team in 1994.
Could it be Irsay is jealous of all the attention lavished on Manning in his return to Indy?
“I think the guy, (Irsay) just wants to be famous, so he gets one little shot for somebody to know what his name is. To me, that’s just classless,” Helton said. “I hope Peyton goes back and steps on their throat.”
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