NFL

Irsay digs at Peyton: Colts now value rings over stats

The notion Peyton Manning is a stats compiler and a subpar playoff performer isn’t just a fan myth.

It’s an opinion held by the owner of his former team, Jim Irsay, who told USA Today the Colts’ decision to part ways with the legendary quarterback  boiled down to chasing team accomplishments rather than individual ones.

“We’ve changed our model a little bit, because we wanted more than one of these,” said Irsay, referring to his Super Bowl XLI ring. “[Tom] Brady never had consistent numbers, but he has three of these. Pittsburgh had two, the Giants had two, Baltimore had two and we had one. That leaves you frustrated.

“You make the playoffs 11 times, and you’re out in the first round seven out of 11 times,” added the owner, who is planning a “great” pregame tribute for Manning in his return to Indianapolis on Sunday. “You love to have the “Star Wars” numbers from Peyton and Marvin [Harrison] and Reggie [Wayne]. Mostly, you love this.”

Broncos coach John Fox defended Manning.

“I saw the comments. And to be honest with you, I thought it was a bit of a cheap shot,” Fox said during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “To me, in my opinion, they were disappointing and inappropriate.

“Peyton would never say anything. He’s too classy to do that. They sounded a little ungrateful and unappreciative to me. For a guy who has set a standard, won a Super Bowl, won four MVP awards … be thankful of that one Super Bowl ring, because a lot of people don’t have one.”

In the interview, Irsay also said Manning suggested the Colts draft then-Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the winter of 2012. At the time, Manning was trying to bounce back from having four surgical procedures on his neck, and it didn’t seem as if he had a future with the Colts.

“He said, ‘You’ve got to take Andrew,’ ” Irsay said. “‘You have to. You’re crazy if you don’t.’”

The move has worked out for both parties. Manning wound up in Denver, led the Broncos to a 13-3 record and the top seed in last season’s AFC playoffs before a heartbreaking divisional round loss to the Ravens.

This year, he has thrown for 22 touchdowns (against two interceptions) and 2,179 yards for the undefeated Broncos. The Colts, meanwhile, reached the playoffs last year with Luck as a rookie, and are on the path back to the postseason, at 4-2 despite Monday night’s 19-9 loss to the Chargers.