The press chose only to focus on the most negative. If you read his interview in its entirety, his attitude is softened:

And just in case, here are some key quotes which reflect a less annoyed Peyton. I hate how the media loves their shit storms. (Emphasis Mine)

“I can’t tell you what’s going on,” Manning said. "I will say I don’t think it’s been the most properly communicated scenario around here. But we have learned to deal with change and be prepared to adjust. It’s still somewhat of an open book the last I’ve heard about it.

“If they come back as consultants — status quo — it’s really hard for me to answer. I really don’t know what the word consultant means and I don’t know if anybody does. I know Tom Moore always told me that he talked to other teams that had consultants — he thought that was kind of a scary word. He thought all a consultant ever did was come in and second-guessed every play call you made.”

and this about Caldwell:

“I think we’re still in the middle of [coaching staff changes], seeing how they’re going to play out. I think everybody’s getting to know coach Caldwell. I feel like I know him as a quarterback’s coach, but I’m getting to know him as a head coach,” he said.

“Every team meeting, I’m sitting on the front row, upright with my pen and paper out. Everybody wants to make a good impression on the new coach. He told us in the first meeting [that] he’s 54 years old, [former] coach Dungy has a big influence on him, he’s going to do some things the way coach Dungy did them, but a lot of things he’s going to do his own way.”

“However that plays out, I’m not ready to give you my closing remarks on Tom and Howard. Tom and I did have a meeting three weeks ago and it was somewhat of an emotional meeting. It was 7 a.m. We were saying good-bye not knowing if it was official or not. We took some time to share some personal thoughts. It’s hard to do it in an hour meeting after 11 years of being together. A lot of meetings and a lot of private conversations,” he said.

This is from the Terre Haute News – Tribstar.com

Peyton is clearly frustrated and he has a right to be so. But the shit storm of quotes yesterday on the internet and television painted an incomplete picture, imo.

Manning likely is being spokesperson for a lot of the players with regard to frustration about how the organization is handling this situation. This situation has now officially become a small mess that can either be handled expediently and thoroughly, or it can become a drawn out, distracting FUBAR if someone doesn’t settle it decisively. That someone is Polian – now’s when he really gets to earn his money. This is now in the public domain, not just an in-house issue. Media can run with this thing, and I hope the Brett Favre and Michael Vick sagas are suffieciently interesting to keep them away from this. Wait until Florio starts up his keyboard. What a mess this could become.

It also seems to be frustrating that the players aren’t getting the coaching they usually get because no one knows who ultimately holds the coaching roles and what they are. Imagine being Metz’ or Christensen – are they the signal callers? Are they going to be “advised” in practices by the consultants or just helped if they have questions? Are they gameplanning or doing a redux of what the consultants say is the way to do things? Do they have the authority to say, “No Tom I think we need to do it this way. Peyton, this is the way we’re doing it.”, etc.

 These guys will need some control so they can start gaining the respect of their players. Who is going to respect a guy who is being directed by paid consultants – no matter if they were previous coaches or not. Personally, I’d have problems answering to someone not in the chain of command any longer, no matter my respect for them.

Hopefully by Peyton making it public his displeasure with the whole thing, they will work a bit more swiftly and decisively to clear this thing up, with more info being delivered to all parties.

Let’s hope Mr. Polian got the message from the locker room. Let’s hope he listens to what his current coaching staff thinks and would like to have happen, and takes into account their need for a clear chain of command and a clear outline of their duties. Let’s hope having “consultants” doesn’t muddy an already murky little puddle of confusion with regard to running practice, gameplanning and in-game coaching.

If Moore and Mudd are not on the team as Coordinators then we need to move on ASAP. Holding onto them as “consultants” makes no sense.

and what a surprise…the media didnt have all the info but THEY STILL REPORT IT AS IF THEY KNOW…thats why Im so over this coaching saga

because this story changes faster than jack del rio making anther coaching change

and what peyton said…its the media. what he really said and what was printed. again who thought this was 100% accurate. not me

Unless you’re asking the Colts to issue press releases in favour of mass public nudity (female fanbase only?) I think you mean “bear”…

The media is just being the media. Measured stories aren’t as interesting.