Well, Manning-Watch '12 certainly just got a little more interesting.

If you happen to be rooting for Peyton Manning to finish his career as a Colt, Jim Irsay is doing his best to put a small smile on your face and/or make the situation even more intense. The Colts appear to want #18 back in the saddle:

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

Manning and Irsay have engaged in an intense chess match for weeks and now we're likely witnessing Irsay calling Manning's bluff. It's funny and quite hypocritical that Irsay was upset with Manning for not keeping his thoughts "in house", yet Irsay has now decided to one-up (again) Manning and relay this information to the press.

According to Irsay, if Manning truly wants to remain a Colt, the door just swiftly blew open for perfect harmony to exist:

"I want him to be able to make the choice. 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.’’

"There’s no question it can be worked out if he wants to be here,’’ said Irsay, who has concerns over Manning’s long-term health. "It can work if he wants to come back and can get back to being the old Peyton.’’

This isn't the first time Irsay has been vocal about the decision being in the hands of Manning, but now the entire world knows. Irsay called Manning a "politician" for his interview with Bob Kravitz, but this is politicking at its finest.

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http://indiana.sbnation.com/indianapolis-colts/2012/2/14/2798395/indianapolis-colts-coaching-staff-finalized-for-2012-season

Props to Scott Schroeder from Indiana SB Nation. The only addition that I see of significance is Jeff Fitzgerald. He was the Cincinnati Bengal's linebacker coach last year (since 2008). His contract was not renewed. Some of my Bengal friends are glad to see him go as they did not think their linebackers developed enough. I personally am glad to get him as I think Cincinnati's defense was pretty good. The other two additions are quality control coaches for offense and defense (what ever they do).

Here is how I believe we will need to go about building a championship team. Basically, we need to buid a championship caliber offense this offseason through the draft, with some free agency additions to shore up our defense. Next year, we go mostly defense in the draft, and I think in 2013 we could make a super bowl run.

Release:

Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Gary Brackett, Saturday and Diem retire. This will free up some cap room (more in 2013), and allow us to build a team around Luck.

Offense: I love the Patriots two tight end set, I would love to copy that as an option, with some excellent receivers as well. We need to shore up our O-line, Pollak takes over at center but we still need a guard.

Draft: 1st round - Luck

2nd round - Coby Fleener, TE

3rd Round - Tony Bergstrom - OG UTah

4th Round - Ryan Broyles- WR

Defense:

Moving to a 3-4, we need a big nose tackle. I think we keep Mathis and play him at LB, Bullitt and Bethea are not bad safeties if they stay healthy, but we need a CB.

Free agency moves:

Paul Solilai, DT Miami

Brandon Carr, CB Kansas City

*If we have the money (we won't), would like to get Cory Redding, DE Baltimore

With these moves, we would have a scary offense...Fleener is 6'6, runs a 4.5 40, combine him with Dallas and we are scary, then Garcon at #1, Broyles at #2/slot, Collie in there as well, we would have a great offense.

I think with these moves we have a good defense with Pagano coaching, and by 2013 this team could win a championship if good things happen.

Lovely readers, remember last week when yours truly wrote a little article over at SB Nation Indiana discussing the possibility of Peyton Manning playing for the Houston Texans next season?

Remember that?

I do. My favorite comment for that article came from reader BobInBlue, who wrote:

This

is stupid.

He got two recs for that stirring rebuttal, and, on some level, he is probably right. It is stupid. So stupid, in fact, that it might just friggin happen! From Bob Allen of KTRK-TV in Houston, via PFT:

"Someone I know who is close friends with the Manning family says Peyton is definitely interested in possibly coming to the Texans. Peyton will be released by the Colts early next month and will be a free agent. The person who knows the Mannings says Peyton wants to play on a team that has a chance of going to a Super Bowl, and the Texans fit that description."

Unlike some of you, I want Peyton Manning off the Colts roster in 2012. I want him to win another ring, and he has no chance to do that in Indianapolis anytime soon. I would be excited if he landed in Denver. If he wound up in Washington, Arizona, or Seattle, those places are fine too.

Houston? The Texans? Jesus god no.

I might just projectile vomit on my keyboard if I ever see the news 'Manning Signs With Texans' flash across my TV screen. Like, vomit every time I see it.