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Colts owner Jim Irsay and actor Rob Lowe are friends. Colts fans have often seen Lowe attending games at Lucas Oil Stadium. So, when dirty bloggers like me see tweets like these from Lowe, we take notice:
Hearing my fave, #18 Peyton Manning will not return to #NFL. Wow. #Colts
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) January 18, 2012
#Colts fans, let's hope my info is wrong. Don't like being wrong, but this time... I'm hoping#NFL #Manning
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) January 18, 2012
Don't know if Lowe's tweets are well-sourced. Don't know if the information is factual. All I know is Lowe talks to Irsay, and Irsay knows more about Manning's current health and state-of-mind than anyone other than Peyton himself.
The Colts fired Peyton's friend and head coach yesterday. He's 35-years-old. The Colts will draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck No. 1 overall. Maybe, just maybe, Peyton doesn't want to do another rodeo with a new coach, regardless of whether it's here or in another city.
We'll keep our eyes peeled if any other reports surface on the possible retirement of Peyton Manning.
[UPDATE]: We have an update from Peyton Manning's father, Archie (via Chris Mortensen):
Archie Manning laughed when he heard @RobLowe said Peyton will retire,"Noooo...he ain't retiring. I think he would've told me." #NFL32
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 18, 2012