Manning 'shocked' over Polian firing

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said he was "shocked" by the firing of vice chairman Bill Polian and his son Chris, who served as the Colts general manager.

"I was surprised, shocked, disappointed," Manning told the Indianapolis Star. "I don't want to speak for Bill, but I did meet with him and he is (shocked) as well.

"It's a sad day and it's the worst part about this business. I'm sorry that it went down this way. I always thought Bill and I might retire around the same time. You kind of hoped for that fairytale ending, after winning a Super Bowl."

The firings came after the Colts finished 2-14, causing owner Jim Irsay to want to go in a different direction, one that might include Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, which puts Manning's own future in question as he recovers from neck surgery that cost him all the 2011 season.

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Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com