INDIANAPOLIS _ Ryan Grigson, the new general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, has - along with new coach Chuck Pagano and owner Jim Irsay - the fate of Peyton Manning in his hands.

Grigson pleaded for patience among fans and the media as the deadline of March 8 approaches for Colts to make their decision on Manning's future in Indianapolis. Manning is owed a $28 million roster bonus on that date, and the Colts still don't know how healthy he is or will be by that date.

"There is a medical concern there so I can't do anything. I have to be clear with the new CBA on all those things. I have to be well-versed in that . . . I'm not even there yet," Grigson said. "Peyton has to be healthy. It has to be something that's spoken on and investigated and talked about. Right now, it's a process.
We're waiting for things to happen. Right now, we're doing the things we have control of. Things we don't have control of, we just have no choice but to be patient. We ask all of you to be the same."

Grigson's evasive approach could be rooted in the truth that the Colts are waiting on Manning's health. But then again, often in NFL circles, hemming and hawing, is a precursor to impending change, something the Colts could be on the cusp of.

Neither Grigson nor new coach Chuck Pagano have seen Manning throw a football, although that is not that unusual given that off-season workouts are nearly two months away. Still, it leads to more and more speculation about what the final decision will be regarding Manning's future in Indy.

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Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com