The Marvin Harrison saga in Indianapolis rolls on. Beginning Sunday night, Harrison reportedly refused to take a pay cut from his gargantuan salary, and then reportedly asked for his outright release. The discussions seemingly ended Monday evening when sources reported the Colts would grant Harrison's request and let him walk. Tuesday morning, however, a new wrinkle was added in the ongoing Indianapolis drama. Jim Irsay, the Colts' owner, really doesn't want Harrison to leave. Thus, he's staging a last-ditch effort to retain the best receiver in franchise history.
"Marvin and I are talking Tuesday at mid-afternoon and we'll see where we go from there,'' Irsay said. "I'm not going to start talking like he's not here, because nothing's been determined officially by any stretch.''Irsay also went on to insinuate that reports to this point were not false at all. It's just that he's now talking to Harrison man-to-man without general manager Bill Polian involved.
Asked if it still were possible for Harrison to remain with the Colts, Irsay replied, "Definitely.''
Look, it's nice that Irsay feels bad about the situation -- he even mentions how Harrison joined the Colts right when he was taking over ownership of the team -- but Harrison's the one who is going to have to make concessions here. Whether you agree with the NFL's salary structure, it is what it is. In this system, keeping Marvin Harrison at his current price makes absolutely zero sense for the Colts.
On the other hand, if Irsay is good a enough buddy of Harrison's to convince him to stay for a reduced rate, it would be nice sentiment to have him finish his career in the same uniform he's worn for the entirety of it. Seriously, how weird would it be to see him wearing something other than blue and white on Sundays?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-24-2009 @ 10:24AM
sdgboss1 said...
Marvin Harrison is better than Raymond Berry? Or are you speaking of the Indianapolis Colt franchise as distinct from the Baltimore Colt franchis?
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2-24-2009 @ 11:37AM
Matt Snyder said...
Entire Colts franchise. He's definitely better than Raymond Berry. I don't even see how it's close, really.
2-24-2009 @ 12:48PM
robb1068 said...
I agree... best in Indy history without a question. But Raymond Berry defined the wide receiver position and created all those routes that Harrison runs so well. Marvin also benefits from a vastly different set of rules that tilt the field to the receiver.
2-24-2009 @ 11:12AM
Matt said...
Yo roids why don't u get your facts straight and stop stereotyping everyone from the great city of Philadelphia, and he's is the top 5 greatest receiver of all time. homo
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2-24-2009 @ 11:36AM
knicks chick said...
I really hope this turns out to be Marvin's agent strongarming him to hold out for more money with another team. Perhaps his agent needs a bigger salary this year to compensate for the poor economny.
I would like to still believe (blindly perhaps) that Marvin realizes how much he has meant to the Colt organization and how much they have done for him. He is in the record books for them and because of them.
Marvin, be smart and stay in Indy for your last year (or two--but that's stretching it), reevaluate your agent's representation, and retire a Colt hero, not a delusional scrooge.
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