"Peyton Manning has been the coach here for 13 years," said one source inside the organization. "I'm starting to get the sense some of the players are tuning him out. Especially Peyton Manning."
A tense relationship between former Vikings head coach Brad Childress and Brett Favre helped doom Minnesota's season earlier this year, and the same may be happening in Indianapolis where Manning has thrown 11 interceptions in his past three games, all Colt losses.
One Colts receiver, who wished to remain anonymous, said Manning is giving Peyton bad plays.
"Peyton is just running the plays that he calls," said the receiver. "There's only so much Peyton can do. The defense is sitting on all of them waiting. His play-calling has become predictable."
Manning has reportedly requested a meeting with himself in which he will try to address the problem.
"Something needs to be done because it's hurting the team," said a Colts player. "I like Manning as my coach, but if there's an assistant on the team who can do better — like maybe Tom Moore or Jim Caldwell — we should make the move. Interim coaches helped in Dallas and Minnesota."
Manning denies there is any problem.
"I love my head coach," he said. "We're just struggling right now. But I think he's the best in the game and has been for 13 years. I'd never play for anyone else. You can quote me on that."
