Colts to release Peyton Manning Wednesday

The Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis will end Wednesday.

USA TODAY's Jim Corbett confirmed ESPN's report Tuesday evening after speaking with Manning's brother, Cooper.

"Peyton and I talked today and had a good chat,'' the eldest Manning brother said by phone from his home in New Orleans. "He's going through kind of an emotional time right now. Until it was over, he was a Colt through and through."

Manning, 35, still wants to play football after sitting out the 2011 season following multiple neck surgeries. He watched from the sidelines as the Colts finished 2-14, securing the No. 1 pick, which they are likely to use on former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

The team fired the personnel management team of Bill andChris Polian, installing Ryan Grigson as the team's new general manager.

Manning, who led the Colts to a Super Bowl victory following the 2006 season, played 14 seasons and did not miss a start before 2011. He has been medically cleared to resume playing football, and has worked out in North Carolina and Florida this offseason. He can sign with any team immediately following his release.

"I don't think Peyton's done any personal dilligence on what the next step is," Cooper Manning said. "Now he'll have to re-evaluate and see what this next chapter reads like.''

Manning's older brother has not seen the quarterback throw in person, but said the triceps nerve in his throwing shoulder that was slow to recover following Sept. 9 neck fusion surgery is recovering at an encouraging rate.

"Peyton has gotten better and he will only continue to get better,'' Cooper Manning said.

Info: USATODAY