Within the next seven days, Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, will finally sit down with owner Jim Irsay and discuss his future as a Colt.   Based on his conversation with Irsay,  Manning will choose one of three options: restructure his deal with the Colts and resign with the team, be released by the Colts and sign with another team, or simply retire.  Here are five reasons Peyton Manning should retire.

1. He’s already had a Hall of Fame career:  If Manning never takes another NFL snap he has already had a Hall of Fame career; no questions asked.  Manning has a career record of 141-67.  He’s passed for 54,828 yards, 399 touchdowns with a career passer rating of 94.9.  Peyton won the Super Bowl in the 2005-06 season so he’s even got a ring.  What more is there for him to prove?

2. Unfamiliar surroundings:  Whether he stays with the Indianapolis Colts or signs with another team via free agency, Manning will find himself in uncharted waters.  Where the NFL is better having Peyton Manning to cheer against, the effect isn’t the same if he is on a bad team.  Even if he signs with a playoff contender the chances are that he won’t have time to gel with his receivers until he is as close to 100 percent as possible.  Given the nature of his injury, who knows how long that might be?

3. He’ll never win another Super Bowl:  At this point in his career, Manning should only be thinking about championships.  The Colts are obviously several years away from contention and any other team that brings him in as that final piece is desperate at best.  Look at recent NFL greats that changed teams late in their careers.  Joe Montana, Drew Bledsoe, Kurt Warner and Brett Favre.  All found success after leaving their respective teams but none won a Super Bowl.  Warner was the closest with the Cardinals.

4.  He could retire now with dignity:  Let’s face it, the chances are that Manning will either stay with the Colts where he would sit behind a healthy Andrew Luck or go to another team and compete for the starting job.  Throughout his professional career Manning has been synonymous with greatness.  Not only has Peyton been a student of the game but he once had the tools to execute his ideology.  Where his head and heart are still  there, all bets are off when it comes to his health.  Does anyone want to watch Manning struggle for the next year or possibly get knocked out of the game for good?  I certainly don’t.

5.  The “Manning” reputation has successfully been turned over to Eli.  Not only did Eli win the Super Bowl and earn game MVP honors only one year after Peyton, he went on to surpass his big brother winning his second ring this past season.  No, Eli will never have the regular season records that his brother possesses but when it’s all said and done all those league MVP’s are second place to Super Bowl championships.  Admit it or not, Eli is the better quarterback now and Peytob will never be able to retake that thrown.

Follow Aaron on Twitter or Facebook @Da_Bear_Truth.

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